Inflatable Kayak Blog

I’ve used the Wind Paddle Adventure sail with my inflatable kayak for a couple years now and I really love it. It’s easy to deploy and operate and it’s very light weight, which is essential for me, so I wasn’t surprised when I read the review of Wind Paddle’s Cruiser sail at Playak.com.

Cruiser sails are recommended for kayaks, canoes, inflatables, tandems and expedition boats from fourteen to eighteen feet in length with a target wind range of 5 to 30 knots. The Cruiser sail is the largest Wind Paddle sail with a deployed sail area of 17.1 square feet. The Adventure and Scout sails unfurl to a sail area of 9.62 square feet. You can see the difference in the picture showing the Adventure sail in front of the Cruiser sail.

The Playak reviewer, Hans Heupink, was quite impressed with the Cruiser, saying “most important for me is the versatility of the Windpaddle. You can use it on any craft and it doesn’t turn a kayak or canoe into a complex, heavy sailing craft.”  “The boats stay real kayaks and canoes, I can paddle them like I always did, and when I want I can catch the wind with the Windpaddle.” I heartily agree with Hans on these points, especially since I paddle an inflatable kayak. The sail I use has to be light, easy to attach and allow me the opportunity to sail when I want and paddle when I want.

Hans goes into much more detail in the Wind Paddle Cruiser review and gives the reader a complete look at all the important facets of the operation from the design through the setup and the handling of the Cruiser sail. You can check out the complete Wind Paddle Cruiser review here.

Watch these Wind Paddle demonstration videos for more information about how these sails work well with inflatable kayaks.

By Sabrina Marx

Hello my friends, Sabrina Marx, your friendly review summary blogger here. Yes, I have taken time out of watching the leaves change and fall; to once again do the research so you don’t have too. We are going to discuss another great inflatable product that has both Pro and Deluxe packages. This time, it’s the Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 inflatable pontoon which is a popular two person fishing craft. So, let’s get to it!

Features and Benefits- The Good and the Bad
The consumers posting reviews at Bass Pro Shop gave the FoldCat 375fc an average rating of 4 stars on of a scale of 1 to 5. Reviewers on Amazon.com gave it an average of 4 out of 5 stars as well.

Here’s the plus and minus comments for the Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Pro Angler

The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Pro Angler “Plus” List:
Great for fishing on lakes with relatively flat waters.
Only 75 pounds so its very easy to maneuver into and out of the water
It is stable enough that you can stand up and fish without having to worry about ending up in the water

The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Pro Angler “Minus” List:
It doesn’t have the best tracking (even with the skegs)
At every fishing spot you have to put down the anchor to avoid drifting from it.

Here’s the plus and minus comments for the Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Deluxe Angler

The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Deluxe Angler “Plus” List:
The FoldCat can be fished with both fishermen standing at once
The seats are well padded and supportive
When rowing the FoldCat the position of the oars are placed where you can maximize your power with each stroke of the arm

The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375 Inflatable Fishing Pontoon Deluxe Angler “Minus” List:
The person upfront, if going at high speeds, will get a wet ride.

Inflatable Pontoon Review Summary:
The FoldCat 375fc is constructed out of quality components and hull material that will surely last. This Sea Eagle rig uses an aluminum flooring structure together with a support system that enables inflation and assembly in minutes. The big pontoons keep the entire watercraft high above water and its hydrodynamic design allows it to cut through water, either when powered by motor or being rowed. Sea Eagle offers two FoldCat packages to choose from, both have the necessities to get you on the water and fishing quickly. That is all I have for you today, so until next time… keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

By Sabrina Marx

Happy Fall, fellow kayak lovers! Yes, the leaves are changing colors and the winds are turning cooler. It’s the perfect weather for zipping up that windbreaker and heading out to the river. So, sit back, sip your hot chocolate and enjoy.

Today, I have a double review summary for your reading pleasure. What I mean by “double” review is that I’ve broken down the customer ratings of both the Deluxe and Pro versions of the Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track inflatable kayak. The hull is the same for both versions, however the difference is that the pro package comes with high-back seats and better paddles, as well as two storage bags that attach to each end of the kayak. For those who love to fish there is also a new fishing package with an elevated swivel chair that is ideal for anglers.

The Sea Eagle Fast Track was introduced in 2010 and in a very short time, it has become one of Sea Eagle’s most popular inflatable kayaks. Let’s see what customers have said about it …

Features and Benefits- The Good and the Bad
The consumers posting reviews on Paddling.net gave an average rating of 9 stars on of a scale of 1 to 10. Reviewers on Amazon.com gave the Fast Track an average of 5 out of 5 stars.

Here’s the plus and minus comments for the Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Pro …

The Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Pro “Plus” List:
Closeable self-bailing valves
Very rigid drop stitch floor
Plenty of storage
Tracks really well for an inflatable kayak

The Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Pro “Minus” List:
Has a slight yaw (side to side motion)
Not suitable for whitewater

Here’s the plus and minus comments for the Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Deluxe …

The Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Deluxe “Plus” List:
Has great rigidity
Plenty of room for two paddlers
Tracks like a hard shell with the detachable skeg

The Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track Inflatable Kayak Deluxe “Minus” List:
Travels slower than a rigid kayak
Must use skeg for tracking
Seating is not comfortable for long periods of use

Inflatable Kayak Review Summary:
It was difficult to find anything negative to say about the Fast Track inflatable. It appears that nearly all of the purchasers and reviewers thought it to be the perfect inflatable boat for all open water, such as lakes, ponds and calm rivers. One consumer did recommend that when you are inflating the floor of the inflatable kayak you make sure to fill it as solid as you can. This will help with the strength of the skeg for the best tracking.

