[Paddlewise] Inflatable boats

Sandy

I have not used a Stearns inflateble but I have used 2 different
Innova inflatebles- a little 8 foot junior and a 13 foot tandem
Helios. Alas I am now too fat for the junior- it only carries 170
lbs. Teh Helios is surprisingly fast; when I go out with my fit
25 year old friends in their canoes, they can't keep up with
pudgy 47 year old me. (when we swap boats it I don't have a
chance.) I understand that hardshell kayaks are lots faster but I
have not paddled with any to test it out.

The junior costs around $300. Teh helios is around $600

Sandykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 7/30/99 12:27:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Walt342_at_aol.com
> writes:
> 
> << After reading what  Sandy  Kramer  said about her experiences with folding
>  boats (Folbots specifically) I'm now leery of purchasing one. Maybe  I
> should
>  buy a hardshell. I don't want to be left behind. I was thinking of buying  a
>  15' 1" Nautiraid1, but now I fear it might be too slow. (Walt Levins) >>
> 
> Please remember that we all can have bad experiences, and that many people
> are very happy with the Folboats (remember the spiffy-to-cost ratio index).
> I still want to get a K-light one day, mainly because I love to take a plane
> somewhere, take my camping gear, rent a car, and drive around for about a
> week.
> 
> Stearns has a single (and a double) inflatable out for $299 and I don't know
> whether to get one of these until I have enough moolah for a Feathercraft.
> Drawback: instead of complaining about how long it takes me to assemble a
> folding boat, I'll be bitching about having to take an inflator.
> 
> Has anyone tried the Stearns inflatable(s)?  They look pretty rugged.
> 
> Sandy Kramer
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
> ***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************