Buyers Guide: SEA EAGLE FASTTRACK vs. SEA EAGLE EXPLORER KAYAK

Steve Brauns and his constant companion, Meeker, ply the waterways of Colorado in their Sea Eagle FastTrack Kayak.

Steve Brauns and his constant companion, Meeker, ply the waterways of Colorado in their Sea Eagle FastTrack Kayak.

With nearly a dozen different boat models, Sea Eagle has an inflatable boat for every kind of boater. But how to choose? We spoke recently with Steve Brauns of Glen Haven, Colorado about how he decided on his Sea Eagle FastTrack 385.

“I hadn’t really done any boating prior to getting this Sea Eagle FastTrack kayak. I got it specifically for a trip down the Flathead River in Glacier National Park in Montana. I’ll do more flat water lake kayaking than anything but I wanted something versatile so I could do some Class II and III rivers.

Practical considerations

I didn’t want a hard-sided kayak because I’m driving from Colorado to Glacier National Park and I didn’t want to leave a kayak sitting out on top of the car unattended. So it had to be a boat I could put in my car. An inflatable seemed like the way to go.

Steve's dog, Meeker, takes eagerly to boating. A testament to toughness, the Sea Eagle Explorer's high-pressure fabric is like "crocodile hide" - dog toenails don't phase it.

Steve’s dog, Meeker, takes eagerly to boating. A testament to toughness, the Sea Eagle FastTrack’s high-pressure fabric is like “crocodile hide” – dog toenails don’t phase it.

I needed something I can carry and get on the water without any help. The FastTrack works well for that. It’s quite manageable for one person. For example, I can pull it out of my car, lay it out, pump it up, hold it in the middle, and carry it to the dock by myself. I could easily carry it longer distances if I had to. It’s very simple and manageable and inflates quickly. It’s easy. You don’t have to drag it, you don’t need another person to help carry it – that would make it easier but it’s not needed. You don’t have to trailer it or put it on a car rack.

On the water, the first time my girlfriend and I took it out on a lake, it was windy. I was impressed by how well it kept going, even into a headwind. I’ve read reviews of other kayaks and some have tracking issues.

What are your requirements?

I’ve got two dogs. The one in the picture is Meeker, a border collie mix. He’s one of those dogs who wants to go with you and I take him everywhere. He’d never been in a boat before. I pointed at it and said, ‘Jump in,’ and he did. Boating is probably more for me than for him. I take him backpacking everywhere. He just wants to go.

I got into snorkeling and get to the Caribbean almost every year so I wanted a boat I could fit in a suitcase and weigh under 50 lbs. to avoid extra luggage fees. An hour and a half south of Cancun is where the good snorkeling starts. We rent a casita and go snorkeling. There aren’t a lot of people. We hang out, paddle to the reef, and use the kayak as a platform for snorkeling. Snorkling’s just about my favorite thing to do.

I like to backpack up into the high country above the tree line. I could see carrying my FastTrack a mile to access a remote lake. When we go to Glacier there are two big, remote lakes on the west side —  Bowman Lake and Kintla Lake. We’ll definitely take the boat up there.

Boating’s a different adventure perspective

Steve enjoys boating adventure high in the mountains with his Sea Eagle FastTrack Kayak

Steve enjoys boating adventure high in the mountains with his Sea Eagle FastTrack Kayak. Mountain lakes…whitewater rivers…ocean kayaking…the FastTrack’s ready for just about anything.

I spend a lot of time outdoors. I do a lot of hiking; I live in the mountains. I always want to hike and backpack near the water because it’s scenic. Going boating gives me a different perspective from being on shore – I go out and get an outdoor perspective from the middle of the lake or get to areas I can’t get to hiking. It takes exploring one step higher.

FastTrack or Explorer?

There are a lot of inflatables out there and I looked at all of them. I did a lot of searching for reviews and came up with three or four top brands. I looked at each of them. The Sea Eagle seemed to meet a whole host of my requirements like weight, tracking, and I liked the depth of the information on the website. More than other brands, customer service had a strong presence.

Why the FastTrack? I looked at both the Sea Eagle Explorer and the FastTrack. Both seemed to be of higher quality than Sea Eagle’s Sport Kayaks. That put me into either the FastTrack or the Explorer. From an aesthetic perspective, I like the Explorer kayak better than the FastTrack. But from what I read, the FastTrack seems to be more versatile in both flat water and river running. I bought to fit my needs.

Skeg & Keel create straight tracking

The FastTrack’s skeg and the drop stitch keel have a lot to do with the straight tracking. The keel is under the bow of the boat. It’s narrow, about 4 or 5” wide, maybe 3” long. It’s an inflatable chamber made of a beefy material. When you inflate it, it’s hard, really firm. It probably helps tracking as much as the skeg . It gives the boat something to dig in with.

I bought the 385 FT Deluxe Package. I went back and forth between the Pro Package and the Deluxe. The Pro’s seats looked like they gave more support but I just didn’t want to spend the extra money. I’m perfectly happy with the seats I got but may trade up eventually.

Touch test for skeptics

The last time I went kayaking, a couple stopped while I was inflating my FastTrack. They were quite impressed that it happened so fast. People don’t expect you to pull something like that out of your trunk and be up and running in 10 minutes.

