Inflatable Kayak Blog

Yes, Virginia, there are! I’m sure many of us have been kayaking in clear waters and wished we could see what’s under the boat. Understandably, for those who view the world with the less optimistic, ‘glass half empty’ philosophy, it could be a little scary to see what’s under the boat. But realistically, viewing the breathtakingly beautiful underwater world can be quite amazing.

The new Conquest Dyad clear bottom inflatable kayak has two clear panels made of a Clear 40 gauge PVC, that’s, of course, durable enough to stand on. Although light scratches or slight discoloration will not mess up your viewing, it is a good idea to be careful about dragging the kayak on the ground or leaving it out in the sun, which can discolor the panels.

The Dyad is an 11 foot inflatable kayak that’s easy to inflate, store and transport. It’s only 35 pounds. It’s also made so that it can be paddled solo or in tandem. The bladders are made of 20 gauge PVC sheet and they are covered by a 1200 denier marine polyester outer shell, all high quality material.

So if you’d like to do some snorkeling in an your inflatable kayak, without getting into the water and without a mask, maybe you should take a look at the Conquest Dyad clear bottom inflatable kayak.

I know what you’re thinking … “Sharp Fish Hooks” plus “Inflatable … anything” equals “Deflation”! Not so with the quality of kayaks you’ll find on the market today. They’re a far cry from the older ‘pool toy’ versions of the past. Newer inflatable kayaks can stand up to the claw end of a hammer or the sharp toenails of man’s best friend. Needless to say, they’ll also survive even a fishing hook. They’re affordable, too. I’ve seen complete packages as low as $199 for a kayak, pump and paddles. The prime benefit is portability. An inflatable kayak will fit into a car trunk, with room to spare. No need to pull a boat trailer or use a car top rack.

Another advantage that fishing with an inflatable kayak offers is the ability to go into deep weeds or into shallow water that you might not be able to do, even with a small bass boat. Of course, the paddling instead of motoring might give you a little more exercise, but, hey, couldn’t we all use a little more of that anyway? Next time you’re shopping for a fishing boat, check out an inflatable kayak. It’s definitely an option worth looking into.

In addition to the low prices now being offered on their Float Tubes, Creek Company has added some excellent discounts to their complete line of inflatable pontoons for fishing. All of the ODC XR series pontoons are marked down for a limited time, most likely through April (2010), enabling customers to get ready for the coming fishing season while staying under their budget. For example, the ODC XR-8 is marked down $300 at $599.99 and the top of the line, two person, ODC XR-2 is discounted $600 at $1399.99 currently at PortableKayaks.com where free shipping is included with any inflatable pontoon purchase.

Inflatable Pontoons, also called “belly boats”, are extremely popular for fishing because they are lightweight, portable and very maneuverable, enabling fishermen to oar themselves quietly and easily into secluded fishing areas. Inflatable fishing pontoons also provide an ideal seating position, high above the waterline.

While watching the coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, it’s hard not to be impressed with the breathtaking views that NBC uses to introduce and transition their coverage segments. The commercial that features Canadian natives such as Michael J. Fox, Steve Nash, Kim Cattrall and Ryan Reynolds inviting us to visit has some pretty nice scenery, too. This type of majestic beauty always draws me in and in the process of searching for places to kayak in British Columbia for my ‘kayaking vacation wish list’, I happened to run across a blog written by a guy who calls himself “paddlesheep” and uses an Innova Sunny kayak, a very versatile inflatable kayak that’s known to track and handle very well. He blogs about a kayaking trip in British Columbia that lasted seven days and took him through the southern gulf islands, starting in Swartz Bay and ending in Ladysmith. There’s some nice pictures, too. It’s simply titled “Inflatable Kayaking in B.C.”

Now, I have to get back to my “wish list!”

Contributed by Sheryl Brennan

In a blog post yesterday, we focused on some upper body stretches to help with flexibility for kayakers and to build some stamina during the off-season. Now that we’ve given that upper body some attention, let’s not neglect that lower body. Hamstrings, hips, groin, and glutes need sufficient attention to achieve optimum form, as well. Try these simple stretches to keep that lower half lithe:

Lunging Stretch: Keep the knee directly over the heel, and breathe deeply while pressing hips down toward the ground. You should feel this stretch in the hips, glutes and front thighs.

Sitting Twist: Sit on the ground with your right leg crossed over the left and left hand resting on the ground. Use your right elbow to gently press against the right knee. Hold for about 30 seconds, and repeat for the other leg. This helps to stretch the buttocks and spinal rotator muscles.

Cat Stretch: On hands and knees and with feet together, press the center of your back upward and hold for 30 seconds, breathing deeply. Follow this with the back arch.

Back Arch: Maintaining initial cat stretch position, press your mid to upper abdomen toward the ground and hold comfortably for 30 seconds while breathing deeply. Go ahead, let out a M-E-O-W. No one is listening!

There now. Feel better? Regular stretching can also reduce stress, resulting in a better night’s sleep. And by increasing flexibility, extension, and range of motion you’ll be better prepared for the water sport season.  And by the time you put your traditional or inflatable kayak in the water, you’ll find you can paddle further forward and draw through a greater range.

Sheryl Brennan is the author of Celtic Sacrifice, single mother of three rambunctious pre-teen girls, and an avid outdoors woman. Read more about Sheryl at www.sherylbrennan.com.

