Inflatable Kayak Blog

Creek Company is getting the jump on everybody by releasing their 2011 Sport XR 1 – 8 foot inflatable pontoon fishing boat now. The XR 1 is their best selling pontoon. So when the 2010 models sold out quite awhile ago, the 2011 version was moved ahead of schedule to fill the gap.

You’ll notice some small improvements over previous models, but one of the best features of the XR 1 is that you can fully take it down without tools. It’s light (50 pounds) and easy to carry, too. And the Creek Company Sport XR 1 comes with a high volume two-way pump with an adapter ring that fits all of the Creek Company product line. Some pontoons don’t include the pump with purchase, making it a hassle for the customer. Creek Company also offers their Lifetime Guarantee that all of their products are free from defects in material and workmanship to the original owner for as long as they own the product. (This does not cover normal wear and tear or abuse of the product.)

You can check out the Creek Company Sport XR pontoon boat at PortableKayaks.com, where they are offering a 10% discount off the normal retail price through the end of 2010.

Two Sea Eagle 380 Inflatable Kayaks are co-starring in an independent film (documentary) about a kayaking trip down America’s great river, the Mississippi. The movie is titled “The River is Life”. Ryan Jeanes and Phillip Hullquist were filmed as they paddled two inflatable Sea Eagle kayaks from Lake Itasca, Minnesota (the source of the Mississippi) to New Orleans, Louisiana. They stayed in people’s homes, camped along the riverbanks, and had to contend with wind-swollen lakes, barge traffic, and massive boat wakes.

The documentary is a fun-filled journey with lots of surprises and unique encounters with real people, some a bit on the unusual side. You’ll find a more detailed story here at 11Visions.com.

The movie is initially being presented in a 42 stop movie tour down the same route as they adventurers paddled. It began August 4th and will end in New Orleans on Halloween night. You can check out the schedule and see the movie trailer at TheRiverIsLife.com, where they are also offering a chance to win a Sea Eagle 380 Inflatable Kayak just like the ones they paddled on the trip.

Jeanes and Hullquist have filmed other documentaries through their production company, 11 Visions, including “The Hitchhiking Movie” where Ryan hitchhikes across the entire United States. Click here to visit 11 Visions.

PortableKayaks.com and Sea Eagle are teaming up to offer some end of the season discounts on their most popular inflatable kayaks, the 330 and 370 models. Both versions are made to be used as tandem (two person) kayaks or as solo (one person) kayaks. The 330 is a little over 11 feet long and the 370 is a little over 12 feet long. Both are very durable and easy to store, transport and inflate.

Each kayak package comes with pump, paddles and carry bag. Everything you need to start paddling except for life vests. The 330 and 370 are each available in a Deluxe and Pro Package. The main difference being the type of seat. The Pro Pkg. seats are firmer and give better back support.

It’s easy to take advantage of the savings. Simply type the coupon code in on the PortableKayaks.com checkout page. To save $20 on a Sea Eagle 330 kayak, use the coupon code 330summer. To save $20 on a Sea Eagle 370 kayak, use the coupon code 370save20.

As an extra incentive to customers, Portable Kayaks FaceBook Fans are receiving an extra $5 discount bonus. If you currently are or if you become a Fan (click that you “like”) of Portable Kayaks on Facebook, you’ll have access to a ‘fan only’ coupon code for the extra $5 discount. Click here to become a ‘fan’. You need to be logged into your FaceBook account.

These coupon codes for Sea Eagle 330 and 370 inflatable kayaks will be available for a short time only. Prices are expected to go up at the end of September (2010), so this is a great time to buy.

Innova inflatable kayaks are designed to be very durable, versatile and easy to transport. In fact, Innova kayaks will fit into your overhead bin as carry-on luggage, your backpack, or the trunk of your car. They’ll also handle whitewater and make excellent fishing kayaks, depending on which of the dozen different models you choose.

Only thing is, in most cases, when you purchase an Innova kayak you have to purchase the pump and paddles separately. PortableKayaks.com has solved that problem for you. You won’t have to spend extra time choosing a pump and paddle because they’ve put together a “Pump & Paddle Package” option that includes the recommended pump and paddles for the Innova inflatables.

