[Paddlewise] Greetings and Inflatable Sea Kayaks

Hello Everyone,

My name is Miguel Arboleda. I am a 38 year-old German-Filipino living in
Tokyo, Japan, and have been doing sea kayaking along the coasts and
rivers here for the past eight years, mostly with my Nautiraid Raid 1
MK-1. I don't get out often enough to really call myself a bonifide
paddler yet, but I hope to get out and travel more with my kayak, in
Japan and abroad. Ever since I first tried out a polyethylene sea kayak
in Rhode Island back in 1989 I have been in love with this sport. Next
to mountain walking and bicycle travel, I feel it is the best way to see
the world.

I am thinking of buying a new kayak, one that is smaller and easier to
carry around. Most likely I will get the Feathercraft K-Lite Plus
(though there is a Japanese kayak, the Arfeq 415, produced by Mont-Bell,
the Japanese mountain equipment company, that also looks intriguing),
but I've been wondering a lot about inflatable sea kayaks. I know many
people are going to poo-poo them, but after reading about Audrey
Sutherland's solo voyages I wonder if maybe they have something to
offer. I am looking particularly at the Aire Sea Tiger II (so that my
wife can join me and I can get out on my own, too) or the Grabner
Dolphin 1, Explorer 1, and Explorer 2. Would anybody out there know
anything about these inflatable sea kayaks and how they might perform?
Would inflatable sea kayaks not even be a serious option? I'd appreciate
any wisdom you could share...<(^J^)>

Hope to hear from you soon.

--
Miguel Jorgensen Arboleda
Talking Tree Journeys
butuki_at_gol.com
eyes to see, hands to touch, legs to walk, and a mind under the sky

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