Rita Hill, trolling for trout in her Sea Eagle SE 330.

KAYAK TIME IS FAMILY TIME
By Tom Schlichter

From shooting rapids to exploring remote locations far off the beaten track, kayak fanatics list a wide variety of exciting and entertaining reasons for their love of the sport. Still, sometimes, the simple stuff holds the greatest appeal.

“I just love to be on the water with my family,” says Rita Hill of Sacramento, California. “It’s as straightforward as that.”

When Rita first became interested in kayaking, she had no idea such a simple point would be her ultimate kayak focus. “My husband and I moved to Sacramento, CA, about a year-and-a-half ago,” she explains. “As we explored our new surroundings, I noticed all the paddlers on nearby Lodi Lake. They looked to be having a lot of fun so I thought I might enjoy it, too.”

As she began to inquire about kayaking possibilities, Rita was introduced to sit-on-tops and hard-shelled crafts. She wasn’t comfortable with either, especially considering that she has a bad back. “They seemed awkward to carry and a bit uncomfortable,” the retired photographer and former public information officer revealed. “Then I found some inflatable kayaks on-line and the Sea Eagle page really caught my eye. I was immediately impressed with the videos and decided to give it a try.”

Rita ordered up an SE330 and was thrilled right from the start. At 11’ 2” and just 26 lbs., it was easy to lift and maneuver, rugged, big enough for two people and small enough for one.

“For me, it seemed perfect,” continued Rita. “I could easily load it into the back seat of my truck so I didn’t have to worry about getting a kayak rack. I started to go paddling on my own, then my husband got one, my daughter got one, and my in-laws picked one up as well. Now we’re one big happy kayaking family. We all have inflatable Sea Eagles and we’ve been enjoying this adventure for the past two years.”

When she’s out by herself Rita likes to fish from her Sea Eagle, targeting anything that will bite but mostly catching rainbow trout. For this she favors small lakes that aren’t too rough, noting that tranquil water tends to be the family’s preferred kayak option as well.

“None of us are into whitewater rides,” she explains. “We paddle for recreation and exercise, and because we love getting out on the water together. Our kayaks (Rita’s in-laws have an SE370 and her daughter has an SE330) are sturdy enough to handle a chop if they need to but given the choice we’d rather just relax and enjoy ourselves.”

Rita’s in-laws, Mike and Sally Dobson, paddling Donner Lake, CA in their SE 370.

Most of Rita’s personal kayak time is spent on Lodi Lake, but she’ll meet up with family at a variety of waters located within a few hours of home. Recently, she visited Donnor Lake in Truckee, CA with her husband and in-laws.

“We were on the water every day,” she revealed, “just taking it all in. We enjoyed seeing wildlife, watching people on their SUPs and seeing how far from camp we could paddle and still get back in time for dinner.”

Rita and her family like to travel to each new destination with their Sea Eagle kayaks deflated so there is no need to store them on top of the car. Once they arrive, they’ll carry their small fleet down to the shoreline, lay a plastic tarp on the ground, roll out each vessel and inflate them using Sea Eagle foot pumps. Each kayak takes less than ten minutes to fully prepare.

Mike and Sally patiently waiting for the rest of the Sea Eagle fleet to be ready to go.

“You might think it strange,” says Rita, “but I really love the time we spend inflating and deflating our kayaks. We are all helping each other, talking, laughing and doing something together. That kind of personal interaction is way better than having your face buried in a cell phone. We are all working toward an ultimate goal: getting out on the water and enjoying life as a family. It’s really something special and our Sea Eagle kayaks make a great focal point for getting the party started.”

Note: All photos courtesy of Rita Hill.

Sea Eagle’s PackFish7™ is lightweight, easy to transport and remarkably steady making it the perfect choice for Larry to target lunkers well off the beaten track.

For Larry Lutton, the release of Sea Eagle’s new PackFish7™ couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I was just about to buy a float tube and kicking fins when I saw an ad for the new PackFish7™, which had just been released. What a break that turned out to be. I’m so pleased the way things ended up.”

