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Inflating the kayak takes time, and some might find it tiring if a foot pump is used. You can’t launch right away. My wife and I are both in our 50’s and are planning to buy our first inflatable kayak. We are fairly large people – I’m 6ft 2in and 270lb, she is 5ft 6 and 168lb and we like camping. Our plan is to explore the canals, lakes and rivers of the UK mostly just day trips but sometimes heading up river and wild camping for a night or two. We are looking into other possible options for footrests / foot braces for both this Ottowa and our tandem version of this type of kayak and will update this blog with any improvements we can come up with. One option is to use adjustable straps with a piece of plumbing piping cut to the correct length which you can then use as a foot brace. This is something I did with the Itiwit kayak that I had, see the below. Itiwit X100 worth an improvised foot rest made from a strap fed through a section of PVC pipe You'll find inflatable kayaks for solo adventures or larger inflatables suitable for two or more people, as a fun way to share the experience with family and friends. What should you consider before buying an inflatable kayak? They also sell an ‘intermediate’ level kayak called the AquaTec ‘Hudson’ which appears to be a hybrid kayak with a dropstitch floor and PVC inflatable sides. Their Hudson kayaks are cheaper than the Ottawa kayaks.
Inspect all areas of the kayak, including the valves and keel by listening out for a hissing sound. The AquaTec ‘Ottowa’ kayak is a full drop stitch inflatable kayak supplied by a company called Networld Sports Ltd. A minority of drop stitch kayaks fall into this category, including the Aquatec Ottowa we are reviewing here. Other brands of this 2 panel style of drop stitch construction include Sandbanks, Airvolution and DS Kajak (that is not a mis-spelling, its a German brand). 2 panel /chamber drop stitch construction (“clamshell design”)You should read up on displacement (specifically width and length displacement) to find out more about why the length and width of your kayak will influence how stable it it. The Intext Explorer fishing kayak is a great all round option due to the value, easy of inflation and comfort. There are trade-offs: you’ll not be winning any races in a budget inflatable, but their flexibility and portability make inflatables the ideal kayak for city-dwellers, those without a car, or anyone looking to explore local waterways at their own pace. Lower-end inflatables may look more like beach toys for children, but the designs have improved massively over the last several years and the performance can be surprisingly good – so long as you don’t mind pumping them full of air first. The review is of the solo version of the Ottowa kayak. Networld sports also sell a larger, tandem version of this kayak which is longer and slightly wider. We do not, at the time of this review, own the AquaTec tandem version of the AquaTec kayak. However, we had for about 9 months before doing this review used a tandem kayak (which we christened ‘the Bismark’) which is essentially the same as the tandem version of the AquaTec kayak. We have therefore been able to draw comparisons between the solo and tandem versions of this kayak. We will be doing a separate review of the tandem version. Price
Being beginner friendly, partnered with the fact that they are generally used on calmer waters anyway, mean that they are considered very stable. For kayak fanatics who value aesthetics and elegance, you may choose to appear at some wooden boats; they are carefully crafted and quite gorgeous kayaks. There are actually kits accessible for people who are ready to develop their own.You can position the seats wherever you want making the kayak suitable for 2 paddlers of any height. You also get a pressure gauge with the boat which is handy, especially if this is your first inflatable kayak and you want to be sure that you’re inflating it correctly.
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