The add-on foot pump is the Bravo Scoprega 1, a hearty 5 liter pump that fills your kayak or inflatable boat in no time. The add-on paddle choice is the very high quality Aqua-Bound Manta Ray four part paddle that’s easy to transport and light in your hands. You can also choose between an aluminum or fiberglass shaft. Of course, if you already have a pump or paddles, you can pick out whatever you need to complete your package. And, best of all, these “Pump & Paddle Packages” are discounted below regular retail price when you purchase an Innova inflatable kayak from PortableKayaks.com.

By Sam Wright

The family was over this weekend to celebrate a birthday, so I had to do some bragging. I brought out the inflatable kayak to show the guys my toy and explained how much fun I had. Of course I went through all the benefits. The biggest was enjoying the “peace and quiet” a few days out of each month so I could ponder the universe without any interruptions. After working my demanding job all week and all the other obligations that we all face each day, a day or two on the river does the trick to rejuvenate and invigorate the soul.

The last benefit won the crowd, well all except one.  Bobby is my brother’s son. At age 21, he looked at the kayak and agreed that looked like fun for a few old guys who wanted to wander around the waterways and get away from it all, but he had grander plans.  Bobby talked about going to Hawaii (someday) and surfing the big waves. Not to be outdone, I got out the laptop and pulled up the PortableKayaks.com web site. Low and behold he saw something that he didn’t know existed; a paddle board. It was perfect and he was sold.

The paddle board wasn’t a surf board and going away to Hawaii was at least a couple of years down the road, but it could be used here and now and, even with Bobby’s new job, this was in the affordable range. He ordered the LongBoard 11 Stand up Paddle Board Startup Package. The fact that it touted giving you a fantastic work out and a greater view of the water were two attributes that sold him on the new toy.  With the paddle board you can stand up to paddle and enjoy the near surfing experience or you can sit down for some comfort and still have a great workout.

Showing Bobby the paddle board made me ready with my upcoming birthday wish. Just wait until I tell my wife about this new addition to our water equipment. We can’t be outdone by a mere 21-year-old. My wife is equally as energetic and competitive as I am. I bet we might have to have two just like we did with the original kayaks.

I wrote a while back about our two Sea Eagle portable kayaks. Sometimes we take one and spend a day together and sometimes we take them both. My best bud and his wife like to travel with us and more often than not, the two ladies travel together in one and have their “girl talk” time, while me and my pal kibitz in the other.

I hope my 21-year-old nephew finds himself a good woman that is as much fun as my wife. We are raising our own team of kayakers and the family four passenger version is on the purchasing horizon a couple of years down the road.

In the meantime, we are having a blast with our weekend sport. This is much better than joining a gym.  You can watch the incredible scenic water ways, enjoy a day in the sun, and get exercise in the best way possible – while playing –after all, if it works well for the kids, why shouldn’t it work for us.

My advice to my 21-year-old nephew at the end of the day was to buy great toys and find a girl who enjoyed playing the games he liked to play. It’s worked well for me.

Technology continues to advance at a rapid rate in all forms of product development including inflatable kayaks and watercraft. One of the more recent innovations is the high pressure drop stitch construction process that has enabled the development of inflatable stand-up paddleboards.

Drop stitch construction allows a much higher air pressure than other inflatable technologies. Thousands of tiny threads connect the top and bottom layers of the board, which means an inflatable paddleboard can hold 12 pounds of air pressure, more than double the working pressure of other technologies. The resulting stiffness makes for a hard surface that you can stand on.

When Sea Eagle introduced their new Fast Track 385ft kayak, they included a drop stitch floor which increases the rigidity of the kayak and adds to the efficiency of the paddler’s strokes. This concept has become such a “hit” with customers and made such a difference in paddling performance that Sea Eagle is now including a drop stitch floor with their complete line of Explorer kayaks, the 420x, 380x and 340x. The new floor replaces the I-Beam floor that has been the standard since the Explorer kayaks were introduced.

by Dee Owens

When choosing between the Sea Eagle Fast Track 385ft Deluxe Package and the Pro Package you will want to evaluate which package fits your needs. Here you will find specifications between the two packages offered to help make a better choice.

