Inflatable Canoes
 

Walmart is running a closeout on a Stearns 2 man canoe for $199. They also
offer the Coleman version for $75. We're looking for something my wife and
I can store and inflate efficiently, for the times when we want to explore
wetlands or visit a dock while moored.

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter months
without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Advice?

-Greg

Inflatable Canoes
 

Dene wrote:
Walmart is running a closeout on a Stearns 2 man canoe for $199. They also
offer the Coleman version for $75. We're looking for something my wife and
I can store and inflate efficiently, for the times when we want to explore
wetlands or visit a dock while moored.

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter months
without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Advice?

-Greg


I have an inflatable kayak. I find that the annoying thing about it is
deflating it and packing it. The valves automatically close when the
plug is out and you have to squeeze them firmly to let the air out.
It's probably a safety feature but it makes re-packing them a chore.

Inflatable Canoes
 

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter
months without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Unless it is made of hypalon like an Avon, I'd be very wary of putting
it into cold winter waters where your life depends on it.

Decision made
 

"Dene" wrote in message
. ..
Walmart is running a closeout on a Stearns 2 man canoe for $199. They
also
offer the Coleman version for $75. We're looking for something my wife
and
I can store and inflate efficiently, for the times when we want to explore
wetlands or visit a dock while moored.

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter
months
without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Advice?

-Greg

I spent last night googling the differences between an inflatable kayak vs.
canoe and the various brands.

Came across this deal, an inflatable kayak, sold as a demo. Originally this
outfit had 75. I bought the last one on a new Visa, which will give me a
free IPOD when I spend $300. So....I got well-reputed 2 man Kayak, paddles,
bag, footpump, and IPOD for $395, including S&H.

http://tinyurl.com/e2wxf

I was impressed with this store owner's knowledge and advice. Holly Harris
@ 707-998-0135 or .

FWIW, Holly mentioned that customers have used this model as a tender, even
towing it. We don't intend to tow it. It's easily inflated and deflated
with the Boston valves. Or....I may fool around with it and strap it to the
swim platform.

We're excited about this. It adds another element to cruising. There are
many small rivers, sloughs, wetlands to explore on the Columbia River.

-Greg

Inflatable Canoes
 

Gary wrote:
Dene wrote:
Walmart is running a closeout on a Stearns 2 man canoe for $199. They also
offer the Coleman version for $75. We're looking for something my wife and
I can store and inflate efficiently, for the times when we want to explore
wetlands or visit a dock while moored.

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter months
without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Advice?

-Greg


I have an inflatable kayak. I find that the annoying thing about it is
deflating it and packing it. The valves automatically close when the
plug is out and you have to squeeze them firmly to let the air out.
It's probably a safety feature but it makes re-packing them a chore.

I have an inner tube type of fishing seat. It came with an adaptor to
hook to an air compressor to inflate it. I take that adapter and insert
it into the valve to deflate, works like a charm

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Dene" wrote in message
. ..
Walmart is running a closeout on a Stearns 2 man canoe for $199. They
also
offer the Coleman version for $75. We're looking for something my wife
and
I can store and inflate efficiently, for the times when we want to explore
wetlands or visit a dock while moored.

A key concern is stability/safety. We'd like to use it in the winter
months
without fear of plunging into the cold Columbia.

Advice?

-Greg



Cold water's a great way to die. I'm curious about the need to deflate it
and stow it. Is this because of:

1) Concerns about hauling a regular canoe on top of the car?
2) Storage issues at home?
3) Other? If so, what?

Cost can also be an issue, but with a little patience, you can often find a
used canoe for not much more than $200.

Inflatable Canoes
 

Inflatable Canoes
 

Larry wrote:
wrote in
:


Unless it is made of hypalon like an Avon, I'd be very wary of putting
it into cold winter waters where your life depends on it.




Oh, no. In cold waters, we should buy the cheapest piece of plastic crap
to save us a few dollars and die freezing WHEN, not if, it pops so the kids
will have no daddy and get the insurance money, if any.

Isn't all this about seeing how damned cheap and stupid we can be?

Same idea as the $8 PFD, right?

It is not cold that is critical but heat. I have used a variety of
inflatables in very cold water and none have ever failed me. But leave
one without high pressure release valves in the sun on a hot day and
you'll get a PVC blanket.

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

Cold water's a great way to die. I'm curious about the need to deflate it
and stow it. Is this because of:

In the winter, we will be using it on flat water only, wearing quality life
preservers, never far from land or boat.

1) Concerns about hauling a regular canoe on top of the car?
2) Storage issues at home?
3) Other? If so, what?

Storage in a 25 foot boat. My Maxum has a 9 foot beam. It's not practical
to haul a 12' tender unless I can easily inflate and deflate it. One of
this kayak's key features is that it and the paddles truly fit into the bag.
Given it's packed-up dimensions, I got a perfect place for it, under the
V-berth.

Cost can also be an issue, but with a little patience, you can often find
a
used canoe for not much more than $200.

Canoes are more cumbersome than a kayak.

