Inflatable fishing kayaks

Gear & Reviews
1

Dear Board,

I already own two float tubes and a pontoon as well as two canoes but I am still in search of the perfect vessel for fly fishing local lakes and streams. Yes, I do realize just how ridiculous that sounds, but please read my post and try to help if you can. I’m only asking because the float tubes are pretty much summer time craft, the pontoon is not all that handy, and the canoes are both a handful to handle solo. I can get them all to and from the water OK but they, and the pontoon for that matter, pretty much require that I use my truck for transport if I’m fishing by myself. I’d like something I could carry in the trunk of my car.

On another message board I visit I stumbled upon this thing, http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=16363.

Has anyone seen one, used one, or have you seen or used something similar like a Sea Eagle?

I don’t want a hard boat, kayak, canoe, or otherwise. I’d like an inflatable craft that will float me around in a leisurely manner. I’m a big enough fellow that pool toy type boats don’t interest me, but I will not be rafting the Colorado River at flood stage so if you know of anything that might be worth looking at I’d appreciate a heads up.

Regards,

Tim Murphy :smiley:

2

If you’re looking for a real light weight inflatable, how about Outcast’s OSG Commander at 35# or Dave Scadden’s Assault at about 25#, compared to this NRS boat at 51#.

NRS makes top quality boats, but in the video this one looked a bit tippy even on still water (even with its rigid floor you probably wouldn’t want to stand up to fish from it in many instances).

Personally, I would feel more comfortable with a small pontoon than with this kayak for both still and moving waters (perhaps an Outcast PAC 9 Featherlight, for example, at just 45#).

3

I have an inflatable kayak and hate it. I find it hard to get out of (getting in is just a controlled fall) and, because it’s so wide, I find it very hard to paddle with a normal (double blade) kayak paddle.

4

I had an inflatable kayak. Gave it away. I weigh in at 220 and let’s just say there wasn’t a lot of freeboard.

I now have a regular canoe and an inflatable pontoon. I figure the pontoon will work because my fat a** will already be in the water, more or less.

5

Am looking at some type of inflatable myself… right now the sea eagle paddleski is an option…it has its drawbacks but I do fish both lakes and rivers. I can put an electric trolling motor on it if needed for lake travel…I am long in the tooth so not into overly exerting myself…hope you find your perfect craft

6

I really like the looks of this NRS and they are awesome boats. I had an Escalade designed by Dave Scadden: http://www.flyfishingconnection.com/1reviews/scadden/escalade.html Used a paddle like a kayak. I didn’t care for it. Very similar now is the Outcast Commander as mentioned: http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/default.aspx?series=6 (but Dave was a designer for Outcast)

I now own the Assault XX and love it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43h6v_sJiD0 Yes you can stand on it. And so well balanced even with the front seat. I stand in the middle and lift. Very light and packs up super small. I drive a small SUV and it fits easy with a motor and battery and all my gear.

7

Man, that new NRS Pike looks pretty darn sweet. With 2000 denier PVC, that thing oughta be almost bombproof! My only concern is in river fishing, how would it paddle upstream against mild current? My Old Town Guide 119 solo canoe does surprisingly well upstream against current, but wonder how the inflatable would fair?

8

Tim–good to see you aboard. http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/default.aspx?id=14 I have one of these and they are the cat’s meow for us bigger folks. Easy to assemble, eady to row, can use without the rowing frame and a canoe paddle for a distant pack in (about 25 lbs that way) or carry the full thing in your trunk as it breaks down to a trunk sized package. (about 4 ft by 2.5 ft by 1.5 feet.) Mine has been factory patched (Outcast has a great warranty) and is still ticking like a Timex. My only complaint is that it does ride a bit high in the water so when the wind is up that is troublesome. The new ones sell for about $1400 plus tax and I’m going to sell mine, as I now have a sit on top kayak and a gheenoe, for considerably less.

9

The NRS is way over-priced for what it is. For around $600.00, you can get a Conquest Dyad, with a clear bottom for spotting fish and structure, two removable skegs, two main heavy gauge PVC bladders (removable and replaceable), with a ripstop nylon cover, fantastic raised seats and a 600 pound capacity. I have one and I love it. It is reasonably fast, tracks very well, and it very comfortable. It will run circles around the NRS.

My other inflatable yak is an Advanced Elements Convertable. I use it for fishing, touring, and whitewater. It is also only around $650.00. It is probably the top-of-the-line in inflatable kayaks.

For running trotlines, and bow fishing, I have an Intex Mariner Raft, with a hard floor, whitewater-grade nylon cover, with rock guards all around and on the bottom, and pivoting oarlocks. It also has a motor-mount, but I’ve never used it. It will hold two very large people and enough gear for a month-long adventure, with plenty of room to spare. You can stand up in it easily, and it makes a great dive boat (I still snorkel dive for mussels) and frog-gigging. And it is only $249.00 at www.rubberboats.com. This thing is a bargain in anybody’s book. It’s a full-fledged Zodiac.