Lutton, 69, loves to fish in the beautiful rivers, lakes and reservoirs around Salt Lake City, Utah. He regularly targets rainbow, brown, brook and tiger trout on these waters with both fly-fishing and spinning gear and now his new PackFish7™ gets him off the shoreline, out among the lunkers in comfort and style.

“I have a bad back,” explains Lutton, “but I’m able to transport, inflate, launch, paddle and break down my PackFish with no trouble at all. It’s easy to row and the four tracking strips on the bottom keep it going straight ahead so it isn’t easily blown off course by the wind. The entire boat weighs a very manageable 32 pounds – with the floor board inserted! Packed away, it fits in my Mini Cooper for easy transport so I can head up to my favorite lakes and reservoirs for a day of fishing. If you purchase the optional back straps, it is very easy to hike into the lake after the PackFish has been inflated, even with the floorboard in place. It takes only five minutes to inflate everything using the foot pump and the two side pouches have enough room for extra tackle, fly boxes and water bottles.”

Lutton’s PackFish7™ and SE 370 both fit right on top of his Mini Cooper, making them ideal for a quick and easy getaway to his favorite mountain rivers and lakes.

About those floor boards: Lutton loves them!  “It adds a degree of stability and safety that other inflatable rafts don’t have,” he states. “I’ve had inflatable rafts before and getting into them is like stepping onto a waterbed. With the PackFish7™, I can get in and out very easily and actually stand-up and fish if I want to.”

Most of the time Lutton prefers to fish from a seated position and that, he says, has worked just fine so far because the seat rides high enough to be comfortable while also providing a good look into the depths below. “I spent three hours sitting and fly-casting the other day and my back felt great,” he added. “Everything about his boat is well thought out. There are two big pouches for storing gear, two rod holders, and the oars can be left hands-free or secured to the side with hook & loop closure straps when I’m casting and landing fish. The PackFish7™ is comfortable, stable, lightweight, easy to maneuver and – unlike conventional float tubes and kick boats – you stay dry! I really think the Pack is a terrific choice for anglers of any age – even old-timers like me.”

With his new PackFish7™, Larry Lutton can now easily get off the shore even in remote waters, expanding his opportunities to connect with trophy fish.

Lutton, it should be noted, is no stranger to Sea Eagle products. He also owns a SE370 kayak, which he takes out paddling with his wife, Carol, and their friends who introduced them to the SE370. “What my wife likes about the Sea Eagle is how stable it is,” he explains. “Unlike hard shell kayaks and canoes, you never feel like you are going to roll over. The inflatable floor makes it easy to step in and out of as well.”

“We also like that the seats on that inflatable kayak have flexible positioning – so my wife and I can adjust them to fit our own needs even if we switch places during the course of a trip. With only one seat it is still easy to paddle and makes for a great one-person kayak.”

In addition to the PackFish7™, Larry Lutton also enjoys family time aboard his SE370.

Lutton hopes to squeeze in a lot of fishing and paddling over the remainder of the summer and fall seasons. “With my new PackFish7™ I can cover a lot more water than I could in a float tube,” he says, “…..and I plan to take full advantage of that opportunity. My first love is fly fishing streams and rivers, but the PackFish will get me out on my favorite little lakes in the Uintah Mountains for some still water fly-fishing that was otherwise difficult, if not impossible to do from shore.”

David says the South Fork of the American River is one of America’s finest whitewater rivers. He and his partner, Elizabeth, brave Class III and III+rapids in the section known as “Troublemaker” in the Sea Eagle 380x.

“I’m a retired United States Health Officer. I spent much of my life living and doing health work on Indian reservations. I did a lot of boating, canoeing, and kayaking during that time in the mountains of Arizona and Utah.

I’ve done quite a bit of kayaking — parts of the Colorado River, the Verde, Salt, White, Green, Russian Rivers, and south fork of the American River. I have a trip planned to kayak in the Carson River in the Sierra.

“It’s only natural to want to stay healthy”

After a career in public health, it’s only natural that I like to stay active and healthy. I go boating and ride my bike for exercise — on short trips around town, I take my bike more often than my car. I live in Northern California near the Russian River. The river is a very valuable resource as this is wine country with hundreds of vineyards. Lately, we’ve had a lot of rain and the river’s flowing nicely with stretches of both flat water and rapids. Just 10 minutes away, there’s a three-mile river route and an eight-mile route.