I hope you enjoyed today’s summary review. Now get away from the computer and enjoy that beautiful fall kayaking weather, but remember…keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

By Sabrina Marx

Hello fellow portable kayaking fans! Sabrina Marx here with another great review summary for your reading pleasure. This time, I’m compiling customer reviews of the Innova Safari inflatable kayak. Innova built the Safari to be very versatile, being able to handle expedition touring, flatwater day trips, ocean surfing, and Class 3 whitewater rivers. That’s quite a wide range of capabilities, but the Safari seems to deliver. It’s actually one of the few inflatable kayaks that can you can execute an Eskimo Roll in. So sit back and relax, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this review summary.

Features and Benefits- The Good and the Bad
The consumers posting reviews on Paddling.net gave the Innova Safari inflatable kayak an average rating of 8 stars on a scale of 1 to 10. They rated this kayak excellent for use in whitewater as well in calm lakes. So let’s get down the nuts and bolts of the matter at hand.

The Innova Safari Kayak “Plus” List:
Easy setup, packing and daily maintenance
Plenty of on board storage
Good for placid rivers, ocean surf, mountain lakes, and open water as well.
Tracks well with the skeg on.

The Innova Safari Kayak “Minus” List:
The seat is not very comfortable
Has more draft than a rigid whitewater boat
If the boat is packed up before completely dry, it has an odor

Inflatable Kayak Review Summary:
All in all, the majority of consumers were extremely happy with their Safari inflatable kayak by Innova Kayaks. Every review I read had great things to say about their purchase. Several reviewers were considering purchasing multiples of this product for themselves or for gifting to fellow kayak enthusiasts.

That is all I have for you on this fine autumn day, folks. Until next time, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

(The following is a review of the Outlaw Assault frameless inflatable pontoon that was sent to us from Jim Williams in Utah.)

Sometimes, a person can just fall in love all over again. In my case, it’s with my new North Fork Outdoors “Outlaw Assault” pontoon/raft. I’ve owned and used other pontoon boats like the NFO Renegade, Water Otter, Bucks, and Outcast’s Pac 800, to name a few. However, this new Assault is a different breed for floating western rivers, and will excel everyplace else as well. The look, feel, and function are unparalleled. It’s frameless design and integrated oar system set it apart from most others right out of the box.

How else does it compare?
The most noticeable difference on the water is the low profile of the pontoons. With the generous side bags in place, I still have lots of elbow room to cast without needing to elevate my elbows like in larger pontoons. I have more casting freedom. The short, 5-foot standard oars seem to “fit” and work fine on the Assault. The integrated oar locks eliminate the need for longer, heavier 6-foot oars like I needed on other pontoons. The storage clips on the pontoons make securing the oars quick and simple, both on and off the water.

The maneuverability in current is amazing. I popped this little thing behind every rock and into every eddy on the “A” section of Utah’s Green River recently.  I parked it behind boulders right in the middle of the rapids, and it performed like a little inflatable kayak, only with oars. I ran right down the center of all the rapids and stayed mostly dry, drier than in the Renegade or other pontoons with an open front. The river was up (around 2,600 cfs), so the current was strong nearly everywhere. However, I was able to slow the boat down enough with swim fins to cast flies to the bank and into eddies all the way down. It is A LOT more maneuverable with only the fins than the other “kick-boat” type pontoons. I can control my drift, dodge obstacles, and ferry from one side of the river to the other with only the fins. Using the oars, it’s like a sports-car! It dances wherever you want it, quickly.

The closed bow makes running rapids drier. It also is a place to lay down a rod straight in front of me, with the reel/handle in my lap, and without worrying about the tip falling in the water like I did on open pontoons. Netting and landing fish is easy due to the smaller pontoons being close to the water. Stepping in and out is easy due to the lower height of the pontoons. In deeper water, I just pick up the bow, and move the boat over my head instead of stepping over anything. I use a Scotty anchor bracket strapped to the stern for my anchor, which I use to stop on rising fish or just stop my drift down river. There are two small holes in the rear floor that are designed for the straps on the bracket to run though and around the stern. A removable foot brace provides a foot-rest and additional rowing leverage.

The inflatable/adjustable seat is more comfortable than any other kayak/canoe/pontoon boat seat I’ve ever sat in. I topped it with a Therm-a-Rest folding seat, and it’s almost too comfortable! It’s not only perfect for a long day of floating and fishing, but not too bad for a quick nap either. The inflatable seat is attached above the water line, and rides dry. Storage behind the seat is close and convenient. The included side bags have outside pockets that work perfectly as fly rod holders, and they also have functional drink holders. Extra rod holders or holders for conventional tackle could be easily strapped to the pontoon, as well as other accessories.

And finally, and probably the biggest change for me over the other pontoons I’ve owned–It fits “quick and easy” in the back of my step-side F-150 (small bed), between the wheel wells, fully inflated. The Outlaw Assault only weighs 26 pounds!

What could be better?
It needs a few more D-rings for convenience and adjustability of the gear bags, and perhaps to attach more bags and secure other items. Other than that, it’s the perfect one-person floating craft. Look no further for your next ride down the river. Many others are good, but this one’s great.

PortableKayaks.com provided unbeatable customer service from my first call prior to ordering until I received the boat and accessories from UPS. They monitored and checked on the shipment regularly, sent me email updates, and made sure everything was, as advertised, in a timely and professional manner. First Class.

Capt. Jim Williams, Flaming Gorge, Utah
www.FishFlamingGorge.com