inflatable kayak tender

solent clown

solent clown

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I spent and hour and a half in decathlon today negotiating, cajoling and having a laugh with staff there who were unwilling to sell me aparticular inflatable kayak as they had none in stock apart from the one on the shop floor that was being used as a bouncy castle by many many children. Eventually we came to an understanding whereby we could buy the display model, but only if they replaced various items - their call - and ensured we had enough spare bits as compensation. When i went to the till they applied a further handsome discount.
I bought it for karen as she has nagged me about it for ages, ironic that the very one she sat in on the shop floor a few times is the very one we now have.
We will use it a lot for jut hacking about the river and the easy part of the estuary, but it strikes me that it seems also an ideal auxiliary tender. I think we could probably leave it inflated lashed to the guardrail of the Berwick as an "inflatable dodger" without much added windage. Anyone tried this? It is a good sized beast, but light at 17kgs
 
We've had one with us on our travels around Britain then on an Atlantic circuit. It doesn't get much use but we've kept it as a backup to our Avon roll up. Stability is obviously an issue with the kayak but I guess it's better than swimming ashore with a dry bag which we've seen done in the tropics! I'm not sure how well one would last if left out in the sun but that's not likely to be such an issue in the UK.
 
We have a Stearns " Backwoods " model. Quite stable, fairly easy to paddle-by me, First Mate sits in front and sips her cool drink-and is easy enough to inflate and store.

In benign conditions its great. We last used it at Studland to go ashore. It has often been used in the Yealm, Beauliegh River, Derrynane and for getting to our mooring in the upper end of Portsmouth Harbour.The inflatable dinghy and four stroke outboard is too heavy for us to carry up a beach, the kyak is easy.
 
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I have a cheap sevlyor and used it in Fowey harbour as my one-man dinghy from the mod stream pontoons . It did what I wanted it to. However, I would not have wanted to try to get in or out of it directly from the boat. Perhaps that is because I lack technique.
 
PhillM said:
I have a cheap sevlyor and used it in Fowey harbour as my one-man dinghy from the mod stream pontoons . It did what I wanted it to. However, I would not have wanted to try to get in or out of it directly from the boat. Perhaps that is because I lack technique.
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yes, that will be another thing to video during practice!
 
thinwater said:
I like the Walker Bay Aris Sport. Only about 7 kilos and stiff enough to stand in. Built like an inflatable dinghy. I also have 2 hard kayaks, but this one is darn handy. Not cheap, but real equipment.

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a couple of small plastic kayaks are a longer term goal. We have a large tandem hunting kayak, but it is just too big and heavy at 18ft long
 
rotrax said:
We have a Stearns " Backwoods " model. Quite stable, fairly easy to paddle-by me, First Mate sits in front and sips her cool drink-and is easy enough to inflate and store.

In benign conditions its great. We last used it at Studland to go ashore. It has often been used in the Yealm, Beauliegh River, Derrynane and for getting to our mooring in the upper end of Portsmouth Harbour.The inflatable dinghy and four stroke outboard is too heavy for us to carry up a beach, the kyak is easy.
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beaulieu river is one of the list for this kayak, sail up , moor up, and go for a paddle
 
typhoonNige said:
We've had one with us on our travels around Britain then on an Atlantic circuit. It doesn't get much use but we've kept it as a backup to our Avon roll up. Stability is obviously an issue with the kayak but I guess it's better than swimming ashore with a dry bag which we've seen done in the tropics! I'm not sure how well one would last if left out in the sun but that's not likely to be such an issue in the UK.
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yes UV is a consideration I guess. Maybe we will have a cover made
 
You may also consider a stand up paddle board, as I've posted a few times the inflatable ones work well in benign conditions and are generally very robust. Currently the world seems to be crazy for them and I expect in a year or so they'll be cheap 2nd hand. We have used ours on the boat to compliment the tender for 5 years now.
 
seumask said:
You may also consider a stand up paddle board, as I've posted a few times the inflatable ones work well in benign conditions and are generally very robust. Currently the world seems to be crazy for them and I expect in a year or so they'll be cheap 2nd hand. We have used ours on the boat to compliment the tender for 5 years now.
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we looked at some, they are so rigid I didnt even realise they are inflatable! Remarkable
 
Pete7 said:
How much is this and the sailing dinghy distracting from the real task of moving and fixing the Westerly?
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Put simply, it isn't. I cannot move the Westerly until I have made room for it here in the course of my daily grind. That is to a schedule that is not affected by what we get up to on our time off. As soon as the last of my work is completed, I will have space, time, and money to get the Westerly sorted.
But "task" it isn't (apart from moving it, that will be!) as the rebuild is in itself going to be an occupation I aim to enjoy (after the grp work!) and take my time over.
 
not till Sunday afternoon, I have too much work to do, but we may well go to Manor Farm Country park and have a sneaky launch off the pontoon there. That would be a splendid reward for once again working through the weekend. Semi retirement is busier than "normal" life if you want to eventually pull it off.
 
solent clown said:
Put simply, it isn't. I cannot move the Westerly until I have made room for it here in the course of my daily grind. That is to a schedule that is not affected by what we get up to on our time off. As soon as the last of my work is completed, I will have space, time, and money to get the Westerly sorted.
But "task" it isn't (apart from moving it, that will be!) as the rebuild is in itself going to be an occupation I aim to enjoy (after the grp work!) and take my time over.
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Sorry, my post sounded a little harsh and critical.

The project would make a good write up in PBO and raise a few sheckles.
 
Pete7 said:
Sorry, my post sounded a little harsh and critical.

The project would make a good write up in PBO and raise a few sheckles.
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yes that is one of our plans. :encouragement: Didnt sound harsh, not from you anyway, I feel I know you in a slight vicarious way through your presence on here
 
I also picked up a Decathlon 2 1/2 person canoe/cayak this summer. My main reason is that I do not want a dingy to tow or on deck storage for longer crossings. The canoe can easily be deflated and stored away. I have only made trial trips ashore from mooring so far, but promising...
 
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