At this point in time I have only used the Sevylor 'Tahiti' inflatable canoe. Though for the sake of completeness I want to consider the other alternatives:
1. Sea Eagle Explorer: Sea Eagle manufactures 3 variations of its inflatable Explorer canoe. See http://www.seaeagle.com/HullCompare.aspx?hullCatID=EX. There are 2 elements about the specs that I dont like. The $900-1000 price and the seat design.
2. Sevylor Tahiti: Sevylor produce a range of inflatables. There are 2 different designs - the 2-man Tahiti and the 1-man Bali. For a little extra weight I think its worth buying the Tahiti for the additional storage capacity. You can buy these canoes for under $300. I love the inflatable and adjustable seat design. The only things I dont like was the colour and the lack of a carry bag. I could not get the thing in my box, though I note that Japanese customs were able to do so when I freighted one to Japan. I like the one-way valves, just wished they were used on all compartments. If you want the vessel to paddle in a straight line - get the skeg accessory. But I like whitewater, so I prefer not to use it.
Sevylor Tahiti Inflatable Canoe - Buy Now!
3. Intek AirHead Inflatable Canoes: InTek manufactures a 1-man and 2-man designs of their Airhead inflatable canoe. I have not used this canoe, but the netting at the front could be a dangerous entanglement in whitewater canoeing. Anyway its only designed for moderate whitewater. Also I dont like the sea. The price is moderate at http://www.cabelas.com/.
4. Soar 12 Inflatable Canoe: Soar1 producers several inflatable canoes for around $1200. I dont like the design of the seats, and I think the heaviness would limit the portability of the vessel.Its also an expensive option. See www.soar1.com/soar_12.htm.
5. Gumotex Safari: This whitewater canoe an option. I like the seating style, though I have not tried this specific model. I think the netting for holding equipment presents a safety risk in whitewater because of the possibility of entanglements. Though its an open netting, so not too risky. The price is far more than the Sevylor Tahiti.
Overall I think the Sevylor Tahiti is the best design - and its sold at a very competitive price!
Sevylor Tahiti Inflatable Canoe - Buy Now!
Inflatable Canoeing Adventures - Buy this eBook!
Most of us can relate to the fun we had canoeing at summer camp when we were young. But that was nothing compared to the experience of whitewater kayaking that came next for me. I have always loved canoeing, though it always seemed difficult to participate. It has only been in the last decade that the development of inflatable canoes has made a big difference. You can more easily access rivers, you can store a canoe in your car, you can even take them on a plane. They are very light, very cheap, with little loss of functionality. Perfect for weekends away or campervan holidays. Social networking was the other big change. You can now use Facebook, etc to join canoeing adventures in your local region or abroad. 
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Comparison of Inflatable Canoes
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