Aye Up,
Well, as this is my 500th post I thought that I would put something up informative so here goes.
It was the recent thread posted by Woof re the Aquaglide inflatable canoe which has prompted me to post this.
Ive owned a Sevylor Colorado canoe/kayak which looks very similar to the Aquaglide for more than five years now and have used it on the sea and for several river-camp trips.
It has proven to be a very useful purchase occasionally extending my bushcraft activities by giving access to quiet river bank spots (and an island) and on one occasion to a land-side inaccessible beach. And it is great fun.
I was actually in the process of upgrading the storage/portage method for the Sevylor (An additional waist belt on the kit bag ruck to aid portage) when I saw Woofs post.
First off is it a kayak or is it a canoe? if it bothers you, look up the definitions, irrespective, the info here is based on experience so it applies whatever you decide to call it.
I originally bought the Sevylor as a leisure craft for use at the coast but after the first family barbeque exped to a deserted beach I saw further potential.
IMHO, as well as the storage situation, the beauty of the inflatable over a rigid is that you can go solo in the truest sense of the word as will become apparent.
But, just to put the record straight from the outset I wouldnt recommend the inflatable canoe/kayak as a regular sea-going craft as per the pukka-gen sea kayaks, perhaps only for relatively short, relatively calm water trips on the briny sheltered bays as Teamgrizzly puts it.
As a river going, exped craft however I would place the inflatable ahead of the rigids.
At a guess I would say that the biggest concern of someone pondering the choice is confidence!
Confidence that
An inflatable wont be easily ripped due to underwater obstructions;
An inflatable wont sink like a stone if holed.
I used to use inflatable recce boats in the military and they were dragged up and down river banks, thrown still inflated onto the tops of panzers with little consideration and they hacked most of the abuse no problem. My Sevylor is of a similar weight of material possibly better!
If I recall correctly an earlier Sevylor advert showed them being used on (mild) white water, water courses and dont forget that white water rafting is usually done with inflatables so there is a precedence set. Sometimes that give in the hull can be advantageous.
(As a former white water canoe instructor Ive broken more fibre glass and polypropylene kayaks than inflatables!)
My Sevylor has three main air chambers - each side tube and the floor, so I would have to puncture all three simultaneously to sink it. One hole in a rigid and Im sunk!
On the Sevylor all of those air chambers are individual, internal removable bladders protected by the outer Cordura hull and deck sections so if one were to ever become totally un-repairable, it alone could be replaced and not the whole craft written off. (Again check this on the Aquaglide Woof).
The seat cushions in the Sevylor are also inflatable and could serve as buoyancy aids in an emergency. .
The rigid craft tends to cut through and glide over the water, the inflatable 'ploughs' and glides to a lesser degree - if you get the pressure correct (I slightly over inflate above the manufacturers recomm).
Steering and trim-wise with the kayak you use your knees and hips as well as your paddle with the inflatable it is a combination of the hull exterior mouldings, the skeg and the paddle and is much easier to keep on track.
Teamgrizzly is correct about the paddle stance, I find it is slightly higher and wider in the inflatable but different again probably for a Canadian style canoe.
On the subject of paddles, I find that a split-able one is better for portage and stowage and arguably for use Canadian canoe style should one of the blades be broken. (I just cant let go of my old white water blade though!)
Be aware though that if you are using the inflatable solo you need to get the trim correct fore-to-aft otherwise the front can lift too high out of the water and become quite affected by the wind and any underwater bumps are presented further along the hull (towards you!) which could make for more likely hull damage. Plus you can't see ahead of you as well. I place most of my camp kit towards the front in a large dry bag secured to the hull fixings which I find helps.
The main (damage) dangers with an inflatable are at least fourfold:
(i) Avoid stepping into it at all and especially in too shallow water. You may focus too much pressure on the hull over an unseen pointy object beneath the craft. I opt for below knee depth and sidle into the craft backside and leg first.
(ii) If you put ashore be alert for
Pointy foliage thorns, low branches etc;
Pointy stones; pointy litter metal and glass;
Pointy equipment knives, saws forks; axes etc;
Hot items barbeque/fire embers pots/mugs/cigarettes!
The (iiird) danger aspect comes with what I believe makes the inflatable the true solo river-camp option instances where you might have to move the craft overland portage.
Other than over relatively short distances, moving a rigid craft overland alongside or between water features and whilst carrying your camp kit might prove problematic if you are solo. (Or even travelling to and from the water feature). Try taking a rigid on a bus or a train!
It is also a further occasion where you might inadvertently puncture the craft.
