Check out my new UA-cam channel! www.youtube.com/@KenWhitingAdventures is now the place to find all my paddling adventure videos, while PaddleTV will focus on Instruction and Gear Reviews.
An excellent overview that makes it easy to understand everything about the boat, and whether it's right for me, without seeming biased in any way. Thank you.
Thank You so much for this review! I just bought mine. I have the tandem Explorer 380 and I love how stable it is. I am not a super experienced kayaker and got caught in some rough windy conditions on a big lake on our way back, the waves were big and we were paddling against the wind. (We had all our safety gear on too) The Explorer was amazing, we were never afraid of falling over, it would go over the waves like nothing! So I bought the 300 for when I want to go on my own and also bought the electric motor to have with me just in case the conditions change like it happened on that day I described before. I was with my 13 year old daughter, and she paddled like a champ non stop with me for 3 hours. (I am in shape, but did not know I could paddle non stop for that long) I am super excited to take it out. I also want to add that I bought the Advanced Element higher end kayak 2 years ago, I feel that was such a waste of money. It was half the price of Explorer and you can feel that. Much more difficult to set up too with all the valves and the floor is too soft. You get what you pay for!
Awesome to hear! The 380x is such a GREAT kayak to take other people onto the water. Really great to hear you got your 13-year old daughter out! Hope she enjoyed the adventure!
I've had my 300x for almost 4 years and love it! It is a great beginners boat that is very stable and easy to paddle. I always let beginner kayakers go on it first so that they are comfortable paddling without having that "tippy" feeling. I've also used it for overnight camping, it has plenty of space for gear and having lash points on deck can accommodate more camping equipment. During covid I did plenty of crabbing on it and it was perfect for stowing my crab pots (2-3) and it's stability made it easy hauling the catch. It's not the fastest kayak and it can be a chore paddling into windy conditions but you don't buy this kayak for that. But for fun, ease of use and stability, it's perfect! Ken, you are always on point with your reviews!
Hi All, I just bought a 300x for whitewater. I am 67 so the stability really appealed to me. So far so good. It seems strange that there are no foot pegs but I do have the thigh straps so I just need to learn to coordinate them. Putting it all to the test this Saturday on the Salmon River, upstate NY.
Thanks for this and all the other clips. Very helpful, educational, and inspirational. Ordered my 300x today. Really looking forward to getting out in the water in it.
I just added the SeaEagle motor mount with electric motor to my 380X. Last week I took videos and sent to my friends and family. Very inexpensive way to go upriver. Explore surroundings with paddles and then comme back down the river to put-in point. Just love my setup.
Hello. I have the 300x and really like it. I purchased the thigh straps and the Aire inflatable foot brace that actually fits the boat good. With both of these accessories it makes this boat much more responsive.
Just like Sea Eagle is the top inflatable kayak brand in America, so is Gumotex in Europe. I own a Gumotex Rush 1 and I can say exactly the same things about it. Super stable, most versatile of them all, runs smoothly on the sea, and paddles really great with a Greenland paddle. Made of rubber, not PVC. This brand from Czech republic has over 70 years of experience in making inflatable boats. If you ever get a chance to test one, Ken, I highly recommend it - either Rush 1 or Rush 2 from Gumotex (make sure you also get a cockpit kit for it).
You can purchase thigh straps from Sea Eagle or from NRS that works perfectly with the Explorer series in whitewater. Makes you more part of the boat. Great review Ken!
I have a pair from TAHE Sport that I bought really cheap brand new : € 12 per piece :) But the best ones I have tried so far and could not find anywhere being sold seperately are made by ZELGEAR which I tested in their IGLA Kayak and were amazingly comfortable !!!
@@PaddleTV You should promote accessories made by NRS a lot more! :) Their footpegs for inflatables for example could be used on these Sea Eagle Explorer models when Sea Eagle's own FlexBrace Kit isn't useable because of the valve locations!
I recommend the NRS thigh straps, they are much better (wider padding, more comfortable, better in like every way....) than the Sea Eagle thigh straps. I have both and will only use the NRS now
I’ve had a 300X for a few years now and love it. I use it for inshore coastal trips - nothing too strenuous. I’ll be seventy-four next month but I always use it with the SE thigh straps, with their addition I feel so much more connected to the boat and much more confident if there are any crosswinds (having come from a sit-in-‘yak, I missed being an integral part of the craft. I can just about squeeze it into the SE back pack which really adds to its accessibility to some locations (although it can be a bit of a struggle getting it on my back at times); at other spots I use a C-Tug trolley having inflated the ‘yak by the car (I do have a cordless pump which I swear by). Having got to the shore, the back pack or the broken C-Tug go behind the seat along with the pump in a bag. It really is great fun, I’ve played with putting a sail on it and even a trolling motor which makes it the most flexible boat for its price. The U.K. importer, Spindrift, have always given great service and are really responsive to any queries or spares needs: it all makes for a great package!
It was my first IK, I used it while I was learning whitewater. I took mine on 7 runs before I upgraded to the Aire Tomcat solo. Just got tired of sitting in water even with the inflatable seat. In white water the drains are open and constantly let water in. You can stand up in it but I didn't like doing that. I used mine in up to class 4 and it worked.
Very good review, Ken. Seems like a nice boat. How does it compare with the Stars/Tributaries and AIRES if you have tried any of those? I know, much more expensive especially the AIRES. Also, can you review the Solisice Flare IK? Its literally half the price as the 300 X but from what I have seen on YT it looks really great. Thank you!
Ken, you may not be aware there are many powerboat & sailboat operators of smaller boats who long for a basic 'shore boat' but can't erect/launch/disassemble the more typical RIB inflatable due to limited cockpit space (e.g. 2 x 3 meters). Stability (e.g. hauling groceries), handling wind chop (large anchorages + afternoon seabreeze), collapsable enough to be stored (somewhere!) and carrying 1 or 2 people is the basic mission. For that reason I've been watching a number of your videos, hoping to find a suitable kayak alternative. You do a great job with these reviews and, if an inflatable kayak might serve this purpose, I know your review of it will be an essential part of the selection process. So thank you for all your help. If only the SE 380 weren't so big & heavy'ish.....
I never thought of that! How would the Sea Eagle 370 work? It's about 7 pounds lighter than the 380x, and a little smaller when deflated. It's also a lot cheaper. One cool thing about the 380x is that you can attach a motor, if that's a consideration for you. Thanks for the insight!
@@PaddleTV Thanks for the comments, Ken. Smaller cruising boat tenders often feature rigid cross-stitched floors, which is why the 300X and 380X caught my eye. 'Rigid' is always a plus in a small boat in a wind swept anchorage. Maybe we need to carefully plan the space-constraint steps (inflating, launching, retrieving) rather than expect an inflatable kayak will solve all its own issues. Again, thanks for your excellent videos.
Hey Ken, I love your videos and have been watching for years, but I have yet to buy a kayak! Now I need some exercise and a bit of slimming down, so I thought that kayaking could kill 2 bird's with 1 stone. At 6'2" and 250 lbs, should I be looking at a hardshell or inflatable due to the weight? I'm more confused than ever on the matter.
I have seen these on the water... it was the 2 person version. A couple seemed to be having fun... They told me this was their 2nd time taking it out....and they were still still speaking politely to one another 🤔 Trust me you can tell when a tandem experience is not going well 🤣
Hi, I'd be very interested to see your review of the Eddie Bauer inflatable kayak. I got one, and it seems pretty good, but.. what do I know about kayaks? :)
One thing I'm confused about. I'm looking on Amazon and the Sea Eagle 300X shows foot pegs in the picture, and even talks about them in the description. Maybe they've recently added them?
