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!

As is the case of kayaks, the solid material versions of stand up paddle boards are the most popular, however there are inflatable SUPs as well. This video shows the Sea Eagle Longboard 11 in action in Lake Tahoe. You will see that the drop stitch technology that allows the board to be inflated hard enough to support the weight of a 250 pound standing adult gives the Longboard owner the opportunity to transport the board without a cartop rack and store it at home in a small closet.

Check out this portable, convenient, yet performance oriented Sea Eagle SUP in this video. And, for an excellent deal on the Longboard 11 inflatable standup paddle board, check out PortableKayaks.com.

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.

An Adjustable Paddle for a SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board)
When buying a stand up paddle, most people look for a paddle that’s about 8 inches higher than a person’s height. That can be a problem for a couple that shares their SUP, especially if they are of different heights. Some paddlers also want to adjust the length of their paddle for different types of paddling conditions. An adjustable SUP paddle is the answer.

My recommendation is the Cannon Adjustable Stand Up Paddle. They are custom made in their factory in Minnesota. The shaft is constructed of your choice of aircraft grade aluminum or lighter materials such as fiberglass or the even lighter, carbon material. Cannon’s two or three piece innovative construction allows you to adjust the length of your stand up paddle as well as break it down for travel. The paddle is adjustable up to 8 inches, for example you can order a paddle that is 74 inches, adjustable up to 82 inches. Cannon custom crafts the paddle to whatever range you specify.

Another reason the Cannon adjustable is a good gift is that anyone can appreciate an upgrade, and the Cannon quality will be a step up from most paddles that are being used by recreational stand up paddlers.

A Safety First Gift
The United States Coast Guard now classifies stand up paddle boards as a vessel as they do kayaks and canoes. Therefore this classification requires, by federal law, that each person must have a personal flotation devise (PFD) and safety whistle ‘on board’ while paddling outside surfing and swimming zones.

The PFD in a Bag backpack is a simple, quick, easy and inexpensive way to adhere to this mandate. Each backpack kit includes one adult sized type II personal flotation device, safety whistle, & hardware needed to attach to board in a beach friendly backpack. It attaches easily to stand up paddle boards and is great for holding car keys, water bottle, first aid kit & other personal items while paddling.

Sail The Wild Blue Yonder
WindPaddle Sails, who make small portable sails for kayaks, canoes and small boats, have introduced the Makani Sail, specially designed for stand up paddle boards. The “Makani” uses existing or owner-added deck hardware for mounting and is easily launched by pulling on the sheets/control lines. It sails downwind and with cross winds. The Makani SUP Sail is just another way stand up paddlers can enjoy their SUP’s.

Well those are my suggestions for stand up paddlers. I hope today’s article has helped you in your gift giving planning. Feel free to share this article with your friends and check back for more in our series on Holiday Gifting for the paddlers on your list. Until then… keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

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!