Inflatable boat suggestions

Thanks for the update! It is very helpful.

Had couple inflatable dinghy boats for messing around in - one a fishing type but find pain in butt having to inflate and keep topping up. Prefer having hard kayaks Hunter for fishing and a Perception for fun. Going to get a kayak holder for rear hitch and can still transport the bikes on the front RV hitch.

Just updating in case anyone is interested in getting inflatables for their own camping fun.

The sevylor Tahiti hf-79 kayak is may favorite of the inflatables so far. I can fit myself and the 2 kids in it, but it's a tight squeeze and then they start bickering (he's touching me! She's breathing on me!) LOL. I got the add-on skeg, and the kayak tracks well. Probably not as well as a hard side, but you learn to adjust. It rides above/on the water, and you can use your weight and core to steady it. Takes a little getting used to, but once I got the hang of it, we can cruise at a pretty good clip. I didn't buy it for touring lakes so much as taking the kids out to fish and look at turtles, etc. It serves the purpose tremendously, and fits all my criteria for portability.

The nieces and nephew often tag along, so I also picked up an Intex explorer pro 400 from Walmart for just under $40, so they wouldn't have to impatiently wait their turn on the shore. The intex is definitely thinner vinyl. I don't expect it to last past this season, although it has surprisingly survived being dragged over gravel and launched from concrete ramps. We have fit up to 4 in it (2 adult sized and 2 kids). We do fish from both of them. I don't worry about the Tahiti popping from a hook, but the intex seems like it could.

They both pack down to duffel bags. I carry purses larger than them when deflated. They are very light and easy to portage (thanks Jebby14!) to water. The are also a lot less tippy, which is nice for younger kids who won't sit still, or for rowdy teens who like to jump out to swim, and then climb back in, without dumping everyone else out.

It hasn't been that long, and like I said, the intex quality is very suspect (but under $40, I really can't complain...the valves and oar locks seem to be well attached, and it came with a molded carry handle up front and a tow rope all around). But so far, I'm very pleased, and the kids are too.

My tips:
in the sun/heat, the air expands and will stretch the vinyl, so it's good to under-fill it, and then top off at waterside. Once in the water, the water cools the vinyl so it doesn't seem to expand as much. Definitely let some air out though if being stored in the sun. Also, I either put down a towel or spray the vinyl off with cold water before we take it out if it's been in the sun. The dark green can get pretty hot.

Get an extra-long kayak paddle. Inflatable kayaks are wider than their hardside counterparts, so you need a longer paddle to clear the sides. The width adds stability but it does require a different paddle stroke.

The rowboat style ones (intex explorer 400 and solstice voyager are the only ones I've tried, mind you) are easier to row if the oar locks are towards the back of the boat. The ones molded in the middle make it harder to steer and get any propulsion for some reason. Could just be my technique, but the intex has 2 sets, and both work fine, but the middle set in the smaller solstice gives me issues. Again, longer paddles are better to clear the sides of the boat. Also, the solstice and intex work best if you have 2 people (or an adult and 2 kids) to balance it out. If not, take a cooler or something to weight down the front.

These things are great for just lounging in the water. We tie them together and fish, or just lay in the sun. It's like taking your air mattress with side walls out on the water. Definitely not for serious kayaking or paddling though!

Pay attention to dimensions and weight limits. Many claim to be 4, 5 or even 6 person boats, but there's no way you can fit as many as they say, unless you are attempting to look like a refugee boat.

The solstice and some other brands have trolling motor mounts. Intex also makes a more rigid version with a hard, removable floor. We may upgrade if the kids continue to enjoy this so much, but for $100, we have more than gotten our fun out of them.

We always wear life jackets for safety.

glad it all worked our for ya. have fun!

I've made my choice! I appreciate all the tips and suggestions. I found a sevylor Tahiti hunt & fish kayak brand new on Craigslist for $60, so I bought it. I spent more than that on one rental, so I figured if I hated it, I could resell. I also borrowed my friend's fiberglass canoe and inflatable solstice voyager fishing boat.

The inflatables won. Kids hated the canoe. They would get excited about a turtle or fish and both would rush to one side to see it. The also like to take the net to try to catch turtles or minnows but the sides are higher and it's much less stable. I also did not like the weight and extra work portaging, and I had a hard time with tracking. It was a 3 person model, about 14' long I think.

The inflatables filled in minutes with the electric air mattress pump. Extremely stable, even with kids jumping side to side. You'd have to work pretty hard to flip them. They do drift a lot and catch wind, but were plenty easy enough to paddle. One of the best things is that they have lower sides so you can dangle your feet in the water.

They definitely aren't right for everyone or every situation, but they're roughly 10% of the cost of a hard boat, and I can carry both the kayak and fishing boat down to the ramp at the same time (I could barely manage the canoe solo I'm ashamed to admit!).

So far we've taken them in 2 local ponds and a small river, and the kids are already begging to go somewhere today. Wish I had done this sooner! We can't wait to take them camping!!

We have two inflatables we got from Advanced Elements. Great quality.

2gypsies, I agree, renting would be idea. Unfortunately, only the state park campgrounds have kayak rentals (listen up, campground owners...you're missing an income opportunity!!) and they will not allow children under 8 for safety/liability reasons.

When we last camped in Chincoteague, my daughter and I drove to a nearby harbor and went out in a rented tandem kayak, to the tune of $69 for 3 hours. Ouch! It was fun to pull up on the sandbars and see the ponies and birds up close, but we could have launched from the campground if we had our own kayak, and saved time and money.

Jebby14, I never thought of tying all the way down to the bumpers! Alas, I think it is a moot point because my husband has said no way to putting anything on the roof, with foam blocks or not.

I'm researching reviews and options now. It seems that some inflatable kayaks are OK if they have a skeg, or if you add one in order to improve tracking. Certain brands seem to have better reviews than others for maneuverability and durability. I think my next most viable option is a smaller rowboat style inflatable, but I need to consider how much effort it is going to take to paddle. I don't want to invest in a trolling motor just yet. Initially I said we may use it 5-10 times, but that is a generous estimate. Honestly, 3-5 times a year is probably more accurate. And, with a 5 year old and 9 year old, attention spans are small. They will be enthralled by watching fish and turtles for about 30-45 minutes. I'm not sure that I need a lot more than a glorified pool raft and some paddles!

Do you think you'll use this all the time? Are the kids that enthused about it? This seems like a lot of trouble and cost and I'd probably just rent when you get there. Try renting every trip and see how the kids take to it continuously. It might be a novelty at first but they'd soon get tired of it....maybe not.

We've watched small kids like yours have a ball if they each have their own little kayak to play with. Of course, it would be better if the lake was small so they could be rescued! I wouldn't turn them loose on a river.

Samsonsworld wrote:
Uhmmm....if you had an ODC 10 years ago, it wasn't like the one above. If you busted a seem, I doubt it was pvc (that stuff is tough) but nylon like the top portion of the Classic Accessories (one man) I posted, and I only gave $200 for it.

BTW last I looked Creek Co was an American company.

It was the ODC 420 not that model. ODC is a US company but makes all there boats in China, that is how the keep the costs down.

Uhmmm....if you had an ODC 10 years ago, it wasn't like the one above. If you busted a seem, I doubt it was pvc (that stuff is tough) but nylon like the top portion of the Classic Accessories (one man) I posted, and I only gave $200 for it.

BTW last I looked Creek Co was an American company.