Comments on: Kayakers out there? In your experience, which is the best inflatable kayak? http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak Read all about Old Town Kayaks and which to buy. Sat, 19 May 2012 16:25:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: alimac http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak/comment-page-1#comment-1694 alimac Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:17:18 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak#comment-1694 I personally have the Sea Eagle 380x inflatable kayak. It has been awesome, I use it mostly on lakes and in the ocean but it is also able to handle white water as well. The weight capacity is 750 lbs. so it can hold a lot and it is really tough... it has been fairly abused and I have never had a problem with punctures. As far as cargo space, there isn't a ton of space within the kayak, unless I take out the second seat and go solo but I can tie a lot of stuff down in the rear or on the front with the d-rings. Some other good brands to consider are Aire, NRS, Innova, Airis. Check out this site as it gives tons of info and reviews on all the different inflatable kayak models and there is a good comparison chart that you might find helpful. http://www.inflatablekayakworld.com/ I personally have the Sea Eagle 380x inflatable kayak. It has been awesome, I use it mostly on lakes and in the ocean but it is also able to handle white water as well. The weight capacity is 750 lbs. so it can hold a lot and it is really tough… it has been fairly abused and I have never had a problem with punctures. As far as cargo space, there isn’t a ton of space within the kayak, unless I take out the second seat and go solo but I can tie a lot of stuff down in the rear or on the front with the d-rings.

Some other good brands to consider are Aire, NRS, Innova, Airis.

Check out this site as it gives tons of info and reviews on all the different inflatable kayak models and there is a good comparison chart that you might find helpful.
http://www.inflatablekayakworld.com/

]]> By: TheCrystalBall http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak/comment-page-1#comment-1693 TheCrystalBall Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:17:18 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak#comment-1693 My answer is Innova kayaks. Abrasion resistance is related to the coating on the underside of the boat. Innova kayaks have a rubber-coated surface on the bottom. Rubber tends to bounce back under stress. Most inflatable boats are coated with PVC and/or vinyl which tends to cut under stress. Innova kayaks are made of 1200 denier polyester which is a relatively heavy weight yarn that is low-stretch. This results in a stiffer boat. Hope this helps! My answer is Innova kayaks.

Abrasion resistance is related to the coating on the underside of the boat. Innova kayaks have a rubber-coated surface on the bottom. Rubber tends to bounce back under stress. Most inflatable boats are coated with PVC and/or vinyl which tends to cut under stress.

Innova kayaks are made of 1200 denier polyester which is a relatively heavy weight yarn that is low-stretch. This results in a stiffer boat.

Hope this helps!

]]> By: c_kayak_fun http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak/comment-page-1#comment-1695 c_kayak_fun Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:17:18 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak#comment-1695 If you are willing to pay for it, the highest quality and highest performance inflatable kayaks are made by Feathercraft of Canada. These are touring sea kayaks and surf skis, primarily. They don't make a white water boat but they are in the process of marketing a white-water raft that uses the same technology. Look at their site for information on the boats: http://www.feathercraft.com I have owned three of their folding kayaks and have also test paddled one of the inflatables -- these are the Mercedes Benz of collapsible kayaks. People have paddled them across oceans. You might also want to check the forums on these sites for user reviews of all the brands of inflatables and other portable boats: http://www.paddling.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org You need to decide what your primary use of the boat will be. There is no one kayak that will perform optimally in both white water and flat water touring. Most people who like both options own a different boat for each activity. The fact is that most inflatables (other than Feathercraft) are much slower and lower performing than rigid boats or skin-on-frame folding boats. Of course it is a trade-off in convenience and cost. I've heard good things about the little Advanced Elements kayaks and have looked them over in the shops -- they seem well-made and they are certainly reasonably priced. However, I know I am too spoiled by my long, fast frame boats to be happy paddling such a short and wide kayak. If you are willing to pay for it, the highest quality and highest performance inflatable kayaks are made by Feathercraft of Canada. These are touring sea kayaks and surf skis, primarily. They don’t make a white water boat but they are in the process of marketing a white-water raft that uses the same technology. Look at their site for information on the boats:

http://www.feathercraft.com

I have owned three of their folding kayaks and have also test paddled one of the inflatables — these are the Mercedes Benz of collapsible kayaks. People have paddled them across oceans.

You might also want to check the forums on these sites for user reviews of all the brands of inflatables and other portable boats:

http://www.paddling.net

http://www.foldingkayaks.org

You need to decide what your primary use of the boat will be. There is no one kayak that will perform optimally in both white water and flat water touring. Most people who like both options own a different boat for each activity.

The fact is that most inflatables (other than Feathercraft) are much slower and lower performing than rigid boats or skin-on-frame folding boats. Of course it is a trade-off in convenience and cost. I’ve heard good things about the little Advanced Elements kayaks and have looked them over in the shops — they seem well-made and they are certainly reasonably priced. However, I know I am too spoiled by my long, fast frame boats to be happy paddling such a short and wide kayak.

]]> By: NYG http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak/comment-page-1#comment-1696 NYG Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:17:18 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/kayakers-out-there-in-your-experience-which-is-the-best-inflatable-kayak#comment-1696 I wouldn't purchase inflatable, I suggest you check Craigslist for used kayaks I wouldn’t purchase inflatable, I suggest you check Craigslist for used kayaks

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