I’ve been going on Meetup.com to find local kayaking groups. One meetup group near here has 1,000 members who go river running, hiking, and more. It’s fun to go out in groups. I’ve posted meetups online and have organized kayak trips with anywhere from four to a dozen boats.

With Class III+ rapids bearing names like Troublemaker, Meatgrinder, Triple Threat, Deadman’s Drop, and even Satan’s Cesspool, you need a tough kayak and a cast-iron constitution to take on the South Fork of the American River! David and Elizabeth conquer Troublemaker in David’s 380x.

“When I started doing more white water….”

My first boat was a canoe. Then I got a couple of kayaks — a one-person and a 2-person kayak. I did enjoy those in flat water. But recently, I’ve been doing more whitewater kayaking so I got on the internet and got the Sea Eagle 380x.

I like the 380x because it’s the right size for single or double kayaking. I can go out alone or with a partner. I thought about getting a shorter or longer kayak but this one has the versatility to take one or two passengers comfortably. It’s small enough that I can handle it solo, and when I go out with my partner, Elizabeth, there’s plenty of room for both of us. It handles our weight well. It bounces off rocks well, too!

Between the nice seats and the stiff floor, the 380x seems more comfortable to sit in than other boats.  I like the 380x’s drop-stitch floor because when inflated, it’s rigid and it makes the kayak very solid and comfortable. On other inflatables, the floor is an air-filled tube. And there’s no way to put a skeg on as you can with the Sea Eagle. I like the drains because I can leave them open for whitewater kayaking and closed in flat-water lakes and rivers.  The price is reasonable and I find it’s a better boat all around than those I had earlier.

Kayaking’s meditative, too

In flat water, David and Elizabeth enjoy a peaceful, meditative trip down the nearby Russian River.

When I’m out there solo, it’s very meditative. I may paddle a bit to get a workout then, at some point, just sit out there in the middle of the lake. If I go on a weekday, especially in the morning, it’ll be very still and peaceful, often without any other boaters on the water.

I highly recommend the Sea Eagle 380x. I’ve had other brands and this seems the best. It’s very well made and I’m happy with the customer service. I give Sea Eagle my highest recommendation.”

— David Nelson, Sea Eagle 380x Owner, Northern California

“This is my story of my experience with Sea Eagle and the STS10 Stealth Stalker. I appreciate that most blogs consist of pages of verbiage explaining the story line. I have taken an old approach of “a picture is worth a thousand words”…

My age and health don’t rule my life!

The following slide presentation includes captioned pictures covering the arrival of my boat, first assembly, shoreline assembly, and finally on the water. It continues with additional captioned pictures covering my stubbornness of not letting my health and energy rule my life.

John’s worked around age-related problems so he can still do what he loves

My good buddy helped me with the very first maiden voyage last fall. We loaded the car, unloaded the car, inflated and loaded the boat, launched, tested on the water, hauled it up and onto shore, deflated, folded and packed everything into the car. Got home and unloaded the car and put things away in the garage. I’m 80 years old and my buddy suggested I get a trailer to make things easier. My reasons for going to a trailer for my STS10 were very simply an “age related” problem. Too old and not enough energy. COPD was also not helping the situation.

My call went out to my son to get working on a set of plans to modify a standard 4 x 8 trailer to transport my very personal and special boat. We took the winter months to plan and change, and plan and change again.

I do love my STS10 boat. I was not going to sacrifice my enjoyment!”

— John Nichols, STS10 Owner, Machesney Park, IL

Yannick Daoudi and his girlfriend, Audrey Mc Mahon, recently traveled 130 miles down the Nam Tha River in Northern Laos in Yannick’s Sea Eagle 380x. “We passed small local villages the entire trip…It was such an inspiring experience to see how the locals relate to and respect their environment. “

Canadian, Yannick Daoudi, has woven together his professional, humanitarian, and personal lives in a way that’s led to non-stop travel and adventuring all over the planet. Professionally, Yannick’s an international educational consultant. His humanitarian volunteer work helps improve health and education in developing countries. His personal interest is exotic travel. His boat is the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer Kayak.

