NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Other Kayaks => Topic started by: Dalong Boat on November 27, 2017, 09:41:51 AM
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My wife and I live in a small apartment and have no room to store a kayak. Turns out she enjoys fishing too so I've been looking for a tandem inflatable kayak. I came across this one on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J0S0JGS/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Good price and has decent reviews. I was wondering if anyone has personal experience or knows of anyone who has experience with this product. We obviously wouldn't take it to the ocean. mostly small lakes in the east bay (SC, Quarry, Del Valle).
Thanks,
David
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I think this might be the least-expensive, still-acceptable inflatable out there. Anything cheaper lacks the nylon outer skin.
I have the single version of this (the Rio, mine was rebranded for West Marine), and it's great for small lakes. I've taken it to Quarry, Shadow Cliffs, and a couple up in El Dorado nat'l forest. I have had to fix a pinhole leak in the floor bladder (no biggie, used a little dollop of g-flex epoxy and a patch). I didn't even know I had the leak, and the floor bladder emptied while I was paddling.
Only big negative for me was it tracked horribly at first, so I glued a cheap, removable ebay fin to it, now it tracks nicely. Sevylor/Coleman may have addressed this by now (mine is about 10 years old).
The only good-to-know is you have to be careful about air pressure. Likely no different than any other inflatable--
When you first inflate it, the coldness of water will drop the air pressure, so you'll want to top off air pressure on the water. When you get off the lake, you should remove some air ASAP as the sun will warm the tubes, and can increase air pressure to the point of potentially damaging the tubes.
The other positives about it is it's stupidly stable, easy to move around in, assembles/inflates fairly quickly (I did buy a bigger foot pump and a small 12v pump (any mattress pump should also work)), and stuffs into a very trunk-friendly bag.
Small negatives: it's pretty slow on the water, but for the lakes you're talking about, that's not too big a deal, and you MUST get it dry before putting it in the bag or it'll mildew. It's, of course, an inflatable, so you'll want to make sure you keep hooks out of it.
From my experience with the Rio, I'd feel pretty positive about trying this.
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Here's a fin similar to the one I used. About $15.
https://www.amazon.com/MAYMII-Tracking-Mounting-Points-Watershed/dp/B01JS17GH6/
If you find yourself needing this, get some G-flex and flame the surfaces per the instructions. Marine Goop doesn't work (I tried) as it needs oxygen to set, and you're gluing two non-breathable pieces together.
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Wow way better info/tips than the 15+ reviews I read on Amazon. Especially the tip on air pressure. Thank you!
Ill let you know how I like it.
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I had a Colorado and a small fin came with the package that went on the bottom of boat. I was more like paddling a raft. Would not buy one again.
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I had a Colorado and a small fin came with the package that went on the bottom of boat. I was more like paddling a raft. Would not buy one again.
Yea I know its pretty wide and probably doesnt track well. Is it so bad that I wouldn't be able to troll without a trolling motor?
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It was great for floating down the American River, just like a raft, and splashing around Lake Natoma for recreation fun. But definitely not for trolling or fishing from. Doesn't mean you can't. It is sturdy and safe to be in. I sold mine to a guy would was going to use it in the ocean for scuba diving.
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I had a Colorado and a small fin came with the package that went on the bottom of boat. I was more like paddling a raft. Would not buy one again.
Yea I know its pretty wide and probably doesnt track well. Is it so bad that I wouldn't be able to troll without a trolling motor?
I've trolled in mine without issue at Shadow Cliffs and Quarry (post fin install). Before that, it was probably too spinny to troll with, but again, mine is older enough that it didn't have any fin whatsoever stock.
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I have one of these and it does come with a skeg that attaches to the bottom. its not the greatest to paddle, so my father and I built a trolling motor mount that i put a 55lb thrust minn kota on. attached a photo from a recent trip to Camanche.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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I've been on an inflatable at Van Damn rock picking for abalone for years. My first Savylor lasted a good 5 years before leaking too much. Then I go a high-pressure inflatable and have been on that for about 7 years. We sit 3 people plus 3 tubes. Not very comfortable, but beats swimming out to the reef. Tracks terrible and constantly struggle with direction in any kind of wind. Also butt sag a bit, so you almost doing long term sit-ups.
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I have one of these and it does come with a skeg that attaches to the bottom. its not the greatest to paddle, so my father and I built a trolling motor mount that i put a 55lb thrust minn kota on. attached a photo from a recent trip to Camanche.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very cool! I will look into adding a trolling motor on mine if I cant get it to go straight by just paddling!
Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.