TAJ Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 We are thinking about one of these: http://www.bluewatersports.eu/sevylor-hudson--tandem--1-inflatable-kayak--kcc360-2166-p.asp Does anyone have any experience of inflatable canoes? We can get all 3 of us in it (size & weight wise) and it will only be used for a bit of fun, pottering around in, nothing serious. We are off on a boating holiday to the Norfolk Broads next month and thought we could take this as a boat tender and when moored up paddle around the broads and to get ashore when it is too busy (August) to moor in the ideal place. Any infor gladly recieved. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Don't know anything about them but I saw an inflatable kayak in Lidl tonight - £70 odd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Sevylor is a great make. We got a Stearns Back Country and love it - it was a tough choice between it and a Sevylor Colorado. Sevylor and Stearns are owned by the same company anyway so gather they're of the same quality. We looked at cheaper canoes but they don't have the reinforced bottoms (hehe), which is a definite must if you're dragging a canoe in and out of a river. They often don't have multiple chambers so you'd be in trouble if you get a puncture! We had a whale of a time on it on the Broads last summer Perfect for pootling about on a quiet river - as long as there's no wash from passing boats you'll be fine I'd recommend a waterproofdry bag for mobile/cameras/wallets etc, life jackets (this is a good guide to whether to get a buoyancy aid or life jacket) are a must and Tescos/Sainsburys for cheap paddling shoes. We bought these from sailgb - we went for the low cut armpits for ease of movement when paddling. Make sure they're a snug fit (no point in using them if they're so loose they can float off leaving you behind!). When you set out, make sure you agree to match each other's pace! My DH treated it like an exercise at the gym and was at the front paddling flat out. I was treating it like a scenic paddle and was at the back. We both paddle one side so ended up veering into the banks but you'll soon get the hang of it Some people kneel down and paddle - I found that easier, as the sides of the canoe can be quite fat so I needed long arms to reach the water! Check out http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk/ a very friendly, helpful site with useful forum. You need a licence to boat on the river - you'll have that with the boat when you go to the Broads but, after that, you;ll need your own licence if you want to use the rivers again. Cheapest way was through the Canoe England. It comes with 3rd party liability (eg if you hit anyone - unlikely thought and even if you did, highly unlikely to cause any damage). Also can arrange insurance for your boat. Get lightweight aluminium paddles. Ours come in two parts. The T shaped handle is useful if you're paddling one side each, as you can push down on the T. Have fun! If I think of anything else, I'll add it. I'm sure there's something about an neat way of inflating it...! Remember to put the skeg on before you inflate (it's like a fin on the bottom and aids stability). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 Glad you asked the question TAJ! It's something I've been thinking about now the boys are getting bigger - introducing them to the joys of canoeing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 1, 2010 Author Share Posted July 1, 2010 Many thanks for the helpful advice - there is always someone on here that knows whatever you ask! I had looked at a couple of the sites recommended earlier today and picked up that joining the British Canoe Club (BCU) allows access to 4,500 miles of waterways so looks good value. Thanks, Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 CTB does a lot of canoeing, he has a sit on top and an inflatable which he loves (mainly so he can paddle one way and get the bus back). He says the BCU is very good value and also posts on Song of the Paddle and goes on lots of trips with them. I have been in a canoe once as I promised CTB I would - I insisted on a bright sunny day, smoked salmon sandwiches and a bottle of champagne. Think I paddled about 1/2 mile Hope you have loads of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 I'll ask the ex for his opinion; he used to be a white water instructor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 We went for an inflatable over a RIB or wooden/fibre glass canadian canoe as storage and transportation is a big issue for us - couldn't be happier with our solution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 aargh.... OH just sold his inflatable on ebay! I'd second what Tutti Frutti said in full. the only time we didn't get on well with the inflatable was in rough/open / sea water. We brought the sit on top and the inflatable to Pembrokeshire and my OH and his friend found it hard going as it's so flexible. I think it would be perfect for the Broads though. He's just bought himself a canadian to go with the Aegean sit on top so the inflatable had to go - too many boats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 4, 2010 Share Posted July 4, 2010 Sounds like my Ex, Laurie At one stage we had tow white water play boats, a Kevlar racing kayak, a sea kayak and a Canadian canoe in the back garden. When he left, I made him take them all down to the club to live there I can thoroughly recommend white water rafting on the Treweryn at Bala in north Wales; he used to teach there and it's a fun river. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 We have purchase it and hubby will get it in a week for his birthday. It looks good, with storage in the back of each seat, a built in dry bag and storage areas front and back - looking forward to a family try out before the holiday - I bought just the two kayak (double ended) paddles, so someone will sit in the middle having a rest Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 And that person will be........??? It would be me - if it were my canoe.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 And that person will be........??? It would be me - if it were my canoe.. I am hoping it is me - but of course we could take turns. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 The other thing I have done is joined him to the British Canoe Union (BCU) - the membership of this gives you 3rd party insurance + permit access to 4,500km of waterways run by the Environment Agency, British Waterways and a number of other bodies for just under £33 a year. Without this a Norfolk Broads pass would be almost £10 for week and our local river £12 for 1 month and with both of those you have to have 3rd party insurance on top before you can apply, which is included with BCU so it looks very good value. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 This kayak has been really succesful and we have had a number of great river trips with it already - around Eckington & Pershore, doing a few miles each time, a number of trips whilst on the Norfolk broads, evening river trips and yesterday myself and OH did 8.5 miles in the Forest of Dean on the Wye, with a picnic on board for lunch and ended with some L2 water rapids. It really is stable and performs really well and has been fun for all the family - I would highly recommend them. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
