Have you ever used one with a motor?
I’ve played around with trolling motors on kayaks and canoes. Can’t say I like it; the great thing about kayaking is paddling efficiently after all, but I’ve helped friends design mounts. The big problem is battery weight, though. My weight is over-ideal, I usually have a six pack and ice, add a battery and it’s a sluggish ride.
If you want to kayak without paddling, the Hobie Mirage line uses a cool pedal mechanism to power a yak. Great for fishing. And there’s always a big golf umbrella. On a windy day, a golf umbrella and paddle rudder can whiz you around (or dump your ass).
The Aquaglide Chelan 155 HB XL is my bigger kayak. It is made of Duratex, like they make Zodiac type inflatable boats from. It has a high pressure floor, made like they make stand up paddle boards, so it is rigid – you can stand up in it without it folding like a taco. It holds 600 pounds, and I think it would fit two tall people just fine. It’s 15’ long. I love it. I went to an event where I got to try one out, and I was blown away by how different it was from an old Sevylor Tahiti I had, and threw away, many years ago. I got it in May, and I’ve had it out on various bodies of water every chance I get.
As far as it getting wet, it took a few tries to figure it out, but on the last trip out, we flipped it over to drain water out, and wiped the whole thing down with a single towel before folding it back into its backpack. It was nice and dry.
The seats are like sit-on-top kayak seats, with an inflatable pad on the bottom. Very supportive.
We store it in its bag in a corner of the basement, because it does need to stay out of extreme temperatures. I would recommend it to anyone. It is fairly expensive though. Aquaglide Chelan 155 | High-Pressure Inflatable Touring Kayak – Air Kayaks
The place I linked above has some good comparison charts if you poke around on the site. I would highly recommend getting something with a high pressure floor if you can. The lack of rigidity has always been the biggest drawback for me for inflatable kayaks.
You can also buy a single or tandem deck kit to make it an enclosed kayak.
The other, cheaper kayak I have was one I picked up for a couple hundred bucks so we could all go out together. It’s a Solstice Durango. It does not have a high pressure floor, and it has some fabric parts. So, it stays a little more wet. It’s not bad for what it is, but it does not compare to the Aquaglide. I’m glad it’s not my only kayak.
I was looking at the aquaglide chelan but it is pretty pricey. I like that is does not have fabric and would be easier to dry. I was wondering how big an issue this is for users.
If you don’t dry the Duratex off at all before packing it up, it will stay wet – you have to pull it out again to let it dry out. But wiping it down with one of those thin microfiber towels did the trick this last time. It was pretty much dry when I folded it up, and the outer bag is not damp at all from it.
There are other options for inflatables with high pressure floors. The link I posted to the Chelan – on that site, if you click on the kayaks category, there’s a subcategory for high pressure. If you can afford one, I think it makes inflatables much less of a compromise. If you can’t, then it might be worth thinking hard about some of the questions others have posted about the viability of alternatives. It really makes a big difference in my opinion.
Too late to edit: If there’s one you like that’s close to your price range, search around for it. I wound up getting the Chelan for full price from REI because my spouse was nervous about the purchase and REI has a great return policy. But the Soltice Durango I ordered from some place I found on Google, and got it for $175 less than it was selling for on Amazon. End of the summer – you might find a bargain.
I have the K1, I’ve only taken it to the beach a couple of times but it already paid for itself (compared to renting one at the beach). Not the best choice for this type of use though - if any water gets in, it’s hard to get it out and it’s hard to wash out the inside after use. I allow myself 1/2 hour to deflate and pack it. If you pack it while still wet, you obviously want to unfold and dry it out at the earliest convenience.
I’m considering replacing it with a better, tandem kayak though. Does anyone here have experience with modular kayaks like the Point 65n Martini? We have no place to store a kayak/canoe longer than 12 ft (no space outside either).
I have a Sevylor Colorado tandem inflatable. Had to add a wooden floor to keep it in the right shape when using it solo (I’m 6’8" and 2 85 lbs). Might be ok for you and your lady since weight distribution will be better. Seats ate miserable for a big guy- 2 hours is all you will want. Hull is pretty robust for lake use and slow rivers. Takes me 10 minutes to inflate with a high capacity hand pump.
Dries slowly, but if you pack it up wet you need to dry it thoroughly or it will mold and stink to high heaven!
Buy one! They are big fun.