RFI- good inflatable kayak

[Joe in PNG]

As I consider my upcoming Florida summer, I regret that I have yet to paddle around some of the lakes, rivers, canals, and other watery locations of the Sunshine State.

So, I would like to possibly purchase an inflatable kayak of some sort, something durable that can store easily, yet transport my 205 lbs over the water.

Any suggestions?

[littlejerry]

I've used one of the cheapo Coleman ones and a high end Sea Eagle. The Sea Eagle resembles a hard kayak in performance, the Coleman was more like an inner tube with a closed bottom, i.e. no tracking, tons of drag, and super wide sidewalls which make it hard to row efficiently.

I have a buddy in Texas who loves his Advanced Elements kayak but I have yet to see it in person.

[GJM]

The Aire Traveler is my go to moose hunting inflatable.

https://www.aire.com/product-category/kayaks/

77689

[LittleLebowski]

I didn’t know that I need an inflatable kayak…until now. Fuck.

[peterb]

If you’re willing to pay for performance, the Pakboats folders might be worth a look.

https://www.pakboats.com/folding-kayaks/

[vaspence]

We’ve had good luck with the Tributary brand (Aire’s budget line). Between 3 families we’ve had two of the Tomcat tandems and 1 Sawtooth for about 6 years now. No issues with any of them. The Sawtoooth has a removeable skeg and paddles/tracks well solo or tandem in the flatter water. For reference I’m 6’ and 215lbs.

If you end with any inflatable I cannot recommend the K pump (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=k+pump&crid=2GLY0RFFWWLD3&sprefix=K+pum%2Caps%2C298&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_5) highly enough for inflating up your boat.

[Clusterfrack]

Advanced Elements have been great for us.

+10 on the K-pump (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=k+pump&crid=2GLY0RFFWWLD3&sprefix=K+pum%2Caps%2C298&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_5)

[Le Français]

Though not kayaks, stand up paddle boards (SUPs) allow you to stand, kneel, sit, or lie down (think peeking over the edge, almost like snorkeling) and for casual paddling and exploring nature I much prefer them to being locked into an unhealthy sitting position for hours.

I have a couple of iRocker Nautical 10’6” inflatables, and they’ve been great.

[blues]

Don't know if they're still around, but I have a Sevylor I've used for years in the Everglades, mangroves around Key Biscayne and locally in NC.

Held up well to the elements.

[P30]

https://www.pakboats.com/folding-kayaks/

https://pakboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Pakboat-Quest-Fire-Action.jpg

Cool, looks like it has low drag (flow resistance).


I have a Sevylor I've used for years in the Everglades
https://www.arts-outdoors.de/14981-thickbox_default/sevylor-pointer-k2-2er-kajak-luftboot-geschlossenes-wanderkajak.jpg
Also very nice! At least in Germany, it's available (https://www.arts-outdoors.de/sevylor-pointer-k2-2er-kajak-luftboot-geschlossenes-wanderkajak?bt_product_attribute=51964&gclid=CjwKCAjw-sqKBhBjEiwAVaQ9ax3wBWj38bVgthpZEYusn1L6GIIzv2eOgWG b7LBBnpGqUC0x1iBujhoCnlwQAvD_BwE#/631-farbe-orange). Funny, both in PF color!

[blues]

That's a different model Sevylor than mine...but they have a wide range of offerings...or did.

(Mine was more of a marriage between a canoe and kayak as it allowed me more latitude to take my wife along with me on outings, but it was still able to be run by me alone if she wasn't inclined to paddle.)

[P30]

Measured by these criteria


security:
does not sink from one hole only and does not get a hole too fast
does not throw me into the water if balance is not perfect
low drag (I mean flow resistance)
small packing size for my small car
not too expensive

what's the Glock 19 among the inflatable kayaks? I mean the Goldilocks mix of these criteria for a beginner. For one or two persons.

Did I forget an important criterion?

PS:
This sounds like a cool new quest to me. (But first I should install the Geissele trigger into my HK MR308 in order to finish the Excalibur quest.)

[PearTree]

I have personal experience with advanced elements and sea eagle, both work very well. If buying an advanced elements, I recommend buying from airkayaks.com with the high pressure floor, it makes a big difference when paddling.

[Clusterfrack]

Our Advanced Elements (https://www.advancedelements.com/shop/inflatable-kayaks/day-touring/inflatable-kayak-ae1012/) weigh about 35# and pack up into a duffel. The kayaks are good for up to Class 2 water, and are efficient, stable, and very tough. They can accept a paddle skirt as well.

The only real hassle is drying them out after use.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210928/23089f29751230f9cfaf2e7044ae881a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210928/0f26bb40a18facb264037e582affadbd.jpg

[P30]

Our Advanced Elements (https://www.advancedelements.com/shop/inflatable-kayaks/day-touring/inflatable-kayak-ae1012/)
Cool, they are available in my country. But more expensive than in the USA. There are two models available:

Model AE1012-R: arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey (https://www.arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey) (719 € = $840 in GER, probably $600 in the US)
Model AE1012-ER: arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red (https://www.arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red) (919 € = $1074 in GER, ? in the US)

The advantages of the more expensive variant as far as I understand it so far:


Transportrucksack = transportation rucksack
Drop-Stitch Boden = I don't know what that is


Clusterfrack
Which one do you have? Was the duffel included?

AE1012-R:
https://www.arts-outdoors.de/32975-thickbox_default/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey.jpg
AE1012-ER:
https://www.arts-outdoors.de/52611-thickbox_default/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red.jpg
PS:

On the page linked by Clusterfrack (https://www.advancedelements.com/shop/inflatable-kayaks/day-touring/inflatable-kayak-ae1012/), there is this picture:
https://www.advancedelements.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/backbone_and_dropstitch.png
I'm still not sure if I need the drop-stitch floor.

[Clusterfrack]

Cool, they are available in my country. But more expensive than in the USA. There are two models available:

Model AE1012-R: arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey (https://www.arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey) (719 € = $840 in GER, probably $600 in the US)
Model AE1012-ER: arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red (https://www.arts-outdoors.de/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red) (919 € = $1074 in GER, ? in the US)

The advantages of the more expensive variant as far as I understand it so far:


Clusterfrack
Which one do you have? Was the duffel included?

AE1012-R:
https://www.arts-outdoors.de/32975-thickbox_default/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-tm-kajak-luftboot-red-grey.jpg
AE1012-ER:
https://www.arts-outdoors.de/52611-thickbox_default/advanced-elements-frame-tm-elite-kajak-luftboot-red.jpg
PS:

On the page linked by Clusterfrack (https://www.advancedelements.com/shop/inflatable-kayaks/day-touring/inflatable-kayak-ae1012/), there is this picture:
https://www.advancedelements.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/backbone_and_dropstitch.png
I'm still not sure if I need the drop-stitch floor.

You want the drop stitch floor. No question. That makes the kayak track more like a hard shell. Also more comfortable.

Ours came with duffels. But they were stolen out of our car by homeless living in a pirate boat a month ago. We got new ones on Amazon.

[Clusterfrack]

Because this is Pistol-Forum, here are two threads featuring Kayak carry:

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?32691-Kayaking-Life-Jacket-chest-holster-options-(water-resistant)


Today’s kayak carry. G26 in a Raven Vanguard. Perfect fit in a NRS Ninja.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210728/de1ee19fa2066de16c473e68d310a9de.jpg

[mtnbkr]

I didn’t know that I need an inflatable kayak…until now. Fuck.

Lots of good places in the region for kayaking and canoeing...

Chris