Just a curiousity ? here... but the notion of an inflatable canoe has really peaked my curiousity as of late... that's what happens when Ma' Nature cheats me out of spring paddling I reckon.
Frankly the current offerings don't peak my personal interest very much... but that doesn't mean there might not be a niche to bring new people into the sport or offer up some fresh ideas to an industry that frankly is making some boats that really don't appear very appealing.
Lay it on me folks... what are your thoughts? Sky's the limit here...
This is a start... but I wouldn't give up my hard boats for one. http://www.soar1.com/soar_10.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For reference... not all inflatables have to look or perform like a miniature 'raft' as this company has proven. http://www.incept.co.nz/k30x.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The SOAR boats look like a copy of the XR Trekking, which ius an approximatelt 35 year old european design. They are ok, kinda wet and slow, but IMHO ho match for a hardshell as a whitewater boat http://www.grabner-sports.at/index.php?id=182&L=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
The Grabner Outside http://www.grabner-sports.at/OUTSIDE.ou ... .html?&L=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is better in whitewater, mainly due to the high rocker that makes it moer maneuvrabl and drier than the XR style boats, but I would still take a hardshell over it for performance.
I see the market for inflatable canoes more for WW expeditions with complicated logistics where it may be impossible or excessively expensive to get a hardshell boat in.
But honestly for running hard whitewater in an inflatable and doing it C-style (i.e. kneeling) nothing beats the Russian paddle catarafts with storage inside the tube: http://ww-video.ru/mediadetails.php?key ... 7d0b3e7cc1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
TGG!
Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing - Henry David Thoreau
. . . but I can report that the one time I tried one, I found it very unwieldy. Paddling is very uncomfortable -- it's difficult to reach the water with a paddle because of the thickness of the side-tubes. The owner flubbed his way along with an unusually-long double-bladed stick. Not a pretty sight.
the great gonzo wrote:But honestly for running hard whitewater in an inflatable and doing it C-style (i.e. kneeling) nothing beats the Russian paddle catarafts with storage inside the tube: http://ww-video.ru/mediadetails.php?key ... 7d0b3e7cc1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
TGG!
I'm always impressed by the Commrades... and Bublik's are 100% pure AWESOME
Pierre LaPaddelle wrote:No comment from me on your intent. . . ( )
. . . but I can report that the one time I tried one, I found it very unwieldy. Paddling is very uncomfortable -- it's difficult to reach the water with a paddle because of the thickness of the side-tubes. The owner flubbed his way along with an unusually-long double-bladed stick. Not a pretty sight.
I've thought about them, especially when I used to travel for work a lot. I think the designs as they are (as noted already) with the large tubes would make it harder to reach the water and make your stance narrower. Didn't Mad River make one along the lines of a Folboat with a frame, but inflatable "hull", with thinner bladders? Wouldn't be great for whitewater, though. I think there is potential here with the right idea... The high performance IKs are tempting, too...
Grabner actually had the Jump, a full-on creeker in their linup for a year or two, but I guess at almost Euro 2000 they did not sell to well and they are not in the 2012 catalog, but they are parting out the remaining ones http://shop09.grabner-sports.at/product ... -boat.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
I know that the Grabner Indio http://shop09.grabner-sports.at/product ... -2012.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is not a whitewater boat, but I think the basic concept with baffled multi ridge side tube, that can be made much narrower than a single tube, is the way to go to improve performance of inflatables. But you will always have some drawbacks like the lack of hullstiffnes and no edges when compared to a hardshell boat.
And yes Craig, bubliks are pure bad-assness. The comrades run stuff with them that would give most top notch hard boaters, no matter what their craft is, reason to pause and think.
TGG!
Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing - Henry David Thoreau
I have a AIRE Lynx and a couple of the older style inflatable IK seats. I have thought about taking one of the seats and mounting it sideways in the boat like a saddle. If I faced backwards I could use the foot pegs that are already in it, and by crossing the thigh straps they would hold my knee pretty well.
I would be interested in an inflatable to use like a pack raft... The weights on the New Zealand-made IK look usable, but the SOAR canoes are too heavy for an expedition, I think. If they could be built at a weight closer to 40 lbs, I think it would be doable.
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