February also may not be the best time to paddle a kayak or use a fishing boat, but it’s a good time to buy one. Especially if it’s a folding or inflatable kayak or boat. PortableKayaks.com is having a leap year inflatable boat sale on three brands of boats and kayaks. The discount is $29.00 off, across the board. That’s $29 because of February 29th, you get it! However the sale is in effect all month long … through February 29th.

You will need a discount coupon code, which can be redeemed within the checkout process. To get the code go to the Portable Kayaks FaceBook page, “Like” them, then click on the ‘Fan Coupons’ page to reveal the code. If you are already a ‘fan’, you already have access to the code.

The $29 discount applies to the following products …
* Innova inflatable kayaks, even the already discounted clearance models.
* Sea Eagle inflatable kayak packages, including catamaran models.
* PakBoat folding kayaks.
* Sea Eagle inflatable boat packages.
* Sea Eagle inflatable pontoon packages
* Sea Eagle stand up paddle board packages

That’s a lot of possibilities. So if you’re in the market, head over to the Portable Kayaks FaceBook page, check out the coupon code and save yourself 29 bucks. Happy leap year!

The Sea Eagle PaddleSki is designed to hold a bit more weight than other inflatable kayaks and it paddles very well when being used strictly as an inflatable kayak. The catamaran style, however allows it to be converted to other inflatable boat configurations. The PaddleSki can be a sailboat, a fishing boat or a rowing boat. Sea Eagle has accessory packages that can be purchased separately for each of these options in addition to a motor mount if you’d like to add a motor to the rig. The sail is full size. The fishing setup includes a swivel seat. And the rowing setup includes a sliding seat for more speed.

I always prefer to “see” how things are done rather than rely only on reading the manual and if you feel the same way, this video shows how to assemble, inflate and deflate the Sea Eagle PaddleSki Catamaran Kayak.

Over the past couple years there have been some true advances in the technological development of inflatable crafts. When I first began selling inflatable kayaks, the main problem was that they didn’t track very well compared to hard shell or even folding kayaks. Not so today. For example, the Sea Eagle Fast Track inflatable kayaks track incredibly well due to their larger skeg, firm keel and drop stitch floor. Advanced Elements introduced the Advanced Frame series that have built-in aluminum ribs to define the bow and stern as well as an optional backbone to make their kayaks stiffer.

Stiffness seems to be the main ingredient in the improved tracking, but that’s not all because of the additions I mentioned. It’s also because inflatable watercraft materials have enabled them to accept more internal inflation pressure. Higher pressure also means more stiffness, which results in a truer tracking motion through the water.

What’s next you ask? Well, that’s a difficult question to answer since manufacturers are not overly willing to share their research and development until they are fairly close to unveiling a new product. From what I’ve been able to gather from my visit to the Outdoor Retail Show last August and from talking directly with designers at Sea Eagle and Innova, my feeling is that we’re going to see more specialization. Like anything else these days, technology tends to lead us not in the direction of a “one size fits all” or “one thing does all” product. More likely, the technology behind inflatable kayaks will lead us to different style kayaks for different purposes.

The best example I can site for you now is Sea Eagle’s re-design of the 380x and 420x Explorer kayaks which will be available in the spring. They have reduced the weight, stiffened them up with drop stitch floors and they have been streamlined to function better in whitewater and ocean surf. The Fast Tracks fit more into the open water niche and the smaller sport kayaks, the 330 and 370 fill the need for the beginner, with more of an overall type of performance, but in the lower end of the price range.

Another example is the new Innova Swing inflatable kayak, also available this spring, which is similar to the Advanced Elements design that encloses the paddler like a hard shell kayak does. The difference in the Innova Swing (in photo) is that it’s much lighter and easier to set up, something that is a must in a portable kayak. One thing about the folks at Innova inflatable kayaks is their attention to detail. They probably test and analyze their products more than any other manufacturer.

So that’s what I know now about what’s on the way in 2012, but you never know when something new will burst onto the scene. I guess if there’s anything you can count on in the inflatable kayak market, it’s change. And, so far, I think the various manufacturers have done a very good job of making changes for the better. Here’s to a great 2012!

At PortableKayaks.com, Sea Eagle inflatable boats are our most popular products and in the past 5 years, the company has not had any major price increases despite rising manufacturing costs, shipping rates and all of the other reasons that have caused companies to raise prices during that same period. The cost increases have finally caught up with them and on January 1, 2012 prices on many boats will go up.

The Sea Eagle Sport Kayaks, the 330 and 370 models, which are the most popular inflatable kayak packages will increase by $50 per package. PaddleSki catamaran style kayaks will go up $200 per package. LongBoard11 inflatable stand up paddle board packages will also be $200 more. Similar increases are set for the Yacht Tender and the Sport Runabout inflatable boats. The 285fpb frameless pontoon boat will also increase by $50.

The largest increases, $300 to $400, will hit the FoldCats. The 375fc and 440fc inflatable fishing pontoons have metal framing in addition to their inflatable material and the cost of manufacturing these frames has gone up considerably.

There is some good news, though. Not all models will be increased. The 385ft and 465ft Fast Track kayak packages will remain priced as they have been. So will the smaller inflatable motormount boats, the SE-8, 9 and 124.

If you have specific questions about any of the boats, give me a call or reply to this post. In the case of larger priced items, we sometimes offer a layaway plan to buyers so they can take advantage of the current prices and take delivery later.

Even with the price increases, Sea Eagle products will remain one of the best values for the buck whether it’s an inflatable pontoon, inflatable boat, inflatable stand up paddle board or inflatable kayak package.

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!