There is nothing wrong with inflatable boats, as long as they are used within their limitations. More features = less limitations. The Navy and Marine Corps use them in every ocean on the planet.

When selecting an inflatable boat, you want to be sure and read the reviews from people who actually own and use them. You want a real boat, not a glorified air mattress.

Good luck.

10

Gigmaster, have you paddled the NRS Pike? How did it do against current?

11

There is nothing better then a real kayak that made for fishing! I wouldn’t waste a dime on all those inflatable junk! :wink: Poke a hole in them and have fun bailing! hehe.

12

I paddled one briefly on the Ocoee River when they first came out. Dick’s Sporting Goods had a clinic on the river and it was the featured boat. It’s an OK inflatable, but way over-priced. It is basically a clone of the Conquest Dyad, Sevylor Colorado, and Advanced Elements Straightedge, with less safety features, and a lot more money. The Pike is just PVC, with no cover. It will not stand up to heavy use. You can get a top-of-the-line Sea Eagle 380 PVC Yak, with great seats, two skegs and a rigid floor for less than $700.00, and this includes 2 sets of paddles, pump and backpack. All the good inflatables will have heavy gauge PVC Bladders enclosed in a ripstop nylon covering. You do not want a fishing inflatable without this cover, trust me from experience. All of the other inflatable yaks can be customized with rod holders (cheaply, and easily), sun shades, sails, motor mounts, and anything else you care to put on them. And all of them except the Dyad have drop-stitch floors. The Dyad has a clear floor that you can even stand up on with no trouble. And all of the other models are under $700.00.

As far as performance, the Pike performed about like a Sea Eagle. It was stable, but wallowed around in the water like a pregnant manatee. Every little gust of wind blew it all over the water, and it tracked like a drunken snake. I was not possible to stand up in, and since it was only PVC, I wouldn’t want to try to gig frogs or bowfish from it. I’d worry about fly fishing from it because you could snag it with a bad cast, and poke a hole in it easily, since there is not cover over the chambers. I wouldn’t even think about taking it to any fast water. That’s why I didn’t buy one.

My Dyad and Convertible perform like a hard-shell yak, and cut through fast water like a dagger, even against the current. They are 10 times the boat that the NRS is, and several hundred dollars cheaper. For straight fishing, you could not beat the Dyad. I tried out a lot of inflatables before I bought it. And it makes a very nice (if your not in a hurry) touring yak as well. It is a pleasure to paddle. The NRS never tracked straight, and on a log paddle, would wear you out on course-corrections. And if you get caught in rapids, no worries. Just grit your teeth and paddle through them, even Class V water. The Dyad slides over, and bounces off rocks without breaking a sweat. I’ve gone through the Devil’s Chute on the Ocoee at least 6 times in my Dyad, and never had to repair anything. Try that in a PVC boat and you’ll be swimming home in short order.

Of course, this is all just my opinion. I am hard on boats (I live in a hard mountainous area), and the rivers here are very unforgiving. I’ve seen them tear aluminum Jon Boats up. The Pike may be just what you want, and if you don’t mind spending the extra money, that’s great. But I would be concerned about no ripstop cover. I consider than an essential safety feature, even on a lake.

If you know someone that has a Pike, see if they will let you borrow it for an hour or so, take it to where you plan to fish, and wring it out. Then you’ll know for sure.

Good luck.

13

Found this chart, kind of interesting:

http://www.portablekayaks.com/product_comparison_chart

14

I have several hard-shell yaks as well (A Pelican Pursuit 100, and a Lifetime Daylite SOT). I wouldn’t call inflatables all junk. Most are adequate for recreational use, and many (like mine) equal the performance and durablility of hard-shell yaks. They also have the added advantage of me being able to carry them on my bicycle to the river, or on an airliner, bus, or the trunk of my car when traveling. I can hike in to otherwise inaccessable remote streams, back here in the mountains, where there are no roads, and enjoy paddling on pristinne water that gets very little attention from the masses. I use mine on the coast, and have paddled as far as 5 miles offshore, with no troubles, even in 4’ seas.

Inflatable yaks have been used to travel up the Amazon, through the Evergaldes, the Okeefenokee and Obichobee swamps (I’ve done all three myself), through arctic and antarctic waters, and even used to cross Gulfs and seas. And they are a popular choice for whitewater around here. They seem to stand up to Class V water better than all but the most specialized of Playboats.

