Fishing Kayaks Archives

Introduction

fishing kayak reviewsKayak fishing is become increasingly popular, you might already be a keen angler and are interested in expanding your hobby to taking a kayak out on the water. Or you might be new to fishing but looking for a great pastime that gets you out in the fresh air at weekends.

Initially kayak fishing might be deemed an expensive hobby, the very basics that you will need is a kayak, paddle, fishing rod and reel. We would also recommend a life jacket and anchor as not totally necessary but for making your fishing safer, easier and much more enjoyable they will be worth the small extra cost.

Once you have purchased the above mentioned equipment that is pretty much it, obviously you’ll need some bait, maybe a flask of coffee or tea and that’s it.  If you are going to get on your local waterways on a regular basis kayak fishing will soon work out as a fairly inexpensive hobby. If you look after your kayak there should be no maintenance costs and obviously the only fuel used up is the calories that you burn paddling it! So you get to fish, keep fit and have a cheap day out, you can’t get much better than that!

If your serious about buying a fishing kayak then we here at kayak reviews think that you can’t go far wrong with the Lifetime Sport Fisher Kayak.  At first we weren’t that sure about this kayak, ideally we think a good fishing kayak should be around 13ft long. So what changed our mind?

Well what we found is that this fishing kayak is wider than most of the other similar priced kayaks and therefore offered a lot more stability so the length of the kayak was not an issue.

What we would also like to point out is this is a ‘FISHING KAYAK’ sorry for shouting but if you want a touring kayak look elsewhere this is built and designed for fishing and that’s what it does best.

 

Features & Specifications

  • Olive Green Color
  • Chassis made of  Blow-molded polyethylene
  • Has a Maximum capacity of 500lbs
  • Ten foot Long
  • Three Foot Wide
  • 60lb total weight for the kayak
  • Can be used for solo, tandem or three person kakaying
  • Comes with Two Paddles
  • Includes a dry storage compartment
  • Store you loose items with shock cords and ditty trays
  • One Year Limited Warranty\

 

READ MORE FEATURES HERE

 

Sturdy and Durable

The main feature of the Lifetime Sport Fisher Kayak is it’s well balanced design it features a tunnel hull design that allows you to fish from various positions so you can sit sidesaddle without tipping the kayak or you can stand up if you prefer.

The kayak’s chassis  is made from UV protected high density polyethylene and the well designed hull is shaped to provide great tracking and keep the boat extremely steady.

 

Great Fishing Kayak features

Lifetime really know what anglers want from their kayaks and they have provided some great features that include four fishing pole holders, ditty trays and shock cord straps to keep safe those essential small items. There is a six inch rear storage hatch and scupper holes to drain the cockpit area and keep it dry.

The frame is around 60lbs and it has  easy to carry molded front and rear handles, you won’t want to be carrying this any distance but one relatively strong man or a couple of people will have no trouble lifting this kayak

 

Plenty of space and can carry up to 500 pounds

The Sport Fisher Kayak  provides balanced and comfortable seating whether you are a solo, tandem or kayaking with the maximum three people. Lifetime say that the seating is ergonomic and most people have found the kayak comfortable but some users say that they have had to add a cushion or upgrade to more comfortable seats. We say try it out and if you don’t feel the seats give you enough support then a cushion or upgrade it won’t cost the Earth!

The seating is designed to keep you off the floor of the kayak, high and dry rather than damp and uncomfortable in the bottom of the kayak.

It’s certainly recommended for larger people, one of the users ‘Chris’ who reviewed this kayak mentioned that he was about six feet tall and weighted just under 300lb but found the seating area and leg space very nice for solo kayaking, he also had a lot of other gear stored in the kayak as well. You can read his review here

 

Reviews of the Lifetime Sport Fisher Kayak

All reviews were favorable but a few people mentioned that the kayak was a bit sluggish, like I mentioned before this is a fishing kayak it is not designed for speed but for stability.

Anyway here’s a typical review;

“This was one of the best purchases I have made in a long time. Although originally purchased for my Husband alone, it became a double gift. I can be out and enjoy the stillness and quiet of a morning slowly drifting in this little Kayak, and he can sit in the rear seat fishing to his hearts content as I navigate.  Because we live in a small town in Nowhere USA, had I not seen this on Amazon, we wouldn’t have known it existed. “

Conclusion

Kayak reviews recommend this kayak if you are looking for an affordable but stable, top quality kayak. We recommend buying an anchor you can checkout our top rated anchor here.

