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BEST INFLATABLE KAYAK The Helios by Innova  The Czech-built Helios 380 can carry two adults comfortably, and yet folded up into a dry-bag/backpack, it’s the size of a medium-size suitcase and weighs under 40 pounds. Inflated, it’s 12.5 feet long and 30 inches wide. It has inflatable decks that provide a modest amount of covered storage and that serve as backrests for the two cockpits. You can paddle it solo from the aft cockpit with a bit of weight stowed in the bow to keep the boat closer to its proper trim.The rudder bolts onto a flexible flange, and though it’s not needed so much for steering—the 380 is quite maneuverable—it improves the 380’s tracking. The rubber-coated skin will hold up to some rough treatment on a rocky beach. The manual that comes with the 380 makes no extravagant claims about its abilities—it’s designed for “still or gently flowing waters”—but inflatable-kayak advocate Audrey Sutherland has cruised thousands of miles of rugged coastlines in even smaller inflatable kayaks. The key is in choosing the right time to travel. For many paddlers, however, the goal is to get out on a calm day to relax and enjoy the view from the water. The 380’s easy portability and quick set-up time make it well suited for quick getaways on bodies of water you might miss if you didn’t have a boat you could leave in the trunk of your car or carry aboard a bus or an airplane. Helios 380EX $799 Innova Kayaks 360-707-2855 info@innovakayak.com www.innovakayak.com BEST FOLDING KAYAK The K-1 Expedition by Feathercraft  Feathercraft’s K-1 Expedition traces its lineage back to the company’s K-1 (introduced in 1980), the first aluminum-framed folding kayak. Over the years, Feathercraft designer Doug Simpson added a fiberglass coaming to take standard spray skirts (1990), lengthened the boat and redesigned the bow (1998), and switched from sewn seams to a welded urethane hull and deck (2000).The frame is composed of shock-corded aluminum/magnesium alloy tubing and high-density polyethylene transverse frames. The hull and deck are tensioned by the framework and a pair of inflatable sponsons at the gunwale. The K-1 tracks well and steers well without its rudder. The rudder, when deployed, aids in course holding when the wind and waves kick up. There are two hatches (but no bulkheads) that provide easier access for cargo. The sponsons help keep the K-1 Expedition buoyant, but using a sea sock will limit the amount of water that can get in after a wet exit.. Our reviewers (February 2001), from a 5'7", 140-pound woman to a 6'1", 200-pound man, summed up the K-1 this way, respectively: “This is a beautiful boat in a bag: responsive, stable and holds a lot of gear,” and “The K-1 is an attractive, beautifully made folding kayak. Its high cruising speed and carrying capacity make it a top choice for a capable cruising boat that can pack up for flying to far-flung destinations. The price is steep, but the value is reflected in the high standards of workmanship.” K-1 Expedition $4,225 Feathercraft Folding Kayaks 888-681-8437 info@feathercraft.com www.feathercraft.com |
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