Hey Ken , nice Content again, like your Channel, beautiful Country where do you live! I live in the northeast of Germany, we have a lot of Lakes around my Hometown! Maby you can make a Review off the Nook from Nautiraid ? Or is this Kayak too special? Greetings from Germany Uwe Schmidt
Thanks! I live in Ontario, Canada. I am definitely interested in reviewing one of the Nautiraid kayaks. Hopefully this season I'll get a chance to. So much I want to do, but so little time! :)
Hey Ken! Quick question. I've been interested in kayaking for awhile now. Kayaked as a kid and loved it. Is there a useful site(s) that can show me the plethora of kayaks on the market? Looking into the Oru Bay ST since I don't see myself doing it too much a year. Thanks!
Great to hear you're looking to get back into it! Paddling.com or Paddlingmagazine.com both have good listings of most kayaks. I haven't tried the Our Bay St (yet), but on the surface it looks like it could be a really good option for you. I'm definitely a fan of Oru kayaks.
Can I use the NRS seat on a Sea Eagle kayak like 385ft? Is there any place to secure the seat? Will it damage the floor? I like NRS seat but prefer Sea Eagle kayak
Looks like a great all round option! For someone who wants to prioritize whitewater a bit more, but still wants an inflatable, an Aire Tributary Tater or an Aire Outfitter would be a better option from a boat design option IMO. I have a Tater and it is so, so much fun. I feel almost as locked into it as I do my hardshell.
The biggest issue I have with Sea Eagle : The price of their kayak's !!! If they would cut everything in half then I might consider one for myself or advice one to someone... For example : - Sea Eagle Razorlite 393RL : € 1099 - AirCanoe Cruiser 393S : € 550 Add the Sea Eagle FlexBrace Kit or a pair of NRS Footpegs for € 50 + some glue costs and you are all set !!! :)
This is an unbelievable surf kayak - see the video "Outstanding Inflatable Sea Kayak". It turns so fast you can face the waves, then flick a 180 when you choose one to ride. My long legs lock my feet securely under that foredeck, and siderope thru existing padeyes can lock my knees. Choose a wave already breaking with a forward punch of whitewater because it is too slow to coast down the blue. It is superfun to get buried deep underwater by monster chaotic waves; you just slowly float up as the 16 large scuppers drain. It surfs nose high, so no problem with nosediving. For downtime can slide your bottom forward with legs on foredeck and head on seat for luxury repose. I prefer their optional oversize skeg.
As soon as I spotted there's was no foot pegs or any sort of thigh brace I thought NO THANKS as you said you could bounce out the thing in white water lol. Nice looking boat, great review Ken.
My feet and thighs are perfectly supported as you can see in my videos. I stuff the backpack in forward area and get the effect of footpegs. I tuck my toes under the lip of the deck which locks them in place. I rigged scrap nylon ropes on the sides which can serve as thigh brace or reboard assist, but hardly need them because I can dig knees into fat side chambers. All this is helped by adjusting seat forward a few inches, then I can survive deep underwater plunges locked in as tight as I wish.
You really need foot pegs and thigh straps for whitewater use. The 10 foot length of this Sea Eagle kayak would limit you from using it on multi-day self supported kayaking trips. The bottom of this kayak front to back has no rocker which makes it significantly less maneuverable for fast turns needed in whitewater. If you want to do Class IV and above white water I would recommend checking out the Sotar inflatable IK that comes designed with a front to back rocker shape to the entire boat, thigh straps, adjustable foot pegs and is 11' long which allows more gear to be carried on multi-day grips. Sotar's 100% urethane material with a 3000 denier base fabric is arguably the toughest in the industry. The bottom of the Sotar kayak has many more drain holes making it drain when fully filled in just a few seconds. I've used mine for the past 15 years on many Class IV rivers and it still looks like its new.
