Rick and Kathy Leal practiced and got the hang of paddling their Sea Eagle 370 in tandem. Read this post to learn their hands-on paddling techniques. Rick says their dog, Maisy, took to kayaking easily.

Paddling your kayak solo is easy – left, right, left, right. Coordinating 2-person paddling takes a bit of cooperation. Here’s how one Washington couple worked it out.

“My wife, Kathy, and I have been married 47 years this month. We are blessed to live in Washington State; an area of beautiful mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. Kayaking the rivers and lakes is a great way to enjoy all that God has created. This is really the great fun of kayaking — seeing the wildlife up close and personal.

We’ve always enjoyed camping. We’ve done it all, tent camped, back packed, RV camped, motorcycle camped, and now we camp with our ‘pop up’ tent trailer. Now when we go camping we look for campgrounds near lakes and rivers that we can explore from our Sea Eagle 370 Sport Kayak.

Could it get any better than this? SUV, pop up camper, and Sea Eagle inflatable boat at the Leal’s beautiful campsite at Washington’s Alta Lake State Park.

Paddling Practice for Two

In our first kayaking season, we had trouble coordinating our paddling. The problem was I kept knocking her in the head! We obviously needed to work on our paddling coordination.

I went online and found videos that showed and explained the important aspects of paddling in tandem: position of hands; paddling on the same side; the stronger paddler sitting in the rear. But the most significant point that is that the rear paddler must watch and match the front paddler. I found that when Kathy and I were paddling, I was watching the scenery, and not really paying attention to her strokes. I would paddle on the same side all right, but often with a stronger stroke that could cause us to veer off course. By not watching her strokes, my timing would be off. To correct this I began to focus on her hands and found that most of the time I could see small “pre-movements” which helped me be ready to match her stroke.

Coordinated Rhythm

Secondly, I asked her to be consistent in how she paddled. Sometimes she would appear to starting a right-side paddle but would switch at the last second and paddle on the left side, throwing my stroke off. And, finally, I had to watch the strength of my stroke. If I needed to make a quick course correction to avoid a hazard or point our bow into a large boat wake then a strong stroke is okay, but keeping our stokes matched in timing and strength helped greatly.

Oh, and communicating is very important. If either of us wants to go in a different direction, we need to first tell each other. Now that we understand what it takes to paddle our 370 we’re perfecting our paddling and really enjoying kayaking!

Fold-Up Convenience

The convenience of being able to deflate and fold up the Sea Eagle is a plus. We have a small SUV and pull a small tent trailer when we go camping. Our 370 folds up into a two-foot by three-foot package. Everything fits easily in the trailer — the boat, paddles, seats, life jackets. That leaves the SUV available for the rest of our gear and I don’t have to put things on the top of the vehicle.

We have some friends who have two hard-sided kayaks. They encouraged us to get some kayaks so we could go kayaking with them. They paid over $700 for each kayak and I couldn’t justify spending that kind of money for something that I wasn’t sure I would like.

We chose to go with a tandem kayak because we had tandem-kayaked in Hawaii, Alaska, and in the San Juan Islands here in Washington. I Googled ‘inflatable kayaks’ and several brands came up. Then I researched and compared the different brands and found Sea Eagle had good reviews and very affordable prices. We decided on the 370 because it was a tandem and came completely equipped with everything we needed to start kayaking. It’s rated for up to Class III whitewater and though I don’t plan on kayaking in rapids, it’s good to know that it will hold up.

They Live in God’s Country

We live in North Central Washington near the town of Leavenworth. The Wenatchee River flows down from the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River. Our first paddle was down a section of the Wenatchee that flows through Leavenworth. (pix IMG 820 was taken at the end of our first trip down the Wenatchee)

Rick prepares to launch his Sea Eagle 370 in Antilon Lake. The Leals prefer smaller, “no wake lakes” like this one where gasoline boat motors are prohibited by county ordinance.

We like lake kayaking the most. We look for kayak-friendly lakes or lakes that have “no wake” areas. Our favorite so far has been Osoyoos Lake in northern Washington. It’s a very large lake that crosses the border of Washington and Canada and is known for its mythical Ogopogo monster. The lake is also the headwaters of the Okanogan River. The headwater is a flatwater section of the river that has many shallow inlets containing hundreds of lily pads. We were able to paddle through them and watch nesting ducks and ducklings. Our dog Maisy, who goes with us in the 370, was fascinated with them. I was really surprised at how easily Maisy took to riding in our 370.

