Inflatable Canoes

[pgsieve]

Hello!

I am thinking about buying a canoe for next summer, and ran across some inflateable canoes on Amazon for the Black Friday sales. Initially I was just looking at a regular canoe, but given the portability (I only have a small hatchback) I thought this might be a decent option. I'm mostly looking for a canoe for some lake canoeing in the mountains. Any experience? Worth it or unreliable for long distance trips?

I also won a small electric motor in a fishing derby a few years ago. Obviously I won't be able to use it like I would with a real canoe, but I'm not sure when I'd actually use the motor anyway.. I just like having the option

[DownhillGoat]

I can't comment on the canoes per say, but I have an inflatable SUP, and my pops has an inflatable kayak.

Usually made out of the same material as Zodiacs or similar. No issues with durability thus far, and I've used my SUP for river running.

They do travel slower than fibreglass though. Just a heads up.

[pgsieve]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I can't comment on the canoes per say, but I have an inflatable SUP, and my pops has an inflatable kayak.

Usually made out of the same material as Zodiacs or similar. No issues with durability thus far, and I've used my SUP for river running.

They do travel slower than fibreglass though. Just a heads up.

Does his inflatable kayak have any issues with being blown around? I'm not terribly worried about the material as they all seem very durable, but I do have concerns about getting pushed around in the wind/waves. Essentially just wondering if I'm wasting my time with any kind of "distance" trips or if these are really just designed to rip around calm lakes, etc.

[DownhillGoat]

No idea he's never tested it on anything windy/choppy yet.

[blueski]

Most canoes are tough in waves/wind. I'm guessing the inflatable choice is just for ease of transport? It is pretty easy to throw them on most cars.

[GGG]

They need a keel to track well.

They tend to be short and only wide in the middle so they turn pretty good. But that also means they get blown around in wind and waves. I wouldn't do overnights on lakes with one as I think I would get frustrated with them. But for floaty river trips they'd work and day paddling they're fine.

Depending on how much you like your vehicle I find tossing a canoe on and latching it down easier than inflating one.