My kids used to have a inflatable two man raft, but they only used it on our creek. I was never in it.

Sue

My kids used to have a inflatable two man raft, but they only used it on our creek. I was never in it.

Sue

I'm not sure you'll find a small and inexpensive one that would be more than a toy and have any durability. If you're looking for a one or two time use that's a possibility though. There are good quality ones out there for lifeboat purposes but they're not cheap. A small boat and trailer aren't hideously expensive, especially used and can be pulled by virtually any vehicle and easy for one person to load and unload. Or just get a trailer hitch and rent one? Can even be put on a car top, preferably with someone to help.

Only ones my family have used were the "toy" ones the kids had, no transportation needed summer home is on the water. Here is a site where they have all kinds of inflatable boats. Kayaks are all the rage here in Delaware and New Jersey, see them in racks on car roofs all summer.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Inflatable boats

I'm really not willing to spend much, and there's no way I could lift a boat (at least the kind of boat *I* could afford) on top of my car. I only need to transport the boat two blocks.

Kayaks are all the rage here, too, but it scares me to think of being trapped in one if they roll. I know you can take classes, but I'm not that interested. I just wanted something to paddle around the little bit of very protected harbor near our house.

I notice that the boats on the link that Sue sent have a 180-day guarantee, and look very similar to the ones I've been considering. I might just spend the $250 and see how it goes.

DH has one. He puts an electric motor on it. He got it at Sam's Club. Works great, he can take it on the back of the motor home without having to pull a trailer.
He thinks it was around $200.00 or so. And he ALWAYS wears a life jacket.

I have had some recreational kayaks. They are not for the serious kayak going down rapids on a river, no skirt to keep water out. They really don't tip too easily. I had two "sit in" styles but the kids at the lake liked to tip them over for fun so I sold one and got a sit on top style for them to tip over. The smaller sizes are for smaller people. I did notice "bigger people especially men who have a higher center of gravity the smaller size was tippy for them, they probably needed a bigger/longer model.

I had the Otter model of Olde Town brand.
http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks/recreation/

And a sit on top similar to this one

Here is a link that might be useful: sit on top

For forgot to mention. I can carry one on top on my ford escort. You can purchase foam things/blocks for carring kayaks or even canoes on top of your car.You don't need a special expensive rack on top of your car. Then tie the front to front bumper and back onto back bumper.

No, Ive never had an inflatable. Do you need an engine on it? Iv'e been in one you paddle, and it is difficult to paddle and control.

When scuba diving, the BIG boats have inflatable boats to come pick us up with. They keep the boat inflated and pull it behind the big boat. Never seen one have a hole or any difficulty. They use them ALL over the world for short distance transport in recreatonal sports. I can't name a price or brand since I don't personally own one....but I would not hesitate to climb into one.

I've had a six man raft and it is very difficult to paddle unless you are on your knees. But, it is really cheap to add a small motor on back.

I prefer an open kayak or a long board. I love the absence of the motor noise so I can enjoy nature and watch the fish and turtles underwater. Very relaxing.

Joann,

I am in the same situation as you are. I have purchased (and sold) a couple of different inflatables - both kayaks and boat types. There are some good ones available and they are convenient as far as storage and transporting them, but you do have the issue of inflating and deflating them, the need to wash and throurougly dry them between uses and the potential for leaks. The biggest drawback to inflatables is that it takes a lot more effort to paddle them than it does hard boats or kayaks. This was a major factor for me.

Regards.

Yes, many times. If you go to an outdoor gear store, you can find a good quality one that will hold up for a reasonable price. They even make them to fish in. DON'T buy a toy one or a really cheap one at some place like Walmart or Kmart, they won't last long.

Here is a link that might be useful: here are some

I had a two-man inflatable raft when DS was a kid. It had paddles and was very durable. I was in it sometimes and DS and a friend had fun paddling it around in a swimming area at lakes. We got so much use out of it and it never sprung a leak. It was yellow with blue trim and was a major brand that I can't remember. When DS outgrew it, we gave it to the church rummage sale and they sold it for $40, about what I paid for it originally.

I have no idea, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

I just Googled and remembered it was a Sevlar.

Make that Sevylor. DS used the boat for a good 5 years.

Joan, FYI. When I sold my sit in kayak I sold it for $200 and purchased the sit on top for $200. Check it out.but please remember to always bring someone with you when you go to a CL seller to be safe.

The hair on the back of my neck went up when I read your post. I feel that you may getting yourself into a lot of trouble. You state that you want to go out on the water (by yourself) and at the same time, you profess not have a lot of physical strength, not enough to lift and carry anything very heavy. I did not hear one word about your swimming ability, nor how far you can swim in cold water.

Here are several very real situations that I fear for you.

1. You get into a difficult to paddle craft and the wind blows you away from shore toward open water. You find that you can not row back - you are in trouble.

2. Its not going to happen, at least no on purpose, but you dump over or fall out of your craft. What do you do? Are you prepared to handle that situation?

3. You get some distance from shore and spring a leak, or a faster craft comes to close and its wake swamps your boat - fills it with water.

4. You spot a rogue wave headed for the harbor. What action do you take?

Jemdandy, it's not that I'm weak. But the canoes I looked at were close to 40 pounds, and I would wager there aren't many women who could easily lift that weight over their heads. I'm a good swimmer, and the area where I want to boat is very protected. I don't think there's any reasonable chance of being blown out to sea. This is the inside tip of a large harbor with hundreds of boats. If anything, I'd be blown into a another boat, but I'd have to go a long distance even for that. There *are* no faster-moving craft, just a kayak or two. If I sprung a leak, I would be able to swim to shore.

A rogue wave? Could happen, though I've never seen waves in that area. (That's why it's not much fun to swim in that area. It's like swimming in a lake.) If it did, it would probably push me toward the mud flats and I'd get grounded, but who knows.

If you wnat to get aventurous, try sailing a canoe. I've never done it, but my manager set up a rig at his retirement place on a lake. He claimed it was a lot of fun. The kit consists of a side board (acts as a keel), a rudder, and a small sail. Its a handful, but unusal. You'll get a lot of attention when you sally forth in a gentle breeze. Best of all, you can lower the sail and revert to a paddle for fine control and docking.

I noticed that he dressed in swim wear and life preserver vest when operating his rig.