Inflatable Kayak Blog

Hi, it’s Sabrina again continuing with my series of holiday gift giving ideas for paddlers. This week I want to suggest two ideas for the young paddlers on your list. Children can also be quite particular when it comes to what they like and want and are influenced by what they see and hear other children talking about. My first suggestion is for the younger children on your list from ages 2 to 7 who like to be in the water.

Sea Squirts Life Jackets:
These adorable life jackets and swim assist vests are colorful neoprene colored to look like their favorite characters from the movies, “Clownfish”, “Grrreat White Shark”, “Killa Whale”, “Blue Dolphin” or “Pink Dolphin”. Because of the fun design, it encourages kids to wear the life jacket when they are in the water. What little boy or girl wouldn’t like pretending they are a whale swimming along side their friends?

But a cute as they are, they are also comfortable for the child. There is a tech fabric liner that provides extra comfort against their skin, they are easy to clip and zip with a heavy duty plastic zipper and clips, and they provide and extra layer of warmth for when your child is blue lipped and doesn’t want to come out of the water. The back fin isn’t just for fun. It is flexible so it lies flat when your child is sitting in a boat or on a chair on the beach, but it is also a place to grab on to if your child is in trouble and needs to be lifted out of the water. It comes in three sizes providing extra comfort. And best of all they are Coast Guard approved.

It’s a great gift idea that can make them happy and you, too. The kids will love looking like a fish and you can rest easier knowing they are wearing their Sea Squirts life jacket.

Kids Kayak Paddle:
For the young paddler on your shopping list, why not consider getting them their own kayak paddle? As I said earlier, kids can be particular when it comes to things they like. Imagine how important they will feel having their own kayak paddle instead of just making due with something geared for an adult. Children’s kayak paddles can be hard to find, but the one’s that are custom made by Cannon are not only high quality, but also very affordable. The Cannon ‘K’ series two-piece paddles are lightweight and have a smaller diameter shaft making it more comfortable for smaller hands to grip. Cannon children’s kayak paddles are made in Minnesota, right here in the USA.

Hope you find these gift ideas helpful for the young paddler on your shopping list. Remember shopping early helps take the stress out of the holidays and finding fun and custom made gifts for your special water lovers can make it a Christmas to remember.

Check back next week for more gift giving ideas for the outdoor person in your life. Until then, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

Hello my kayaking friends, Sabrina Marx here with part two of my series on Holiday Gifting for the paddlers on your list. Today we’re looking at gifts related to the fast growing sport of stand up paddle boarding. If you have one of those ‘stand up flat water surfers’ on your list, here are three gift suggestions.

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!

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!

The 2011 Outdoor Retail Show in Salt Lake City featured lots of products that you might label “toys for adults.” But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t find a variety of family related items and some special products for kids.

One particularly interesting children’s product was the Sea Squirts Life Jackets. Sea Squirts are more than just a necessary, required boating product. They are downright cute, too.

You see, Sea Squirts are designed with a flexible fin on the back of the life jacket. The colors are such that they correspond with the colors of a “Killa Whale”, “Grrreat White Shark”, “Clownfish”, “Pink Dolphin” or “Blue Dolphin”. Kids will love wearing them because they can pretend they are swimming around disguised as their favorite fish. It actually encourages kids to wear their life vests.

Sea Squirts are coast guard approved, so they are not just play vests. And, the “fun” fin isn’t only for looks, it also acts as a ‘grab-me’ handle that can be used to quickly lift a child from the water.

They are easy to zip and clip, on or off a child and did I mention that they are U.S. Coast Guard certified as a Type III personal flotation device. I did, but it’s worth mentioning again.

We’re planning on adding them to our regular line of products at PortableKayaks.com, however Sea Squirts are also available on Amazon.com.

Since we’re in the middle of National Boating Safety Month, which happens every May, I thought I’d pass along some information on a new life jacket I discovered recently.

You know how some life jackets don’t exactly conform with your boat’s seat back. The Clearwater Mesh Back PFD solves that problem. It has a mesh section in the lower back area that allows you to comfortably rest up against the seat. The mesh also adds excellent ventilation in hot weather.

A soft PVC-free foam fills the front and upper back parts of the jacket enabling it to mold to your body. The Clearwater Mesh Back also provides a substantial 16.5 lbs of flotation. There’s 2 roomy pockets for convenient storage and plenty of reflective tape to make you visible in dim light.

The Clearwater Mesh Back PFDis made by NRS. It offers the perfect combination of comfort at a reasonable price. Most important of all, the Clearwater Mesh Back provides safety while allowing unrestricted movement while paddling.