1

Sevylor Inflatable Colorado Canoe, 2-Person

Overall a fantastic canoe that is easy to transport and use. Took the canoe to mountain lakes (~9,000 ft elevation)and had a great time tooling around the area. Boat sits mostly on top of the water so strong wind can make maneuvering difficult. Covering is very durable and canoe is comfortable for two adults. I definitely recommend this canoe for lakes that only allow non-motorized boats or smaller lakes that don’t get big waves.

2

Advanced Elements Inflatable StraitEdge™ Canoe

I bought this thing last summer, and have put it to good use for 5 times at Lake Del Valle, Folsom Lake, and the Sacramento River. The 2 seats can be removed to accomodate 3 people easily. The canoe is very well-built, with 3 separate inserted air chambers (1 in each side wall, and 1 for the bottom). The 2 seats are also inflated, which can be used as life savers. The front and rear of the canoe also has inflated pockets to keep the shapes. This canoe is very stable and easy to row, as it does track very well in water (won’t spin like those flat inflatables). It won’t go as fast as those hard-shell kayak due to its size, though.

I expect to be able to use this thing for at least 5 years. So far, it looks like it will last due to the good contruction & materials.

3

Sevylor Inflatable Colorado Hunting and Fishing Canoe, 2-Person

The Sevylor Colorado Inflatable Canoe combines the stability, maneuverability and sea-worthiness of a kayak with the comfort, styling and familiarity of the traditional North American canoe. Measuring 10 Feet9 Inch long by 3 Feet1 Inch wide, the Colorado Feets raised bow and stern and double-hull construction make it extra-rugged and rigid, so it Feets ideal for rough waters, lakes, ocean, fishing and diving. This two-person canoe holds up to 500 pounds; it Feets made of durable 18-gauge PVC with a 420D nylon cover and a rugged, fabric-reinforced bottom. It Feets designed with natural camouflage colors so it Feets great for hunting and fishing. It features directional strakes for maximum steering control, and built-in oar holders. The elevated bucket seats have storage compartments in back, while the canoe also features removable stern storage. D-rings and tie-downs provide a handy place to attach extra gear. A convenient nylon carry bag is included. Guaranteed not to leak, thanks to Sevylor Feets exclusive Airtight System, the kayak Feets Double-Lock Valves prevent accidental air loss and ensure quick, easy inflation and deflation. NMMA certified.

4

Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak with Deluxe Package

I purchased this kayak last week as an easy to store alternative to a hard sided or folding kayak. Like others, I inflated it in the living room to see how it worked, floated it in the pool, and then took it to a lake. It works well on the water, and I believe is probably the least expensive way to get out on the water in your own craft. It is easy to inflate and after around 10 minutes I was paddling away. For my first time at the lake I probably covered a couple miles in an hour. The issue I have with the boat is packing it up for storage. Between the side tubes and the floor there is a channel that traps water. I have found it very difficult to dry this adequately for storage, yet the instruction say to dry it thoroughly or it will mold. The only way I have found this to be possible is to pull the bow and stern through the spray skirts and turn the boat inside out. To be fair, this can be done at home, and is best done with partial inflation, say 1/4 inflated. This maneuver requires some physical strength and may be rough on the seams and plastic. Other than the storage issue, I am happy with my purchase and look forward to putting to frequent use. Thus far, I would recommend it to others.

5

Sevylor Inflatable Colorado Canoe – Blue

The canoe is easy to inflate and the handles on each side and each end make it’s 32 Lbs weight very easy to carry. My 11 y/o daughter and I easily carried it through the woods and over some fallen trees and brush to get to our pond. Within a few minutes with kayak paddles I was able to keep it going straight and fast.

Each removable seat has a detachable over sized mesh fanny pack to hold stuff. It can easily be taken off and attached to your waist. That part is not even advertised. The seats can be cinched up very tight for forward support. The canoe has plenty of spots to secure gear with rope or “D” rings. Kayak paddles seem to work real good with the wider side wall compared to a rigid canoe.

I would not try to challenge the 500 Lbs weight limit although I am sure it could handle it. It’s a great recreational but versatile little craft and I very much recommend it. ]]> http://www.inflatablecanoereview.com/reviews/top-5-inflatable-canoes/feed/ 0 http://www.inflatablecanoereview.com/articles/an-inflatable-canoe-for-unplanned-fishing-opportunities/ http://www.inflatablecanoereview.com/articles/an-inflatable-canoe-for-unplanned-fishing-opportunities/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:05:37 +0000 Erik Nables http://www.inflatablecanoereview.com/?p=38 There are those people that like to fish and have time for it. Time for researching a lake or river; time to drive fifty or a few hundred miles to that lake or river; time to spend a few days camping or at a local motel while leisurely learning the newly discovered fishery and having a great time.