While were camping at Osoyoos Lake we discovered another lake called Wannacut Lake. There is a really cute 50’s era resort right on the lake, which is a ‘no wake lake’ and we plan on going there next summer!

— Rick and Kathy Leal

Do YOU have Sea Eagle pictures and stories to share? Please email us!

Glen Cuff explores one of the many fascinating sea caves in California’s Channel Islands in his Sea Eagle 385ft FastTrack™

Glen Cuff has owned four Sea Eagle inflatable boats over the past 20 years. His newest one is his new 385ft FastTrack™. Glen lives just a mile from the Pacific Ocean in beautiful San Diego, California. One of his favorite excursions is paddling around Coronado Island off San Diego, and he recently camped for four days on pristine Santa Cruz Island, one of California’s famous Channel Islands.

San Diego has some of the most beautiful weather in the United States and it’s a great place to go kayaking. Glen goes boating for exercise and recreation. He says, “It’s a wonderful way to get away from everything after a tough day at work.”

Glen enjoyed paddling upwind then catching the wind in his QuickSail for a free ride downwind.

Glen calls himself a “casual boater” but he’s owned several Sea Eagles over the past two decades. “I’ve owned Sea Eagle inflatable boats for years. I’ve used and abused them and I’ve always gotten a lot of use out of them. Sea Eagles are very durable. I’ve had no problems even though I’ve taken them in sea caves, slid them onto rough beaches, over barnacles, and more. My older ones are still being used by other people.

Exploring sea caves

Friends and I have gone boating in California’s Channel Islands for the last 20 years. We go fishing, diving, swimming, and exploring sea caves. My 385ft FastTrack™  is the fourth Sea Eagle I’ve owned. I had a SE8 in the ‘80s, then a big Sea Eagle 380x Explorer kayak in the ‘90s, then a couple other Sea Eagle dinghies.

I got this new one a month ago, the 385ft FastTrack™, and took it out to the Channel Islands off Ventura, California. Commercial boats take you from Ventura and drop you at the islands. They’re beautiful and wild because they’re under the protection of the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy. I camped there for four days. You can’t take more than 60 lbs. of gear on the boat that takes you to the islands so the FastTrack is perfect: it weighs only 31 lbs. Even with all the equipment — pump, paddles, and seats — it’s still under 40 lbs.

I got the QuickSail universal kayak sail, too. Going before the wind with the sail, I’m not even paddling. It folds down easily. If you’re coming into the beach in surf you don’t have to worry about a bunch of rigging getting tangled up.

Which would you choose? The faster FastTrack (left) like the one Glen owns? Or the roomier Explorer Kayak (right) his friend owns?

The sail is really nice and a lot of fun. It’s easy to put up and take down. The winds can pick up really fast around here. On a recent trip, I paddled upwind a couple miles, turned the boat around, and opened the sail. I clipped it in and cruised all the way back before the wind. It was fun! Then my friend put it on his Explorer kayak and it was great there, too. His Explorer kayak is much larger than my FastTrack™ and has more room, but mine is much faster. My friend is jealous!

Maybe faster than a hard hull kayak?

This FastTrack™ is fast. It’s faster than my older Sea Eagles by far. It’s much more rigid than the others I’ve owned, and the skeg on the bottom makes it track straight. I own a hard hull kayak that weighs 55 or 65 lbs. The FastTrack™ weighs just 31 lbs. and the lighter weight makes the FastTrack™ as fast as a hard hull – maybe faster.

A lot of people have asked me about this boat, how much it cost. Fully equipped it was something like $1,300. That’s pretty good. The hard hull I bought was about $750 without any extras. You have to have a place to store a hard hull, and you have to buy a car rack that costs $400 or more. Then you have to get locks and you’re looking at a lot of money for all the gear that you need just to get it to the beach. Then you have to worry about someone stealing your racks! It’s a hassle to put a kayak up on the rack and take it down and the rack rubs on the car and scratches the paint.

Store a full size boat in your closet

He calls himself a “casual boater” but we think Glen’s pretty serious…and pretty fortunate to live in one of the world’s great kayaking areas.

I’ve chosen inflatable Sea Eagles for their portability. They’re light, you can store them easily, and they’re much more convenient than hard hulls. Storage is a big factor. The older you get, the more junk you have in your garage and the less storage space you have.

This Sea Eagle is perfect for anybody who doesn’t have space to store a hard hull kayak. That’s a big plus. I have a house and I still don’t have enough storage space. Deflated, you can fit a full size FastTrack in your closet. I have a tiny Fiat 500. It’s fun to drive, great on gas, and I can throw the kayak right in the back!”

