Sandbanks Optimal Kayak, First Impressions, Opinions & Review
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2023
- Today I launched the Sandbanks Optimal Dropstitch Inflatable Kayak down the canal. I share my thoughts and first impressions.
Unboxing video here - • Sandbanks Style Optima...
Karl - / @morethanjustacleaner
Nice video, I am taking mine out for the first time tomorrow so the unboxing and your first outing have been really useful. Thanks.
Loved the video Jon and thank you for mentioning how the hight difference will make your boat more tippy, its not a subject that gets talked about that much in the kayaking world but its something us taller guys have to think about when buying new boats
Was thinking of you when I said it! It's very true though adding only the cushion made a difference. I'm used to it now. Was out all day in it 😊
@@RuffPaddling would love to see on UA-cam paddlers doing experiments on their boats to see how easy it is to change the centre of gravity with changing your height or putting weights on your shoulders. Hopefully everyone would find it interesting too mate
Had my eye on this for a while. I’ve got the ITWIT 100 but I want an upgrade. Looking at larger rivers like the Thames and some estuaries and not sure the ITWIT is up to it. It gets a slog when the wind picks up. Doesn’t look like there is much room for camping gear or anything though.
I've changed from an x100. The Sandbanks is like a racing boat in comparison. I'd expect to get a fair bit of gear onto it as it's got good bungee storage front and rear. But like you say nowhere near as much as you can cram into an itiwit. They're like tardis boats! 🤣
Impressive how straight the boat keeps its course!! I just tried the Itiwitt x500 for the first time and that looses its bearing almost immediately when you stop paddling :(
Today the Ottawa, likes your has, produced some of the best hyperlapse footage I've seen :D
I'm still learning camera settings for hyperlapse, hopefully next time I'll remember to have horizon leveling on! 😅
@@RuffPaddling Which model do you have?
Hero 10 black
@@RuffPaddling So basically the same shape as my 9 black.
The Ottawa similarities are uncanny - especially the crap seat! Is the bow and stern cone squidgier than you expected when inflated?
Yeah the seat is terrible! I've been looking at those gel pads you've reviewed from Amazon. Might make a difference. However my dining room cushion was comfy!
The pointy bits are very rigid on mine even when inflated. The 2022/3 model of the optimal has softer nose cones like yours will have. Was discussed on the sandbanks owners page not long back :)
How do you find the lack of foot supports on this? I note the Itiwit x500 has them but not the Sandbanks.
It would be nice to have a brace for support and additional power.
I've seen a universal kit on Amazon that I might add on later!
@@RuffPaddlingcould you let us know how you get on with the foot brace universal kit please? I had a look and only a few reviews and not great ones. I have an optimal too and find that my feet get sore after a while against the curvy bit. How much out of 10 would you give the optimal?
@@enricakita1 thanks for the comment. Id give the optimal an 8 out of 10, based on the standard seat and paddle being poor quality.
I've still not got round to purchasing the footrest kit. When I do I'll pop a video up with my thoughts :)
Things are a little financially tight at the moment 😞
@@RuffPaddling thank you!
I do find it interesting that you think it tippy. If you went from the Story to the Sandbanks, you'd think the Sandbanks was incredibly stable.
Cheers for the shout out bro :)
I think I only find it tippy as I've gone from an incredibly stable flat bottomed boat into it.
By the time I'd settled into the rhythm of it I was quite happy and stable.