“In 15 years of expedition travel, I’ve taken over twenty trips through forty different countries in Africa, The Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceana. I estimate I’ve traveled close to 20,000 miles, all by muscle power, on bicycles, on foot, and by kayak.

I’ve kayaked down the Gambia River in Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa. The country is largely the river and narrow strips of land on either side. You can practically see the whole country from the river!  I also paddled in the ocean in Palau, an archipelago near the Philippines. I slept on desert islands and snorkeled into amazing underwater environments.

I’ve kayaked down the Vaupés River, a tributary to the Amazon River. Kayaking is the best way to travel the Amazon. I organized two expeditions in Panama — one in the ocean and the other down a river in the Darién Jungle near the border with Colombia. My boating trips last up to four weeks during which I try to rely on myself and the gear, food, and water I bring with me or can collect along the way.

I saw I needed a sturdier inflatable kayak

I chose an inflatable kayak because they’re the most transportable kind of boat. When I travel by plane, I can pack it and check it as luggage – it’s not overweight or oversized. As I never know which situations I’ll find myself in when I travel, it’s important for me to be able to carry the boat and all my gear at the same time.

The 380x Explorer Kayak looked good because I wanted a rugged boat that could endure punishing conditions, that was large enough to travel with a partner and a heavy load, yet small enough to maneuver alone and light enough I could carry with the rest of my expedition gear when needed.

I started out with an ordinary inflatable but after a few trips I saw I needed something sturdier. I compared a few brands. I read customer comments online, judging quality vs. price. Then I saw Sea Eagle’s video of someone pounding it with a claw hammer and driving a Jeep over it. I knew that Sea Eagle 380x Explorer Kayak was the one I needed.

I got Sea Eagle’s QuickSail, too. I tested it on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It’s a lot of fun because, with the wind behind you, you can travel at higher speeds than paddling. With the sail, I just used the paddle for steering. I’ll definitely use it on my next ocean trip.

150 remote river miles in Laos

My most recent adventure was down the Nam Tha River in northern Laos with my girlfriend, Audrey Mc Mahon. We put in at Louang Namtha , and came out at Pak Tha on the Mekong River . That’s about 130 miles on the river.

“We had to face a wide range of conditions on the river, from low water levels forcing us to drag the boat over rocks on the first day, to varying classes of rapids, to placid waters and the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer was ideal.”

We passed small local villages the entire trip and witnessed the threat to the indigenous way of life in Northern Laos because of damming and mining projects. It was such an inspiring experience to see how the locals relate to and respect their environment. They are a very spiritual people. A lot of the villages had Buddhist temples, and although their homes are basic – simple bamboo huts on stilts — their temples are very elaborate and colorful.

What struck us most was the vital importance of the river in every aspect of these people’s lives. It is their main source of food, it is where they bathe, do the laundry, wash their dishes, play, and since there are no roads to link these villages, it is also their only means of transport. Curious locals would touch my Sea Eagle 380x and couldn’t understand how light and strong it was – all they knew were the long wooden dugout canoes they have been using for generations.

Traveling day after day at the pace of the river, and camping in the jungle, you start to build a relationship with the river and at the end of such an amazing trip we felt like we were saying goodbye to a good friend.

Mozambique next?

The Sea Eagle 380x Explorer kayak is the right boat for this kind expedition. It allows me to explore hard to reach places that are rarely visited by tourists. I find that this makes the contact with the locals more authentic and the experience more enriching. I’m looking forward to my next adventure trip. Maybe I’ll go back to Africa. I’m thinking about Mozambique…

— Yannick Daoudi, adventure traveler, Sea Eagle Explorer Owner

Learn more about Yannick’s adventures on his website and Facebook page. Learn about his humanitarian foundation on its website and Facebook page.

Ryan explores Emerald Cave in Black Canyon. “At a certain time of day, the sun come in and lights up the water, turning it an emerald green.”

