bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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inflatable kayaks
Anyone have any experience with inflatable yaks? I have been considering buying a fishing kayak for playing around in various places in Baja like
gonzaga, bola, camalu but havnt because I would only use it a few times a year and would have to put some kind of rack on the truck to carry it with.
An inflatable would be perfect if they perform half way decent.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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I think they were 'Sevlor'..or something?
Baja amigos, Johnny Tequila and Cindy, had these inflatable kayaks here at BOC for many years and they were bulletproof for daily trips back and forth
to their 32' catamaran anchored in our bay.
Their blue inflatable in sitting on one of the amas in this photo taken when their cat's stern suffered a little damage during a storm at Escondido
beach. We manned the pumps! I may be mistaken on that brand name...but can vouch for thier usefullness.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 464
Registered: 1-13-2005
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The name is "Sevylor". There are many other brands too. "Aire' makes nice boats, they actually make an inflatable 2-person sea kayak, very well
built but it costs over 2 grand. It has a rudder that will help it in the wind. The best boats are made with hypalon or pvc and will last a long
time. You can buy cheap vinyl boats for under $100 but I would't recommend them if you want them to last at all.
Check them out on Northwest River Suppy's web site... www.nrsweb.com
They have high quality boats.
The real downside to inflatables is how they handle in the wind. They sit high in the water & have a lot of surface to catch the wind plus they
are very light.
Remember when paddling that the lightest end of the boat will always track downwind, so trim your boat accordingly.
[Edited on 2-11-2006 by bajarich]
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 8-20-2003
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Sea Eagle Inflatables
Check out: www.seaeagle.com for their line of Inflatbles, including Kayaks.
After trying out a friend's, last year we bought a Sea Eagle Paddleski, which is similar to a kayak, but has two pontoons and seating on top. While
it might suffer in a seaway like any inflatable, we use it in sheltered waters and absolutely love it. They have just come out with a new model of
inflatable in which the pontoons are spaced farther apart to achieve a wider, stable platform for fishing, etc.
Not cheap, but quality construction on a par with any of the better inflatable boats by West Marine, etc.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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might as well just put a motor on it for more comfort
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backninedan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 865
Registered: 3-8-2003
Location: Loreto
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BillM, I have two of the center seat inflatibles and agree with you, great fishing or dive platform, just not where the current or wind is strong. I
spun mine in circles the first time it was taken out in a moderate wind, really tough to steer. I need to devise some sort of keel for
stabilization.
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elizabeth
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-30-2004
Location: Loreto, BCS
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We have a sea eagle two person kayak, and really like it...check out their website, they often have specials. They had (probably still do) a 30 day
free trial...so we got one, put it in a suitcase...it's something like 24 pounds...flew to Loreto with it and checked it out...we kept it.
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DavidT
Nomad
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Registered: 4-9-2005
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Here is the one I've been looking at http://www.advancedelements.com/1007.htm
This one can be converted from a single to a double. They also make a single but it is five feet shorter, so less hull speed.
Of course if you really want to go all out: http://www.clearbluehawaii.com/products/boats/napali.html
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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ursidae69
Nomad
Posts: 275
Registered: 2-22-2004
Location: Youngsville, NM
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One of my friends had the Advanced Elements kayak on our Baja trip in December. You can see pictures in my trip report linked here on the Nomad
Board. I know he likes it a lot so far. He has a webpage as well (linked off mine) that details many of his trips in the inflatable.
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