Inflatable Canoes

[Roo]

We are thinking about getting an inflatable canoe to keep on board to use for gentle trips up the river etc and wondered if anyone had any comments on these:

http://www.stearns-inflatables.co.uk/product.php/562/stearns-back-country-inflatable-canoe-green
165kgs capacity
£225

http://www.stearns-inflatables.co.uk/product.php/573/sevylor-colorado
200kgs capacity
£320

http://www.brighton-canoes.co.uk/productpages/sevylor/canyon.htm
165kgs capacity
£200

Cheaper option but doesnt look so nice .......

http://www.brighton-canoes.co.uk/productpages/sevylor/tahiti.htm
210kgs capacity for 3 person
£150

Many thanks
SWMBO of a frequent poster on this forum that refused to post this

 

[PeteCooper]

Canoe

I have used a Stearns Spree 1 and found it to be a lot of fun. It seems to be made of substantial material and is easy to blow up. It pack away into something like a large briefcase - small enough to fit under the saloon berth in my brother's Moody 31. It feels slightly heavy to paddle, but I might not have had it blown up enough - it certainly feels stable once you are in and is great fun.

 

[FullCircle]

We will probably going for the Sevylor Yukon, for much the same reasons as you.
Lightweight, robust and look like good fun.

I know Morgana has a Sevylor Colorado on board this year.

 

[SeamanStaines]

I bought an Advanced Elements Dragonfly a couple of years ago and have been delighted with it. Has worked really well and I have the stiffening brace so it is reasonably good in surf as well.

I purchased it from America from http://www.airkayaks.com/ae1023.html , was delivered really quickly.

There customer service was fantastic, I had a problem with the seam around one of the valves after the first season and emailed them asking for the best way to repair it, they simply asked me for a photograph, decided it was a manufacturing fault and sent me a complete inner tube assembly within a couple of days, no charge!

 

[BrendanS]

If you have a Costco near you, they often have a Sevylor package or two during spring and early summer months.

 

[Roo]

Many thanks for the responses - seems no clear winner - but the Sevylor Colorado seems to popular which I think is our choice

The prices seem to vary quite considerably - so time for some shopping around!

 

[planteater]

Decathlon sell (what appears to be) the Colorado under the name Sirocco for £250

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/kcc-335-sirocco-2p-blue-66232472/

 

[Roo]

Definately worth looking at - thanks!

There seems to be quite a bit of discussion out there on whether the Sevylor Sirocco is the same as a Colorado and whether the only difference is the price ..... and possibly the colour!

 

[samwise]

We have a Stearns Spree two person and have been very pleased with it. Easy to blow up and durable ( so far). The rear seat is a bit cramped for a bis adult, but fine for kids. Invest in decent paddles otherwise you'll suffer! Best deal we got was from Seamark Nunn.

 

[HoratioHB]

The current SWMBO and I had a Tahiti as can be seen. Worked fine, very rugged, good as an emergency tender should our dinghy get pinched. Mind you once we got in (and that is fun from a yacht in its own right) we would then spend about an hour going round in circles trying to get back to the boat. Not a criticism of the canoe, rather our complete lack of skill!!