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Sure, we’d all rather be sailing around the Mediterranean on a yacht this summer, but even if you’re not planning on going any further than your local river or lake, you can still get out on the water with what is perhaps the year’s most convenient social distancing tool—the inflatable kayak.
As a city-dweller living in a tiny apartment, I usually rely on renting kayaks and attempting to befriend boat-owners to get me through the summer, because I certainly don’t have the storage space for a regular kayak. Since sharing kayaks with strangers is no longer an option, and many rental facilities are closed or operating with strict restrictions and limited hours, I invested in an inflatable kayak, which cost $250 and ended up paying for itself after just a few uses. Unlike a rental, I can take it out whenever and wherever I want, without having to wait in lines or needing to return it back by a certain time.
The Sea Eagle 330 Deluxe inflatable kayak comes with two seats (perfect for spending even more time with your quarantine partner) but can also easily be used solo (in case you need some alone time). It includes everything else that you’ll need to get floating: two paddles, a foot pump, repair kit, carrying bag, inflatable spray skirts, and two rudders.
The kayak deflates into a carrying bag that’s about the size of a weekender backpack, making it fairly mobile, so you can walk a bit to your launch spot if necessary. The kayak itself weighs just 26 pounds, but you’ll also need to bring the oars and pump with you (adding a bit of weight), which makes it slightly awkward to bike or walk long distances with. Since the kayak folds down small, it will easily fit into an Uber trunk or backseat, or can even be carried on public transport without too much of a problem, especially if you have two sets of hands.
Once you’re at the water, the foot pump inflates the kayak quickly and without huffing and puffing on your behalf, so you can be on the water in about five minutes. You’ll need to inflate and put the seats, spray skirts, and rudders in separately each time, but the assembly process is straightforward and fast. The rudders are small and can be easy to forget—though if you leave them in the bottom of the carrying case by accident, you’re going to immediately realize it once you try to steer the kayak in anything resembling a straight line.
Sea Eagle's kayak is rated for up to Class III whitewater, but I can only vouch for it on the relatively smooth waters of Boston’s Charles River, where it handles the passing waves of an aggressive speedboat extremely well without feeling like it’s going to capsize. It's also easy to steer and glides along smoothly—and the inflatable seats are surprisingly comfortable. It’s wide and stable, so even first-time paddlers will feel comfortable on the water. The spray skirts are also key, as you can stash belongings underneath (like a small cooler or backpack) that you want to stay dry. Despite being inflatable, the kayak is really rugged—I’ve run into a few unexpected underwater rocks and haven’t had a puncture yet.
When you’re done with your aquatic adventure, the kayak has five deflation valves to flatten it in about a minute. You’ll want to make sure you thoroughly dry off the kayak and seats before packing it back up for storage, otherwise you’ll run the risk of pulling out a moldy kayak the next time you go to use it.
This summer, I’ll be sailing away from the crowds—and getting a great arm workout, plus some much-needed mental peace and quiet—on my inflatable kayak.
