what about inflatable kayak?

[zenspearo]

Anyone uses them?

I can imagine spearos who don't have storage space may be interested.

This is what I use on the boat occassionally.

http://boatstogo.com/kayaks_SK396.asp

[riobuster]

Joe do you use the Kaboat? what size? and is it easy to paddle? the SOT kayak looks interesting also.

[zenspearo]

It does alright but will never match the performance of a hardside. But it will fit in the trunk and it's made of the same material as a zodiac so it's tough. And a huge payload capacity.

Mine is bright yellow, 12'. I valued compactness over size since I have a boat as well.

I mount a 3.5hp tohatsu outboard on it, and it screams....

[phil herranen]

looks cool
phil

[Ron S]

I know a couple guys up here that use the Sevlor diveyaks. One of my co-workers is 6'1" and around 220 lbs. He's been paddling one for awhile and recently started freediving from it. He said it works fine, but with no hatches, it has very little storage space.
Ron.

[zenspearo]

I know a couple guys up here that use the Sevlor diveyaks. One of my co-workers is 6'1" and around 220 lbs. He's been paddling one for awhile and recently started freediving from it. He said it works fine, but with no hatches, it has very little storage space.
Ron.

Yes, you have to bring a plastic container for fish. Spines and all...

I keep all my gear in a dive bag and leaves it inside the yak. It's very stable so no problems...

[bluesquids]

I have this one that's almost 17' and packs into a suitcase.

Fits 2 divers with gear(800lbs) or my family of four.
I researched the other two so called dive yaks by Sevylor and found they didn't perform very well.
Mine paddles about 4mph and tracks straight with a strap on skeg that I made for it. Out of the box it was way too squirrely.
It has the high pressure valves not the boston valves and the floor is the high pressure type like a zodiac that does not bow under weight.
Here's a vid of a sail kit a guy put on his.
I have a 5hp I might try to rig on mine somehow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ieHldPJWI&feature=related
I might of gotten one like Joes above if I had seen them at the time.

[shoupart]

A friend of mine tried an inflatable once and said it was a pain in the ass to get it to track. Without a keel or some rigid underside, it was tough to get it to go anywhere.

The puncture issue has been mentioned already, and I would think the weight capacity wouldn't be anywhere near a plastic boat's ability.

Another friend had an inflatable kayak that was made for diving- DiveYak or something- and it looked like the biggest hassle- he had to pump it up, empty, take it down to the edge of the water, and load up everything in the surf. There was barely any room left for him, and he couldn't go long distances before getting really tired .

[bluesquids]

Non pool toy here.
I think... ( But Don't quote me) that this inflatable for $300 is similar to the Sevylor for $500. I-beam floor means it's a high pressure floor. 3 ply pvc, welded seams.

Something like this would definately not be an everyday yak for me, but it really serves it's purpose as a travel kayak.

Also IMO, it would need a strap on skeg as it's just too squirrely without one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98288
vs.
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/SLRSVX200.html?Search=op%3ddtSearch%26Term%3dkayak %26SearchFlag%3dall%26AdvSrchSortField%3dRelevance %26DescSort%3d0%26Description%3don%26Hit%3d1#Descr iptionInfoTab