The great thing about kayak fishing is that you can always be upgrading and this kayak allows for a small motor to be mounted at a later date if you so wish.

 

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Introduction

The main appeal of an inflatable kayak is it’s easy portability and that  it will be compact enough to store away without taking up huge amounts of space. One of the downsides to inflatable kayaks though is that they are usually not as durable as their fiberglass cousins.

For most kayak users who want to take a boat with them when they go camping or want to drive to a nearby lake for a bit of exercise and fun an inflatable is just fine but what if you want you kayaking to be a bit more extreme but you don’t have either the cash or the room to store a hard shell kayak?

Well we think we might have found the solution in the Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak as  this boat can handle up to class three whitewater and the fabric is made of puncture resistant, extra thick fabric.

What Will it cost you?

There’s a lot of inflatable Kayaks out there, some costing $50-$70 less than this one, if money is really tight you can go and check them out but it could be a false economy. For starters not only do you get the kayak  but also it comes with an ample storage and carry bag, two oars and a high quality pump, if you purchased all these items separately it would cost a great deal more. Not only that we have noticed that Amazon currently have this at a sale price of over 50% discount at the moment as well as offering free shipping, you can click the link below to see if they still have this discount.

Features & Specifications of the Sea Eagle 330

  • This is an inflatable kayak suitable for two people
  • The Kayak weighs twenty six pounds
  • Has a total load capacity of 500lbs
  • It is made from  puncture-resistant, extra-thick K-80 polykrylar hull material
  •   I-beam constructed floor
  • High-frequency welded seams
  • Is rated up to Class III whitewater
  • Comes complete with inflatable spray skirts
  • Has inflatable front and rear seats
  • Comes with two adjustable  oars,
  • High quality & reliable foot pump
  • Large carrying bag
  • The dimensions are  34″ wide x 11 ft 2″  long
  • The  interior measures 13″  wide x 9ft, 6″ long.
  • Is NMMA certified
  • Self-bailing drain valve
  • For better speed and tracking has two skegs on the bottom
  • Includes a  3 year limited warranty from Sea Eagle

 

You can read more about this Sea Eagle Kayaks features here

 

Ease of Use

Using the included foot pump you can expect to have your kayak fully inflated in 10 to 15 mins, getting in and out of the kayak is pretty straightforward but if you have never used a kayak before it might take a few attempts before you get the hang of it.

 

Carrying, Transporting, Storage & Looking after your Kayak

The great thing about the heavy duty bag that comes with the SE-330 is that it can carry not only the kayak but the paddles and pump as well with room remaining to fit other gear as well such as life vests. All together the carry bag is about the same size as a large all weather sleeping bag.  Once the kayak is inflated it has enough space for cargo to last  for a short camping expedition.

I’ve read reviews of this kayak from people who have had theirs for over ten years, the secret is looking after it.

Make sure you clean it with a little liquid soap and let it dry before storing in, also make sure you keep it out of the sun.

Also remember this Sea Eagle kayak is not meant to be used in sub freezing conditions, you will need to pay out for a more expensive boat if you want to take something out in real  cold conditions. Inflating the SE-330 when it is lower than freezing is likely to harm the material. There are no problems with storing it in sub zero conditions though.

 

Toughness

Even if you don’t plan on whitewater kayaking it’s best to get yourself the most durable inflatable you can for the money and at kayak reviews we think this kayak fits that criteria.

If for some reason it does get a puncture the kayak comes with a patch kit so you can make your repair and be back on the water in around half hour.

Out on the water with your Sea Eagle Inflatable Kayak

Well to begin with the SE-330 is self bailing this means that it won’t fill up with water every time you take it out and hit a few  big waves.

It can be used for a wide variety of different purposes it is great for kayak fishing, ocean kayaking and even for a bit of adrenaline rushing river running as it can handle whitewater up to Class III. So this means it can go out on rapids but not on rivers where there are  waterfalls or drops.

It has two molded skegs for tracking and speed which help you go further and faster with a lot less effort in paddling.

You can adjust the oars dependent on your preferences for rowing.

The SE 330 is not a rigid inflatable, it is a soft sided kayak which essentially allows this kayak to rebound off obstructions such as rocks and logs in the water. The most likely way you are going to puncture this kayak is by yanking it across sharp surfaces such as on rocks along the shore, if you pick the boat up and carry it instead you are a lot less likely to be spending your time mending punctures.

 

Kayak Reviews from Real Users

What we noticed most about the customers who have used and reviewed the Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak was that they were all ages, sizes and used the kayaks for all sorts of trips from gentle lake kayaking and fishing trips to going out on the rapids.