A good length of rope as a bow painter (tow/tie rope) is a must so that you can if necessary, bank-tow the craft over a shallow or a potentially beyond-your-experience section of a river so that you dont have to carry it overland or risk a capsize.
But if you do have to portage:
Note that although the Sevylor is an inflatable it is still fairly bulky and reasonably heavy
(My Sevylor weighs approx 40lbs (18kgs) craft/seats/pump/repair kit.
(note wheels in image 4 purchased after first accompanied river outing but most useful at the coast!).
Moving that plus a 72hour camp kit - 15lbs-ish (7kgs) (total 56lbs-ish) could be quite a task solo. (56lbs now why does that ring a bell
)
PLUS 
The next aspect is quite relevant if you are thinking of solo river-bushcrafting (Woof!).
The Sevylor came with a very lightweight nylon bag with handles on it, mainly for storage and short distance-only carry. Ive replaced this with a canvas, 120l German Army surplus kit bag with integral shoulder straps.
I advocate that you should always carry the inflator pump and a comprehensive repair kit (not just the supplied one!) in the canoe. The craft only takes a bit of grunt and 20-30 minutes to inflate.
I also recommend making sure that everything in the canoe is attached to it in case I flip it so that everything stays together and is more easily recoverable. So check that Aquaglide for anchor points on the hull and an attachable mesh storage bag Woof.
Now I can fit the deflated craft and seats plus the pump and my rationalised 72 hour camp kit in the same container and manage both a to-and-from water, train/bus journey and when necessary slightly longer portages between river sections.
After use I have always hosed down the craft with fresh water, dried it off thoroughly, de-creased it as much as possible and then rolled it up for storage as opposed to folding it in order to avoid sharp creases which might result in damage. None apparent yet so the method must be working.
The kit bag also provides better protection against the fourth danger - whilst the inflatable is in storage where in my experience most damage to one can occur (those recce boats for instance!).
Craft deflated, pointy objects are less likely to bounce off it, more likely to be pressed for a long duration against it etc.
I once stored a styrene surf board in my shed when I came back to it the following year wasps had chewed it up and made a rather fetching construction of their own on it!
Above all use life jackets and don't commit yourself into situations on water that you are unsure of - if in doubt walk/tow it or portage around it.
Well, thats my day off over with I hope that some find this useful. Back to that waist belt modification on the ruck now.
Well, as this is my 500th post I thought that I would put something up informative so here goes.
It was the recent thread posted by Woof re the Aquaglide inflatable canoe which has prompted me to post this.
Ive owned a Sevylor Colorado canoe/kayak which looks very similar to the Aquaglide for more than five years now and have used it on the sea and for several river-camp trips.
It has proven to be a very useful purchase occasionally extending my bushcraft activities by giving access to quiet river bank spots (and an island) and on one occasion to a land-side inaccessible beach. And it is great fun.
I was actually in the process of upgrading the storage/portage method for the Sevylor (An additional waist belt on the kit bag ruck to aid portage) when I saw Woofs post.
First off is it a kayak or is it a canoe? if it bothers you, look up the definitions, irrespective, the info here is based on experience so it applies whatever you decide to call it.
I originally bought the Sevylor as a leisure craft for use at the coast but after the first family barbeque exped to a deserted beach I saw further potential.
IMHO, as well as the storage situation, the beauty of the inflatable over a rigid is that you can go solo in the truest sense of the word as will become apparent.
But, just to put the record straight from the outset I wouldnt recommend the inflatable canoe/kayak as a regular sea-going craft as per the pukka-gen sea kayaks, perhaps only for relatively short, relatively calm water trips on the briny sheltered bays as Teamgrizzly puts it.
As a river going, exped craft however I would place the inflatable ahead of the rigids.
At a guess I would say that the biggest concern of someone pondering the choice is confidence!
Confidence that
An inflatable wont be easily ripped due to underwater obstructions;
An inflatable wont sink like a stone if holed.
I used to use inflatable recce boats in the military and they were dragged up and down river banks, thrown still inflated onto the tops of panzers with little consideration and they hacked most of the abuse no problem. My Sevylor is of a similar weight of material possibly better!
If I recall correctly an earlier Sevylor advert showed them being used on (mild) white water, water courses and dont forget that white water rafting is usually done with inflatables so there is a precedence set. Sometimes that give in the hull can be advantageous.
(As a former white water canoe instructor Ive broken more fibre glass and polypropylene kayaks than inflatables!)
My Sevylor has three main air chambers - each side tube and the floor, so I would have to puncture all three simultaneously to sink it. One hole in a rigid and Im sunk!
