In the very beginning when I did not know what is a kayak? I thought only that this was nothing but a piece of a pool toy. I thought that this is completely different from an actual craft. I always like to travel at least once in a kayak. But a question came to my mind, are inflatable kayaks safe similar to actual craft.
Similar to me lots of guys who don’t have any idea or are beginners in this field have the same expectations, are inflatable kayaks safe to use. But should we leave this question as it is? No. Before I started kayaking, I did a lot of research on this topic and ready an article for you on are inflatable kayaks safe.
A BreakDown: Inflatable Kayaks 2023
Inflatable kayaks are durable kayaks that are built for tough conditions. Without any fear and doubt of sinking and popping, you can take this kayak on flat water, whitewater, and also on the ocean. But we can’t say that these are perfect for every condition.
The kayaks are beautifully designed for novices as well as for advanced paddlers. You may feel a bit more unstable when you sitting in an inflatable rather then a traditional kayak. But i am damn sure its stable and supportive system will surprised you too.
How Durable Are They
Inflatable kayaks are made with thin materials as well. Similar to this you can boost stability and structure by using aluminum parts. Inflatable kayaks are made with encompassed materials such as polyester and vinyl, that’s why they are too durable and tough. If you want to kayak such an adventurous you should take your kayak in rocky water, you don’t need to worry about damaging your kayak.
It isn’t recommended that you drag them through gravel. These kayaks are very easy to maintain under normal tear and wear. You must try to protect your kayak but it’s not like to inflatable balloon or raft as they are long-lasting.
Have A Look On Punctures
Punctures are very seldom issued in inflatable kayaks because they are durable. The surface of these boats is incredibly strong thanks to new technology and materials. You can rub along rocks and tree limbs without any harm. This isn’t always true. You can certainly puncture it if you try hard enough.
It’s a very common reason to appear whole in your boat, when seams to come apart and air leak out and same time your boat hit to the rocks. Punctures are happened but rarely. So it is not a very big deal to remember about punctures.
When you store them completely sure that its safe from sharp objects and utilize extreme care when transporting. If you care about your kayak, it will remain long-lasting and puncture-resistant at all. You can also use a patch kit to repair your kayak as well.
To see how durable our inflatable kayak is and also how to repair a kayak you can see this video.
Stability And Rigidity
You need to ensure that your kayak is fully inflated as a loose inflated kayak is unstable. Thus the kayak is more durable, rigid, and stable if it is fully inflated.
Most of the kayaks have small inflatable sections like they have a metal framework or resemble a rod etc. These methods are essentially a rigid stabilizing system. The stabilization system helps to ensure that your paddling is stable and straight.
The inflated kayak is extremely sturdy. Sometimes they are similar to hard-hulled kayaks.
If you want to paddle on whitewater, make sure that your inflatable is suited for rapids.
Will They Sink
The amazing feature of an inflatable kayaks is that they are extremely resilient. Having flipped a regular hardshell kayak is very difficult to empty water and retrieve. You can easily afloat inflatable kayaks even if you capsize them as the inflatables are filled with air. Inflatable kayaks are also very lightweight kayaks so you can easily drain water accumulated inside.
Safety Precautions For Inflatable Kayaks
Inflatable kayaks are not breakable even though they are durable. If you would any kayak you should need to consider some safety precautions.
You cannot use an inflatable kayak for rough conditions and harsh water. You need to take too much care and safety if you are paddling on a river with rocks and waterfalls.
So it’s recommended to stay away from this condition so that you and your boat stay safe.
The other main thing is that the inflatable kayaks are safe, that’s why they can easily be influenced by strong winds. It’s a decent suggestion to avoid paddling in harsh conditions. It’s a good habit of a paddler to use always a life jacket.
Conclusion
No doubt to say inflatable kayaks are not only safe like others as they are very easy to transport thanks to their lightweight structure, rigidity. Its comfortable seating offers the easiest paddling. But is advised to always follow appropriate precautions when paddling a boat.
One more thing, punctures, and leaks rarely happen but taking them lightly is not a good practice. Your kayak is not damage-resistant. It somehow depends on you if you take care of your kayak and use your common sense you can will never or even rarely face a difficulty.
