Inflatable Kayak Blog

Happy New Year, fellow paddlers! The first of the year is always a good time to look ahead to new things. Let’s hope 2012 will be an improvement over 2011. Between the economic uncertainty, the strange weather patterns and the even stranger antics of our so called representatives in Washington, DC, I sure hope it gets better. Seems like somebody would be able to figure out that in order to get something done, you have to, at least, try to get along!! But, enough of that hot air. I want to talk about the kind of air that fills up inflatable kayaks.

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!

It’s that time of year again when we all think about making some New Year’s resolutions. I say “think about” because even though you may not make them, you have to admit, they do cross your mind, right? But what about some kayaking resolutions? After all, making resolutions about the fun things in life are much better than those crappy ‘lose weight’, ‘quit smoking’, ‘reduce stress’ or endless other typical resolutions.

I did an internet search to see if anyone had written anything about kayaking or paddling resolutions and I found an article by George Sayour that listed 5 excellent resolutions for paddlers. I can relate to this list.

1. Learn a New Canoe or Kayak Technique
George didn’t specify which technique he wanted to learn, but this resolution makes a lot of sense. Even the most accomplished kayaker can learn something new. And I can specifically attest that learning a better way to execute a stroke can improve your enjoyment of the sport. A couple years ago I started practicing a new technique that made my paddle strokes much smoother and added speed, too.

2. Canoe or Kayak in a New Location
On this one, George is “preaching to the choir”. Kayaking in new waters is one of my goals in life. It’s always exciting to paddle and take in the scenery of a new location. But remember to do a little research about the area first because everything isn’t as it looks.

3. Take a Paddling Lesson
This suggestion might seem like a repeat of the ‘learn a new technique’ resolution, but it’s actually an extension of it. It’s a pretty good idea, especially if you plan on tackling higher whitewater ratings or if you plan on extending the length of time you paddle. Good techniques can reduce fatigue on trips and might even save your life in raging waters. And, you know that competitive paddlers have trainers, so us mere mortals can use the occasional lesson.

4. Try Something Different
This one relates to what I just mentioned. How about tackling some whitewater, if you haven’t already? Or maybe doing an overnight trip and camping along with your kayaking. If you’re into an extended kayaking trip, read this article that Jim Schutze wrote about his adventure in Quetico Provincial Park in his folding kayak.

5. Spend More Days on the Water
Great resolution, don’t you think? Resolving to paddle more has got to result in more fun and more relaxation. Actually, paddling your kayak for more days this coming year might just help you lose weight and reduce stress, too. Now that’s an efficient New Year’s resolution!

Informing potential customers about a price increase isn’t exactly a pleasant task, however I figure that telling you about it now, ahead of time, is somewhat of a public service. If you’ve been considering a purchase, now is the time to act, before January 1st.

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.

Sabrina Marx here with the last article in my series of gift ideas for the paddler on your Christmas list. I personally love to read and because of that, I think there is nothing better than a great book. In this case, here are 3 excellent books for a range of water lovers on your Christmas list.

The first one I recommend is Paddle Your Own Kayak: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Kayaking by Gary McGuffin and Joanie McGuffin. This book is fun and easy to read and covers all the basics of kayaking. If you have someone on your gift list that has just started kayaking or a kayaker who is in the process of buying a boat, this book covers all aspects of kayaking and what type of boat works best. It’s also a great resource for any level of paddler with fun illustrations to help you remember key paddling pointers. Along with all the great information, it has beautiful photography. Your gift recipient won’t want to just put it away on a shelf, but leave it out for others to enjoy.

Stand-up paddle boarding is growing in popularity. Here’s a book that covers all areas of the sport. Stand Up Paddling: Flatwater to Surf and Rivers (Mountaineering Outdoor Experts) (Moes) by Rob Casey. If you have someone on your gift list that is thinking of getting into SUP this will make a great stocking stuffer. But even someone who has been stand up paddleboarding for a while will find great pointers for perfecting and expanding their existing skills. This book has all the help you will need to get started or get better.

My third book recommendation is for the float tube fishermen on your list. More and more fishermen, especially fly fishermen are turning to float tubes to get them into areas on the water that can’t be reached by wading or walking. The book is Float Tube Magic: A Fly Fishing Escape by Patricia C. Pothier. This is a well-written and beautifully illustrated book. With all the information you will need to get your fly fisherman started on his or her use of a float tube to catch those fish just waiting to be caught.

Books are a great gift to complete your list. They are good for the ‘hard to buy for’ folks and usually easy to find or order as last minute gifts. These are just three books I think readers will enjoy, but if you do some research on topics that interest your paddler or outdoor lover on your list, I’m sure you will find something that will make a great Christmas gift this year.

Hope this series has been helpful with some unique gift ideas for a paddlers and water lovers on your gift list this year. I wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and remember to keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

Sailing your kayak. It’s easier than you think with these two portable sails that can turn your kayak into a sailboat. Sabrina Marx here, with part 5 of my series on gift ideas for the paddler on your list.

Even though paddling a kayak is a lot of fun, sometimes you’d like to do something different on the water, like sailing, but don’t want to buy a regular sailboat for an occasional wind-aided ride. There are two sails on the market that make it very easy to convert your kayak to a sailboat. The WindPaddle kayak sail and Sea Eagle’s newest product, the QuikSail. Both sails are reasonably priced and don’t require additional hardware or rigging to be added to the kayak.

These sails are completely independent accessories and that’s why buying someone a kayak sail might be a really good gift. You’ll be adding to the paddler’s options without making them alter their kayak setup. Another great thing about these sails is that they will fit almost any type of kayak, folding kayaks, hard shell models or inflatable kayaks.

The sails are totally different in design. The WindPaddle Sail opens up into a circular sail that allows you to sail downwind with very little breeze. Weighing in as light as 13 ounces (the Adventure & Scout models), the WindPaddle stows on deck in a small folded coil 1/8th its deployed size. It’s available in 3 models for kayaks and small boats and the Makani sail is made for stand up paddle boards.

Sea Eagle has designed the QuikSail universal kayak sail in a more traditional upright v-shape. When favorable winds blow your way, it can be deployed in less than a minute. The QuikSail not only works well downwind, but because of it’s more traditional sail design, will sail up to 45 degrees to the port or starboard. It collapses to around 43 inches for storage.

As I mentioned, although both of these sails were designed with kayaks in mind, they work well with other small boats, too, so keep them in mind as gifts for other water fanatics on your list, too.

Next week I’ll wrap up our gift suggestion series with more groovy gift ideas for paddlers. Until then, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!