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alan
 
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Default inflatable vs hard shell

My wife and I have an Innova Helios 380. If you get one make sure you
get a rudder, or make one - they're a pretty simple set-up. As
inflatibles don't have any keel effect they can spin about a bit with
2 people. Once we got a rudder we were set. It comes in a backpack you
can hike in to spots with, weighs around 35 lb (note this is the 2
person) and is completely unbreakable/unsinkable. We've dragged it
over low-tide coral reefs, stones, rocks, you name it it doesn't have
a scratch in 2 1/2 years of use. We take it as checked baggage
anywhere we go (stick paddles and pump in a ski bag). We've camped for
a few nights out of it, it holds heaps so is easy to load up. My wfe
is an experienced kayaker (Alaska, Tonga, B.C. etc) so was initially
sceptical but she's been won over and can't go back to a rigid. It's
easy to fish out of too. We just got back from Bahia Conception in
Baja, and yesterday did a quick run down the Russian River and out to
sea in N.Cal. If you get one make sure you get a high-volume pump and
it'll only take 10 minutes to set up. It's also a big plus being able
to keep it in the back of the car and not worry about it getting
ripped off, it rolls into a real small space.
Good luck on it whatever you decide to do!
Alan.