Inflatable kayak question

[Barracuda]

I've been intrigued by the glowing reviews of a number of inflatable
kayaks here and have been contemplating getting one myself. Not
because I don't have room to store a regular kayak; I do. But because
I often like to put a kayak on the river where it's a bit of a trek
from the parking lot. Or paddle it upstream and float down. Plus I'm
getting older and I'm getting tired of putting my 58 pound canoe on my
car and taking it off. Seems like the inflatables will save quite a
few pounds.

But a question: how well do they do paddling upstream. I know this is
an area where a good kayak will far outperform a canoe. What about the
inflatables? Are they better than canoes but maybe not quite as good
as a plastic or (fiberglass) kayak?

Also, if I've got room to store it without taking the air out, is that
okay? Or should they be deflated for storage?

Thanks for any information/help.

[HeaveToo]

If you wish to store it partially inflated it should be fine, as long as it isn't in sunlight.  Mine paddles great upstream and I have even paddled it over class 1 riffles.  I have a tracking fin on mine that helps when paddling in flat water but when I paddle up the back of the Occoquan. 

When I move my kayak I tend to have it loaded when I move it and it is still less than 50 pounds.  I think mine is 35 pounds unloaded and the pack with the kayak, paddles, seats, pump, dry bag and anchor is around 40 pounds.

[Sparkr]

I'm posting some of these praises, due to my delight with the inflatable I purchased.  I don't have room for a firm frame kayak; if I did I would have bought sit-on top that I didn't have to take the time to inflate.  That said, the inflatable is much more then I had expected in terms of performance.  I was a whitewater kayaker, and still am a sea-kayaker when I get back to Florida, or San Francisco, so paddling into either wind, or current is something I would be concerned with.  I don't yet have enough experience with this inflatable but it does track very well, and it is much quicker then I had thought it would be.  I paddled back yesterday against wind and current (although both were moderate) and it performed very well.  There is no rudder on my boat, so you guide by paddling and leaning the boat doesn't do very well due to the broad beam (35 inches).  But that also makes it very stable and virtually impossible to flip.  I would be very comfortable in this kayak up to a class 3 water and I do believe it would ferry and paddle well up stream in a medium current.  They do suggest it's a whitewater capable and I did buy thigh straps for some river kayaking.  

It's light enough to pull, even carry from a parking, but it's better to inflate near the put-in if you can.  If you store it inflated, I would recommend a cool place and only inflating to about 3/4.  Left inflated to 2psi in a hot location will cause it to expand and potentially burst a seam.

Hope this helps.

sparkr

On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 11:48:58 PM UTC-4, Barracuda wrote: