| marketplace review |
Innovations in paddling are too often thought of only in hard-shell form. Taken for granted are innovations occurring in inflatables-whether they're made for running rapids better, holding more passengers or better tracking on the flats. To make sure these innovations don't go unnoticed is the following rundown on what's new in inflatables. After adding air, just add water to see what the changes are all about.
One of the most exciting new inflatable playboats on the market this year is the Force ($950) by Aire. The Force has the continuous rocker of a hard-shell for spinning and surfing, and with a 32-inch beam it is fast, yet forgiving. You can roll it or pop enders in it, and at 9'6" and 27 lbs. it is also perfect steep-creeking. The Caracal is in the same family with a slightly different specialty. The goal was to create a lightweight high-performance kayak as affordable as it is functional. The Caracal has the option of a foam or air floor in one or two person models ranging in price from $650-750.
Aire's new C Series has brought rafts to a new level as well. The company capitalized on the popular smooth-rockered design of its Puma rafts and catarafts when creating the new 13', 14'3" and 15'6" C Series rafts. The new design offers more interior room for cargo and paddlers, with a reduced waterline for better handling. They are bigger inside, smaller outside, with the same tough construction and warranty. The Panther and Cougar catarafts also have been redesigned with continuous-curve technology for improved hole punching and a shorter waterline for easier spinning. Panther tubes have been lengthened six inches and the diameter decreased to 16" for improved performance.
As well as introducing the new Roll Away compact raft for flatwater, Avon Marine has debuted a new 15-foot, 21-inch-tube Expedition Riverboat in response to outfitters' requests for a medium-length raft. Available with two or three RAS (Rapid Attachment System) thwarts and a self-bailing floor, the boat comes with a 7'3" beam that ensures stability in whitewater, while continuous fore and aft ribs in the floor provide low drag and enhanced tracking. As with Avon's other inflatables, the Expedition is made from double-thick Hypalon and comes with a 10-year warranty against defects--one of the best in the business.
Now enjoying expanded production, Hyside has several new models for 1998. The most recent addition is two new catarafts: the 144CAT, measuring 12 feet long with 20-inch tubes; and the 166CAT, measuring 14 feet long with 22-inch tubes. Both cats come standard with four carrying handles and 16 D-rings. Also new is the 180HSB, a 15-foot self-bailing raft with 21-inch tubes a 42-inch beam. The company is planning to introduce a recreational line of rafts as well, including the 10-foot, four-person 122L: the 11'4", six-person 136L; and the 13-foot, eight-person 158L. Finally comes a new 10-foot R-2 playboat, as well as two new El Grande rafts measuring 18 and 20 feet.
Innova has introduced an exciting new player to its line of European Inflatable Adventure Travel Kayaks. The 10-foot, 24-lb. Safari is designed to tackle everything from ocean surf and whitewater to placid rivers and lakes. Constructed from 1,200-denier Nitrylon, the self-bailing Safari can be paddled as a sit-on-top with the touring seat tied on, or you can tie in the seat and use thigh straps for whitewater. It comes with a water-resistant transport bag that holds the boat during storage and travel, and holds personal gear when on the water.
The newly created Spider utilizes Maravia's diminishing-tube design for wave blasting and hole punching. The craft can be paddled or rowed and accommodates two to six people. The 13-foot-long, 5.5-foot-wide, 19-inch-diameter Spider is easy to maneuver, and at a price of $2,500, it makes an excellent sport boat. The Renegade is Maravia's first launch into the fly-fishing market. A streamlined design and self-bailing floor make it easy to ferry and maneuver. The front and rear wrap-around lean bars provide excellent stability and positioning for casting into hard-to-reach holes. The drift-boat anchor system and swivel seat make it an excellent choice for serious fishermen. The Renegade retails for $4,119 with frame. The newest Maravia option for customizing your boat is a new color fade and custom logo designs. All catarafts and the new Spider raft can fade from yellow to red, blue to purple or yellow to teal for $395. Maravia will also customize your craft with a number of logos for $85 each.
The new 14-foot River Cat ($1,625) by NRS is the perfect 'tweener boat. Whether you're just one person and gear on a weeklong trip or two people and gear on an overnight trip--this cat wins the versatility award. The 25-inch-diameter tubes make it a terrific gear-hauler and rapid runner. Also new is the NRS E161 ($4,295), a 16'2" long raft with 20-inch-diameter tubes that can handle up to 10 passengers and a guide. The flat stern makes a great guide seat while increased rocker improves performance. Designed for the Grand Canyon, the NRS E180 is the granddaddy of them all. Huge water? Huge gear? No problem. This boat was built to handle the biggest of both. This 18-foot-long, 8'4"-wide monster will set you back $5,150 for a self-bailer, but it's well worth it for its load-hauling ability.
Lightweight, nimble, compact and able to handle heavy loads with ease. The beginning of a superhero cartoon? Nope, it's Soar's new Soar Cat ($895), a paddlecat designed to be paddled with a kayak paddle by one or two people depending on the frame. With a capacity of 500 pounds it can handle a multi-day expedition, and its Hypalon hull is designed to take whatever the river can dish out. At 30 pounds it is made for the river runner or fisherman who needs a reliable and stable craft.
Star Inflatables has four new products for 1998, the most prominent of which is the new AB Series of rafts, built for commercial use. They have the same basic design as Star's other rafts with the addition of 14-mm urethane bladders--with heat-welded seams--inserted into their side tubes and self-bailing floor for better air retention. Eight models of these craft available, ranging in size from the 10'4" Little Dipper to the 15'6" Big Dipper.
Also new from Star is the Waterbug, a 12-foot raft with lines similar to the Aire Super Puma or Maravia Spider. A closer look, however, reveals a floor raised seven inches above the bottom of the 21-inch-diameter tubes, allowing for fast, easy tracking in flat water and improved maneuverability in whitewater--much like its waterbug namesake. The company also has redesigned its Lightning I and II inflatable kayaks by adding more rocker for quicker turning, and has debuted a new line of catarafts: two single-tube models (14' and 16', with 25-inch tubes); and a 15-foot, 18-inch-tube double combining a low center of gravity with high buoyancy.
While most inflatable manufacturers are trying to find the magical dimensions and colors to meet the needs of whitewater enthusiasts, Sotar is producing boats for everyone else. You chose the color, dimensions and style of your craft and they will make it happen. Sotar will digitize your request, cut the fabrics on the latest automated machines and assemble them to fit your custom specifications. For 1998 all Sotar Elites (custom series) will be made with the company's exclusive 40-ounce Lexatron Fabric-designed to be rigid, puncture resistant and light. Best of all Sotar will do all of this at the standard production boat price.
Arcata, Calif.'s Wing Inflatables manufactures a unique diminished-tube design for outfitter use on the Gauley and New rivers. The raft is a 15'6", four-thwart design with a nine-piece bow as opposed to more traditional five- and seven-piece rafts. Tubes on these boats taper from 21.5" along the side tube to 16" at the bow, with an exaggerated kick of 22.25". Extra room in the bow and stern created by the diminished tubes allows room for eight passengers and a guide. High kick in the bow and stern also helps the boat ride over waves. The boats are thermo-welded from 40-oz. polyurethane for buoyancy and rigidity, and are being used and evaluated by Fayetteville, W.Va.-based Rivermen Outfitters.