Then there are those people who like the idea of fishing but simply don’t have time or never give priority to doing it because their discretionary time always has something of higher priority demanding attention. Does this mean that these people should simply give up on fishing, especially if they like the idea of it and would like to do it? Not at all. People in this situation simply need to think creatively about how to take advantage of unplanned opportunities to go fishing.

Now, taking advantage of unplanned opportunities to go fishing does not mean that you don’t plan. It is what you plan that is different. You have to plan for how you are going to be ready when that surprise fishing opportunity presents itself to you. And this is why an inflatable canoe should be a central part of your plan.

People who fish regularly generally have some type of means to be on the water, not on the bank. This means having a watercraft of their own, maybe access to a friend’s boat, or knowing places to rent a kayak or deck boat. This is because the best fishing is having the means to be on the water. Even if you are fishing around a bank, approaching the bank with your lure from a boat in the water is always much more successful than simply standing or sitting on the bank and dropping a line in that way.

This is why if you want to be prepared for successful unplanned fishing opportunities, you need a way to get on the water. And since the opportunity is unplanned, you probably would not have a traditional boat on hand to take advantage of it. This is where an inflatable canoe is the perfect answer to being ready to get on the water and fish when you least expected to be able to do this.

First, an inflatable canoe is portable. When not in use, it is deflated, rolled up and tucked away somewhere like the trunk of your car. Since you will be using a paddle, no worries about how to lug an outboard motor around. Second, an inflatable canoe is sturdy enough to take on a small lake to catch bass or can hold up just fine for some unexpected river trout fishing. It is easy to check the suitable places to use your canoe – ask around at the outdoors retail store or send an email to the manufacturer. Or check around fishing sites and forums to see if there is any information there on makes and models of canoes and recommendations for different types of water.

Stay with the portable theme to complete your fishing outfit for taking advantage of unexpected fishing opportunities. Keep a mini fishing rod and reel right there in the trunk next to the folded-up inflatable canoe, a small plastic tackle box that can fit in the glove compartment filled with lures appropriate for your mini fishing rig and you are all set with the basics.

Now, the next time you hear about that great little urban fishing lake that is on the drive home from work, you are ready to take a 2 to 3 hour detour on the way home early one Friday afternoon. Park your car, inflate your canoe, expand and quickly put together your mini fishing gear, tie on a lure and have a great time. Now you’re fishing!

If we consider the weight angle, there is no doubt that the inflatable variety scores heavily over the hard-shell one. Their lighter weight means easier maneuverability and thus easier paddling. Its light weight also lends itself to easy transportation even in difficult terrain.

Since this type of canoe is inflatable, it means that it can be deflated, rolled up and just tucked away in the vehicle. Its portability is a huge advantage since there is no need to spend extra money on a car rack to carry the canoe on top of the vehicle.

Amongst its other merits is that since the inflatable canoe is made up of synthetic rubber, it will not crack unlike the hard-shell ones of wood or fiberglass which may crack or shatter upon impact.

The capacity of such a canoe is much more than the older, hard-shelled ones since it becomes more buoyant when filled with air. More equipment can be put in the canoe without fear of the canoe capsizing or sinking.

Since these canoes can be deflated, they make for easy storage. They can be tucked away in any corner of the house without taking up space. This is a boon in today’s tight spaces and because of its synthetic material they are also safe from destruction from insects or animals.

Both the single-blade paddle as well as the double-blade paddle can be used with this canoe and if you already are in possession of either of them, you will save money on buying new paddles. The merits of such a canoe are numerous and especially if you are fond of white-water rafting, you can make no better choice than this canoe.

The SE 330 inflatable canoes can be used for paddling, exploring and the fishing game. It can hold 500 lbs. but weighs a mere 29 lbs. It is designed to carry 2 adults and gears which can take the adventure tourists paddling on a scenic lake or running across a white water river. The “395 Paddle Ski” is a unique type of inflatable canoe.

This catamaran has a bow which is kayak shaped and is sleek and a swift water craft that paddles more fats than the 330, 340-X or the 380-X. Because the surface area is less, the “drag” gets reduced making it travel faster. Another excellent feature of this outstanding devise is that the back pontoons point downward which makes it move straighter speedily.

Explorer II is another 2 person inflatable canoe. It has been conceived for a challenging use as this canoe is amazing in maneuverability and stability. This product can be easily used on rough waves and rapids. Its construction in Hypalon Neoprene with its floats doubled on their bottom part makes it an ideal product for the professionals.

The Motion 2/3 canoe truly enhances the boating limits. Built in high quality PVC, the Motion offers 2 large diameter tubes which provides better stability and allows sizable loads. The drop stitch floor gives the comfort which is reinforced by the seats having back support. The floor also acts as a rudder for an efficient navigation on calm water.

