Inflatable Kayak Blog

Indoor storage is a great solution for those of you who own a boat, kayak or pontoons that are not used all year round. In the winter months, most parts of the country can get pretty cold and the urge to go out on any of these water toys suddenly losses some of its lust. It is during this time that you put these items away until spring arrives once again. Even though most, or at least some, of these folding and inflatable boats can be conveniently folded up for easy storage, sometimes you still need that extra space. And for those crafts that cannot be conveniently folded up for easy storage, finding a place to store these massive items can be a bit of a challenge. It is at this time you should seek out an indoor storage facility.

I live in Colorado, so I’ll use that as an example, but no matter where you are, the search for a good storage facility is important. There are plenty of Colorado Springs self-storage locations that will fit your need for extra space. Listed here are just some of the benefits of using a good storage service.

• Protect From The Elements: perhaps one of the most popular reasons that people turn to indoor storage is because they want to keep expensive items out of the snow and extreme cold. Moisture and frigid temperatures can cause rust and require expensive repairs over time.
• Extra Space: free up the space in your driveway or garage by putting your boat, kayak, or pontoon in an indoor storage facility when not in use. Aside from the space, many homeowners find recreational vehicles parked in front of their home to be unsightly, and some homeowners associations agree.
• Secure Storage: even if you have a large garage, you probably aren’t home to protect your recreational vehicles at all times. A secure indoor storage facility provides peace of mind of knowing your expensive vehicles are properly stored and safely guarded. Many facilities even offer protection from fire.

When choosing the right facility, be sure that security, location and of course price are all taken into consideration. Not all self-storage facilities offer indoor storage options for such large items, so be sure to find out exactly what is allowed and make sure your unit is the appropriate type. Use a website like SpareFoot.com to search for storage facilities in your area that can offer the space and security you need.

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage. With more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide, SpareFoot offers consumers the most complete comparison shopping experience in the storage industry. It has been a big part of the national moving and storage industry for over 3 years. Matt Schexnayder is on the SpareFoot marketing team and also writes for the SpareFoot Blog, as well as a blog for self-storage facility operators at SelfStorage.com.

By Sabrina Marx

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be recommending some products for the paddlers on your gift list, but before I do I want to preface these suggestions with some words of advice … do a little research first.

Whatever the hobby or pastime, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, golf, antique collecting, scrap booking or anything that captures a person’s passion, there’s always a point where you become fairly particular about the tools you use. Often, even someone who casually pursues a hobby can be selective about their golf clubs, fishing pole or kayak paddle. This is where the research comes in.

You will actually want to research your gift for a couple reasons. One being that you want to give someone a gift that they will like and really use and not want to return. The other being that your gift reflects on that person’s impression of you. For example, if you get them something that they like and is useful, they will know that you put some thought into the gift. You’ve heard the term “It’s the thought that counts”, well it does!

Here are a couple examples …

Inflatable Kayaks:
Sea Eagle inflatable kayak packages are as low as $199, so it’s not a stretch for someone to buy a package as a gift. Even the packages that run up to $1000 can sometimes be looked at as gifts. It’s encouraging to know that you can get a lot of boat for a little money when buying a portable kayak or boat.

Inflatable Kayaks – What to research?
Make sure that the person you’re buying for would actually like an inflatable kayak. It may save them some storage room and they wouldn’t have to use a car carrier anymore, but they may not like the way inflatable kayaks track in the water. There are lots of articles in this blog where you can research the differences between hard shell, folding and inflatable kayaks including my inflatable kayak reviews based on customer comments.

Another important thing to remember with inflatable kayaks or inflatable boats or crafts of any kind is that it’s not like buying a paddle or life vest or book for someone who already goes kayaking or paddleboarding or whatever. DON’T buy a kayak package for someone who hasn’t kayaked or that you “think” they would like it. Research by asking their friends, spouses, etc., then make an educated decision. If you KNOW that the person WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE an inflatable or folding kayak, then go for it. If you don’t KNOW FOR SURE, then DON’T GO THERE!

Every year I hear about someone who thinks they know what they’re buying and they don’t. The husband that just looked at the box and said “what the hell is this? I don’t want a kayak.” The Mom that thought her son should get more exercise and the son totally rejected the gift. Or the person who does kayak, but only wants a hard shell kayak and has no use for “blow up boats”.

Paddles:
Could be a good bet when buying as gift for a paddler. There are still some areas where research is crucial, like a kayak paddle or stand up paddle, since they can be items that a paddler can get particular about. However, some paddlers just don’t want to spend the extra dollars and you can upgrade their experience with a higher quality paddle. It’s worth looking into.

Other Accessories:
Accessories are probably the best area to look into for the paddler on your list. There are so many varied possibilities, but I’ll mention a few. Portable sails, such as the WindPaddle can give almost any small boat the option of ‘sailing’. Books and Videos on a person’s particular outdoor interest can be a thoughtful gift. There are also specific accessories depending on what type of kayaking that person participates in, such as a foot rest, a paddle float, a specific type of life vest or sunglasses. How to decide? Do some research?