Here’s what some of them are saying;

“We’re happy enough that we’re all set to buy a second one. “

” Overall I’ve probably had over 100 uses by now & had 2 small repairs, definitely got my monies worth”

“We got a lot of compliments and the rafts were awesome on the rapids, the self baler works likes a charm”

Check out more 5 star reviews by clicking the link below

 

Conclusion

What’s not to like about the Sea Eagle 330, great price especially at Amazon who also offer free shipping. It’s durable, comes with all the essentials for a kayaking trip [though you'll need a life vest], it’s easy to store and transport and gets great reviews from its users. With such a great track record we thoroughly recommend it. Read the rest of this entry

kayak reviewAt Kayak Reviews we like to showcase a wide range of different priced kayaks and we’d like to point out right from the start that the Sevylor Tahiti Fishing and Hunting Inflatable Kayak is a great entry level kayak but if you are already  experienced in kayak fishing and are very serious about is as a pastime then you might want to purchase a more expensive fiberglass model.

The difference between buying a fiberglass model and an inflatable isn’t just the cost of the kayak it is all the extras that you will need. To transport your fiberglass kayak you will need a roof rack for the kayak as well as a storage rack for your garage.

You’ve  also got to think about transporting the kayak and even theft, at least with an inflatable kayak it can be stored indoors out of the way.

So if your really hard core about kayak fishing and want to make a serious investment then a decent fiberglass kayak is going to be far superior and much more durable than an inflatable but take into consideration the costs, storage and transport.

Anyway lets take a look at the Tahiti hunting and fishing kayak;

It is made from heavy duty PVC, holds two people and a combined weight with any equipment you are carrying of 400lbs, inflated it is 10 Feet9 Inches long  and  2 Feet4 Inches wide. It inflates and deflates in next to no time.

Sevylor guarantee this kayak not to leak due to their exclusive sevylor Feets Airtight System, The kayak double lock valves stops accidental air loss with its two air chambers and therefore enables fast, simple inflation and deflation.

The Kayak is Certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association NMMA

This hunting and fishing kayak is made stable by the tubular I-beam floor. Not only is it stable it is exceptionally comfortable as well due to the specially designed inflatable seats, which offer great back support which makes an extended hunting or fishing trip much more enjoyable.

To ensure low visibility while hunting the kayak is camouflage colored, blending in nicely with your surroundings.

Of course like all inflatable kayaks it is easy to store and to transport, if you have an out of the way fishing or hunting spot it would be ideal for a couple of guys to take turns in carrying it to your planned location which would be impossible with a cumbersome fiberglass kayak.

Features and specifications of the Sevylor Tahiti Fishing and Hunting Inflatable Kayak
  • A two Person Inflatable Kayak designed for fishing or hunting
  • Manufactured from 26 gauge heavy duty PVC
  • Has 2 Air Chambers for Safety
  • Stability provided by a  tubular I-beam floor
  • Ergonomic seating with comfortable back supports
  • Has Two spray covers for protection
  • Camouflage design
  • Holds a total weight of 400Lbs
  • Dimensions are 10 feet 9 inches x 2 feet 4 inches
  • Two 3 inch patches to repair holes

 

 

Customer  Reviews of this Kayak

Achieving a stellar 4.3 out of a possible 5 stars the Tahiti from Sevylor is deemed a quality kayak for its price by its users,

We liked this guys review sounds like the ideal life, don’t you think?

“I bought my Tahiti kayak in 2002 I bought it because I like  cruising around the world in different cruise ship lines in my vacations with my wife. I found that tours were very expensive so we decided to buy an inflatable kayak that we can use in  specially in the Caribbean islands we took ours even in cruises to Croatian and Greece the Tahiti performs in an excellent manner I found that if you take care of it by cleaning and deflating after a run it will last for ever I keep mine indoors.”

YOU CAN CHECK OUT MORE 5 STAR REVIEWS HERE

 

Our Conclusion at Kayak Reviews

As we mentioned at the beginning of this review this kayak would be great for the kayak novice or  even for an experienced kayak fisher who needs something a bit more portable.

We would suggest buying the optional skeg to give you better control in the water, you will also need some paddles.

So if your looking for something a bit more professional but expensive check out some of our other kayak reviews but for a low cost, portable and hard wearing if looked after kayak we would recommend the Sevylor Tahiti Fishing and Hunting Inflatable Kayak.

 

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