Inflatable kayaks

For storage and transportation reasons I am considering an inflatable fishing kayak.
Will be used on ponds, lakes and creeks, primarily fly fishing but also come conventional
fishing. Just wondered if anybody has used one.

https://www.seaeagle.com/ExplorerKayaks/380x (example)

Why are you not considering a real kayak? Serious question. Those inflatables are not very good or trustworthy IMHO.

Space requirement to store and transportation to fishing sight are the issue. I don't know anyone who has fished out of one so the reason for
the question. Are they really unstable? Don't know. The reviews from owners appear to be good. Just gathering info before I pull the trigger.

What would be your suggestion on a hard body kayak?

What is your means of transportation? How much storage space do you have? No 12-13' length of empty space in a room or garage?

You might want to look at some of the smaller kayaks - I currently run out of an ocean kayak frenzy now and sold my inflatable once i got it.

I used an inflatable for years when i lived in NYC - but i was constantly having to patch it (i run them hard)- and it really wasn't that much of a space saving - though the inflatable did fit in a nice square space compared to a hard kayak.

Having had both - unless your planning on flying places then kayaking - i'd recommend looking at a hard kayak more than the inflatable. If you are traveling a LOT (flying) - the inflatable is a good solution. If your driving - go with a small hard kayak

hope that helps!

PS - though it is probably a bit overloaded i fit a myself, a crate, two rod holders, and a fish finder on my little frenzy when i want to. When i run lighter - its a fun paddle (though not always the most effecient)

I have never paddled an inflatable.
When I was living in an apartment, I was scouring the interwebs for an inflatable specifically due to storage reasons.

However, I kept running into negative reviews after negative reviews on all inflatables. Most of these negative reviews were due to the life & reliability.
(First 3 trips were fine, then people have been noticing a stream of bubbles coming from underneath, but I'm not sure whether they were taking good care of them or not). The other negative reviews were about the traction and paddling.

Since my kayaking trips would involve being in very close proximity to oyster reefs, broken shell, sunken timber, rocks, etc I knew I that an inflatable was out of the question and a rotomolded or poly kayak would be the only real option.

So I had then scour around for someone who would allow me to store the kayak at their place.
Fortunately, my bosses at work allowed me to store it there until I got my house.
So you may want to ask around to see if someone will store it for you.

As far as transportation, there's lots of options that can help you load them, even on compact cars.

I totally understand the storage and transportation issues. I ended up hanging my kayaks upside down on the ceiling of my garage. Its a pain to get them in and get them out, and since its only an 8 foot ceiling, its not uncommon for me to knock my head on them when I'm not paying attention.

The inflatables will work, if you have the will to use them. After all, a fishing boat is any boat that you fish from. Especially since you're fly fishing, you won't have the need to mount all the doodads like rod holders and fish finders.

That being said, you can probably swing a used sit in kayak for WAY less. They can be much lighter than sit on tops, which makes moving them around easier.

Storage, however, is something only you can figure out. But for that price, you could get a $200 used sit in kayak and throw it in your back yard, use it all summer, then let the elements destroy it. When it finally breaks down, just go buy another one. Rinse and repeat 5 times and you're sitting at $1000 again for the price of that inflatable.

It really all depends on your ability to get transport the kayak(both your physical limitations as well as automobile limitations) and if you have an empty 12 feet of space you can keep the kayak. If you have to climb 3 flights of stairs to get your kayak into an apartment, maybe the inflatable is your only option.

I have a small SUV type. I can carry on top but that is not my first choice. I have a very narrow 2 car garage but our HOA requires both cars in the garage
so that is proving to be a problem. I can store outside but not sure if that is a good idea.

So as stated i use a frenzy - which is probably one of the smaller kayaks a grown man can use -

1) my kayak actually fits inside my mini-van when i pull seats out... and I can easily throw it on my roof rack.
2) i store it using this - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PEU...arch_detailpage

I pulled off the hooks and bolted a bar to the pulley - that bar mounts a simple sling that gets my kayak (and probably most kayak's - as most are not that much taller than mine) above the garage door & rails (so it can open and close). This lets me open/close my garage + park my car when needed - just make sure you mount the system to some structure in your ceiling.

