Monday, February 16, 2009

2 person inflatable kayak - Inflatable Kayaks Guide

Now it's time to take a look at an open 2 person inflatable kayak. Two seated kayaks can be a nice way to share an outdoor experience. The main difference between paddling a one-seater and a two-seater is that in a tandem kayak you need to agree on where to go (at least if you want to arrive at you destination in foreseeable time). If you are going for a long hike, a test run with your partner is not a bad idea.










The kayak in the picture above is a sit on top hybrid 2 person inflatable kayak from Advanced Elements called Straitedge. A hybrid in this case means the manufacturer have incorporated aluminum rib forms in the bow and stern. It's a roomy 2 person inflatable kayak which not only takes an extra person, but also some gear.

When assembling the kayak you just unfold it, do some serious pumping and then attach the seats to the kayak, not a too time-consuming task. The kayak is made of PVC Tarpaulin material which can take a hard beating. Advanced Elements have used aluminum ribs in the front and the stern of the kayak to produce a shape that better tackles the water. The kayak is 13 feet, width is 35 inches and a weight of 21 kgs. The maximum weight with person(s) and gear is 500 lbs.labs. The kayak has a reinforced bow seam and a mesh pocket.

The Advanced Element 2 person inflatable kayak should do a good job of transporting two individuals with a decent amount of gear, or one person with much stuff. The kayak comes in two colors, yellow and gray, if you are considering paddling the sea you should use a kayak that is easier to spot by other boats. In this case my choice would be the yellow one even though it is not as discrete as the gray one.

This 2 person inflatable kayak has an aluminum bow and stern for improved tracking when paddling in open water. The kayak has self-bailing ports and welded seams. As always, with inflatable kayaks they are not as fast as their hard-shell counterparts, but it still does ok in the speed department. If speed is important to you, try to get someone else with you in that second seat, someone eager... The kayaks sea worthiness is good, as I said before it tracks well and is stable. If the waves start growing the kayak can fold some, but I consider it rigid enough.

Don’t you hate it when you want to go out kayaking with a friend, and they don’t have their own boat. Renting is always a choice, but it takes away the spontaneous effect I think. This Advanced Element inflatable kayak tries to solve this problem. The kayak can be customized for a solo or tandem mode, so I guess it all comes down to your mood that particular day...

I like the thought of being able to have the kayak stored in the trunk of my car and if the opportunity arises go to whichever lake or river I want. The advantage of being able to bring a friend I think is superb! One of the problems with paddling is often sitting still for long periods of time. As this is an open kayak it is easier to reposition the legs while paddling. A piece of advice is to take some breaks, paddle to shore, step out of the kayak and take a stroll, it will do wonders.

Cheers

Waterboy