Most of these canoes are inflatable and hardly susceptible to wind as it has relatively flat build. The high aspect bow and stern offers excellent riding characteristics and a balanced directional stability of sinuous agility. These canoes offer the adventure sports minded excellent impetus to take on the high and rough water bodies in their strides. Traveling on these canoes could be an exhilarating experience.

Using an inflatable canoe is as simple as hooking it up with a foot pump and in a few minutes your transport is ready! To end your busy day, you simply need to open the dump valves and the air rushes out in seconds leaving you with a piece of rubber that can be rolled and stuffed back into its pack. However, the fact is that pumping a small inflatable canoe can also be a sweaty job and taking the air out of it can be equally stressful. But I believe this little hard work is worth the kind of comfort you can get with these canoes.

These canoes are quite good in the white waters because of their buoyancy and easy maneuverability. If fitted with skegs or rudders, they can perform equally well in the flat waters too. Though they are not as tough as hard-shell crafts, still they are not easily vulnerable to leakage and bad weather. They can be subjected to the daily wear and tear of commercial use but they are quite stable due to their multiple air chambers and sturdy materials.

The usual canoes are not too costly but require to be used cautiously by anglers, as they are not completely safe against the needle sharp hooks. However, little expensive ones come with fabric tubes that are hypalon-coated. Some even have encapsulated air-cells and can even withstand much more inflation pressure than the normal canoes. They are therefore a lot stronger and a great deal rigid too. This also means that these canoes provide a better control to the user and offer a lot easier paddling.

These canoes are available in solo as well as tandem models with both fabric and foam floors to suit the needs of the users.

An inflatable canoe should never be overfilled and should have just the slightest amount of give in it. The air should be filled in a clockwise pattern around the canoe till it starts taking shape and then filled backwards to the desired pressure levels of that particular canoe.

One of the important tips is to know that air pressure in the chambers gets affected by changes in temperature. If you have inflated your canoe in the cool air of early morning, be prepared to let out some air from different points during the course of the day when the temperature increases. This is because the air in the chambers will expand and increase the pressure due to the rising temperature and this runs the risk of over-pressurized chambers which may explode if struck by any sharp object.

Punctures or leaks are the main concerns in an inflatable canoe and it is necessary to take proper precautions. Special care should be taken while carrying spears, diving knives, fishing hooks or any other sharp objects which may pierce the boat. Even dull matter like oars or ropes can cause damage or abrasion if left to rub against the coating material for a long time.

While docking, be aware of any sharp metal or wood and do not drag the canoe over shells or rocks while on a beach.

Rinsing out your canoe after every use is of prime importance as sand or gravel can plug the air valves and even cause abrasions.

Just keeping these few tips in mind will help you put your canoe to optimum use.

This product is more in demand because of its portability and affordable rate. This canoe can be your ultimate partner while you are making your way through a blasting white river or you just want to sail (like you’re dinghy sailing) through a mirror smooth river on a calm romantic evening.

The inflatable canoe is similar to the traditional canoes but this is an amazing watercraft available as an inflatable package that promises more stability than the traditional ones. These canoes are even quite strong, in the sense that they are almost quite impossible to puncture.

The most crucial part in these canoes is their air bladder. This place holds the air, providing stability and buoyancy to the canoe. The bladders in these canoes usually have many chambers that equalize pressure in the canoe, making the inflation complete as well as uniform.

The canoes are usually made of materials like PVC vinyl, heavy-duty tarpaulin or polyester. All these materials provide different kinds of durability and quality to the canoe and those planning to buy inflatable canoes can do a research on the kind of product and then select the one that suits them best.

The cost of the canoes is also dependent, to some extent, on the kind of product used for the manufacture of the canoes. However, at times, the type of water where the canoes will be used, like calm waters or fast rapids, also decide the cost of the canoes.

These canoes are ideal boats to be used in lake fishing. The cost and easy maneuverability of these watercrafts make them just perfect for such an application. However, being light weighted, the canoes are also in the danger of being blown off in strong winds. In such cases, the use of soft-edged anchors with these canoes is usually recommended.

If you are serious as I am you will go to Big Bear Lake which is a great lake for fishing or canoeing. It is a great place to retire if you like the great outdoors and there are many affordable Big Bear condos.

Some of the canoes are modeled like kayaks but these are definitely not true kayaks. This is because these inflatable kayaks do not provide the facility of being strapped, which makes it markedly different from the true kayaks. Though, it requires mention that inflatable kayaks have better maneuverability.

Inflatable canoes are available at all prices, sizes and qualities. But these canoes should only be bought from reliable sports goods store keeping in mind that these are not just inflatable toys. It should always be remembered that only actual and good quality canoes should be used in open waters. The cheap imitations of theses canoes are not fit to be used outside sheltered swimming pools like an inflatable pool.