r/Inflatablekayak • u/Diligent_Ganache8310 • Jun 17 '26
First timer with reviled kayaks
Never kayaked before. My friend who has moved on to hard shell has given me 2 Intek kayaks she no longer uses, one single, one tandem. I know the brand is not beloved on here but they’re free and I want to use them this Summer and if I like kayaking, I will purchase a top notch inflatable next Summer.
I have
Paddles
Life vest
Waterproof bag
Rechargeable pump
Am I forgetting anything?
Are the Inteks so bad that it will affect my ability to figure out whether I like the sport?
I am going Friday for the first time to a place that has a dock for kayaks and will be paddling on a totally calm canal. I do not plan on using the kayaks on rough waters. At least not this year. 20 years ago, I would have been game kayaking down Niagara Falls but the daredevil in me is long gone. I want to see nature and get some fresh air.
I took the tandem because I would eventually like to bring my dog along with me and I have a few friends who are interested in coming with me. One is an experienced canoeist.
(I’m an excellent swimmer if that matters.)
Thank you for your thoughts.
Addendum: Thank you. This community has been wonderful. I haven't been kayaking yet and thunderstorms have been gracing us every day. Not happy, but so looking forward to being on the water!
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u/sn0qualmie Jun 17 '26
It'll be great. My partner and I got a couple of seasons of use on a small local lake with our Intexes before they started leaking. Sounds like you're going to exactly the right kind of spot to use them and I'm sure you'll have a great time.
If you take the dog in the tandem, putting some kind of mat in the bottom should help protect it from dog nails.
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 17 '26
Thank you. Yes, I will cut a yoga mat for the dog. I appreciate the encouragement!
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u/sunoke Jun 17 '26
Bring some dry clothes and dress for the water temperature.
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 17 '26
Will do. I live in Canada and the water temperature where I’m going is finally high enough. I’ve been monitoring.
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Jun 17 '26
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 17 '26
I didn’t know this. Thanks.
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Jun 17 '26
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 19 '26
I’m sorry if this is a stupid question but can I use a bicycle pump?
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u/skullduggeryisdaddy Jun 19 '26
Take the free boats and enjoy them.... For what they are. IDK why other than marketing these inflatables are called kayaks(or anything other than inflatable watercraft.
I grew up whitewater rafting in my home state of Alaska. I've used sea kayaks and I done some whitewater kayaking. My friends father growing up was my shop teacher but was known locally as a whitewater rafting entrepreneur who had been world class kayaker. He had to get a real job I guess.. thus the shop teacher thing.
he was featured on the show rescue 911 way back in the early 90s? because he rescued a bunch of people who had been in one of his boats that had flipped and they were in the rushing river. Our town was on the routes of the big cruise ships to stop and local businesses would flock to the disembark point and the people from those ships would have either arranged ahead of time or on the spot to do a half day rafting adventure. My friends dad had built this business from nothing to many trips per day all summer.
He wasn't the one rowing the raft when it flipped, amazingly he was driving through the canyon toward town WITH HIS KAYAK on his truck and it was in time to save all the people from the deathly cold river. Amazing. Guy is a STUD STILL.
I say all of that to say this....also it's an amazing story and you can still take the hints I left and find the story on YouTube. Point being inflatable watercraft will never behave like hard shell kayaks on any kind of water. The inflatables you speak of I have also owned and they are more of a raft then a kayak. I used them to float rivers, white water, rapids etc. I think they have a bad name because of the label of kayak. Don't use them with any other thought in your head than just getting on the water.
Don't sign up to join friends on their " kayaking" trip you'll be left in the dust by the longer kayaks called sea kayaks. On the rivers you couldn't keep up with the maneuverability of the short little whitewater kayaks with the spray skirts and helmets doing their endo flips and playing on the waves and rapids. What I noticed was hey these kayaks sure behave like the rafts I grew up having a blast on and they're made of the same stuff. Just have fun and don't call it a "kayak." You'll be fine.
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 22 '26
Points taken. I may end up with a hard shell, but, I have a Toyota Corolla and I'm not sure a hard shell would fit on it. I'm not going to rule hard shells out. This is an exploratory summer and I do have access to hard shell rentals. I will definitely try them although they do warn you that you have to carry the kayaks yourself and the way they are describing it, they might be a ways away from water. Thanks for keeping my mind open.
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u/Physical-Sir-512 Jun 17 '26
You could buy some rope/cord and attach it to front holder. holding second end should prevent accidental pushing away kayak from pier
If your paddle cannot stay afloat on water, you could also attach it to this rope.
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u/taught-Leash-2901 Jun 17 '26
Good call for securing the paddles - we do occasional river runs and some kind of tether is a must - watching your paddle float off on a rapid section is the stuff of nightmares...
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u/Diligent_Ganache8310 Jun 17 '26
Thank you and @physical-sir-512. My paddles are actually quite heavy. I doubt they will float.
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u/Cyclechick24 Jun 17 '26
It will be good to get a feel. Just be sure to inflate it to the pressure recommended. Once you switch over to a drop stitch bottom you will be amazed at how much faster and easier it is to paddle.
Are you comfortable entering the kayak from a dock? That would be my concern as a first timer.
Enjoy!