Only thing i can't do - is mount the kayak on top when the car is in the garage... wouldn't fit out the door.

i store it using this - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PEU...arch_detailpage

Thanks, that may solve my storage problem. I will have to measure tonight.

I'll try to take/post some pics for you if i get to it - but if you do the bar/sling right (replacing the hooks) - you can basically get the kayak right up against the ceiling. I get my kayak above the garage door into a space only 12" high (measured from top of rail to ceiling).

In my garage, that wasn't an option as it just didn't get the kayaks close enough to the ceiling.

I ended up using 4 of these http://www.harborfreight.com/set-of-2-1-inch-x-12-ft-lashing-straps-67386.html

I drilled 4 eye bolts into the ceiling. Threaded the straps through both eye bolts and tied them off with a long tag. Looped the tag through the buckle and put and just lower and raise the kayaks one side at a time. Its a PITA but there is only about 2 inches of air above the kayaks.

If you have a higher ceiling, I would certainly go with the bike pulleys.

Those inflatables look like they would paddle like a barge. There are a lot of used kayaks out there you can try out. NRS has a webbed kayak sling that attaches to the ceiling or a wall. There are many similar options.

This is a sturdy hard to puncture inflatable that as you can see has a comfortable seat too.

One of my friends bought a pontoon style boat and loves it. I know it's not a yak and has 2 oars, but he's had it for several years and has had no issues. He said he paid $325 for it and it will fit in the trunk of a for focus. It may be the solution you're looking for

I've had a few inflatable boats and kayaks. They come with a lot of good memories. I still have one inflatable single person kayak that I keep around in case I need to stuff it in the trunk of a car, or fly, etc. I should use it more to be honest! The last two times I had it out were years ago but eventful. Once was beyond the breakers at Galveston which in hindsight was kind of crazy. I wouldn't do it again but still quite a rush and the only boat I could transport. The other time I injured myself very badly with a catfish where I was trying to protect the boat from puncture more than myself. I bought my first plastic kayak a week after that incident, although it would have been much cheaper to buy a hard plastic kayak in advance LOL.

Anyway the cons of the sort of boat that you linked is the windage. That sort of big twin tubes "banana boat" style "kayak" will drive you nuts on a windy day. There are inflatable kayaks that are lower to the water and more like sit in kayaks or maybe a rubber ducky in their shape that will be slower but blow around a lot less. To me they are useful sort of like something between a float tube and a regular kayak and that's the one I keep around. Since you have a house though and a garage I'm with everyone else on a small hard plastic kayak. Try to get a good brand like the Heritage Featherlite or Ocean Kayak Frenzy and you will be spared the headaches of "flippy" cheaper plastic boats.

Currently my most used boat is a Heritage Featherlite sit in kayak. I simply stuff it in the trunk of my compact car with the back seats folded down which makes it so easy to transport. Maybe you an get a kayak that is short enough to fit inside your vehicle somehow with the benefit of a bungee or two and folded down seats?
http://drive2.subaru.com/Sum06/YourTurn/Kayak_in_Outback.jpg
http://wavewalk.com/FishingKayak/fishing_kayak_inside_SUV_car.JPG

Thanks for all the good info about yaks and the good storage and transportation ideas.

I take mine on trips only. I have an outback otherwise. But could get by with one on creeks definitely. Very light. WWW. Advancedelements.com

http://i.imgur.com/AlDaSN5.jpg]

Great for ponds also. Been on lake with light winds no prob

I have a Rogue Aquaglide inflatable kayak. It's very small, very light, and cost about $150. Takes about 5 minutes to inflate the whole thing with a manual pump. I love it for what it is capable of doing. Similar restrictions: apartment on 2nd floor, small balcany, sedan vehicle, usually solo.....

Pros - it works, enough room for all the gear I need even multiple rods, easy to transport, don't need another set of hands to move/launch.
Cons - slow, drifts easily, balance on rough water.

If you are not currently able to have a solid one like me I would definitely go for it. I love taking it down the rivers and creeks to fish the wood piles and logs. If you're going to be stationary with an inflatable you will need to have some sort of an anchor ready to drop and tie off tight so you stay in one place. Also wouldn't take it out on very open water/rough water.

If you get one and live in DFW let me know and maybe we can go out soon.

Eric