TOYS FOR CRUISERS
by Jenn Brett
Blue Water Sailing
August 2008
All the toys
Some of the best cruising adventures take place off of the “mother ship” and away from the noisy dinghy outboard. Kayaks, surfboards or a sailing dinghy are all great ways to explore and have fun, and they also make great “cars” for the kids to go off in on their own. Trouble is, you often will have to sacrifice precious interior or deck space to store them. The solution? Inflatable kayaks and surfboards! BWS put two new inflatable kayaks and one inflatable surfboard to the test.
Pumping it up
Walker Bay Airis Sport 11
A great choice for the storage challenged, the Airis is stored in its own backpack, which is one of our favorite features. It comes with a dual-action hand pump that attaches securely to the valve and even has a pressure gauge built right in. Once unfolded out of the backpack, we found that the Airis Sport 11 easily inflated in about two minutes, and the gauge made it very clear when the boat was at the recommended pressure. At only 21 pounds, the Airis Sport 11 is very portable and easy to launch. Once in the water, we found the Airis Sport 11 to be quite stable, even when climbing on and off. The hull and floor feature Walker Bay’s high-pressure AirWeb, which allows for a 6.5 psi inflation pressure. The result is a very sturdy and rigid hull that is easy to paddle and tracks nicely.
Portability George takes a test paddle
The Airis Sport 11 is designed to go the distance, so there are fore and aft bungee tie downs for your gear and a built-in dry bag. When the time comes to put the kayak away, it deflates quickly, especially if you use the “deflate” setting on the hand pump. Repacking the kayak into the backpack is a little tricky at first, and it’s crucial that you get all the air out before folding it up. There are three other kayaks in the Airis line, a Sport 10, which is just like 11, only a foot smaller, and the Play 8 and Play 9.5. The shorter length of the Play kayaks makes them very easy to maneuver, even in whitewater.
Length: 11’ 0”
Beam: 33”
Weight: 21 lbs
Air Chambers: 2
Maximum Load: 250 lbs
Air Pressure: 6.5 psi
Stored Dimensions: 28” x 15” x 21”
www.airisinflatables.com
Paddle test
Hobie Mirage i12s
While not quite as compact as the Airis Sport 11, the Hobie Mirage i12s is still much more portable and easier to store than a traditional hard kayak. Weighing 53 pounds, the Hobie Mirage i12s comes in a travel/storage bag with attached wheels, and we found it easy to transport. This is a serious kayak with some very cool features, most notably the Mirage Drive, which is a drop-in, pedal-driven propulsion system. There is also a rudder that is controlled with a little wheel on the port side. When using the Mirage Drive and rudder steering, the kayak zips along the water and almost feels like you’re riding a recumbent bike. The included paddle is comfortable to use, cuts nicely into the water and breaks down into four pieces for easy storage. The Mirage Drive is removable, so you also have the option of using the paddle only.
Inflating the Hobie Mirage i12s is easy with the included hand pump. Filling all three chambers (floor, port and starboard) took about five minutes. The kayak is made out of PVC and is very rigid. Along the bottom of the boat there is a tough, black material that stretches very tightly to give you a fair hull shape for maximum performance. This bottom surface creates a bilge area inside the kayak that can collect water if the bottom is punctured while the kayak stays afloat, which is a great safety feature. The kayak features an aft cargo area with bungee tie downs and a dry storage area with an eight-inch hatch. For even more fun, you can add a fishing rod holder or even a sail, both available as options. Also in the inflatable kayak line is the Mirage i14t, which is the tandem version.
Length: 12’
Width: 36”
Weight: 53 lbs.
Mirage Drive Weight: 6.6 lbs.
Air Pressure: 3 to 5psi
Maximum Load: 500 lbs.
www.hobiecat.com
Uli Inflatable
SurfboardULI Inflatable Surfboard
When folded, this very cool surfboard takes up almost no space at all (about the size of a duffel bag) and would be right at home on a cruising sailboat. Constructed of UV-resistant Hypalon, this board is completely hard and rigid when inflated. Using the compact, powerful hand pump, the Uli surfboard inflates very quickly. We’ve had a great time testing this board out in the surf, and it also makes a great paddleboard and as a platform to take snorkeling. Uli has a full range of surfboards, including a 10-foot longboard, and stand-up paddleboards.
www.uliboards.com.