My main concern with the Pike was the lack of a ripstop outer-shell. This is an important safety feature on any inflatable that will be used anywhere except maybe a swimming pool, or small local pond. I wouldn’t even consider buying an inflatable without one. I’ve learned from experience (ie: the hard way…) that it is much better to have too much boat, than not enough…

And just a tip…If you “poke a hole” in an inflatable, bailing will not help. You have to plug the leak. Fortunately, good inflatables have several bladders. To sink the boat, you have to poke holes in several different places simultaneously. In an inflatable, you may get a little wet, but you can paddle to shore, patch the hole, re-inflate, and go about business as usual. Poking a hole in a hard-shell requires major on-shore repair, and usually spells the end of the trip.

There are pros and cons to both types, as well as between SIK’s, and SOTs, which is why I have a collection of boats.

And the bottom line is…any yak is better than none at all.

15

Dear Board,

Good stuff so far. I realize the limitations of inflatable boats and understand that if you puncture one while on the water you are pretty much up, maybe down???, a creek. Like I said in the original post I’m well versed with fishing out of inflatable craft and I know that accidents can happen but after 20 plus years of fishing out of inflatable conveyances I know them to be plenty safe and far more practical than any hard shell boat if portability and storage are your main concerns. And those are my main concerns. i want to be able to go somewhere with it stowed away and take it out when I need it. I don’t want something hanging around on top of my truck or my car while I’m wade fishing or visiting the grocery store.

I’m going to keep looking and hopefully when the weather and water cooperate I’ll try a blow up boat out at a local store, it won’t be the NRS Pike but rather something from Advance Elements since they have a dealer nearby.

Regards,

Tim Murphy :slight_smile:

16

Tim, you still got that Day Tripper?

You talking this: http://www.inflatablekayakworld.com/reviews/advanced-elements-advanced-frame-convertible/

Dave Scadden works with Incept and I remember a video he had awhile back on this Kayak

http://www.inceptmarine.com/inflatable-sea-kayaks-incept.htm

What caught my eye what he sat side ways in the boat and used his flippers to move slight distances or hold position in wind.

17

You are going to love Advanced Elements. I like my Convertable better than all of my hard shells. I am thinking of buying an AirFusion to paddle between the Keys down in Florida. It’s a little faster than my Convertable (8 knots, compared to 6 in my Convertable for the same energy output).

Oh, I forgot to tell you, if you get a Convertable, or Lagoon II, or AirFusion, you’ll want to get the optional aluminum BackBone for it. Then they really do perform like a high-end hard-shell, or maybe even better.

18

Dear Joni and others,

Yes, I still have and use my yellow submarine Daytripper. For a big dude like me it works well but when I put my girlfriend’s grandson in it, he’s a good sized kid at about 6’ and 160 pounds, it acted a little bit like a sailboat but he managed with it all right.

As far as Advance Elements models go I’m looking more towards this one, http://www.advancedelements.com/straitedge2.html. I need the extra capacity to float my big ol’ self. I am also considering something from Saturn boats, http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_fishing_kayaks.asp. I am looking at either the 13’ Pro-Angler or the 430 K-boat. I know that when used strictly as a paddle craft inflatables are a real compromise performance wise when compared to a hard shell boat. I don’t care about performance because I want the boat to use while fishing and I’m not going to covering vast areas in search of fish. I will be fishing local lakes that are around 100 acres and using the boat in streams that only approach Class II rapids when they are bordering on being too high to fish. I see the boat merely as a tool, and paddling for paddling’s sake is not of interest to me. I like what I see with the Saturn boats and I like the idea of adding a folding seat that sits up on top of the tubes. I’m thinking that will make fishing much easier due to the higher seating position.

Every hard shell kayak I’ve ever been in, all two of them, felt like I was sitting down in a hole in the water. Yes they moved around nicely when paddled, but they weren’t much use as fishing craft due to the terrible visibility.

I’ve got time to look around and hopefully try some things out.

Regards,

Tim Murphy :slight_smile:

19

Very cool boat. Looks more like a canoe to me though…LOL I pictur Kayaks old school style I guess like the top four pictures on the advance site. I like the oars, but like the idea of using fin power too, just me. I have a 14’ aluminum that gets me out of the water and is my choice for anchoring down and Chironomiding.

20

Yeah. The StraitEdge is super cool-looking. If didn’t already have a Dyad (it was on sale at Sportsmans Warehouse for $299.00…I couldn’t stop myself…), I’d be looking at one myself.

Cool chart Fly Goddess. I am a little confused as to why they list the Dyad as only for flat water, though. I’ve taken it through Class 5 water dozens of times with no trouble at all. It must be because of the clear floor. It could possibly get ripped if you hit a sharp rock, just right, I suppose. I’m very careful to stay in the chutes

The Dyad really shines in coastal waters. I love taking it to Destin, Fl. on the Emerald Coast. You can see the bottom in 12-15 feet of water. I’m just real careful to rinse everything off with lots of fresh water when I get through (salt water is very corrosive, and hard on equipment. This includes cars, too.)