Rich is ready for an afternoon of Sea Eagle boating fun

Kathy Crago and her boyfriend, Rich Elack, are hooked on Sea Eagle kayaking. Kathy, a Sea Eagle 370 owner, sent such a nice note (below) that we just couldn’t help ourselves — we had to call her to hear more about her Sea Eagle boating experiences. And Kathy had plenty to tell.

Dear Sea Eagle,

I never imagined our Sea Eagle 370 could provide us with so many great experiences we’d have otherwise missed! It’s the best investment in FUN that I have ever made. What a great avenue for some incredible on-the- water entertainment!

When a Florida vacation opportunity came up, the first thing we packed was our Sea Eagle 370!  I had never swum in an ocean, let alone kayaked in one. We kayaked along the white sand shores of Sanibel Island, just south of Fort Myers, Florida, and in San Carlos Bay and its canals that lead to the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Sea Eagle 370 enabled us to experience the best self-guided tour we could’ve ever imagined. A pair of curious dolphins popped up just 10 feet from our Sea Eagle. What a treat, as this Wisconsin girl had never seen dolphins in the wild before!  We paddled hard and fast trying to follow their lead through the beautiful blue-green waters.  Once we entered San Carlos Bay, flying fish started shooting out of the water into the air, almost landing directly in the Sea Eagle!

Social worker by day, Kathy enjoys kayaking with family and friends

I was truly amazed at the number of nesting pairs of sea hawks, pelicans, and other ocean birds we were able to see up-close and personal, all because our Sea Eagle kayak moves so quietly and easily through the water. I am so hooked on Sea Eagle kayaking!

Kathy Crago, West Bend, WI

Kathy’s note describes their recent Florida boating adventures, but summers find them boating in their local Wisconsin waters. Among their favorite spots are lakes in is Kettle Moraine State Forest.

They have a number of nearby lakes to choose from including Little Cedar Lake and Big Cedar Lake.  Cedar Creek connects them and flows through historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin. These northern waters teem with smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegills, rock bass, sunfish, carp, and more.

Summer evenings & weekends on the water

Kathy’s a medical social worker in her local hospital; Rich works in sales

Grandson Vincent’s busy inflating the Sea Eagle 370 while Rich checks his work

and building materials. “After work or on the weekends in the summer,” said Kathy, “we just load up our Sea Eagle 370 and go.” Kathy’s nine-year old grandson, Vincent, is a frequent companion on their boating adventures.

“We explore every channel, outlet, and everything in between,” Kathy told us. “We found a beautiful sandy beach on Little Cedar Lake.” Kathy and Rich tie up the Sea Eagle and just float in the sun for hours on end. “It’s not unusual to have eight or 10 boats parked there,” says Rich. “We’re the only Sea Eagle and we always get a lot of questions.”

“We always had boats”

Why do Rich and Kathy love boating? “We both love the outdoors,” Rich explained. “We do hiking and biking, cross-country skiing, and some downhill.” Kathy grew up boating. Her family had a summer cottage on a northern Wisconsin lake. “We always had boats,” she told us.

And why Sea Eagle? “In just 10 minuts max we’re on the water,” says Rich. “It’s easy to transport and easy to use.” Kathy explained further. “We see people loading up hard hull kayaks on roof racks or trailers. Rich and I can load and unload so much easier.” Rich takes the Sea Eagle to the launch spot and pumps it up with their battery-operated pump. “While I’m doing that,” Rich says, “Kathy blows up the premium seats with the foot pump and gathers gear including the soft cooler we have for drinks and food.”

Then there’s the toughness factor — darned important in rocky Wisconsin waters. “The number of rocks we went over, that bottom should be ripped up,” says Rich, “but we never got a hole in it. It looks brand new. Anything else would have gotten torn up like crazy.”

Quiet nature moments

Just 40 miles from Milwaukee, the West Bend area is well populated. But there’s plenty of nature around, and kayaking gives boaters a unique opportunity to enjoy it.  “We were kayaking down the Milwaukee River and we looked up and saw a family of owls – a mother and three fuzzy babies,” says Kathy. “We’d never have seen that if we weren’t on the water.”

On that same trip, “A great blue heron flew ahead of us, leading us on an adventure. She’d land and we’d catch up, then she’d take off again. Hours later, she was still flying ahead of us. She was like our scout!”

Fun way to socialize

You read a lot about online social networking these days, but Sea Eagle boating can be a “social network” of the old fashioned kind. Six or eight of Kathy’s friends own Sea Eagles, and all of them have gone boating and picnicking together. “It’s a fun thing to do with other couples,” says Kathy. “You can go as a group and explore, it’s a fun way to socialize.”

“Next summer, we’d like to get together with friends to do the Wisconsin River,” Rich told us. “It’s probably 125 miles from Sauk Prairie, 45 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin to the Mississippi River.” Rich estimates it’s probably a two or three day trek with tent camping along the way.

She took her friends’ advice. Now she passes it on

Kathy’s friends bought their Sea Eagles first. They did a lot of research on boats so Kathy didn’t have to. When she got interested they advised, “Don’t bother looking any farther than Sea Eagle.’”

