http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html Updates, news and questions answered about inflatable kayaks. Keep up with inflatable kayak news. See the answer to questions that have been asked about inflatable kayaks. en-us inflatable kayak Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:40:06 GMT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:40:06 GMT inflatable-kayaks-guide.com http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/best-inflatable-kayak.html What are our choices for the best inflatable kayak overall and for flatwater and whitewater. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:35:50 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/recreational-inflatable-kayak.html Looking for an inexpensive inflatable kayak that you can use on different types of water? A recreational inflatable kayak may be the answer. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:14:00 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/versatile-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Sea Eagle inflatable kayak a good value. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:57:06 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/mick-barnsley-uk1.html I have used my fastback kayak five times in the last three weeks' three times on canals once on a pond and once on a lake. It is stable well made and Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:28:30 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/mick-barnsley-uk.html I have used my fastback kayak five times, three times on canals once on a pond and once on a large lake. each time i use it i get more cofidence in Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:28:01 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/coleman-exponent-fastback-kayak.html Tried my Coleman Fastback for the first time, actually it was my first time on a kayak. The kayak sets up quick and the valves are tough and easy to Sun, 18 May 2008 11:03:25 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/coleman-sit-inside.html Hi: I purchased a Coleman Sit Inside kayak about 2 years ago. In that time I have taken it through rives, 4-6 seas, lakes etc. Pros: 1. Easy Sun, 18 May 2008 11:02:28 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-sale.html We're having a used inflatable kayak sale. We have great boats from NRS and Hyside for sale. They come with a guarantee. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:58:53 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com I'm new to kayaking. I'm considering an inflatable kayak to be used on a fairly slow/moderate river (Susquehanna River in Central PA) for fishing and general paddling. I've been told that I will be frustrated by the extra effort required to paddle an IK stream...which I will do often. Is that your opinion as well. Would you advise me to go directly to a hardshell and stay away from inflatables? Your opinion and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much! Reply: You have wise advisors. Inflatable kayaks are much more stable, the cost for this stability is increased drag. If the river current is doing the work, that's not a big deal. If you are doing the work, it becomes much more important. Some of the inflatable ocean kayaks might work. They are designed for flatwater and don't quite as much drag as other ik's. A sit-on-top hardshell kayak might work well for you. You get the paddling advantages of a kayak, with the openness of an IK. Many are now being used for fishing. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:48:18 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html#Patching-Coleman i just bought a coleman inflatable 2 man kayak and wanted to know if there was some kind of material or glue or something that i could put on the outer layer of the kayak to help keep in from getting punctured? Reply: You can paint on urethane. I don't know if it's appropriate for a Coleman. Outfitters use it, but they are usually putting it on heavier and tougher material. You can get it at rivergear.com and other raft repair suppliers. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:36:23 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html#NRS-Bandit-in-Alaska How would review of Bandit change if used for wilderness run in AK, solo with gear in drybags up front? Stability, 'tippy', handling affects (based on your experience with this model)? Reply: Using a two person Bandit for a solo and gear works good. You might want to put some gear behind you and some in front of you. The boat will handle best if the center of the weight and you are just a little rear of center. Concerning "tippy" - the Bandit is a whitewater design. This means it has better secondary stability and less initial stability. If you are running all flatwater, you'll spend a lot of time correcting your direction. The Bandit does not track well in calm, flat water. If you are running water with a good current, some ripples and maybe some rapids, then the Bandit will work good. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:44:21 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html#Whitewater-inflatable-kayak I'm looking into buying an IK. I read your reviews and found them very helpful, thanks. I mostly would be kayaking Class II/III whitewater, but I want something that can handle Class IV. I also want a kayak that can hold enough gear to do a two or three day trip. I was leaning towards the Tomcat, but after reading your reviews I'm leaning towards the Rio Bravo. What size would you recommend? The 9'9" or the 12'? I'm leaning toward the 12' for the gear space. Thanks. Reply: The larger boat would probably work better. The one person ik's don't have a lot of room for gear. There are a couple of things to consider with the Rio Bravo: One, they are not as easy to find as Aire's or Bandits. Hyside has had production issues with the Rio Bravo line and thus there is limited supply. Two, the thwarts (seats) in the Rio Bravo are not movable. Movable seats are helpful when one person is paddling a two person ik. If you go for the Rio Bravo, you can turn the boat around and run it backwards. That will help you center yourself. