Collapsible kayaks and tenders

[Bathdave]

Came across Nestaway at jersey boat show, I gather they exhibit at SIBS and other places

Especially interested in three products they distribute


http://www.nestawayboats.com/ORU-Origami-Kayak(1009715).htm


http://www.nestawayboats.com/Inflatable-Kayaks-and-SUPs(1693745).htm


http://www.nestawayboats.com/FRIB-Folding-hull-RIBs(1933380).htm

Anyone have any experience or feedback on any of these three compact storage boat options?

 

[stu9000]

I have no direct experience of the products you list but inflatable canoes do not track as well as rigid. The origami canoe was interesting but I would ask about repairing them after inevitable prang on an underwater rock, post or just running it up a beach a few times.

Are you looking for a ship to shore vehicle? If so the dinghy wins every time, and I say that as a canoe lover.

The dinghy does look interesting but at 2.5 * the price of a standard inflatable it isnt for me.

Thanks for posting though. Some ingenious designs.

 

[Bathdave]

I have no direct experience of the products you list but inflatable canoes do not track as well as rigid. The origami canoe was interesting but I would ask about repairing them after inevitable prang on an underwater rock, post or just running it up a beach a few times.

Are you looking for a ship to shore vehicle? If so the dinghy wins every time, and I say that as a canoe lover.

The dinghy does look interesting but at 2.5 * the price of a standard inflatable it isnt for me.

Thanks for posting though. Some ingenious designs.

No I am mainly thinking thinking of being anchored in a rocky cove, having something to potter and explore in ..which is why I am especially interested in kayaks .also easier to get around in the boot of the car when we are not sailing

I have previously rejected inflatable kayaks as being not much more than beach toys, this seems two cuts above with a high pressure spine keel for rigidity and a solid skeg for grip.

Not really keen to buy 'blind' hence request for feedback, I may try and blag a spin round harbour in his exhibit today.

The semi rigid is for a Different pupsose but gain I liked the innovation and functionality... Very expensive tender but very tempting if you re going to do lots of anchoring off, as I find my current tender very flimsy

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have previously rejected inflatable kayaks as being not much more than beach toys ...

Friends of mine have a couple of Sevylor inflatable canoes (not kayaks) which they use around the Solway. They are quite experienced canoeists and say that they find the inflatable ones pretty good. Not as good as a proper one, but the convenience makes up for it.

 

[TheEcho]

The Sevylors are nice but the majority of them have a bladder inside a protective skin which is robust but a nuisance after paddling because water gets stuck between the bladder and shell, soaks the car boot, and if you don't have a suitable area to leave it outside to dry it can go mouldy. So not good if the plan is to keep them on a small boat.

We have a cheapy Intex inflatable kayak and a Gumotex Solar which is a very decent boat, at a price. It is single skin, so easier maintenance, and made of a similar stuff to RIBs - robust and able to be inflated to a higher pressure than the cheapies.

Paddling wise I prefer the Gumotex to a short rigid sit on top as the length improves handling. But put it away in strong wind and go sailing instead.

 

[Strolls]

I got the impression that Advanced Elements kayaks were widely regarded as head-and-shoulders better than the rest. The frame makes them track better, they have tight build-quality which ensures the skin fits the frame properly. To a casual glance, I'd say their £300 models look better than that Aquaglide.

I was impressed by the looks of the Folding RIB, but I'd worry about damage where they fold.

I really like the Nautiraid coracle that Nestaway stock.

 

[actionoptics]

We have two Advanced Element kayaks on board and can confirm they track as good as a rigid kayak.
We can get into and out of them from the boarding ladder at the stern of our boat.
Just sold our two rigid sit-on canoes as they are awkward and cumbersome compared with the inflatables.

 

[Hydrozoan]

We have two Advanced Elements Fireflies for their very light weight (ca. 15lb IIRC?) and very small size, for use in sheltered waters only. They do not have the same inner frame as larger AE models, but track well enough in relation to our usage and their convenience. The other thing we like about them is the tough outer fabric to top and sides.

 

[seumask]

If your thinking of pottering around also think Stand Up Paddle board. We had a reasonably good blow up 2 man canoe, however its replacement inflatable red paddle SUP is much more used. There is something about standing and paddling that's more relaxing than canoeing, and in our case the children enjoy mucking around on the Paddleboard more, it rolls up smaller and is simpler to get out of the bag and inflate to 25psi, so its very rigid and more robust than the Canoe.

 

[fisherman]

You want the Portaboat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnYcxxmUiR0