Inflatable Kayak Blog

I realize that the “Perfect Marriage” is a strong statement to make about any combination, but if inflatable boats and recreational vehicles don’t fit the description, nothing does!

Except for high gas prices, the biggest problem for RV owners is usually “space”. Where to store all the things you’d like to take with you on your vacation. I’ve seen some folks pulling a boat trailer behind their RV or a boat on top, but it’s not the norm. You probably see more bicycles strapped to the back and, of course, the occasional small car on a hitch. It’s got to be a challenge for the boating, paddling or fishing enthusiast to take their recreation with them. Not so with inflatable boats.

Whether it’s an inflatable fishing boat, pontoon or float tube or an inflatable kayak or canoe, storage is simply not an issue. Nearly every inflatable craft that’s on the market can be deflated and rolled up to one-fourth it’s inflated size. This allows an RV owner to carry a boat large enough for 4 or 5 people in the space of less than 3 sets of golf clubs. Most inflatable boat owners, though, usually opt for smaller crafts because they only need room for two or three passengers.

The most popular inflatable fishing crafts are inflatable pontoons or float tubes. They are made for one person to use and are powered mostly by swim fins and oars. A few pontoons can operate with small electric engines. There are larger 2 to 4 person inflatable pontoons like the Sea Eagle FoldCats that can even use gas engines. Inflatable fishing boats can range from two person models up to the big 2000 pound capacity models that perform as well as any speed boat.

Inflatable kayaks and canoes are even better for an RV. They take up less space and usually are quicker to inflate. Actually inflatable kayaks are more like canoes than a hard shell kayak because most models are open top. That’s a plus, though, because you can put more gear in them and they are easier to get in and out of. Many inflatable kayaks are made to operate solo or tandem, which adds to their functionality.

Sometimes people think of “inflatable” as “pool toy” quality. That, too is “so” not the case. Modern materials like coated, cross stitched fabrics are strong enough to whack with the claw end of a hammer and not leave a mark. And should you puncture the skin (usually from mistreating the craft on land), most materials are easy to repair.

Probably the biggest ‘negative’ to any inflatable boat is that it rides higher in the water making it more susceptible to windy conditions, however new technologies, such as what Sea Eagle has done with their new Fast Track kayaks and Sport Runabouts, have raised the level of performance well beyond making that a major concern when buying an inflatable boat for your RV.

So, if you love the water and love your RV, take the plunge and say “I do” to an inflatable boat.