FORUMS > Kayaking Forum Rules

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of buying an inflatable kayak. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any brand, how they handled, etc.

Thanks!

One of the girls I work with has an Innova Inflatable 2 seater. She calls it the Cockyak because it goes from flat to stiff

Positives: easy to store and fast to set up.

Negatives: not as stable as comparable hard material kayaks. After one season of storage wrinkles and folds appeared, discoloration from use in the water, tends to move air around deforming while in use.

Only brand I've ever seen or used. Best of luck if you try one.

Don't know about the kayaks, but I've used an elderly inflatable runabout that belonged to a club that I was once part of. (I was the only one crazy enough to use it.) A few times, it began to spontaneously deflate while motoring through light chop in Puget Sound. (Worn out valves, I guess.) I wasn't too worried, because we were always wearing wetsuits, but there were a few needlessly "exciting" moments. I'd make sure that you can always inflate the thing while under way, if needed.

Certainly fun, lightweight, and survive accidentally bouncing off a rock pretty well. It's possible to collapse them for transport & storage, but most people that I know who really use them keep them inflated most of the time anyway. They seem to have less usable volume than comparable rigid boats, due to the size of the air chambers.

I don't have experience kayaking myself, but I sold many of them at my last job. My customers always gave this one the best reviews. http://www.sevylor.com/dyn_prod.php?p=STRU233&k=77449

Well, after all this time, I finally went out and bought a kayak, and not an inflatable. I ended up going to REI for their spring sale and got a Pamlico 100 by Wilderness Systems. I've taken it out twice now, and had a nice time. Any suggestions for new paddlers?

Hey Matt,

What type of paddling you looking at doing?

Hey,

I've been doing just flat water stuff here in the area, just getting used to the kayak, etc. So far really enjoying it. Even getting a couple of other RJ'ers to try (see post at http://www.realjock.com/gayforums/71092/). I figure I've got a lot to learn still, but doing well.

Any suggestions?

Well i'm not sure what things are like youre side of the water - but i recommend getting a few lessons so you know how to deal with your kayak in white water. though from the look of it it looks like a tourer. though probably not long distances - too rounded - and not long enough. The boat that is