Please note that we plan to
break this section into
solo-only touring models, and
the tandem/combo kayaks in the
near future. For now they are
mixed together as they were on
our old site for the last nine
years.
Touring inflatable kayaks &
canoes include the Tributary
Sawtooth, our Trinity and new
Trinity II, AIRE SuperLynx,
Sea Tiger, AIRE Traveler;
Innova Helios, Solar, Sunny, &
Seaker, and Incept Pacific &
Tasman. All the models in this
section are for paddling
oceans, bays, lakes, and flat
rivers, and some like the AIRE
Traveler and SuperLynx are
solid whitewater craft as
well. Innova's Vagabond is
under the Tandem Whitewater
heading.
Some models in the Touring
section work better than
others in the rapids because
they are wider and more
stable, or incorportate self
bailing floors. As mentioned
above, AIRE's SuperLynx and
Traveler are both fine
whitewater choices as long as
you are not consistantly
running shallow, boulder
filled streams where you need
to pivot sharply every few
seconds. Small-tubed models
like the Innova Solar will
fill quickly with water since
the Innovas in this section
are not self-bailers, but if
you don't mind emptying bilge
often, a Solar could be used
on easier class I & II rivers.
We've used the Mississippi
inflatable canoes on runs even
at fairly high flows but they
could hardly be called a
whitewater boat either.
Helios's, Incept Tasmans, and
our original Trinity aren't
bad in the rapids, whereas the
newer Trinity II, Sawtooth,
and Seaker models should only
be used in the ocean or on
relatively flat deep rivers.
A good touring inflatable
should have as little
resistance to the wind & water
as possible, yet should not
always feel on the verge of
tipping over. How fast do
these boats go? It depends on
the hull design of each model.
The Sawtooths, new Trinity
II's, and Seakers go very
fast. They're comparable in
every way to many plastic
bodied sit-in kayaks. The best
of the rest here will be about
as zippy as a decent folding
frame boat, and a bit faster
than most sit-on-tops (with
the exception of the AIRE
Traveler, which is pretty
slow).
Under many conditions, a
well designed inflatable has
advantages over it's plastic
and fibreglass cousins. When a
hard boat is paddled through
medium height waves, each time
a wave face collapses onto the
front deck the hardshell comes
nearly to a dead stop.
Sit-on-tops with wider bows
and a degree of rocker (lift
at one or both ends) may do
better than sit-in hardshells.
But almost all inflatables
will tend to ride up over
these same waves, slowing
somewhat but not halting.
There is also an additional
safety factor to be gained
with an inflatable in
turbulent seas, or big fresh
water bodies like the Great
Lakes where wind storms often
begin with little warning.
That is, self-rescue is a
snap. You flip, just turn the
boat upright and crawl back
in!
Performance in waves is not
the only positive issue with
regard to inflatables. Maybe
the idea of flying with your
boat and avoiding huge cargo
fees appeals to you, or
perhaps you would simply like
more stability, safety,
floatation, and easier
re-entry than rigid boats
offer. If so an inflatable is
a great way to go. Some
paddlers just want to be able
to throw the boat in their
trunk and not worry about a
hardshell being stolen off a
roof rack, which has actually
happened to several of our
customers.
The AIRE Sea Tiger was only
available sporadically the
last two years, but AIRE will
try to keep them on the shelf
in 2010.
All kayak and all raft
accessories (except rowing
frames) are priced at 10% off
if purchased with the boat.
This can even include
high-ticket items like
drysuits. If you buy two or
three boats at the same time,
or can pay with a cashier's
check or bank wire transfer,
we will also work with you on
the numbers. Incept brand
boats, however, cannot be
discounted due to very low
margins.
Innova's Sunny, Helios I
and Helios II will all be
going back to the fully coated
versions of pre-2007 this
year, except the Solar. That
model won't change from the
"litepack" (the top of the
inflatable floor and
inward-facing halves of the
side tubes are uncoated with
rubber on the exterior) of the
last few years because it has
been discontinued by the
factory. Which is something
that really annoys us since
this is one of the most
versatile solo models made by
Gumotex, the supplier for
Innova. For the time being we
still have a good supply of
the litepack Solars. The Sunny
and Helios tandems will retain
the improved seat designs of
the litepack models, and the
Sunny now comes with a
bolt-less tracking fin.
On the AIRE front, there
haven't been any major changes
to the Sea Tiger or Traveler
canoe, but the 2010 Superlynx
now comes with a removable
tracking fin, the same one
used on the Sawtooth kayaks.
The price, despite this very
nice and long overdue
addition, was actually reduced
by $50 this year too!
For information on other
brands not shown here, please
see our FAQ page. We would ask
that you do not send emails
with a vague inquiry as to
"what do you Boat People think
of such-and-such a kayak".
We're happy to answer
questions, but please let us
know what you will be using
the boat for, how far you
might be paddling, if you will
be flying on airplanes with
it, whether you want to carry
camp gear, etc. The more you
tell us the better we can dial
in the advice. Just because we
don't carry a particular
inflatable does not mean you
shouldn't buy it. There are
some decent buys and some
great designs not found here,
we just try to home in on the
best values we can offer
paddlers. And there are some
good reason why certain brands
or products do not appear
herein.