— Glen Cuff, Sea Eagle Owner, San Diego CA

Do YOU have Sea Eagle stories and photos to share? Please email us today!

Mark Venard poses as he prepares for a day’s outing in their Sea Eagle 370. The Venards go kayaking every weekend, Linda tells us — it’s her cure for empty nest syndrome.

“My husband and I bought a Sea Eagle 370 last summer,” Linda Venard, of Indiana, told us. “I had always wanted a kayak and my husband was fully supportive of joining me on this new experience, especially since we needed to fill the hole of our last child leaving the nest for college. How would we replace all the activity that went with raising 4 children? Kayaking!

We’d been so busy raising kids…

“We had been so busy with school activities, sports, soccer, and so on,” Linda told us. “That’s how we spent a lot of our time. Now we go kayaking every weekend. We have explored many of the little lakes all around the southwestern part of Indiana, from state parks to filled-in stripper pits.”

“Stripper pits” are strip mines that are reclaimed into wildlife areas like the 8,100-acre Sugar Ridge Fish and Wildlife Area near Winslow, Indiana. Sugar Ridge is a richly wooded upland game habitat with reclaimed mine areas that attract a wide variety of song birds, woodpeckers, hawks, and waterfowl.

She took a taste and fell in love

“I always wanted a kayak,”  Linda told us. “Every time we went on vacation in Florida we’d look for kayak tours. That’s how we got a taste of it and I fell in love with kayaking.” Like Linda, many kayakers start by renting. “But we could rent only in areas where there are rental places.” And as the kayaking bug bit her more deeply, she realized, “I wanted to be able to go kayaking wherever we went.”

Then Linda saw Sea Eagle inflatable kayaks. “I thought Sea Eagle would be a great solution,” she said. “I kept looking at them for about a year and we finally did it. I think owning a Sea Eagle is a great way to experience nature and makes kayaking so easy because you don’t have to worry about transporting it. One person can inflate and set it up pretty easily. You don’t have to know much about kayaking to get out and kayak easily.”

Linda and Marc spotted this white heron while kayaking in their Sea Eagle in Goose Pond in Linton, Indiana

Smaller bodies of water are undiscovered gems

The Venard’s first Sea Eagle kayaking trip was to Green-Sullivan State Park near Bucktown, Indiana. This park spans the Greene-Sullivan town line and is reported to be the home of the state’s record bluegill. “This wetland area gave us a close-up glimpse of egrets, cranes, and other birds migrating to the area, as well as giving us experience in maneuvering the kayak through marshy, shallow areas,” said Linda. “It’s like kayaking in a little jungle!”

Linda and Marc often find they’re the only ones on the bodies of water they explore. “We have kayaked in many local areas that are undiscovered gems to the general public. Most of the time we’re the only ones out on the water. A lot of people go to big lakes. We go to smaller ones like Goose Pond,” she said. “We like to get out in wilderness areas, out in nature. It’s very relaxing. We haven’t done whitewater yet. But we may!”

Linda paddles out into Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior on a recent tent camping vacation. “Best vacation I ever had,” she says.

“We recently took off for a tent camping vacation in Michigan — it ended up being one of my favorite vacations ever,” says Linda. “Of course we threw the kayak in the van. How handy to be able to pack it up and take it on the chance that we may just stop and use it wherever and whenever we want.  We made our first stop in Sleeping Bear Dunes and kayaked on a few of the lakes in that area. Our second stop was the Upper Peninsula where we kayaked along the Tahquamenon River and into Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior! How awesome!”

Thanks for the fun!

“We have had so much fun talking about our explorations with our Sea Eagle 370 Sport Kayak that my sister-in-law decided to surprise her husband (my brother) with one for Christmas. And they have joined us on a few excursions.”

‘We are so impressed with the kayak itself and Sea Eagle as a company.  Later we needed to replace our pump and even though we had used it for over a year, it was still under that  generous, three year long warranty. Therefore it was replaced at no charge.  You truly go out of your way to make sure your customers are satisfied and happy with all your products. We are!  Thanks for the fun!”

— Linda & Marc Venard, Indiana

Do YOU have Sea Eagle stories and photos to share? Email us today!

Ken and Alison love fishing in Cable Bay, New Zealand, in their Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack. Ken’s landed a Kahawai on a set line. Alison says the Kahawai are great when smoked.

