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Top 6 Myths About Inflatable Kayaks

Peter Salisbury
inflatable kayak myths
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First Things First. You can probably agree that storing and transporting inflatable kayaks is easy, however, there are many false beliefs about inflatable kayaks. A lot of these beliefs are introduced by the faulty performance of a cheap inflatable bought from a department store. If you do your research when looking to purchase an inflatable kayak you will end up with the very best depending on your budget. Now, we’re here to help clear up some misconceptions. Let’s begin!

  • Myth 1. “Inflatable kayaks pop the first time they hit a rock.”

    Yea. Sure. That can be true if we’re talking about the inflatable toys that are used in pools. Modern inflatable kayaks are on steroids. Yes, it is possible to puncter the material, but that usually doesn’t happen. More often then not when you encounter a rock, the heavy-duty PVC shell causes the kayak to ricashae off the rocks with no resulting damage.

  • Myth 2. “Inflatable kayaks are slow and difficult to maneuver.”

    Properly engineered inflatable kayaks track amazingly through water and give you the ability to maneuver swiftly.

  • Myth 3. “Inflatable kayaks cannot withstand whitewater.”

    To be clear, there are different types of inflatable kayaks, so don’t use a kayak that is not meant for whitewater kayaking. It’s as simple as that. Aire and a lot of other manufactures produce inflatable whitewater kayaks that are made to perform aggressively in class 4 whitewater.

  • Myth 4. “Inflatable kayaks take on a ton of water.”

    FALSE! A common misconseption is that inflatable kayaks fill up with water more easilly because they do not have a closed cockpit like hardshell kayaks. Whitewater inflatable kayaks are self-bailing, meaning that the have holes in the floor material so the water can drain.

  • Myth 5. “An enclosed cockpit will keep me drier than a non-enclosed kayak.”

    Nope. I bet you thought that you wont get too damp with a hardshell kayak. Enclosed kayaks with skirts are generally made to prevent you from taking on too much water to prevent you from capsizing. You’re still going to get wet. With inflatable kayaks, you sit higher up, and when kayaking in calm waters, you would stay as equally as dry if you were in an enclosed kayak.

  • Myth 6. “Inflatable kayaks aren’t as stable as hardshell kayaks”

    Way off.. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Compared to hardshell kayaks, inflatable kayaks are designed with a broader base. With this design they are very stable and can handle waves better than hardshell kayaks.Myth 6. “Inflatable kayaks aren’t as stable as hardshell kayaks”

  •  Myth 6. “Inflatable aren’t safe”
    Myth busted here. Inflatable kayaks are way safer than you think. Check out our article to show how inflatable kayaks are safe!

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Peter Salisbury

I’m Pete. I am the owner of KayakHelp.com. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I grew up kayaking, fishing, sailing, and partaking in outdoor adventures around the Great Lakes. When I am not out on the water, you can find me skiing in the mountains, reading my favorite books, and spending time with my family.