Today, Kathy and Rich pass along the same message. When they get curious looks and questions, which they often do, “We tell people if you’re serious about kayaking, Sea Eagle is the way to go. We send them to the Sea Eagle website where they’ll see how easy they are to transport and use, easy to inflate and deflate in just a few minutes. “We’ve probably sold a dozen Sea Eagles!”

“We steer friends toward the Sea Eagle 370 instead of the two-person 330,” says Rich. “You can get three people and a lot of gear in the 370. If you’re going to buy one, you might as well get a big one, one that you can use for a variety of things.” Rich also advises, “Get the premium seats. They’re comfortable, and they’re good as flotation devices when you’re just lounging around in the water.”

Sweet summer afternoons on the water, in the sun, enjoying nature and good friends. Does it get any better than that?

— Do YOU have Sea Eagle photos & stories to share? E-mail us!

Gena Camerlengo and her friend, Bryan, plane nicely in her dad’s 10.6 SR with an 8hp gas motor

We have enjoyed our Sea Eagle 10.6sr inflatable boat on the ocean off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.  Running our boat along the coastline to uninhabited islands including a bird sanctuary has given all of us good times to reminisce for years to come.  It’s adventures like these, with the help of our Sea Eagle boat, that keep our adventurous trips anticipated by our family and friends for years to come.  Thank you, Sea Eagle!   

— Leon Camerlengo

When we spoke with Leon Camerlengo recently, he told us his story of enjoying solo time and social time among South Carolina’s Barrier Islands with his Sea Eagle 10.6sr

Leon is a medical professional in Columbus, Ohio and owns a second home near Charleston, South Carolina, within easy reach of the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina’s famous Barrier Islands.

Having gone to medical school there, Charleston is familiar turf for Leon.He and his wife, Kathy, spend weeks at a time there in spring and summer. “I love the summers in Charleston,” Leon told us.

Easy access to water makes boating a natural for the Camerlengos. The Edisto River, the longest undammed and unleveed blackwater river in North America, is right around the corner, as are endless miles of Atlantic Ocean, pristine beaches, and uninhabited islands.

“I never grew up around boating,” Leon told us, “but with a home within a mile of the ocean,” he wanted to give boating a try. “Our Sea Eagle is so much fun, comfortable, and safe, it’s just a blast.”

Just the two of us

The Camerlengos love the peace and quiet they find on South Carolina’s lesser-known, secluded beaches. “When it’s just Kathy and me,” Leon says, “we go to one of the islands, pull up, and go picnicking; just the two of us.” Or they’ll go dolphin-watching. “Dolphins are everywhere down here,” he tells us. “When you see one, you’ll soon see many more.”

Leon explains the appeal of their private time. “We just enjoy being together in a private atmosphere. Our Sea Eagle can always bring us to a private place where other people aren’t. It’s like having own private island right around the corner.”

The “SR” in the 10.6sr stands for Sport Runabout. While Kathy sunbathes on their private excursions, Leon is “catching air” with his Sea Eagle. “The performance is really good,” says Leon. “Steering is accurate and it planes easily with two passengers with our Mercury 8HP motor.” With the 8, “it’s kind of like flying. When I hit the waves right, I get airborne. To me, that’s exhilarating.” Leon will be flying higher this season with his new, 15HP motor.

Boating with family & friends

Besides boating with family, Kathy and Leon take outings with friends to nearby Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary. Off limits above the high tide line, this is a predator-free nesting site for thousands and thousands of sea birds. “With no predators,” says Leon, “the pelicans just stand there looking at you.”

Gena, Leon and Kathy’s daughter, and her friend Bryan take the helm for a spin in Dad’s Sea Eagle along the South Carolina coast.

“Everyone who comes down to visit us loves the Sea Eagle,” says Leon. “It brings people together.” He’ll ferry a few friends at a time to outings on nearby islands. Asked why he doesn’t get a bigger boat that’ll hold more passengers he replies, “I love the adventure of a smaller boat – the waves breaking over the bow make it fun like a day in the sun.”

Run all day on a couple gallons

 “I wanted a boat that was light enough to carry,” he says. “Bigger boats are more trouble. If I bottom out on a sandbar, I can pick up the Sea Eagle and move it.” And the inflatable Sea Eagle provides an added benefit: affordability. “With gas prices as they are,” says Leon, “we go all day on a couple gallons. After initial purchase it’s affordable way to have fun.” Leon compares the cost of his boating fun with that of a friend who goes offshore fishing. “He’s spending $800 in gas on a single trip!”

Sea, sand, sun & fun off the South Carolina coast. (OK, visitors, who can ID the bird?)

All fun, no upkeep

“What else could you want?” asks Leon. “It’s a small investment with a big bang for your buck. Where else could you get that much fun for that little money? There’s no upkeep, it’s very inexpensive to operate, reliable, and a lot of fun.”

South Carolina sun, sand, surf, and a Sea Eagle…it all sounds perfect to us!

Do YOU have Sea Eagle photos & stories to share? Our blog visitors want to see…and YOU could be featured on our Blog.

Email us your photos & stories today!