On the Sevylor all of those air chambers are individual, internal removable bladders protected by the outer Cordura hull and deck sections so if one were to ever become totally un-repairable, it alone could be replaced and not the whole craft written off. (Again check this on the Aquaglide Woof).
The seat cushions in the Sevylor are also inflatable and could serve as buoyancy aids in an emergency. .
The rigid craft tends to cut through and glide over the water, the inflatable 'ploughs' and glides to a lesser degree - if you get the pressure correct (I slightly over inflate above the manufacturers recomm).
Steering and trim-wise with the kayak you use your knees and hips as well as your paddle with the inflatable it is a combination of the hull exterior mouldings, the skeg and the paddle and is much easier to keep on track.
Teamgrizzly is correct about the paddle stance, I find it is slightly higher and wider in the inflatable but different again probably for a Canadian style canoe.
On the subject of paddles, I find that a split-able one is better for portage and stowage and arguably for use Canadian canoe style should one of the blades be broken. (I just cant let go of my old white water blade though!)
Be aware though that if you are using the inflatable solo you need to get the trim correct fore-to-aft otherwise the front can lift too high out of the water and become quite affected by the wind and any underwater bumps are presented further along the hull (towards you!) which could make for more likely hull damage. Plus you can't see ahead of you as well. I place most of my camp kit towards the front in a large dry bag secured to the hull fixings which I find helps.
The main (damage) dangers with an inflatable are at least fourfold:
(i) Avoid stepping into it at all and especially in too shallow water. You may focus too much pressure on the hull over an unseen pointy object beneath the craft. I opt for below knee depth and sidle into the craft backside and leg first.
(ii) If you put ashore be alert for
Pointy foliage thorns, low branches etc;
Pointy stones; pointy litter metal and glass;
Pointy equipment knives, saws forks; axes etc;
Hot items barbeque/fire embers pots/mugs/cigarettes!
The (iiird) danger aspect comes with what I believe makes the inflatable the true solo river-camp option instances where you might have to move the craft overland portage.
Other than over relatively short distances, moving a rigid craft overland alongside or between water features and whilst carrying your camp kit might prove problematic if you are solo. (Or even travelling to and from the water feature). Try taking a rigid on a bus or a train!
It is also a further occasion where you might inadvertently puncture the craft.
A good length of rope as a bow painter (tow/tie rope) is a must so that you can if necessary, bank-tow the craft over a shallow or a potentially beyond-your-experience section of a river so that you dont have to carry it overland or risk a capsize.
But if you do have to portage:
Note that although the Sevylor is an inflatable it is still fairly bulky and reasonably heavy
(My Sevylor weighs approx 40lbs (18kgs) craft/seats/pump/repair kit.
(note wheels in image 4 purchased after first accompanied river outing but most useful at the coast!).
Moving that plus a 72hour camp kit - 15lbs-ish (7kgs) (total 56lbs-ish) could be quite a task solo. (56lbs now why does that ring a bell
) PLUS The next aspect is quite relevant if you are thinking of solo river-bushcrafting (Woof!).
The Sevylor came with a very lightweight nylon bag with handles on it, mainly for storage and short distance-only carry. Ive replaced this with a canvas, 120l German Army surplus kit bag with integral shoulder straps.
I advocate that you should always carry the inflator pump and a comprehensive repair kit (not just the supplied one!) in the canoe. The craft only takes a bit of grunt and 20-30 minutes to inflate.
I also recommend making sure that everything in the canoe is attached to it in case I flip it so that everything stays together and is more easily recoverable. So check that Aquaglide for anchor points on the hull and an attachable mesh storage bag Woof.
Now I can fit the deflated craft and seats plus the pump and my rationalised 72 hour camp kit in the same container and manage both a to-and-from water, train/bus journey and when necessary slightly longer portages between river sections.
After use I have always hosed down the craft with fresh water, dried it off thoroughly, de-creased it as much as possible and then rolled it up for storage as opposed to folding it in order to avoid sharp creases which might result in damage. None apparent yet so the method must be working.
The kit bag also provides better protection against the fourth danger - whilst the inflatable is in storage where in my experience most damage to one can occur (those recce boats for instance!).
Craft deflated, pointy objects are less likely to bounce off it, more likely to be pressed for a long duration against it etc.
I once stored a styrene surf board in my shed when I came back to it the following year wasps had chewed it up and made a rather fetching construction of their own on it!
Above all use life jackets and don't commit yourself into situations on water that you are unsure of - if in doubt walk/tow it or portage around it.
Well, thats my day off over with I hope that some find this useful. Back to that waist belt modification on the ruck now.
) Down your neck of the woods I would look at the upper sections of the Thames. And don't forget the canal network - there are some great country sections on most of them.
