Anyone Have an Inflatable Kayak ?

[capcook]

Following some good advice, I am looked into renting a couple of kayaks for my charter on Chesapeake Bay in July, turns out it is quite expensive to rent one for a week... I could buy this SEAEAGLE inflatable for less money and have it for next time...

Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak/Canoe

Has anyone had any experience with Inflatable Kayaks, can you get them to go in a straight line

Are the SEAEAGLEs about as good as any for the money ?

Thanks

[Hud3]

I have an inflatable made by Advanced Elements. I used to do a lot of whitewater kayaking, and was a bit skeptical about a "rubber ducky", but it's proved to be a great little flatwater boat. It tracks well, is very stable and well built. I looked at some of the others, but this one impressed me as having much more quality for the somewhat higher price. The materials and construction are much better than the cheaper brands.

[Minggat]

Can be picked up pretty easily (cheap) on Craigslist.

[Microship]

We had one of the longer Advanced Elements (Expedition) and it was kind of a hassle to use, though the cost-performance ratio is excellent. I used to drive an Aire Sea Tiger inflatable (a bit overkill for a boat, but very robust), but now my boatlet of choice is the new Hobie inflatable series with pedal drive. I have the i12s, but there is a smaller one available as well as a double. They are built well, very stable, and fast... though they are bulkier to fold than I would like.

[hellosailor]

Since Sea Eagle offers a 180-day risk free guarantee...I'd say order it well in advance of your trip and try it out someplace. If you don't like it, back it goes.

A number of outdoor shops and inflateable makers have "demo days" and trial programs (REI and Stearns among them) and that could be another way to get your hands on one and see how you like it. It won't be the same as a $1500 kayak but then again, it won't cost $1500 either.

[senormechanico]

We use a couple of Stearns singles. One of them is a West Marine, but it's the same boat.
They are stable and dry, but slow. We only use them for anchorage to shore and messing about.
They stow easily in a smallish locker in each ama.

[Pelagic]

This is probably more than what you want but I love the Feathercraft kayaks for keeping onboard and ocean kayaking.

They come in an easily stowed back pack, track really well and with the inflatable side sponsons are stable in big waves.

Takes about half an hour to assemble, but very well engineered and made. Have used them for years and flown them in to some really remote places, where your life depends on them in an expedition.

Kahuna + Big Kahuna by Feathercraft

[Bash]

Although I was impressed, even surprised, the one time I paddled a Feathercraft, its performance was no match for my polycarbonate Eddyline. Dollar for dollar, you are probably better off scouring the classifieds for a proper sea kayak. A good kayak is as much joy to paddle as a good sailboat is to sail. SeaEagle? Why go slow when you can go fast with no more effort?

[Pelagic]

Your right Bash, but you cannot compare a rigid kayak to a collapsible one.

Of the collapsible type I have been impressed with the Feathercraft

[capcook]

Thanks guys...

That Feathercraft does look very nice, but yes that is a lot more than I want to spend...we will just use it to paddle down a river or on flat water messing around... I really like the idea of them just folding up and out of the way... probably go ahead and get the SeaEagles...

Thanks for the input...

Cheers

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Hud3

I have an inflatable made by Advanced Elements................I looked at some of the others, but this one impressed me as having much more quality for the somewhat higher price. The materials and construction are much better than the cheaper brands.

Cheers for that - have been mulling over one of these for a while:-



StraitEdge Kayak by Advanced Elements, Inc

But then I get sidetracked by...........sails



Sailboats To Go - > Catalog -> Kayak Sailing Rig

[zeehag]

i really like my stearns--have no problem with directionality...so far have had it for 6 years....i also use a rigid kayak for function not show or go--lol packs a lot for one person and is practical in any kind of tidal situation as it only weighs 38 pounds...i usually paddle at a paced and measured 3 kts.....

[jim_thomsen]

This thread is more than a year old, so maybe there are some new opinions. I want to buy an inflatable for 2 people. Looking online the Innova Helios II and the Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track look good.
Any comments or better suggestions?
Thanks

[sailorchic34]

I have an advanced frame two person kayak that I got from REI. Two separate main air tubes, pointy ends and 500 pound capacity. plus can be used with one or two people.. nice and stable too. Not quite as fast as my hard kayak but not bad either.

[MikeTurner]

We have two Airheads. Fold to about the size of a large backpack - too large to get into our cockpit lockers but live well folded on a quarterberth, or rolled out and strapped down on the cabintop. Seperate port/starboard tubes and floor, along with an inflatable seat with adjustable backband. Have 3 skegs each which help to track well (although it's important to straighten the skegs out if they've gotten folded over when the kayak is folded up). It's important to get the Boston valves properly seated to ensure there aren't any slow air leaks. Package included 5-piece aluminum and plastic paddles which are surprisingly well made, all things considered. Any inflatable will be very susceptible to wind because they float "on" rather than "in" the water.