The Sea Eagle Fast Track 385ft inflatable boat is NMMA certified, with two self-bailing drain valves, spray skirts in both the front and back, plenty of storage space below and above with lacing made of elastic rope. The large skeg at the rear gives more yaw control and faster speeds. The skeg itself is removable. Sitting on the Sea Eagle Fast Track 385ft is even more secure with six D-Rings to secure seating for up to two people, grab handles at both the bow and stern, and the high pressure drop stitch flooring for more stability. The hull is resistant to both sun and saltwater, and comes in a nylon carry bag, with a repair kit and printed instructions. The interior dimension of the Sea Eagle Fast Track 385ft is 11-foot by 7-inches in length and 1-foot by 3-inches in width, while the exterior is 12 foot by 6 inches by 2 foot 10 inches. Even at that size, it will condense down to a 31-inch by 19-inch by 8-inch inflatable boat. The boat itself weighs a mere 35 pounds and can safely carry up to 750 pounds. It is made of 1000 reinforced Denier, which inflates in approximately 7 minutes. The Sea Eagle Fast Track is suitable for waters up to Class III.

The Deluxe Package comes with the Sea Eagle Fast Track 385ft Inflatable Boat, two 7-foot and 10-inch AB30’s paddles, two inflatable seats, a foot pump, and free shipping.

The Pro Package contains the inflatable boat, two 8-foot AB40 paddles, two tall back seats, two stern bags, a foot pump and free shipping as well.

The major differences between the two packages are the seating, Stern bags and paddles. Seating wise, the Tall Back Seat is more similar to the seating in high end hard shell kayaks, although I’ve heard that people like the inflatable seat almost as well. It seats you higher and still gives good back support. The paddles are both four piece, but the AB40 is a step up from the AB30. Lastly the Stern Bags are for the kayaker that takes longer trips and needs to carry some gear with them. If you’re an overnighter, they’ll surely come in handy.

When choosing which Sea Eagle Fast Track package is right for you, take in to consideration the amount of time you will be spending in the water, your personal comfort preferences and what type of paddling you’ll be doing.

The author, Dee Owens has published two novels and a variety of articles online. You can learn more about her at http://deeowens.webs.com.

It’s always great to hear from customers about their experiences with their inflatable kayaks. Recently, Chuck R. from Texas e-mailed me his inflatable kayak review and a video with these comments … “Just had the kayak out yesterday for the first time on the Guadalupe River in Gruene (“Green”) Texas. It performed beyond my expectations and we had a fantastic time with it. My 2 daughters and their friend occupied it for the most part with 3 adults in inner tubes alongside. During rapids, as in this video, I climbed aboard and guided them safely down the river. I love the kayak, and will probably reach for this one first over either of my 2 sit-on-tops. Great boat!”

Just click this link Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track on Guadalupe River in Texas and the video will open.

Enjoy the video and if you have any questions about the Sea Eagle Fast Track 385, feel free to give me a call at PortableKayaks.com.

The new Sea Eagle Fast Track 385 inflatable kayak has generated quite a bit of buzz since it was released earlier this year. The Fast Track limits ‘yaw’, the side to side motion resulting from paddle strokes, with the incorporation of a rigid, drop-stitch inflatable keel into the kayak’s bow and a large removable skeg under the stern. Probably the most unique feature is the Fast Track’s high pressure drop-stitch floor. The floor not only increases the rigidity of the FastTrack kayak, and adds to the efficiency of the paddler’s strokes, but it also allows the kayaker to stand up in the craft just like you would on a stand up paddleboard.

Recently, Cecil Hoge, the designer of the Sea Eagle Fast Track kayak, made a video to answer customer’s questions and explain the design innovations in more detail.

Summer begins tomorrow and Portable Kayaks is starting the season with a sale on Sea Eagle 330 Deluxe and Pro packages. The 330 has been Sea Eagle’s most popular kayak over the past 4 years. It’s durable, functional and an excellent value at under $250 for the entire package, including pump, paddles and storage bag. Everything you need to start paddling except for PFD’s. Use the coupon code 330summer and you’ll get $20 off either the Deluxe or Pro package.

Better yet, Portable Kayaks FaceBook Fans are receiving an extra discount bonus. If you currently are or if you become a Fan (click that you “like”) of Portable Kayaks on Facebook, you’ll have access to a ‘fan only’ coupon code for the extra discount. Click here to become a ‘fan’. You need to be logged into your FaceBook account.

This is a short term sale. It ends June 30, 2010. So check it out soon.