I’ve tracked down a store that has the full range of Gumotex inflatable canoes available as their Innova range.

See here – Innova (Gumotex) inflatable canoes – for the full range.

Credit: Christopher Reichert

Life is never dull with an inflatable canoe, according to Christopher Reichert.  He has been paddling with crocodiles in Zambia, in a Stearns inflatable canoe and lived to tell the tale.

He comments:

“The sunshine had brought out the crowds, so soon an audience of puzzled onlookers was watching my fatigued attempts to pump up the Lilo. I have yet to achieve this feat without a minimum of 2 enquiries about how much was it & where can I get one…”

I wondered if this was a common reaction? Do inflatable canoes still have a greater novelty factor than hardshells? Which is the better conversation starter? And do you find that the attention continues once you are on the river and paddling?

Also, what is the common that makes you want to scream – the one that is so blindingly predictable yet everyone who makes it thinks that they are a great original wit? Any thoughts?

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The Sevylor Colorado and the Stearns backcountry seem to be the most popular inflatable canoes of this season. Both seem to be well made and stable, and aimed at the same market. They are both well-suited for rivers or coasts and are ideal for beginners.

So which inflatable canoe is right for you?

Watch this video, then decide.

Credit: timsayers

So what will it be?

Sevylor Colorado or Stearns backcountry

Cecil Kuhne has written Inflatable Kayaking: The Complete Guide, which sounds perfect for beginners like me. I am a little perturbed, however, when I see what else he has written:

• Near Death on the High Seas
• Near Death in the Mountains
• Near Death in the Arctic

(Also A Litigator’s Guide to Expert Witnesses, which seems to have taken the author off in a different direction – perhaps all those near death experiences took their toll!)

The editorial review on Amazon starts with the line “On the lookout for new, more exciting ways to tempt death? “. Well, no, actually. I am looking for ways to spend more time on paddling about rivers and lakes. So, I haven’t read this, but would love to hear from anyone who has. Is it any good, or is there something better out there?

The other book that caught my eye was the Guide to inflatable canoes & kayaks by William Sanders from 1979. I wouldn’t recommend it as a source of product information – I think things have moved on a little since then – but it might have some useful info on techniques.

I love the lingering shots of the seat buckles. It’s all very detailed! It’s worth having a look at 1:30 in, if you have any doubts about the stability of inflatable canoes.

I might have been right about the quality of inflatable canoes at the time – I’ll never know. This video shows that they are certainly not flimsy now. (Note: this is not me – they’re far more compentent than I am!)

Very solid, and manoeverable – this canoe looks like it was built to last. It seems to be a Gumotex Baraka, which is one of the larger canadian-style inflatable canoes on the market.

Are inflatables costly? No more so than many canoes and kayaks. The cheapest boats usually have unreinforced vinyl tubes. They’re great beach toys for good swimmers. Period. Better boats have Hypalon-coated fabric tubes or encapsulated air-cells. These are more expensive, but they’re a lot stronger, too, and they’re still no more costly than even the cheapest folding kayaks. As an added bonus, better-quality inflatables withstand higher inflation pressures. Higher pressure means greater rigidity, and rigidity translates into easier paddling and better control.

It’s a useful reminder that if you are intending to do more than amuse yourself for a couple of hours at the beach, it’s worth doing your research.

On that note, here are some of the basics you should be looking for in an inflatable canoe if you are considering it as a serious alternative to a hardbody canoe.

• How much weight to you want to carry – even 2 person boats vary quite a lot in what they can handle.
• Do you need room for storage, e.g. camping equipment?
• Are you going to use it for whitewater, sea, or still water?
• Is speed or stability your main priority?

Some recommendations, from a browse of the reviews:
Streamlined paddling on rivers or lakes: Stearns Spree 2-Person Inflatable Kayak for paddling on river or lakes
Whitewater and for those looking for stability: Sea Eagle 340 Inflatable Kayak
All-round favourite: Sevylor Colorado Inflatable Canoe

Whatever you want to do with your canoe, it seems like there should be something out there to meet your needs.