I challenge many of your points. ->"no rocker": it's a banana. It can do a 180 with 2 paddle strokes as I do when facing then catching waves. I close the front 2 scuppers because they ingest water at speed due to rocker. This surfs with nose very high due to planing on the rear part of the banana. ->"no pegs/straps": I am absolutely locked in and comfortably bob up from several feet underwater after towering wave closeout. My channel has a vid showing a scrap of nylon rope threaded thru existing deck padeyes handy for knees, and my feet locked under front deck against wadded up empty backpack. ->"less drain holes": These 16 are huge silver dollar size to drain a tiny volume in a few moments. My most fun comes from rising up from underwater to a quick clean surfacing. ->"too short/small": This design comes in 4 length increments adding a foot or 18 inches and getting a different model number. I will admit that my 300x pools some water even with my weight well under limit so I may do better with the 350fx at 11.5 ft.
It is excellent for surf, and is the only inflato that advertises that. I have surfed it in even bigger waves than shown in 300x vid-review "Outstanding Inflatable Sea Kayak". It is especially fun in explosive wave chaos. It isn't suited for smooth blue water surf spots which is fine because they are crowded and competitive. I use it fine in fierce offshore winds. But long ocean paddles are no fun due to the drag; it gives me a rash under my rashguard 🙂
Check out my new UA-cam channel! www.youtube.com/@KenWhitingAdventures is now the place to find all my paddling adventure videos, while PaddleTV will focus on Instruction and Gear Reviews.
An excellent overview that makes it easy to understand everything about the boat, and whether it's right for me, without seeming biased in any way. Thank you.
Cheers!
Thank You so much for this review! I just bought mine. I have the tandem Explorer 380 and I love how stable it is. I am not a super experienced kayaker and got caught in some rough windy conditions on a big lake on our way back, the waves were big and we were paddling against the wind. (We had all our safety gear on too) The Explorer was amazing, we were never afraid of falling over, it would go over the waves like nothing! So I bought the 300 for when I want to go on my own and also bought the electric motor to have with me just in case the conditions change like it happened on that day I described before. I was with my 13 year old daughter, and she paddled like a champ non stop with me for 3 hours. (I am in shape, but did not know I could paddle non stop for that long) I am super excited to take it out.
I also want to add that I bought the Advanced Element higher end kayak 2 years ago, I feel that was such a waste of money. It was half the price of Explorer and you can feel that. Much more difficult to set up too with all the valves and the floor is too soft. You get what you pay for!
Awesome to hear! The 380x is such a GREAT kayak to take other people onto the water. Really great to hear you got your 13-year old daughter out! Hope she enjoyed the adventure!
I've had my 300x for almost 4 years and love it! It is a great beginners boat that is very stable and easy to paddle. I always let beginner kayakers go on it first so that they are comfortable paddling without having that "tippy" feeling. I've also used it for overnight camping, it has plenty of space for gear and having lash points on deck can accommodate more camping equipment. During covid I did plenty of crabbing on it and it was perfect for stowing my crab pots (2-3) and it's stability made it easy hauling the catch. It's not the fastest kayak and it can be a chore paddling into windy conditions but you don't buy this kayak for that. But for fun, ease of use and stability, it's perfect! Ken, you are always on point with your reviews!
Hi All, I just bought a 300x for whitewater. I am 67 so the stability really appealed to me. So far so good. It seems strange that there are no foot pegs but I do have the thigh straps so I just need to learn to coordinate them. Putting it all to the test this Saturday on the Salmon River, upstate NY.
Thanks for this and all the other clips. Very helpful, educational, and inspirational. Ordered my 300x today. Really looking forward to getting out in the water in it.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it!
LOVE my 300x. I have little storage so this is excellent. I live in Maine and I’ve taken this out on the ocean many times. Works great!
I just added the SeaEagle motor mount with electric motor to my 380X. Last week I took videos and sent to my friends and family. Very inexpensive way to go upriver. Explore surroundings with paddles and then comme back down the river to put-in point.
Just love my setup.
Hello. I have the 300x and really like it. I purchased the thigh straps and the Aire inflatable foot brace that actually fits the boat good. With both of these accessories it makes this boat much more responsive.
