Thrillcat
Inflatable Kayak & Cataraft
The Thrillcat by Custom Inflatables is the most unique inflatable kayak &/or cataraft on the market. It's an inflatable kayak. No, it's a cataraft. No, it's both. Who cares? It's great little boat.
Is the Thrillcat a good value?
Yes.
The Thrillcat is the most unique inflatable kayak on the market. And, it's great little boat. It's a great blend of an inflatable kayak and a cataraft.
It's tough and lightweight. It's very stable. Its only drawback is cargo capacity. It doesn't have much cargo capacity. It would not be difficult to add a net or platform to carry additional gear.
The Good
It's lightweight, tough and stable. And, it's reasonably priced. It may be the single best inflatable kayak for introducing whitewater to new people. Fishermen like it too.
The Bad
It doesn't have any gear carrying ability, unless you add it.
It is not as widely available as some of the other inflatable kayaks.
What can you do with this inflatable kayak?
Is this inflatable kayak a good pool toy?
You could use it for that. It would be under achieving, but because it's lightweight and stable, it would work for this better than most inflatable kayaks.
Would I use this boat on a lake?
I certainly could, but it's not the best use of a Thrillcat. There are better boats for a lake. This boat has good stability and tracks well for a whitewater inflatable kayak. That makes it okay for a lake.
Please note that most inflatables don't perform well on lakes. The exceptions are those inflatables built for touring and/or sea kayaking.
Inflatables give you more stability. The trade off is more drag. You're going to work harder to move an inflatable on a lake. And, if you get a windy day, you could be fighting to make much progress at all.
Would I take this Thrillcat on a calm water river?
Yes, it would do okay. It will get you down the river easily, but you may miss not having a cargo area.
Would I take this inflatable kayak on Class II whitewater?
Absolutely. The Thrillcat is great at this.
It's lightweight and stable, making it great for beginners.
This is a great way (and a great level of difficulty) for beginners to try whitewater on their own. Go with an outfitter or with experienced friends.
And, you can take this boat on bigger whitewater; when/if you have the skills.
Can the Thrillcat inflatable kayak handle Class IV whitewater?
It can. Can you?
The penalty for falling out, flipping, pinning and other river hazards increases dramatically in Class IV and higher whitewater. Go with an experienced group.
Just because the boat can handle the river, doesn't mean you can.
Can this inflatable be used for fishing?
It can be. It's stable and handles well.
The manufacturer tells me that it has become very popular with fishermen.
Could this inflatable kayak be used for an overnight or multi-day trip?
The Thrillcat could be used for an overnight or multi-day trip. You'll have to rig up something to hold your gear, which wouldn't be too difficult.
Just remember, you and your gear will usually get wetter in an inflatable than you would in a hard boat. Take precautions to keep your gear dry.
Can I resale this boat if it doesn't work out for me?
Thrillcats are not as well known as Aire or some of the other inflatable kayaks, but the people that know them know they are good quality.
This boat, and others made by Custom Inflatables hold their value well. The market is not as big as Aire, but with a little effort you should not have trouble reselling your Hyside inflatable kayak at a fair price.
Overall Recommendation
The Thrillcat is a great inflatable kayak to take beginners and friends down introductory whitewater. It can also be a good way for an intermediate or experienced whitewater paddler to run bigger whitewater.
This boat has also become popular with fishermen.
We use Thrillcats in our outfitting. They are tough, durable and lightweight. That makes us love them.
They are stable, lightweight, and do great on whitewater. That makes our guest love them.
About this review
We do our best to make fair and accurate reviews.
The reviews are based on years of experience with inflatable kayaks.
In the end, this review, like all reviews, reflects personal opinion.
For information on the Thrillcat click here...
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