“Love it!!! The main reason we chose our 385 FastTrack was the ability to store it under the bed in our campervan. This works great. We’re impressed with how quickly it inflates with the pump. But equally as good is the comfort and stability. All in all, we are rapt with it and can’t wait to do some overnight trips.”

When we received the above email from New Zelanders, Alison and Ken Polglase, we had to know more. Alison tells the rest of their story.

“We live in Nelson, New Zealand, which is on the coast at the top of the South Island of New Zealand.  We have access to three National Parks within one hour’s drive, so there is plenty of opportunity for sea, lake, or river kayaking. The Marlborough Sounds is also within one or two hours drive from home. We enjoy campervanning, tramping (the New Zealand term for multi-day bush/mountain hikes), biking, and fishing.

“Towing a boat trailer is unpractical.”

We own a Fiat Ducato, 6-meter, 2-berth campervan. We have owned a 13-foot aluminium dinghy with a 25hp motor for a number of years and have towed that behind the van on occasion but it is unpractical for longer trips especially to the North Island as the cost of crossing with your vehicle between the North and South Islands onboard the Cook Strait ferries increases hugely the longer your vehicle is. It is also harder parking in towns when towing a boat on the back.

Ken catches up on some rest and relaxation beside his compact campervan. The inflatable FastTrack is a perfect boat for RV’ing — it rolls up tight and packs in a small bag.

When heading off on holiday, we’d go without our aluminum boat. We’d put our bikes on a rack on the back of the van, tramping packs under the seat, and we’d be off to enjoy the great outdoors. And then we’d park next to a lake or a beach and the water would be beautifully calm and glass-like and we’d wish we’d brought a boat, too. There’d be fish out there waiting to be caught!

Their boat search begins…

So began the process of searching for a way to get on the water.  We deliberated for about two years, looking at different options. We considered a folding boat quite seriously but it was always the same problem of where to store it in, or on, the van when driving.  Rigid kayaks presented the same problem.  With solar panels, skylight hatches, and a satellite dish to work around, there’s not a lot of space left on the roof.  Plus with bikes on the back there’s not much room for a ladder needed to get kayaks up on top.

Ken started researching inflatables generally on the internet and came across the Sea Eagle website. We compared kayaks with dinghys.  We compared Sea Eagle with other brands.  We read reviews. We liked what we saw and Sea Eagle was competitively priced with anything else we could buy in New Zeland even after paying freight and import duty. We debated between the FastTrack and an Explorer. We chose a FastTrack 385. Payment was straight forward and freighting was quick.  It only took five days to get here.

Alison reported on the Polglase’s great day of fishing in their FastTrack. “Elaine Bay is in the Marlborough Sounds. There are 3 blue cod and 4 spotties in this photo. These were all caught on rods. Cod are sought after, but people usually throw spotties back or use them for bait. However they are quite sweet fish and I like them, but they are small and the bones are fine, hence most people throw them back. We like them smoked. We have a quick 20 minute hot smoker about the size of a meat roasting pan, so that gets packed in the campervan under the bed also.”

Slightly squishy is better.

We also deliberated about which seats to order and finally decided the inflatable seats would mean we were sitting a little higher which would be better for fishing. I first thought the inflatable seats looked funny and unsporty, but now I love them.  They are so comfortable.  It’s like sitting in an armchair at home, especially if you don’t overinflate them. Slightly squishy is better.

Inflates in the time it takes to pack afternoon tea

We are impressed with how quickly the whole kayak inflates with the pump.  We drove into a campground on a beach front, opened up the back doors, and pulled out the kayak from the storage space under our bed.  In the time it took me to pack a dry bag with afternoon tea, sunscreen, camera, and got fishing rods out, Ken had the kayak inflated. Our neighbours from England in the next camp site said, “I can see you’ve done that a few times before.” It was only the third time.

“Laughing my head off.”

On about our fifth trip out we had to get through heavy surf off a sandy beach.  A big black cloud came over and the rain pelted down. We decided we were wet anyway so we stayed out fishing.  No luck on that score!  Even though we headed home with no fish and wet, I was happy in that I had gained confidence in how the kayak handled surf.  It felt very stable. Once we got back to shore, we emptied the fishing gear out and Ken headed back out to play and ride the waves, while I stood watching and laughing my head off.  He canned out a few times!

“Go this way! Go that way!” — Grandchild directs

After that trip I felt it was stable enough to take our two little grandchildren (aged 14 months and 2-½ years) on a calm day. We sat one between each of our legs on the floor. The youngest nearly went to sleep, while the elder one   directed us, “Go this way” and then a few minutes later, “Go that way.”