Yep…I want one of these for local Western NC rivers
Just like Sea Eagle is the top inflatable kayak brand in America, so is Gumotex in Europe.
I own a Gumotex Rush 1 and I can say exactly the same things about it. Super stable, most versatile of them all, runs smoothly on the sea, and paddles really great with a Greenland paddle. Made of rubber, not PVC. This brand from Czech republic has over 70 years of experience in making inflatable boats.
If you ever get a chance to test one, Ken, I highly recommend it - either Rush 1 or Rush 2 from Gumotex (make sure you also get a cockpit kit for it).
I love my 380x and considered the 300x previously, but needed the extra space for multi-day kayak camping. Great review as always!
Good choice! I'm lending a friend my 380x for a week long river trip we're doing together next month. Great river tripping kayak!
@PaddleTV I've also substituted the AquaGlide Cirrus 150 for several camps, and it has performed well at a substantially lighter weight.
You can purchase thigh straps from Sea Eagle or from NRS that works perfectly with the Explorer series in whitewater. Makes you more part of the boat.
Great review Ken!
Great point!
I have a pair from TAHE Sport that I bought really cheap brand new : € 12 per piece :)
But the best ones I have tried so far and could not find anywhere being sold seperately are made by ZELGEAR which I tested in their IGLA Kayak and were amazingly comfortable !!!
@@PaddleTV You should promote accessories made by NRS a lot more! :)
Their footpegs for inflatables for example could be used on these Sea Eagle Explorer models when Sea Eagle's own FlexBrace Kit isn't useable because of the valve locations!
I recommend the NRS thigh straps, they are much better (wider padding, more comfortable, better in like every way....) than the Sea Eagle thigh straps. I have both and will only use the NRS now
I’ve had a 300X for a few years now and love it. I use it for inshore coastal trips - nothing too strenuous. I’ll be seventy-four next month but I always use it with the SE thigh straps, with their addition I feel so much more connected to the boat and much more confident if there are any crosswinds (having come from a sit-in-‘yak, I missed being an integral part of the craft. I can just about squeeze it into the SE back pack which really adds to its accessibility to some locations (although it can be a bit of a struggle getting it on my back at times); at other spots I use a C-Tug trolley having inflated the ‘yak by the car (I do have a cordless pump which I swear by). Having got to the shore, the back pack or the broken C-Tug go behind the seat along with the pump in a bag.
It really is great fun, I’ve played with putting a sail on it and even a trolling motor which makes it the most flexible boat for its price. The U.K. importer, Spindrift, have always given great service and are really responsive to any queries or spares needs: it all makes for a great package!
It was my first IK, I used it while I was learning whitewater. I took mine on 7 runs before I upgraded to the Aire Tomcat solo. Just got tired of sitting in water even with the inflatable seat.
In white water the drains are open and constantly let water in. You can stand up in it but I didn't like doing that. I used mine in up to class 4 and it worked.
Very good review, Ken. Seems like a nice boat. How does it compare with the Stars/Tributaries and AIRES if you have tried any of those? I know, much more expensive especially the AIRES. Also, can you review the Solisice Flare IK? Its literally half the price as the 300 X but from what I have seen on YT it looks really great.
Thank you!
Really appreciate your clips and approach. I saw your GoPro. How did you mount it in the bow. It looks like it’s clipped to the small ropes.
Ken, you may not be aware there are many powerboat & sailboat operators of smaller boats who long for a basic 'shore boat' but can't erect/launch/disassemble the more typical RIB inflatable due to limited cockpit space (e.g. 2 x 3 meters). Stability (e.g. hauling groceries), handling wind chop (large anchorages + afternoon seabreeze), collapsable enough to be stored (somewhere!) and carrying 1 or 2 people is the basic mission. For that reason I've been watching a number of your videos, hoping to find a suitable kayak alternative. You do a great job with these reviews and, if an inflatable kayak might serve this purpose, I know your review of it will be an essential part of the selection process. So thank you for all your help. If only the SE 380 weren't so big & heavy'ish.....