From PortableKayaks.com a very heartfelt wish to you and yours this Christmas day. May the joy and happiness of the holiday season continue to fill your life throughout the coming year. Let peace on earth, good will toward men be the order of the day, not just the passing wishes of the season. May you paddle safely into the uncharted waters of 2010 and may your wildest dreams come true!

If you’re looking for a last minute gift or ’stocking stuffer’ for the kayaker on your gift list, check out the new selection of kayaking books that have just been added to PortableKayaks.com. Some of them feature content that deals with techniques and tips about the “how to” of kayaking. Others feature some of the incredibly scenic locations around the world where kayaking is popular. And, iIf you don’t find the perfect book in our selection, we have an easy to use search box where you can search Amazon.com for kayaking books or any other type of books that might interest you.

Planning on getting someone a kayak or kayak accessory as a gift? If so, I have a few suggestions. Make sure you buy them something they’ll like. In other words, you might not want to make it a total surprise. A little research goes a long way and you’ll be glad when your gift is welcomed with open arms rather than a confused facial expression.

In the case of avid kayakers, you should be familiar with what they are paddling now and whether your gift will fit their preferences. Kayaks are kind of like shoes. One size or type doesn’t “fit” all. Ask their friends, fellow paddlers or significant others for advice. A portable (inflatable or folding kayak) may not be the perfect choice for someone who’s used to paddling a hard shell kayak. However, if they’re tired of storing or car carrying the hard shell, a portable kayak might be the perfect gift. Accessories, especially paddles, can also be very user specific. Find out what they have, then buy them what they’d like to have.

If you’re buying for a newby it’s even more important to research your choice. I’ve seen a few situations where a wife or husband has purchased a tandem (two person) kayak without consulting (or even hinting to) the other person only to be disappointed when they experienced that “confused facial expression”. The hassle and expense of returning the kayak could be easily avoided if you could have discovered in advance that the “giftee’s” idea of water sports is lounging on a Caribbean Cruise or maybe they have an aversion to paddles or … you get the idea.

If you need a few gift suggestions, maybe these will help you out. A Sea Eagle 330 or 370 is a great gift for a beginner who wants to start out paddling. Sea Eagle Explorer Kayaks (340, 380 or 420) or any of the Innova inflatable kayaks are terrific for someone who wants to upgrade from a beginner level kayak. PakBoat’s Arrows or Puffins folding kayaks are nice for a hard shell kayaker who’s tired of carting around and storing that hard shell kayak. PakBoats track very much like a hard shell, too. And, of course the TRAK adjustable kayak is perfect for the kayaker who has everything and wants more. All of the above also travel very well on planes or in car trunks or the back of a minivan. Some kayak accessories you might look at include these items that can all be used by any type of kayaker, traditional hard shell or portable. You could buy someone a new, lighter fiberglass or carbon Cannon paddle, a PakPod Deck Bag/Paddle Float or one of the new WindPaddle™ sails that fit most any type of small boat, kayak or canoe. If there’s a paddler on your list that’s also a photographer, an AquaPac 100% waterproof/sand proof case is a nice gift. There are also AquaPac cases for cell phones and MP3 players.

There’s some great gift ideas here, made even better by a little advance ‘gift giving’ research.

With varying gas prices and economic changes over the past year, a trend has developed toward more portable and economical fishing crafts. If you’ve been considering a move in that direction, Creek Company is making the decision a little easier. This holiday season (through 12-31-09) they’re offering some really big discounts on all of their float tubes and several of their inflatable pontoons. Some of these discounts are up to 40% off the regular prices.

Float Tubes: The Original U-Boat is only $79.99 ($50 Off), the U-Boat Super Combo, with pump and fins, is only a penny more ($80.00)! The very popular ODC 420 Lightweight Combo that also includes pump and fins is just $200.00 ($89.99 Off) and it qualifies for Free Shipping.

Inflatable Pontoons: The ODC (8 Foot) Sport XR is marked down to $349.99 ($50 Off) and the ODC Super Sport XR is just $399.99 ($100 Off).

Creek Company has been designing innovative watercraft for over 20 years. This is a great time to purchase one of their excellent quality inflatable pontoons and float tubes for fishing.

For those of us who don’t live in the sun belt, there’s a time of year when kayaking is not an option because of the weather conditions. We call it the “off season”. A customer, who lives in Michigan, recently purchased a PakBoat folding kayak hoping he might have time to get out on the water only to fall victim to an early rush of winter. He asked what to do about the new boat he received and I suggested that he should try to assemble it indoors just to see if all the parts are there and they fit together correctly. A quick inspection of the surface will also turn up any defects. That’s a good idea no matter what type of product you purchase in the “off season” or the “on season”. It’s always disappointing to get your inflatable or folding kayak or portable fishing craft (i.e pontoon or float tube) out to the water and find that you’re missing a small part like a valve cover or wing nut that might keep you out of the water. Check it out ahead of time. Also, especially in the case of a folding kayak or inflatable pontoon, it’s a good idea to practice the assembly so you know what to do when you’re ready to hit the water.

The “off season” is often a good time to buy a kayak because of manufacturer’s discounts, clearance pricing and holiday gift specials. But remember to check out your purchase before you use it. Most of the time everything fits together and all the parts are there. But, if not, you’ll be happy you inspected your purchase instead of standing on the shore wishing you had.