Chillin’ with the ‘Earthblazers’

Ryan Bradley puts in long, long hours under hot lights in the film industry in Los Angeles. But between shoots, you’ll probably find him chillin’ with his posse, the ‘Earthblazers’, on a kayaking and camping trip to Lake Powell, the Colorado River, or another of the remarkable bodies of water just a couple hours outside the City of Angels.

“I had no idea kayaking would be this cool”

“I have a Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak. I love it. I’ve gotten friends interested in kayaking. Several of them got Sea Eagle 330’s and 370’s and we go kayaking together. We call ourselves ‘Earthblazers.’ We’ve posted dozens of photos and describe what we do as ‘promoting an awareness and a lifestyle that reveals the great outdoors to be the missing piece of the puzzle in your modern life.’ We’re adventure enthusiasts using kayaks for adventure and enjoyment.

We go boating and primitive back country camping — the longest trips have been three and four nights. My favorite trip was to Black Canyon, on the Colorado River, south of Hoover Dam. It’s a National Water Trail. The water is super-clear and chilly, then you get to hot volcanic pools and hot waterfalls you can practically paddle into.

Kayaking in Lake Powell’s slot canyons was one of our coolest moments. We paddled to the end of the canyon then discovered that over a small rise the water continued. We portaged our kayaks and had our own private paddling paradise, almost another world. We camped in a huge natural alcove that was awesome. We ate Korean barbecue, set up a few speakers, and played music — it was like a big amphitheater.

“The Earthblazers kayaked into Lake Powell’s slot canyons, a remarkable maze of waterways. I found this canyon as the sun was setting,” says Ryan.

My ‘posse’ and I are talking about kayaking the Russian River near San Francisco. I understand it has a 50 mile stretch of navigable water. We want to go back to Black Canyon. And the Verde River in Arizona, too.

I was hooked

I live in LA and work in the film industry. I’m a key grip; I handle the technical aspects of lighting for the films, TV, and commercial work I’m involved in. I’m self-employed and work long, long hours — kayaking is a great break from the working world.

During some downtime on one video shoot in Georgia, I took a boat ride down the Chattahoochee River. I knew I wanted to do a lot more boating and camping. Then I did a five-day trip in Utah and I was really hooked!

I soon realized I wanted my own vessel — something small because I didn’t want hassles with transport or storage. I started looking into kayaks and inflatables made a lot of sense to me. I live in a duplex and don’t have a lot of storage space. Inflatable Sea Eagles seemed affordable, light, and efficient. Mine is just 26 lbs. and fits in one bag.

Money’s worth 10 times over

I wasn’t comfortable spending a lot of money on something I wasn’t sure I’d like. But my Sea Eagle was just a couple hundred dollars and I got my money’s worth 10 times over. And even my inexpensive SE330 is rated for Class II and III rapids. I’m very happy with it! I keep it in a duffel bag in the back of my car.

By now, I’ve kayaked in the LA River, Lake Powell, the Colorado River, the Pacific Ocean, Florence Lake in the Sierra National Forest, and more. I kayaked with dolphins in Morrow Bay, California, south of Big Sur. It’s the coolest thing seeing a dolphin swim next to you in the water. They were just eight feet away and I paddled right along with them. Then I paddled near the jetty where there were seals paddling around near me.

Ryan paddles in Black Canyon on the Colorado River in his Sea Eagle 330. Black Canyon is on the state line between Arizona and Nevada. The western wall is Nevada’s El Dorado mountains. The eastern wall is Arizona’s Black Mountains.

Wild horses

I had no idea paddling would be this cool. Paddling in Florence Lake, I photographed horses running wild. I saw some deer, some very wild forest. I’ve kayaked and hiked Lost Valley that winds through the John Muir Wilderness.

For me, kayaking is pure entertainment. I do it just because I enjoy the outdoors. It’s a great relief from the business world — really, it’s just heaven. I carry a cooler, backpack, tent, and everything I need.

