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. 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!