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:05:36 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com In your review of the Stearns inflatable canoe you say that the two-layer system and the pvc inner air bladder both require care and attention. Over the long term, these can be sources of problems. What sort of care and attention is needed, and what sort of problems can be caused? I'm asking, because I'm seriously considering buying an IC 140 for mild river paddling. Are there any other makes I should be considering? Reply: Most damage to ik's occurs off the river. Improper storage and incidents while transporting are the most common source of problems. With the two-layer system, water and sand and small rocks usually get in between the two layers. It's hard to get these out each time and most people (including me) don't. Over time this can cause problems. Depending on where you live and where you would store your boat, mold and mildew could be a problem &/or the boat goes through the freeze/thaw cylcle frequently with moisture in it. The two-layer system does have advantages. It gives you more resistance to punctures and it helps protect the inner bladder from becoming over heated and popping when left in the sun. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:00:36 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html#Inflatable-Kayak-for-7-day-trip A group of us are going rafting down the San Juan river in Utah. We are experienced rafters but not kayakers. The river is classified as a class III whitewater. My question is: Which 2 person, inflatable kayak would work well for a 7 day camping/river trip. (Storage and durability) I have looked at all the different brands and I am still unable to make a decision on what to purchase. Kris Reply: I'm reluctant to recommend a specific ik for you. I don't know the river. It depends on your skills, size etc. If you are going to carry gear, a larger and more stable boat is better. If you have to portage any significant amount, then weight could be an issue. You would be pushing the Aire Tomcat to it's limits, maybe beyond. The Aire Lynx cost more but is significantly better quality and it's lighter. NRS Bandits might work if the two people in it are relatively small and someone else is carrying the gear. You can review our IK Comparison and Review pages here: http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-comparison.html If you have more specific questions, I may be able to give better answers. Bob www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com P.S. Know the river and how it normally runs during the season you are going to run. Be prepared for changes in weather and river level. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:54:59 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/i-enjoy-my-coleman-inflatable-kayak.html Thanks for your reviews and honest opinions on the products you review. Let me state, I agree with you that this kayak is good for the right person Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:08:49 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/very-green-inflatable-kayaker.html I just received a Coleman Fastback one person kayak. Does your review of the Coleman inflatable kayak apply to all models? If so. . . Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:22:27 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-trip-outfitters.html Inflatable kayak trips by outfitters Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:34:19 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/the-tuck-in-north-carolinaa-great-beginner-whitewater-inflatable-kayak-trip.html I'll get this started. We outfit rafts and inflatable kayaks on the Tuckaseigee and Nantahala Rivers in western North Carolina. More on the Nantahala Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:59:58 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/considering-buying-an-advanced-element-boat.html I am seriously considering buying a two person Advanced Elements 2-Person AdvancedFrame Convertible Kayak. I need to navigate both calm Florida Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:36:03 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-ocean-kayak.html Ocean kayaking should be broken down into two categories: surf and touring. Use a different inflatable ocean kayak for each. Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:01:09 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/whitewaterinflatablekayaktrips.html Whitewater Inflatable Kayak Trips. Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:50:11 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/advanced-elements-inflatable-kayak.html Learn about and share opinions of teh Advanced Elements Inflatable Kayak Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:09:44 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/kid-teacher.html I love this boat for my eight year old (60lbs)! It's light enough that I can tow it behind my boat (only on quiet water!) and she can paddle it and Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:09:06 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-for-lake.html My husband and I are beginning kayakers. We are wanting to buy our first kayaks to do some local exploring on lakes and calm water in the San Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:55:27 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/selfbailing-or-not.html Hi...I'm going for a single trip and was curious the difference between self bailing and non self bailing kayaks...we're basically going for a float Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:26:48 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/nrs-bandit-vs-aire-tomcat.html I have been doing alot of research and want to get a quality boat without spending an excessive amount of money. Because of this, I was leaning Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:18:25 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/nrsbanditqanda.html NRS Bandit Questions, Comments and Stories Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:15:31 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/northwest-river-supply-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Bandit Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak a good value? Is this light weight boat a heavy weight champ on the river? Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:11:39 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/sea-eagle-questions.html Do you have any comments on Sea Eagle boats? Their 12.10sk claims the fastest inflatable, and it is the only inflatable with manufacturer-reported Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:10:58 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/aire-tomcat.html Is the Aire Tomcat a good value? This could be good boat for you even though it is definitely inferior to it's brother, the Aire Lynx. Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:06:09 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-comparison.html Are you doing an inflatable kayak comparison? Here are some suggestions. Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:52:10 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/used-inflatable-kayak.html Should you buy a used inflatable kayak? Where can you find one? What should you look out for? Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:50:31 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-whitewater-kayak.html There are many choices when looking for an inflatable whitewater kayak. This overview is a great place to start. Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:47:28 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/index.html Reviews, recommendations, and tips on selecting your inflatable kayak. Tips on inflatable kayak maintenance and repair. Trips to take your boat on. Information on lesson and accessories. Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:50:18 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/hyside-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Hyside inflatable kayak a good value? This could be the best value in the inflatable kayak market. Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:50:32 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-canoe.html Do you need to carry an outrageous amount of gear down a river with little effort? An inflatable canoe might be the answer. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:03:13 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/thrillcat.html Dave asked: I am a first-time buyer contemplating buying a ik primarily for fishing flat rivers and small lakes in southern mn. I want a stable platform and something durable but not cheap! Am debating between ik and packable raft (alpacka). Will also transport by car/air for occassional pack-in/fly-in trips.What are your suggestions. My answer: Hi Dave I don't have direct experience with the Alpaca, but they were designed to be packed into Alaskan rivers...so they have to be tough, compact and light weight. Yea, cheap inflatables often means trouble. The primary difference that I can see between a good ik and the Alpaca is involves weight, steering, current, and winds. A raft (and as far as steering and goes, the Alpaca is a small raft) is great if you have a good current. A raft has a lot of drag and doesn't track well. Put a raft on a lake, in the wind and you will struggle to get anywhere. Many iks can do much better on a lake and they can handle rivers. Iks steer more easily, they track better, and you have a fighting chance on a lake in wind. The Alapaca will win the "pack and ship" contest, but it will struggle on lakes. Iks will do better on the lakes and can handle most any river conditions. Ik's will be a little heavier and a little more bulky, but there are many light and tough iks. The Thrillcat by Custom Inflatables has become popular with fishermen. It's tough, lightweight, and stable. http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/thrillcat.html I hope this helps. Good luck Bob Sat, 25 Nov 2006 01:26:08 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-repair.html Basic repair information. What inflatable kayak repair should you do yourself? What should you leave for the pros? And, when is it not worth repairing? Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:36:22 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-care.html Storage, inflation, cleaning, protectants. Proper inflatable kayak care can add years of life to your boat. Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:35:18 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/star-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Star inflatable kayak a good value. See what I think. Mon, 13 Nov 2006 13:36:19 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/riken-inflatable-kayak.html Looking for a Riken inflatable kayak? Here's why you may be having trouble and some suggestions. Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:03:43 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/Stearns-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Stearns inflatable kayak a good value? Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:19:32 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/air-bladder.html Which is better an inflatable kayak with an inner air bladder or an inflatable kayak with one layer of material. Sat, 04 Nov 2006 16:35:17 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-parts.html What is the most important part of an inflatable kayak? Learn this and more about inflatable kayak parts. Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:59:22 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-floors.html Inflatable kayak floors are the most important part of the boat. Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:55:38 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/sit-on-top-kayak.html The biggest fear of kayaking is getting trapped upside down and underwater in your kayak. A sit-on-top kayak virtually eliminates this problem. Most inflatable kayaks are sit-on-top kayaks. Wed, 10 May 2006 18:27:01 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-review.html Read the inflatable kayak review of these boats. Some are great boats, they just don't have the name recognition of some boats. Wed, 10 May 2006 18:25:36 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/Sevylor-inflatable-kayak.html Fun or respect? The Sevylor inflatable kayak was the first widely available inflatable kayak. Many outfitters and hard boat paddlers think it's the last boat they would ever own. Wed, 10 May 2006 18:22:21 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/coleman-inflatable-kayak.html Is the Coleman inflatable kayak a good value? When and where is it okay to use? Wed, 10 May 2006 18:19:52 GMT http://www.inflatable-kayaks-guide.com/inflatable-kayak-blog.html#paddling-reservoir Question: I have been borrowing and using a Perception Sundance 9.5 on my local Colorado reservoir for the past year, and am looking to buy my own kayak. I might want to use it on Class I rivers, but mostly reservoirs. Is there an inflatable kayak you would recommend that is less than 40 lbs (and well under $1,000), and how would you compare it to the Sundance. I do paddle when it's pretty cold, so I might need an enclosed deck. Response: Stearns & Advanced Elements both make inflatable kayaks that may work for you: the Stearns "Yukatat" and the Advanced Elements "Dragon Fly." You may want to check out others made by these two companies. See what best suits your needs. Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:39:42 GMT