By Tom Schlichter
Easy transport and plenty of room make Sea Eagle’s SE370 inflatable sport kayak a great value that’s ready to go anywhere, anytime.
Alyce Fulton-Baez is standing on the bank of her favorite mill pond assessing the wind. “I love days like this,” she says with a smile. “There’s just enough breeze to keep things cool and comfortable so I’m going to spend an hour or so right here on the water.” With that, the 57-year-old dental assistant and amateur photographer from Rocky Point, New York, pulls a duffel bag from the back seat of her car and lays it on the ground. Fifteen minutes later, she’s paddling away in a 12’ 6” Sea Eagle SE 370 inflatable kayak. It isn’t long before she’s snapping photos of local wildlife, aquatic flowers and scenic views as she heads around a bend and out of sight. She is, at least for the moment, the only one on the water.
Like many Sea Eagle fans, Alyce enjoys the ability to just get away from it all without the hassle of storing or transporting a hardshell kayak. “It’s all about the freedom to go anywhere, anytime, even at a moment’s notice,” she says. “If I think I might have 30 minutes to get out for a paddle, I just toss the duffel bag, two-piece paddles and foot pump in the back of my car and I’m ready to go.”
Years ago, when she was first getting into kayaking, Alyce rented hardshell ‘yaks and went out occasionally. After a while, though, she began to think to herself that there had to be a better way. “I wanted my own kayak, but I didn’t have a car big enough to throw one of those big old clunkers on top,” she explained. “Eventually, someone gave me a Sea Eagle SE330 as a gift and I said ‘Oh, an inflatable? This is awesome!’ I used that one constantly for about 10 years!’”
Then the Covid-19 pandemic struck, and Alyce had to move her elderly mother in with her and provide care for the next two years. Sadly, her mom passed away toward the end of the pandemic which, after some time, helped spur Alyce’s return to the water as part of the healing process. “That was a tough stretch to get through,” recalls Alyce, “but being back on the water really helped ease my mind.”
It took a while to get back in the swing of things of course, but Alyce eventually decided it was time for a new inflatable and began searching online for her next vessel. “There were just so many choices and I was overwhelmed,” she explained. “Then it dawned on me: I absolutely loved my Sea Eagle, so why would I start anywhere else?”
To be sure, the Sea Eagle SE370 is up to just about any challenge when it comes to getting out on the water. A foot-and-a-half longer than the SE330, it measures 12’ 6” long and boasts a three-person capacity while weighing only 32 lbs. That means there’s plenty of room in this hull, especially if you head out by yourself or with only one additional person. With a load capacity of 650-lbs. you can pack it full of all the provisions you’ll need to head off to a remote lakeside camping spot and still stretch out your legs in route. With surprising maneuverability, a pair of bottom skegs for better tracking and speed, plus port, starboard and floor chambers on the rugged sun and saltwater resistant hull, the SE370 is also suitable for up to Class III whitewater rafting.
“Simply put,” states Alyce, “the SE370 was the ideal choice for me. I love that I can take it anywhere and don’t have to worry about what car I’m driving because it will fit in the trunk. I also ordered the electric pump instead of the foot pump, which made it even quicker and easier to inflate the hull. I keep that, the duffel bag with the kayak, and the two-piece paddles in my trunk most of the time. That way, if I’m driving along and I see a spot that looks inviting, I simply pull over, inflate my kayak and start exploring. For me, at least, kayaking is all about the freedom to just go when and where you want – and the Sea Eagle 370 Sport Kayak lets me take advantage of any opportunities I can find.”
“I absolutely love my new Sea Eagle,” says Alyce. “I put my grandkids on it, so I have to trust it. It’s incredibly durable, takes only 15 minutes to inflate with the electric pump, and those raised seats can double as a floatation device in a pinch. Having all that room aboard is great, too. I can get my camera, throw it in a waterproof bag and head out for a photo shoot with swans, birds, turtles, water lilies – anything I come across. I can fit snacks on there, my radio, a cooler – whatever I want to bring out there’s definitely room. Even if I have another person in the kayak with me, there’s still space in front of my feet. When I’m done, I take it home, give everything a rinse and just pack it away after it’s had some time to dry.”
Although she lives on Long Island, which is surrounded by saltwater, Alyce mostly launches on rivers, lakes and ponds. “My Sea Eagle is fit for the briny, and tidal creeks, too,” she notes. “It’s really stable, so you can take it just about anywhere. It’s important for me to have such a steady platform since I do so much photography. I have several hundred shots on file. I love the tranquility of being out on the water, pushing around the next bend and finding hidden sights, wildlife or even interesting vegetation that others never see. I guess there’s a little explorer in my soul.”
Looking ahead, Alyce plans to keep investigating new waters and having fun as she explores. She’d like to stretch her horizons and do some more paddling out of state. “I’d love to photograph a moose, for example – I’d sit in my kayak all day long to make that happen,” she laughs. Alyce is also hoping to get a shot of a fish jumping out of the water, and some close-ups of frogs to add to her portfolio. She has already captured a shot of a bald eagle but feels she needs a better one – or maybe an owl perched near the bank.
“Whatever life offers on the water, I’m happy to take it. It all just brings me peace and calm. I enjoy it immensely. With my Sea Eagle SE370, I can share the water with a friends, family or simply go it alone. It’s all good, relatively affordable and always refreshing.”
* All photos courtesy of Alyce Fulton-Baez.