Summer is here and now is the time to get wet and wild. And Eliot Germanovsky of BoatsToGo talked with us about the new innovations in practical boats that can be folded, inflated and ready for the water. Best of all these boats are compact enough that they can be easily transported and stored when not in use. Continue reading Sunday Q&A: Eliot Germanovsky Talks New Boating Technology
Tag: Kayak
L.L. Bean Celebrates 100 Years With 100 Person Kayak
Need to row down the river with 99 of your closest friends? If you do, outdoor retailer L.L. Bean might be able to accommodate you. The company built the world’s largest modular kayak – a 500-foot long version of Point65’s collapsible kayak. Of course this kayak isn’t actually for sale, but rather is just made to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary in business, and to get in the Guinness Book of World Records.
But for those who need to paddle with about 100 people there is always hope!
Fold Up Paddle Boat
We’ve seen some interesting watercraft of late, including a fold up row boat and now there is the Origami Paddler – a stand up and fold up raft! The idea here is to provide a solid paddle board that is more stable than the inflatable type but is still easy enough to transport. Unlike the FoldBoat we profiled recently, the Origami Paddler won’t exactly fit in a backpack, but it is small enough to fit in most car trunks.
Designed by Tim Niemier, who invented the sit-on-top kayak, the Origami Paddler is still in concept and he’s working to raise funding for what could be a bit of a game changer for those looking to paddle up stream. The version that Niemier has designed can be carried like an over-sized suitcase and weights in at about 50 pounds. It can be unfolded quickly with locking hinges, providing an 11.5 foot board that is basically ready to go. Video after the jump
Stand Up Paddle Board
It is that time of year when the new water sport crafts are taking to the water, and a new trend seems to be stand up paddle boards. This includes the new Flow 106X SUP line from Pelican, which offers anti-slip, padded deck pad for secure footing, bottom grooves for solid tracking, four carrying handles for when it isn’t in the water, and even elastic bungree cords to allow storage “on deck.”
This craft obviously is designed for flatwater, light surf and slow moving rivers. We wouldn’t advise taking it on serious white water, but the the Flow can go with the flow and be used as a sit-on-top kayak as well – with optional conversation kit.
Bodyboard-Kayak Hybrid Spotted Down River!
We’re always on the lookout for new and innovative fitness products, and this week we heard about the Bellyak, which is essentially a hybrid of a kayak and a river body board. This hand-paddled craft can be used to head down a river head first!
Invented by husband and wife team Adam and Anna Masters, it was reportedly inspired by the duo’s desire to create a craft that could be used by anyone, even beginners. It is thus easier to exit than a traditional kayak, and offers an easier learning curve. It also puts riders in the water in a way that other craft don’t do – namely head first at water level. Currently the Masters are working on two models that could hit the rapids this summer. Video after the jump
Revolutionary Kayak is No Mirage
“Look Ma, no paddles!” That’s probably our first take when seeing the Hobie Mirage Revolution 11, which is part of the company’s “MirageDrive line” of watercraft. While you can still do the traditional paddling, this drive allows users to pedal instead. Two pedals drive a pair of underwater fins – and reportedly work much like a penguin’s flippers. While the boat might be named Mirage those watching it move across the water might think they are seeing things as the Kayak’s users isn’t doing any paddling!
The Mirage Revolution 11 is also revolutionary in that it offers a featherweight hull, has an impressive turning ratio, plenty of storage and even lashing configurations for optional sailing kit. And without sailing kit the MirageDrive means you can pedal instead of paddle and save the arms for lifting a cool drink instead.
Blow Up Boat
httpv://youtu.be/bgc_Vq_XeIc
When things blow up they often go “ka-bomb,” but when the BoatsToGo gets blown up (as in inflated) it becomes a KaBoat. We’re not sure if we’re the only ones that appreciate that joke, but it does describe this crossover that is somewhere between a full-fledged boat and a kayak.
It features a slim hull design that was reportedly modeled after narrow Asian Dragon boats, and this sleek profile allows the KaBoat to glide effortlessly over water at speeds faster than traditional boats, while still providing space for an outboard motor and supplies. As a result the boat travels at faster speeds due to less water resistance, and uses less energy to be propelled in the water as well. But what really turns our heads is that this boat is a lot easier to get in and out of the water.
The KaBoats is available in 12-foot, 14-foot, 16-foot and even an oversized 16-foot version, with prices ranging from $499 to $849. So whether it is half-kayak or half-boat we don’t think this one blows in any way!
A Kayak to Stand On
Kayaks may just be one of the most maneuverable and quiet water crafts on the market today. They are fairly easy to transport, very low maintenance and are fairly inexpensive to purchase when compared to other watercraft options. Recreational paddling of open and whitewater has been the primary use of modern kayaks for decades, but there are more kayaks being designed and produced for the anglers out there. Just recently, Jackson Kayak of Spartan, Tennessee has brought to market the Cuda, a boat specifically designed for the open fresh and salt water fisherman in mind. Video after the jump
PVC-’free’dom While Kayaking
Most outdoor enthusiasts are knowledgeable and sensitive to the impact that plastics can have on the environment. There are a growing number of consumers and retailers that want to see products that are kinder or at least more benign to Mother Mature. This comes down to a reduction of key plastics and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of those materials on the hit list.
While PVC is still used in many applications, Innova Kayak of Burlington, Washington is starting to release PVC-free inflatable products.
These include the Swing I and Swing II, which are designed to meet the PVC-free standards that progressive dealers and consumers demand, while still offering the performance benefits of a decked boat.
The result is one that weighs less than half that of many comparable hard shell boats; where the 10-foot, 6-inch Swing I tips the scales at 22 pounds and the 13-foot Swing II, a double, is 26 pounds. Continue reading PVC-’free’dom While Kayaking