-Greg

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Dene" wrote in message
...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

Cold water's a great way to die. I'm curious about the need to deflate it
and stow it. Is this because of:

In the winter, we will be using it on flat water only, wearing quality
life
preservers, never far from land or boat.

OK. Just find out (unless you already know) the relationship between water
temp and minutes to death. Isn't it something like 20 minutes, with the
water around 40 degrees? Sometimes, a life vest ends up being just a nice,
fat handle for lifting your corpse. :-)

Inflatable Canoes
 

In article , "Dene"
wrote:

Storage in a 25 foot boat.

I easily store my 9' inflatable under a back seat in my less than 25'
Regal.

When cruising off shore, it seems stupid to me to not have some sort of
inflatable that one can rely on.

I agree with all those who are trying to convince you that the
substandard inflatable is not that.

h

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

Inflatable Canoes
 

We have a Sevylor "Tahiti" inflatable kayak. It is junk. Too hard to
paddle compared to any rigid boat. Worthless.

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
OK. Just find out (unless you already know) the relationship between water
temp and minutes to death. Isn't it something like 20 minutes, with the
water around 40 degrees? Sometimes, a life vest ends up being just a nice,
fat handle for lifting your corpse. :-)

Yes, something like 50% chance of survival after 20 minutes. But you loos
you ability to do anything about your situation much faster than that. 4-5
minutes maybe.
/Lars J

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Lars Johansson" wrote:


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
OK. Just find out (unless you already know) the relationship between water
temp and minutes to death. Isn't it something like 20 minutes, with the
water around 40 degrees? Sometimes, a life vest ends up being just a nice,
fat handle for lifting your corpse. :-)

Yes, something like 50% chance of survival after 20 minutes. But you loos
you ability to do anything about your situation much faster than that. 4-5
minutes maybe.
/Lars J

It isn't a straight line function. The occupational physician that I
was working with when I fell off the dock in November (in Maryland - I
was folding the sails) said that there was a 50-50-50 rule. In water
of 50 degrees F, 50% of people will survive for 50 minutes. From that
I infer that some people have more resistance to cold water than
others. And in fact that is what one sees when people's boat sinks
when it is in cold water. Some people die quicker and some people
hang on longer.

grandma Rosalie

Inflatable Canoes
 

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
"Lars Johansson" wrote:


"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
OK. Just find out (unless you already know) the relationship between
water
temp and minutes to death. Isn't it something like 20 minutes, with the
water around 40 degrees? Sometimes, a life vest ends up being just a
nice,
fat handle for lifting your corpse. :-)

Yes, something like 50% chance of survival after 20 minutes. But you loos
you ability to do anything about your situation much faster than that. 4-5
minutes maybe.
/Lars J

It isn't a straight line function. The occupational physician that I
was working with when I fell off the dock in November (in Maryland - I
was folding the sails) said that there was a 50-50-50 rule. In water
of 50 degrees F, 50% of people will survive for 50 minutes. From that
I infer that some people have more resistance to cold water than
others. And in fact that is what one sees when people's boat sinks
when it is in cold water. Some people die quicker and some people
hang on longer.

grandma Rosalie

All this assumes that you are still conscious. Sometimes people are injured
before hitting the water. Anyway....your point is still valid.

Inflatable Canoes
 

Inflatable Canoes
 

On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 14:14:14 +0000, Rosalie B. wrote:

The occupational physician that I
was working with said that there was a 50-50-50 rule. In water
of 50 degrees F, 50% of people will survive for 50 minutes. From that
I infer that some people have more resistance to cold water than
others.

absolutely, on a hot midsummer day I went into a cold -sub 60- bay in the
North Channel with a thin wet suit and skin diving gear on to check the
underside of the boat and was rendered dangerously hypothermic in less
than 20 minutes. I knew I was in trouble when I could no longer tell
which way was up. I had extreme difficulty getting myself up the ladder
under my own power -my wife had to get a sling under my backside to
assist- and it took me over an hour and a half with the wet suit on
sitting in the sun in the cockpit to get my internal temperature
stabilized. I'm over 50, marathon fit and lack shall we say much body
insulation.

Inflatable Canoes
 

Don White wrote:
wrote:

We have a Sevylor "Tahiti" inflatable kayak. It is junk. Too hard to
paddle compared to any rigid boat. Worthless.



That would be my impression. The original poster should try paddling a
normal plastic rigid version vs a blow-up in a variety of conditions.
I doubt he'd buy the blow-up.
I have both an ABS canoe and an inflatable. The ABS is a much better
paddler but difficult to store in a locker. The inflatable is hardly
worthless but the price the ask for them reflects the relative value.
ABS - $1500
PVC - $150

Gary

Inflatable Canoes
 

In article .com,
wrote:

We have a Sevylor "Tahiti" inflatable kayak. It is junk. Too hard to
paddle compared to any rigid boat. Worthless.

We've had one of them for a decade and it's been perfect for getting out
to a mooring and other close work. It's a PITA with only one set of
paddles for exploring the anchorage very far, but I'd call it worthy of
its purpose. If I got a second set of paddles for the Admiral, I expect
we'd have a far larger range.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/