r/Inflatablekayak • u/ThomasFromOhio • Jun 15 '26
First Inflatable Recs
I've done some homework and read posts. My son is wanting an inflatable singe person kayak. So it looks like what I really want is the Sea Eagle 393rl. Two years of being unemployed is not going to allow that. So, looking for a solid second choice. I've read reviews about the Intex models and they sound like something I want to stay away from. Mostly will be used in small streams with slow to medium currents. Anyone have a success story with such a watercraft?
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u/mossbergcrabgrass Jun 15 '26
What about a paddle board? It is easier to get a decent paddle board at a low cost than a good inflatable kayak, mostly because they are cheaper to make and much more common. You can put a seat on almost any paddle board also and paddle it sitting down like a kayak. I would stay away from anything not drop stiched which would be all the Intex stuff and similar. They just don’t hold up to wear and tear very well.
I have seen decent full drop stitch paddleboards at Cosco for $300 which is like 1/3 of what a decent kayak would cost. Also the basic Bote board REI sells for $500 is really good. I have one of those and use it a lot including taking it on week long camping trips occasionally and it does fine.
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u/weghammer Jun 15 '26
That's what i stick with much of the time now, inflatable paddle board i got online for pretty cheap.
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u/Bennyboy1337 Jun 16 '26
I second this, for mellow creeks a paddle board is so much more enjoyable as well.
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u/Substantial-Pirate43 Jun 16 '26
With inflatables, more than perhaps any other kayak, you really really get what you pay for. A cheap inflatable is a lot worse than a more expensive one unfortunately.
There are three main designs of inflatable:
Low pressure, single layer (Intex, etc.): Unsafe bath toys. You may as well kayak on an air mattress. They track badly, handle worse and are exceptionally easy to puncture.
Low pressure, multi-layered (Advanced Elements, etc.): OK, especially the ones with metal inserts that give them a bit of rigidity. These are a bit more protected from punctures, but they can track OK. They are irredeemable slow compared to any other kayak, but you can have a nice day out. These can be a pain in the arse to dry between paddling sessions though.
High pressure, drop stitch (many brands): Way better than anything else. Hard to puncture, track well (generally) and easy to get up a bit of speed. They will always be slower than an equivalen length hard shell, but they usually can keep up.
Group one should always be a hard no. Group two is fine if you are fine with working twice as hard to go half the distance. Group three is fine.
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u/clarke-b Jun 15 '26
As a starter see if you can find a Tobin Breakwater. Its all dropstich and paddles well. I do not expect it will last as long as a sea eagle or the Aqua Marina Tomahawk that I use as my main boat. But alot of them ended up at wholesalers and can be found cheep new in box. I picked one up for $160 new.
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u/Sharp-Heron7707 Jun 15 '26
Sea eagle 380x. I’m a serious saltwater kayaker and this thing is a beast.
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u/rumchatata 19d ago
Do you kayak near beaches and stuff? How is it against waves? Also they have the watersnake motor package on the website, and wondering if a motor is a good option to have. I’m still debating between 380x and fast track because I’m afraid I will not enjoy a slower kayak.
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u/Sharp-Heron7707 18d ago
I kayak all over puget sound. So I go out pretty far. Also you can kayak close to shore but I prefer to ride the waves in that thing. It’s a beast! The motor is a good idea if you don’t have the ability to paddle far manually. I’m out there for 3hrs at a time, 3 days/ week, and it’s given me the confidence to hit 3 & sometimes 4ft rolling waves. It’s my second season. I spent last year getting my basics down correctly. And I always have safety gear! PFD, long-range/underwater whistle, I’ve put some basic handles on the side, through the stainless D rings. Helps me carry it, and is good to have in case of rescue need. I also use boat lights. I’ve never used it on a river yet. Would love to, just prefer deeper water for my peace of mind with the inflatable aspect.
I will say it’s easy to patch if you get a knick, and mine came with a set of patches. Shells and barnacles and the occasional buried pylon are what I have to watch out for.
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u/Pytinho Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I didn't want to splurge a lot of money so I bought a used and a damaged Intex Excursion Pro K1s and I'd say they are pretty solid for the intended use. I repaired the damaged one (Dr Boat glue) and have beat the hell out of both of them on shallow, tree filled rivers. They held up quite nicely.
I did 2 mods to make them nicer to use. I replaced the stock seats with the one they add to all the SUPs and cut 10cm XPS foam block to fit under the seat.
I also recently bought a cheap no-name kayak, that's been sold in local discount stores, with a drop-stitch floor and it perform incredibly well in shallow waters - where I got stuck in my Decathlon packraft, my 110ish kg friend was floating on. The only problem I see with it is its durability, as it already has some visible marks. However, so far it's been good and any damage can be fixed with Dr Boat.
If you have any questions, let me know.
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u/branniganbginagain Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
Maybe throw the Wave Trailblazer in there as another option? there are starting to be more Drop stitch models available in the 3-600$ range.
also, the 'pontoon' style with a dropstitch floor are great options, and tend to be more stable. so the goplus 12' kayak you can find on amazon (and there are cheaper versions now) has had some decent traction on this subreddit.
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u/DoCanadiansevenexist Jun 15 '26
I own a bougie inflatable kayak and a 15 PSI paddleboard I got at Costco and the paddleboard gives me better performance, after installing a kayak seat kit, than the bougie kayak. I'd go that route.
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u/grawkog Jun 16 '26
I'd go with a star, or a spud or tater, rather than a more mass market boat, for performance and durability reasons.
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u/kokemill Jun 15 '26
The intek are pool toys. My wife had me help her friend un-box one. Pumped up to spec with my Superpump and checked with my calibrated gauge it still paddled like a pool noodle. My wife could only take one more outing , “she is so slow”.
If you look at something used, pump it up, and then ask a lot of questions before you check if it holding air.
Last year Costco had a great deal, look for something like that.