OT: Inflatable Kayak recommendations?
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Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jun 17, 2016 - 07:06pm PT
Wonder how they'd do on 16' breaking waves? ;-)

I'm at the point where Guido's Zodiac looks like the ticket.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 17, 2016 - 07:10pm PT
I talked to my daughter today to dial in our requirements. Sounds like we'd be better off with something we can get "buried in whitewater" with (when having 3 people plus light camping gear)- not more than Class III really- or use the same boat on gentler stuff loaded up with 6-7 aunts/uncles/cousins for a few hours.

My main constraint seems to be something I can fit in the back of a Prius hatchback (I can put my other gear in a car-top carrier and squeeze in or ditch the ice chest). I was about to pull the trigger on the NRS Otter 130 and figured out the shipping box size is just a few inches too big to fit back of the hatchback area. If it is super-mushy and flexible, I should definitely be able to conform it to make it fit. There's enough volume back there, just not for the rigid box dimensions.


Getting a platform and oar setup would make fewer dependencies on my kids, tempting me into more challenging water, but if I'm in something that serious where we are in trouble if they don't do the right thing, I need to be with other adults for a margin of safety and then wouldn't need the platform.

So, anyone with experience stuffing a 13' hypalon raft in the back of a passenger car hatch-back? Seems like hypalon is the way to go to be more compact while still being more durable than the tiny packrafts.

It seems like most people with the 12+ sized rafts are using trailers or trucks/SUVs.




Examples of where I'd like to take it this summer:
 Playing in small ocean waves and ferrying out to snorkel in the kelp beds near Carpinteria Beach (I dislike that campground immensely, but its an extended family compromise)
 Maybe an overnighter on Upper Cache Creek http://www.californiawhitewater.com/rivers/cache-creek/
 Loaded up with cousins for a fun afternoon near their house on the Umpqua River http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/recreation/wild_and_scenic_river/umpqua_river_segment_1.html
 Maybe South Fork of Alsea all the way to grandma's house where it meets the ocean: http://www.riverfacts.com/maps/12582.html

Kern River would be cool too- looks like long stretches of mild but not flat boring river.
Mark Force

Trad climber
Ashland, Oregon
Jun 17, 2016 - 09:27pm PT
Sounds like you want a 12' boat.

Check this one out.

https://hyside.com/product/outfitter-12-0/

I can get this in the trunk of my VW Jetta. You can R2, crew 6, overnight/weekend camp with dry bags, and put a small frame on it.

For longevity, Hypalon is the way to go.
LuckyPink

climber
the last bivy
Jun 17, 2016 - 09:37pm PT
Accept that you cannot do all those things listed in one boat. An IK will do two of the four. However.... you could do all those things with a paddle board but don't...


Nice idea that little 12 footer
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2016 - 10:34am PT
Mark Force, after spending hours yesterday reading through forums, scourig websites to figure out the specs of different products, I came to the conclusion that the Hyside Outfitter 12.0 (not the hotdog bun) is what I'm looking for ;)

Thanks for the packing beta which I found nowhere else including on rafting forums:
I can get this in the trunk of my VW Jetta


Slightly tempted to stay with the smaller/funner size MiniMax, but camping trips call for just a little more space. I saw a vid of a guy R1'ing on the MiniMax:
http://vimeo.com/160145449


I checked around losangeles Craigslist, they don't have jack. Probably better in Oregon, Idaho, or even SF Bay. Will keep my eye on SF Bay.


Here's what not to do in a small inflatable:
[Click to View YouTube Video]


Here shows a pretty good idea of what you can do,:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Jun 18, 2016 - 10:42am PT
When evaluating small boats, think along the lines of sleeping bags and how you really need a quiver of bags for different conditions. Impossible for one bag to suffice for all conditions.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2016 - 10:46am PT
Guido, tHe problem is when I need a bigger sleeping bag, I just shiver. And that's because I won't spend a few hundred bucks.

So when I get a boat, it's going to be the only boat for a while. If we get out enough this summer on a boat, and kids still like it, I can see fattening the quiver with a few duckies.

But that might have to wait until I commit to a larger adventure-mobile, which might be within the next year or a few years depending on how long my wife's old car lasts.
WBraun

climber
Jun 18, 2016 - 10:50am PT
Inflatable Kayak recommendations?

I recommend one that floats ......
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2016 - 11:17am PT
With subtitles, just for you smoking duck who discusses flotation:

Start at 2:12 if you have a short attention span
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Jun 18, 2016 - 12:07pm PT
RUBBER DUCK, Ha, EEY, Eey, EEY, THAT WAS FUN ee er than Quack!


I had a Klepper for years, that a pals' dad had , had,
and only used a handful of times,
We kept it 1/2 constructed,
in 2 sections, hanging keel up like a wooden sculpture of a rib cage it cast some weird shadows.
The 2 parts and the Hypalon deck were then ready at a moments notice, as releases were not publicized and about an hours drive to the top(best) put in.


EDIT: 0 Man ! .. .. .. Batrock' ! Says in a post below,

IF IT FLYS OR FLOATS OR FVCKS! IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO RENT,!

I'd forgotten that !
Great stuff on float ing - from my set!
No sir, I'm not done yet
I almost get up and quit, when the mnt reject sucks me in,
Then I come back,
To the Top'o of the Topo and find that while I've left
the theater of the west,
I love you guys the best.

All hail the captains of their boats
You all rock, and float so far above
The morass of stupid typical climber folk
A refreshing tonic
Thanks
And happy Father's Day to all
& too to all the nutz
NUT. . . .
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Jun 18, 2016 - 06:02pm PT
If you have the bucks, NRS has sweet product:

http://www.nrs.com/category/4073/whitewater-kayaking/inflatable-kayaks
Batrock

Trad climber
Burbank
Jun 18, 2016 - 07:49pm PT
Rafts are one of those high expense low use items. I have had several over the years and unless you live close to a river it doesnt get used as much as you would like but it's nice to have when you can get to the river. Rowing on a river is not like rowing on a lake, you need to watch your down stream oar, backstroke is your power stroke, for some reason folks new to rowing have a hard time getting that concept and always try and forward row or portagee through stuff, always face your danger so you can back away from it. I can take you out and show you the basics if you do decide to pull the plug, I taught in a guide school back in the 80's and would be more than happy to help out.

But....like the saying goes, if it flys, floats or fu#k$, it's cheaper to rent. ;)
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2016 - 08:19pm PT
Batrock, pretty classic!

You gave me serious pause though... I checked the cost of renting a comparable raft for Kern, American, Umpqua/Rogue, Salmon....

Looks like ~25 days of per-day rental rates before break-even. Even if I only make it out 7 days per year, still looking at a 4 year ROI.

But the rental option might save the headaches of 303 & storage, transporting from home base to the river, save the car space with paddles and PFDs etc, and probably include some logistical help with car shuttles...

And I can still get it in my Prius for a cruise down the Owens River or the sloughs by Don Edward Wildlife Sanctuary in SF Bay, and a bazillion points between. Can't argue with that kind of rationalizing. I'm sold.
Bargainhunter

climber
Jun 18, 2016 - 11:17pm PT
I'd go with an AIRE kayak. I've owned 3. Very rugged for long white water trips and hauling crap. Your life may depend on their quality. Bombproof solid.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
Jun 19, 2016 - 01:09am PT
try before you buy, look at what the commercial people use in your area and go with that,

you can do class 4 in an IK but your luggage might end up in the eddy,

flat water? pack the ice chest.

buying a used IK is another option,

AIRE is good, i believe they use those to send noobs down Cache Creek which has sharp rocks and they last forever,

perswig

climber
Jun 19, 2016 - 02:40am PT
(I'm from the midwest where a canoe goes in class v whitewater and in open ocean).

Anyone paddling from the Midwest to the open ocean gets my respect.
Lewis and Clark stuff.

Dale
Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California now Ireland
Jun 19, 2016 - 01:53pm PT
This is pretty good, I just use it on the Celtic Sea though, no whitewater.
Gal

Trad climber
going big air to fakie
Jun 19, 2016 - 02:01pm PT
NRS Tributary Tomcat. I'm a partner in a kayak company, this is what we use, very excellent product.
NutAgain!

Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jun 20, 2016 - 11:49am PT
Thanks Gal - I pulled the trigger on a Tributary Tomcat Solo and a Tandem- found great discounts with some Internet spelunking.

I will probably get much more frequent use out of that combo than a bigger raft- faster setup, more portable for more places. I tried first for a bigger raft 12.0 Outfitter from Hyside but neither they nor any distributors have any in stock. Maybe I'll put in an order in the fall for next season :)

I'll use Batrock's advice to rent something bigger when I'm up in Oregon later this summer.

If the duckies get here in time their first use will be at Carpinteria Beach in a few weeks.

Thank you all for perspectives and input- helped me a lot, including info that I couldn't find in rafting forums.
Phil_B

Social climber
CHC, en zed
Jun 20, 2016 - 02:57pm PT
Cool. In case you get around to wanting to try some more whitewater, here's a guide to many of CA's boatable rivers:

http://cacreeks.com

And note that they run Class V in their IKs!
Messages 21 - 40 of total 46 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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