Buying an inflatable...yes or no?

[mark parry]

Any ideas on inflatable kayaks/canoes? I need something which can be ported easily on a bus in South America. If anyone has experience of them and can make a reccomendation then please get in touch. Many thanks!

[maryinoxford]

Read this site: http://www.theboatpeople.com/ You'll find a lot of good information on inflatables.

Personal recomendation? Gumotex are sturdy, and come in a variety of designs for different purposes. http://www.gumotex.cz/en/products/inflatable-boats/

If you're planning an expedition, keep in mind that the internal volume of an inflatable is less than for a similar hardshell, because the air tubes are bulky. You'll rarely overload the weight limit, because you'll run out of space first.

A writer called Kira Salak did a long African river journey in a Gumotex Safari, photos here: http://www.kirasalak.com/PhotosMali.html

If you're planning on doing much hopping on and off of buses, think seriously about the weight. Something like the Safari weighs 12.5 kilos. Add a paddle, air pump and the weight of the bag. That's a significant piece of luggage, before you think about the rest of the gear you want to take along. I used to use a Safari as my "public transport" boat. I switched to a Sevylor single, which is several kilos lighter, but is a less sturdy boat - I wouldn't take it anywhere where a failure would be disastrous.

Inflatables are useful river boats, especially if you're going with the current. If you are depending on paddling for propulsion, keep in mind that they are less efficient than hardshells. If you're going to be in open water, they are more prone to being blown around by the wind.

Mary

[mark parry]

Thanks Mary!

[AeroNautiCal]

Have you thought about an Alpacka Raft? https://www.alpackaraft.com/store/index.cfm?CategoryID=53&do=list

Expedition grade boats you can carry on your little finger, this is my Dory/Explorer, weighs 5 lbs 8 oz.



Got a Denali Llama with a spray deck too, which weighs even less and packs up small (these are not my Packrafts).

[GumGum]

I second the superb build quality of Gumotex (just make sure you get one of their all nitrilon constructions - stay away from the lighter weight but flimsy Twist, last year's Sunny and I think last year's Solar).

If it's a kayak you're after then the Gumotex Safari is brilliant. OK for flat water touring (with option skeg in place), superb for surfing small/medium waves (again with skeg), capable in ww up to about grade 3 (it has thigh straps and it self bails). If it's a canoe you're after then the Gumotex Palava and Baracka (more expensive) look great.

The Safari is easily back-packable, the Palava and Baracka probably less so. But you'll always have a trade-off between weight and robustness.

Dom

[username Chris S]

May I 'third' the quality of Gumboats and second what GumGum and Mary have said. Realistically only a packraft seems to fit with your needs in South America and I think Alpacka is currently the only game in town.

I've owned a Junior, Safari, Solar and a Sunny and tried other IKs in the US (see link in profile for more) but I've just ordered a 2.5k Denali Llama with which you can genuinely hike or even bike between shore, river and loch.

Check out this Denali Llama vid someone sent me this week: http://vimeo.com/9085238

Chris S

[AeroNautiCal]

Great video and photo set, what an excellent trip.

You'll really like your Llama, especially for bikerafting.

[Adrian Cooper]

Have you considered Pak Canoes? They seem to have some support from friends of mine but I have not paddled one. Weight about 20kg.