People always ask about it and it’s easy to tell them, ‘Just go to SeaEagle.com.’ It’s written right there on the boat. I run into inflatable boat skeptics, too. I invite them to come over and touch it to see how solid it is, even the floor. You’d feel comfortable even standing up in it. I tell everyone and everyone how cool my FastTrack is.”

Own a Sea Eagle? How did YOU decide which model to buy? Email us – our blog readers want to know!

“THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO MY QUALITY OF LIFE!” — Sea Eagle 330 gives her an affordable way to restore her spirits.

Maria kayaked recently in Florida’s West Lake Park —  the largest remaining mangrove ecosystem in the 85-mile urban coastal zone from Miami Beach to West Palm Beach. The park occupies a 3-mile strip of mangrove estuary and uplands. “It’s a great place for kayaking because of the shallow water and absence of motor boats,” she says.

Maria kayaked recently in Florida’s West Lake Park — the largest remaining mangrove ecosystem in the 85-mile urban coastal zone from Miami Beach to West Palm Beach. The park occupies a 3-mile strip of mangrove estuary and uplands. “It’s a great place for kayaking because of the shallow water and absence of motor boats,” she says.

Dear Sea Eagle,

I just have to tell you how much I love my new Sea Eagle SE330!  I wanted a kayak I could handle by myself and that fit into my currently limited budget!  My Sea Eagle fits in my compact car with no rack, no trying to figure out how to get it on top of my car, or from the car to the water.  It inflates in about ten minutes, and I can carry it to the ramp easily. 

The kayak handles beautifully, and I don’t have to pay $40 for each rental! I am able to keep up with the groups of hard-hull kayakers that I paddle with. My kayak deflates immediately, and rolls up in a bundle I can easily carry to the car. The deluxe seats are awesome — no sore back or butt.

You may be getting some more orders from South Florida, since my Sea Eagle has generated a lot of interest and attention.  How could it not?  Price, quality, convenience, performance…how could you ask for more?  Thank your for this fabulous product!

And thank you for contributing positively to my quality of life!  When the economy turns around, I’ll give these kayaks to my family as gifts!

— Highest regards, Maria Puente-Duany, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Instant stress reliever

“All of us have ways to lift our spirits when things get tough,” says Maria Puente-Duany, Sea Eagle 330 owner from the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. “Being outdoors in Nature always restores my spirit.” What’s on Maria’s mind? She recently left her job and is in the process of starting her own business. Kayaking gives her the kind of relaxation we all need these days.

Maria’s outdoor stress relievers have included sailing, skiing, and golfing. “I was looking for an affordable way to get outdoors,” she told us, “and I saw the Sea Eagle advertised in Sierra Club’s magazine. I looked at Sea Eagle’s website and found Sea Eagle is priced right. And the testimonials really swayed me.”

Fascinating ecosystem

Maria's not alone seeking some R&R with a Sea Eagle 330. Carol Derer, another Floridian, says, "I am thrilled with my Sea Eagle 330. It has brought me so much peace and  quiet, it brings me to a whole new level of relaxtion after one of 'those days."

Maria’s not alone seeking some R&R with a Sea Eagle 330. Here’s Carol Derer, another Floridian, who says, “I am thrilled with my Sea Eagle 330. It has brought me so much peace and quiet, it brings me to a whole new level of relaxtion after one of ‘those days.” Watch Carol’s video.

“I’m a weekend boater,” Maria says. “I like to get out in the sun on my days off and enjoy the Florida scenery. I don’t have to travel far.” One of her favorite kayaking spots is West Lake Park in Hollywood, Florida. “There are wonderful kayaking trails through the mangroves; they grow right in the water and gradually turn the water into land. It’s a fascinating ecosystem with crabs and fish in the shallow water.

She enjoys kayaking solo and also in groups. “I find my kayaking buddies online at Meetup,” a website that helps people with special interests meet one another. “There are several kayaking groups in my area. Next weekend, we’ll go to River Bend Park in Jupiter FL.” (Editor’s note: Watch video.) “It’s gorgeous, too. When we kayak there it’s like escaping civilization, with no buildings or cars. It’s a great place to go.”

Easy, affordable, stable

“You can get a hard hull kayak for about $350 and then you’ve got to have a car rack and a place to store it.” Her Sea Eagle cost less and, “I just roll it up and put it in my trunk — no car rack.” Storage space? Deflated, the 330 weighs just 26 lbs. and takes about the same space as a couple of sleeping bags. Throw it in a closet, under a bed, or on a shelf.

“I’ve used hard hull kayaks,” she says, but she prefers the advantages of the inflatable Sea Eagle. “The price was right; I can inflate it and have it ready to go in 10 minutes. I can carry it to the water myself. It deflates immediately. It’s easy, convenient, and affordable.” And she reports, “The Sea Eagle is very stable. If there are wakes from power boats, I know my 330 is not going to tip over.”

Attention-getter

Maria says her 330 always attracts attention. “I always recommend it, always refer people to the Sea Eagle website. I tell everyone all the benefits: the attractive price, the fact that there’s a Sea Eagle for every budget; it’s easy to use, inflate, and deflate; easy to carry to the water. It’s convenient and I’ve found no negatives at all!”

— Do YOU have Sea Eagle stories and photos to share? Please email us. Our blog visitors want to see!