Please Don't Do It!
It is that time of the year again where every kayaker in the country will get messages from friends considering buying an inflatable kayak from Aldi, Lidl or Decathlon.
It's also that time of the year when the same kayakers make sure they have a tow line, because we tend to spend a portion of the summer towing people on inflatables back to shore.
Look, I am on the water all the time. Showing off with my sunrise paddles and the amazing places we get to visit. Of course getting on the water this summer is a great idea, and you may think it is snobbery against a cheap inflatable but let me explain why you shouldn't.
If you do buy an inflatable, the only place these are remotely safe is in a canal. Highly sheltered and with nowhere you can blow. Rivers are fast moving with hazards, and lakes, may as well be the sea. Using these on the sea, you are likely for a free trip in a helicopter. While that might sound great craic. You really don't want it.
Now the grown up stuff.
Kayaks are designed to sit low in the water to avoid what is called windage. Meaning everything above the water is effectively a sail.
Inflatables are huge to make them stable but are completely on top of the water. Meaning it is one giant sail.
In a sea kayak we average around 7kmph at a decent pace, inflatables in ideal conditions, are topping out at 2-3kmph.
Now what does all that mean.
If you are paddling against a tide that is moving at 2kmph. You are paddling and staying in the same place. Add a wind to that and you are now going backwards or sideways as fast as the wind can push you.
Crossing along a beach with the wind blowing from land, you are at the mercy of the wind and 100% it doesn't care if you are only out for an hour.
On top of all of that. Inflatable, also means deflatable. If anything goes wrong, it goes really wrong.
If you are getting on the water kayaking this summer. Get something hard plastic. Be it a sit in kayak or a sit on top and follow the rules.
-Always wear a flotation device/ life jacket.
-Always bring a means of communication. You always need a way of calling for help if something goes wrong.
-Always paddle with friends. If something happens, someone needs to be able to call for help. The rule is less than 3, there never shall be.
-And always dress for immersion. It can be 20 degrees Celsius out but the water is still cold. At very least a wetsuit. Yoga pants or shorts are not an option while the water is still very cold