I never thought of that! How would the Sea Eagle 370 work? It's about 7 pounds lighter than the 380x, and a little smaller when deflated. It's also a lot cheaper. One cool thing about the 380x is that you can attach a motor, if that's a consideration for you. Thanks for the insight!
@@PaddleTV Thanks for the comments, Ken. Smaller cruising boat tenders often feature rigid cross-stitched floors, which is why the 300X and 380X caught my eye. 'Rigid' is always a plus in a small boat in a wind swept anchorage. Maybe we need to carefully plan the space-constraint steps (inflating, launching, retrieving) rather than expect an inflatable kayak will solve all its own issues. Again, thanks for your excellent videos.
Hey Ken,
I love your videos and have been watching for years, but I have yet to buy a kayak! Now I need some exercise and a bit of slimming down, so I thought that kayaking could kill 2 bird's with 1 stone. At 6'2" and 250 lbs, should I be looking at a hardshell or inflatable due to the weight? I'm more confused than ever on the matter.
Ken, which one did you like best for whitewater?
Great review as always, very much enjoying all your content, all the very best, health and happiness.
I have seen these on the water...
it was the 2 person version.
A couple seemed to be having fun...
They told me this was their 2nd time
taking it out....and they were still
still speaking politely to one another 🤔
Trust me you can tell when a tandem
experience is not going well 🤣
ha! Good point. :)
You can also stand up and use it like a paddle board.
Hi,
I'd be very interested to see your review of the Eddie Bauer inflatable kayak. I got one, and it seems pretty good, but.. what do I know about kayaks? :)
I didn't even know about it. I'll check it out...
One thing I'm confused about. I'm looking on Amazon and the Sea Eagle 300X shows foot pegs in the picture, and even talks about them in the description. Maybe they've recently added them?
That's exactly right! They just added them, which is great news!
what length paddle would you suggest for this wide of a kayak?
Hey Ken , nice Content again, like your Channel, beautiful Country where do you live! I live in the northeast of Germany, we have a lot of Lakes around my Hometown!
Maby you can make a Review off the Nook from Nautiraid ?
Or is this Kayak too special?
Greetings from Germany
Uwe Schmidt
Thanks! I live in Ontario, Canada.
I am definitely interested in reviewing one of the Nautiraid kayaks. Hopefully this season I'll get a chance to. So much I want to do, but so little time! :)
Hey Ken! Quick question. I've been interested in kayaking for awhile now. Kayaked as a kid and loved it. Is there a useful site(s) that can show me the plethora of kayaks on the market? Looking into the Oru Bay ST since I don't see myself doing it too much a year. Thanks!
Great to hear you're looking to get back into it! Paddling.com or Paddlingmagazine.com both have good listings of most kayaks. I haven't tried the Our Bay St (yet), but on the surface it looks like it could be a really good option for you. I'm definitely a fan of Oru kayaks.
Can I use the NRS seat on a Sea Eagle kayak like 385ft? Is there any place to secure the seat? Will it damage the floor? I like NRS seat but prefer Sea Eagle kayak
Looks like a great all round option! For someone who wants to prioritize whitewater a bit more, but still wants an inflatable, an Aire Tributary Tater or an Aire Outfitter would be a better option from a boat design option IMO. I have a Tater and it is so, so much fun. I feel almost as locked into it as I do my hardshell.
Another option for a strong whitewater focus, is the Star Raven Pro. I tested that kayak, and it offered a lot of control.
The biggest issue I have with Sea Eagle : The price of their kayak's !!!
If they would cut everything in half then I might consider one for myself or advice one to someone...
For example :
- Sea Eagle Razorlite 393RL : € 1099
- AirCanoe Cruiser 393S : € 550
Add the Sea Eagle FlexBrace Kit or a pair of NRS Footpegs for € 50 + some glue costs and you are all set !!! :)
What is the weight limit on this kayak?