In the end, I’m not trying to discourage you from buying something specifically related to the paddler or boater on your list, I’m only trying to help you get them the gift that they’ll remember and appreciate the most.

Next week I’ll have some specific, detailed suggestions for you. So, until then, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

Being the owner of an online store (PortableKayaks.com), you sometimes get a chance to speak to or correspond with your customers. Most of the time it’s a regular person who lives a normal, non-famous life that needs an inflatable boat of some kind. Once in awhile, you have a customer who is just the opposite. Such is the case with Robert Twigger, who recently purchased some pontoons for the inflatable trimaran (shown in the picture) that he plans on using next year to go around Britain.

Robert Twigger is a British author and explorer who is often referred to as, ‘a 19th Century adventurer trapped in the body of a 21st Century writer’. He was educted at Oxford University and later underwent training at Martial Arts alongside the Tokyo Riot Police. He was awarded the Newdigate prize for poetry, the Somerset Maugham award for literature and the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. In 1997, while he was on an expedition in Northern Borneo, he discovered a line of menhirs crossing into Kalimantan. In 1998 He was a member of the team that captured the longest snake in the world- documented in the Channel 4/National Geographic film and book Big Snake; after that Robert became the head of the expedition that was the first to cross Western Canada in a birchbark canoe since 1793. Most recently, in 2009-2010, he led an expedition that became the first to cross the 700 kilometer Great Sand Sea of the Egyptian Sahara totally by foot. His articles have been published in newspapers and magazines including The Daily Telegraph, Maxim and Esquire. He has also published several poetry collections, the most recent being in 2003, with Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing. One of his books, entitled Real Men Eat Puffer Fish (2008) is a humorous but comprehensive guide to repeatedly overlooked but not exclusively masculine pastimes.

I could go on, but if your interested in learning more about this adventurous customer, you can visit his blog at RobertTwigger.com. I hope to keep in touch and find out if the trimaran trip leads to another noteworthy adventure.

By M.A.S. (Guest Blogger)

If you are like most Baby Boomers, myself included, you may have spent your childhood in the great outdoors. I spent mine camping.

I remember my folks dragging out the old Army tent, the gas stove, the lawn chairs and tarps. After spending most of the first day setting up, we would sit around the campfire to detail our plans. We decided we would spend our time fishing, hiking, swimming and kayaking. Kayaking and fishing turned out to be a chore. We would have to drag those big metal boats out on the lake. By days end, I remember being so tired as we ate our dinner next to an open fire pit.

Today, my husband and I love to camp, however the experience is much better. We get the outdoor experience without going broke or packing all the heavy supplies.

We have a easier time setting up camp. We bought a pop-up tent which takes minutes to set up and opens up in 3 seconds. No more metal Kayaks or fishing boats either, After an on-line search, we bought an inflatable kayak and an inflatable boat. And, of course, now we have access to excellent electronic gadgets like GPS and ‘fish finders’ and the waterproof cases to carry them in.

We can now pack up our small car with ease. The pop-up tent along with our portable kayak and inflatable boat still leaves us room for our sleeping bags, cooler, lights and even our camp stove.

We “Boomers” are downsizing and downsizing our camping equipment is no exception. After we return from our trips, unpacking our tent, the portable kayak, inflatable boat and the rest of our gear, we can place them on the same shelf either in a bedroom closet or in the garage for safekeeping until our next trip.

If you still long for the good old days, I think I still have that old army tent hidden in the back of the garage.

Labor Day weekend will be the last big holiday to pack up the family and get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you are camping, boating or just getting out for a hike, don’t forget to play it safe and have very enjoyable holiday. Here are some safety hints you’ll want to remember.

No matter what you are doing, be sure to have plenty of water handy so you can stay hydrated. It is also wise to drink up before you start out, giving your self a head start on that hydration. You may also want to carry along some energy bars or granola for a quick pick me up along the way.

Don’t leave home without your sun protection. Slather on the sunscreen and be sure to wear sunglasses and a hat. If you will be out in the sunshine for extended periods of time be sure to reapply the sunscreen every few hours. You wouldn’t want a sunburn to spoil the long weekend.

If you will be out in the kayak, like some of us plan to do, don’t forget to follow your usual safety measures.
* Check out weather conditions before leaving home.
* Be sure to let friends and family know your plans: where you will be kayaking and when you plan to return home.
* Don’t kayak alone, a group of two or more is safer and more fun.
* Know your limitations: don’t paddle farther than you are comfortably able to paddle back or in water that is beyond your abilities.
* Don’t drink (alcohol) and paddle.
* Wear your life vest or life jacket at all times.
* If you will be paddling in a location that has a lot of motorized boat traffic, be aware of your location as kayaks and canoes are very vulnerable to accidents. A boat being paddled can be difficult to see and are not as easily maneuvered so be aware of other boaters around you and take reasonable precautions to able to get out of the way of an oncoming boat if necessary.
* Wear brightly colored clothing so you will be more noticeable and carry a first aid kit with you.

These are just a few safety suggestions for you to consider while enjoying the long holiday weekend ahead. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Labor Day!