Happy 5th Anniversary Inflatable Kayak Blog
It’s hard to believe that today marks the 5th anniversary of the Inflatable Kayak Blog. When we started out, we hoped that the stories and information we posted would be shared by a few fellow lovers of inflatable kayaks, but we didn’t expect that it would grow this much in five years.
We have had over 38,000 unique visitors to this small piece of internet real estate. That’s an average of over 77 new visitors a day. Not too bad, especially since this is such a seasonal sport and that we’re mainly talking about people who are interested in portable kayaks, folding and inflatable. That’s a very narrow niche in the scope of kayaking in general.
This is post number 490 and I promise it won’t be the last. We’ll continue to provide information and highlights about our kayaking adventures, product reviews and a variety of stories and observations about kayaking in general.
Mainly I want to thank all of our readers for stopping by and allowing us to share our stories. We appreciate you taking the time and we hope you’ve been able to come away with something that’s helped you enjoy kayaking more. It’s a great sport. Happy paddling!
Inflatable Kayaks In A Flood
My cousin called me a couple months back and told me he wanted to buy a couple inflatable kayaks to paddle around his front yard. The major rainfall that hit Michigan was causing flooding in many areas and much water accumulation in others. He was joking around, but it really wasn’t a joking matter, and it really wasn’t such a bad idea.
You’ve all seen photos or video of people paddling their kayaks or small boats in the streets of flooded areas after hurricanes and other flood related disasters. 
I suppose if I was in a similar situation, I wouldn’t hesitate to pump up my inflatable kayak and use it to help others if I could. After all, it’s a great way to get around.
Since I sell inflatable kayaks, I suppose I should recommend that “everyone” in a flood plain should buy one in case the worst case scenario happens. Well, that’s a bit over the top, but … if you are worried about getting around during a flood, the inflatable kayak idea is a good one and worth looking into. It’s especially a good idea if you plan to use it under normal circumstances, too. After all, kayaking is a great exercise that’s not too strenuous and very enjoyable.
A couple things I would recommend for anyone to prepare for a disaster is, one, to have a plan that the whole family can follow, and, two, have an emergency food supply with fresh water available in a safe place. And, if you want to add an inflatable kayak to the mix, give me a call.
Quest Folding Kayaks From PakBoats
Over the past 7 years, the makers of top quality, yet affordable folding kayaks, Pakboats has continually improved their designs. The Arrow series led to better skins. The Puffin line was re-designed to add better stability and a sleeker paddling profile. The XT series entered into the true touring kayak market and featured load supporting decks.
The new Quest folding kayaks might be the best yet. 
The hull materials are coated or laminated with polyurethane that’s manufactured without toxic chemicals. They are also extremely light weight for easier transport, but because of the enhanced frame technology, the Quest kayaks are more securely sealed and easier to assemble.
The Quest seat might be the most important new design. Besides being easier to assemble, it was designed to match the comfort of any other touring kayak on the market. The fabric sling is supported front to back, completely eliminating pressure points, and the inflatable thigh support adjusts to fit any paddler.
Quest decks can be opened at both ends for exceptionally easy loading of gear. The simplicity and light weight make the Quests fit into a single compact storage bag for travel and they can easily go with you as airline baggage. Backpack straps are included for those times when you want to get off the beaten path.
Quest folding kayaks come in two sizes; the 15′ 6″ Quest 155 and the 13′ 8′ Quest 135. The hull color is black, but you have the choice of yellow or fire (red/orange) colored decks.
You can learn more on the Pakboats web site or at PortableKayaks.com.
EZ Cart For Inflatable Kayaks & Boats
Most of us probably fit into the category of “I’m not lazy, but I also don’t believe in working any harder than I need to.” Sea Eagle’s EZ Cart is a good fit for this philosophy.
The EZ Cart is made specifically for rolling inflatable kayaks and inflatable boats, making it easy for one person to transport their boat and gear in one trip. Even if the distance between your vehicle and the water is short, the EZ Cart makes the process more convenient.
The video shows how it goes together, comes apart and how it works on 2 different size boats. It’s rust proof, simple to assemble and light enough to carry in your kayak while paddling.
The two sizes are the EZCart-Small and the EZCart-Wide.
TRAK Kayaks Performance and Durability
As folding kayaks go, when you talk about performance and durability, the TRAK kayak is at or near the top of the list. Remember this is the kayak that was launched from the top of a ski jumping ramp and landed no worse for wear.
Episode 6 of the “TRAK Files” video series highlights and demonstrates the features that make the T-1600 so durable. In the video you’ll hear from a variety of kayakers and kayaking experts about their evaluations of the TRAK features. Watch the video and see how it’s revolutionary folding kayak design is so unique, yet functional.
