Nice video mate. I'm considering both the Optimal and the Explorer. How stable is the Optimal, is it noticeably faster than a drop stich floor/ low pressure sides version? Also, don't like that there arent foot rests supplied, how do you manage? Do you get a lot of water ingress as its nearly a sit on type?
I own the Optimal and it's extremely stable, too stable actually. I would have liked the width trimmed down a bit to be honest. Speed wise it's pretty good, I don't know how it compares to the best tube sided kayaks but I would imagine that it beats them. I'm 182 cm (5'11) and I can use the end of the cockpit as a foot brace with some seat adjustment. As for water getting in it will happen, it's just the nature of open cockpit kayaks. This is actually a problem if you plan on using it outside of the summer as you will get wet. It's why I now use a aluminium frame seat instead of the seat that comes with the kayak. It's way more comfortable, better strokes and I don't get wet. The seat that comes with the kayak is the worst thing about the kayak I'd say. It has almost no padding, moves around which causes the backrest to fall and it's hard to adjust right.
I would personally not go for the Explorer, nothing to do with Sandbanks Style but I think 3 chamber full drops stitch boats just don't appeal to me. They are much less stable than the 2 chamber models like the Optimal. I think they only really benefit from more storage space if you want to do camping or multi day trips. If I wanted a boat for that I think a hybrid is much more versatile than a 3 chamber drop stitch. You do get wet I am afraid in the optimal, as you say its basically a sit-on-top inflatable kayak. A sponge is enough to bail most of it out I have found, it has only been once on a pretty choppy sea I thought I wish I had a pump to bail. The seat isn't great as the floor is very hard at the recommended 10-12 psi. An additional foam or similar material pad under or on top of the seat base is definitely worthwhile if you are going to spend more than a couple hours at a time paddling. I tend to use my dry bag as a footrest wedged against and partly under the bow. It works fine for me at 5'10".
I never new there's a campsite at Bala I will visit when I get a inflatable cheers Ad 😀
Yeah it looks a pretty nice one too, my parents have been but about 25 years ago. Its www.pantyronnencampsite.co.uk/
Good one 👍 stayed on the site next to Bala a few years ago it was ok 👌
Great, I am thinking of taking my caravan there in August.
Nice video mate. I'm considering both the Optimal and the Explorer. How stable is the Optimal, is it noticeably faster than a drop stich floor/ low pressure sides version? Also, don't like that there arent foot rests supplied, how do you manage? Do you get a lot of water ingress as its nearly a sit on type?
I own the Optimal and it's extremely stable, too stable actually. I would have liked the width trimmed down a bit to be honest.
Speed wise it's pretty good, I don't know how it compares to the best tube sided kayaks but I would imagine that it beats them.
I'm 182 cm (5'11) and I can use the end of the cockpit as a foot brace with some seat adjustment.
As for water getting in it will happen, it's just the nature of open cockpit kayaks. This is actually a problem if you plan on using it outside of the summer as you will get wet. It's why I now use a aluminium frame seat instead of the seat that comes with the kayak. It's way more comfortable, better strokes and I don't get wet.
The seat that comes with the kayak is the worst thing about the kayak I'd say. It has almost no padding, moves around which causes the backrest to fall and it's hard to adjust right.
I would personally not go for the Explorer, nothing to do with Sandbanks Style but I think 3 chamber full drops stitch boats just don't appeal to me. They are much less stable than the 2 chamber models like the Optimal. I think they only really benefit from more storage space if you want to do camping or multi day trips. If I wanted a boat for that I think a hybrid is much more versatile than a 3 chamber drop stitch.
You do get wet I am afraid in the optimal, as you say its basically a sit-on-top inflatable kayak. A sponge is enough to bail most of it out I have found, it has only been once on a pretty choppy sea I thought I wish I had a pump to bail.
The seat isn't great as the floor is very hard at the recommended 10-12 psi. An additional foam or similar material pad under or on top of the seat base is definitely worthwhile if you are going to spend more than a couple hours at a time paddling.
I tend to use my dry bag as a footrest wedged against and partly under the bow. It works fine for me at 5'10".
You can buy an inflatable footrest that fits the Optimal. I have one.