Zen-like experience

I find paddling is zen-like. The consistent movement of paddling almost gives me an out-of-body experience. You just point your kayak’s nose where you want to go and enjoy the motion. I enjoy paddling and how that repetitive motion can put me in a meditative state. I’m outdoors, I have the river to myself, and I can take whatever I need with me in a backpack. There’s a health factor, too; I’m getting exercise as I paddle. Sometimes I just drift with the current and take photos.

This is a very stable kayak. I always feel safe, never feel in danger. I always have a life preserver and have never had any issues. Of course safety is always important and I never do anything unsafe on the water.”

— Ryan Bradley, LA, Sea Eagle 330 Owner, ‘Earthblazer’

What’s a kid from New York City doing ripping down Class IV  rapids in some of America’s wildest, most remote rivers, with the foam flying and the adrenaline pumping? Meet Matt Corritone — backpacker, hiker, camper, kayaker, and Sea Eagle® Explorer™ Kayak owner.

“I go kayaking all the time — it’s my favorite thing to do, especially here in the Northwest. This is big sky country that’s graced with so many rivers, creeks, lakes, and waterways, plus a network of forest roads to access them. By now, I’ve kayaked every big-water river in Montana, Colorado, and Washington State. My Sea Eagle 420x kayak is an A+ dependable boat. I have no issues at all. I’ve been in Class IV rapids, streams, lakes, and flat water, too. No problems.

No previous boating experience

I grew up in New York City and moved to Montana 10 years ago. I’ve worked seasonal jobs I found online for the National Park Service; they’ve helped me travel throughout the Northeast United States.

Growing up in New York, I’d never gone kayaking but I wanted to try it. I’d never owned a boat before and was pretty apprehensive about getting in a hard hull kayak for safety reasons. About five or six years ago, I searched the internet and found Sea Eagle®  inflatable boats.

I bought my first Sea Eagle, one of the smallest ones, an SE370. It looked a lot safer than a sit-in hard hull kayak. I loved the SE370 so much I wanted a bigger one.

A big upgrade

So I bought a Sea Eagle 420x Explorer kayak. I was impressed with its gear-hauling capacity; the fact that it holds three passengers easily; and that it’ll handle higher-rated rapids than my 370. All in all, it was a big boating improvement and upgrade for me. I don’t have a roof rack on my car; the 14’ 420x rolls up and packs in the back of my little Ford Focus hatchback. That’s a big plus.

Matt enjoys calmer waters in his 420x, too. He and his fiance, Chelsey, go boating and camping at Lake Como in Montana.

My 420x Explorer is very stable in the water. It’ll float through anything. It’s easy to use, portable, and fun. As soon as the snow melts, I’m ready to go kayaking. This boat has allowed me to have many fun adventures I hadn’t done before, like deep-woods camping.

You couldn’t ask for a better, hassle-free boat. You don’t need a boat launch, just inflate it and go. My fiancé, Chelsey, and I go boating, back country camping, and back packing with the 420x. She prefers flatwater paddling but she went through white water rapids recently and that’s a big step in the right direction!

Crystalline blue glacial melt water

Owning this boat has enabled me to see so much of Montana, all the way up to Glacier National Park on the Canadian border. I’ve explored Glacier’s Logging Lake, Quartz Lake, Kintla Lake, and others. I’ve kayaked to the Continental Divide and hiked up onto glaciers. It’s been great! You can’t beat paddling in melt-water from the glaciers. The water’s crystalline pure, glacier blue. I’ve only seen water this strikingly blue in glacial waters.

When Chelsey and I go camping, we’ll drive on forest roads to get to the edge of a lake — for example, Lake Como, in the shadow of El Capitan. We’ll set up our base camp, inflate the Sea Eagle, load it with all our gear for a day trip, paddle out, and go boating and camping for three or four days.

Boating’s humbling, fishing’s great, too

Why do I love boating? I find it’s a beautiful and serene experience. Without a boat, you don’t get to experience the greatness of our country. Boating is a humbling experience when you see how water has shaped the Earth. And the fishing’s better than on shore!

For anybody else who’s thinking about adventure kayaking in a Sea Eagle, do your research. Get the one that’s tailored to your needs. And be safe — wear a lifejacket.

— Matt Corritone, Sea Eagle 420x Explorer Kayak Owner