This is an unbelievable surf kayak - see the video "Outstanding Inflatable Sea Kayak". It turns so fast you can face the waves, then flick a 180 when you choose one to ride. My long legs lock my feet securely under that foredeck, and siderope thru existing padeyes can lock my knees. Choose a wave already breaking with a forward punch of whitewater because it is too slow to coast down the blue. It is superfun to get buried deep underwater by monster chaotic waves; you just slowly float up as the 16 large scuppers drain. It surfs nose high, so no problem with nosediving. For downtime can slide your bottom forward with legs on foredeck and head on seat for luxury repose. I prefer their optional oversize skeg.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing! Wish I could have tested in the surf... but that would have been a 12 hour drive! :)
As soon as I spotted there's was no foot pegs or any sort of thigh brace I thought NO THANKS as you said you could bounce out the thing in white water lol.
Nice looking boat, great review Ken.
My feet and thighs are perfectly supported as you can see in my videos. I stuff the backpack in forward area and get the effect of footpegs. I tuck my toes under the lip of the deck which locks them in place. I rigged scrap nylon ropes on the sides which can serve as thigh brace or reboard assist, but hardly need them because I can dig knees into fat side chambers. All this is helped by adjusting seat forward a few inches, then I can survive deep underwater plunges locked in as tight as I wish.
As mentioned above you vannget aftermarket or sea eagle thigh straps and foot pegs
Sea Eagle 👍
Looks like a good buy for my wife. She’s not a white water person like me. She just likes to float in the lake and class 1 or 2 rivers. 👍🏻
You really need foot pegs and thigh straps for whitewater use. The 10 foot length of this Sea Eagle kayak would limit you from using it on multi-day self supported kayaking trips. The bottom of this kayak front to back has no rocker which makes it significantly less maneuverable for fast turns needed in whitewater. If you want to do Class IV and above white water I would recommend checking out the Sotar inflatable IK that comes designed with a front to back rocker shape to the entire boat, thigh straps, adjustable foot pegs and is 11' long which allows more gear to be carried on multi-day grips. Sotar's 100% urethane material with a 3000 denier base fabric is arguably the toughest in the industry. The bottom of the Sotar kayak has many more drain holes making it drain when fully filled in just a few seconds. I've used mine for the past 15 years on many Class IV rivers and it still looks like its new.
I challenge many of your points.
->"no rocker": it's a banana. It can do a 180 with 2 paddle strokes as I do when facing then catching waves. I close the front 2 scuppers because they ingest water at speed due to rocker. This surfs with nose very high due to planing on the rear part of the banana.
->"no pegs/straps": I am absolutely locked in and comfortably bob up from several feet underwater after towering wave closeout. My channel has a vid showing a scrap of nylon rope threaded thru existing deck padeyes handy for knees, and my feet locked under front deck against wadded up empty backpack.
->"less drain holes": These 16 are huge silver dollar size to drain a tiny volume in a few moments. My most fun comes from rising up from underwater to a quick clean surfacing.
->"too short/small": This design comes in 4 length increments adding a foot or 18 inches and getting a different model number. I will admit that my 300x pools some water even with my weight well under limit so I may do better with the 350fx at 11.5 ft.
If they weren’t so expensive maybe
Its one of the better inflatables. No good for coastal waters or surf. I feel the sea winds would soon take it off shore.
I've heard people have fun 'playing in the surf' with it, but it's definitely not the right boat for covering distance along a coast.
It is excellent for surf, and is the only inflato that advertises that. I have surfed it in even bigger waves than shown in 300x vid-review "Outstanding Inflatable Sea Kayak". It is especially fun in explosive wave chaos. It isn't suited for smooth blue water surf spots which is fine because they are crowded and competitive. I use it fine in fierce offshore winds. But long ocean paddles are no fun due to the drag; it gives me a rash under my rashguard 🙂
Thanks, Ken. I need something portable and this looks pretty good. 🙂👍🛶
Cheers Brian!