We like to fish but also enjoy just paddling. You get a close up look at beaches, islands and estuaries from a different viewpoint other than the road.

They love traveling light

As it is with tramping and cycle touring, we love the concept of travelling light, being close to nature, and getting to places under your own steam. (Burning off calories, enabling you to eat whatever you want is the bonus!)  Kayaking is just another form of this. We are looking forward to doing some multi day trips. We’re within an hour’s drive of Nelson Lakes National Park with its white water rapids; Kahurangi National Park with Class 5 river rafting; and Abel Tasman National Park with its beautiful sandy beaches.The Marlborough Sounds have plenty of camping spots.  Roll on summer!”

— Alison Polglase, Nelson, New Zealand

Do YOU have a Sea Eagle boating story and photos to share? Email us today!

Vickie Estep goes boating on the Chattahooche River in Georgia in her Sea Eagle 330. She’s a cancer survivor and uses boating as a key piece of her cancer recovery program.

Vickie Estep, of Peachtree, Georgia, emailed us recently with photos and a glowing note about how much she enjoys boating in her Sea Eagle 330 Sport Kayak. Only upon speaking with Vickie did we learn that the relaxation she enjoys through boating in her Sea Eagle is a key part of  her recovery from cancer.

Stress relief is essential

“Relieving stress and having some form of relaxation is very important for any cancer survivor,” Vickie told us. “Relaxation plus exercise, health, fitness, and diet are all very instrumental.” Vickie chose boating and says, “Boating is absolutely helping my recovery from cancer.”

Vickie has run a daycare center for the last 18 years. “Taking care of kids all day long can be very stressful at times. Being able to jump in the car and run to the lake and go paddling for awhile, keeping quiet, looking at and enjoying Nature, is very peaceful and relaxing for me. It’s the way I relieve stress.”

“Of all the boats I’ve owned, this is my favorite.”

She bikes and hikes, too, but boating was a natural choice for Vickie. “Boating is something I’ve always done. My family had a lake house when I was growing up so I was always around the water,” she says. “I love water.” She explained further, “I’ve had power boats, ski boats, and canoes. But this time I wanted something  I could handle on my own. I need to exercise and the Sea Eagle was perfect.”

“The maneuverability of an inflatable is great,” says Vickie. “I need something I can handle on my own and this works. Of all the boats I’ve had, this really is my favorite. That’s why I wrote to you. I very rarely write any company but I’m really impressed with the Sea Eagle.  It’s my favorite because it’s so convenient, so maneuverable, it does what I need it to do, it gets me in and out of the same places my son goes in his hard hull kayak. He was skeptical about my Sea Eagle when I got it but when we took our first trip together he said, ‘Mom, that’s pretty cool.’”

Online research

Like so many shoppers, Vickie went online to research boats. “I was looking at inflatables online. The reviews of Sea Eagle boats are great, the testimonials on your site are great, and I said, ‘OK, that’s what I’m going to go for.’ I got my 330 and it’s so easy to carry, inflate, and maneuver in the water. It’s perfect for me.” She added, “My son has hard hull kayaks and big racks on his car. He has to strap everything down. I just throw my Sea Eagle in the trunk. It’s just great.”

No roof rack or trailering. The deflated 330, plus seats and oars, fits in a single bag. And the bag fits in a compact car trunk with plenty of room to spare.

“I Googled ‘inflatable boats’ and ended up on a site that recommended Sea Eagle. I compared it to other inflatables and it seemed like a good value. Sea Eagles come with everything — oars, seats, pump, repair kit, everything. And everything fits in one bag that can go in my trunk. That’s perfect. Other inflatables don’t include everytingt – you have to buy everything separately. With Sea Eagle, I just had to buy a life jacket.”

“I’m going for the tranquility”

A friend saw Vickie’s 330 and ordered one, too. Now they go boating together on the nearby Chattahooche River. “It’s flat water with just one or two shoals. That’s why I prefer it. I’m going for the tranquility. As a breast cancer survivor, I need to de-stress. The tranquility is what I’m after. On a recent boat trip, we saw only 4 people in 8 miles in the river. I like the tranquility and peace and quiet. You get to see lots of wildlife and it helps me de-stress.”

Vickie’s an enthusiastic Sea Eagle owner, too. “I brag about my Sea Eagle every time it go out and I’ve probably sold 10 or more for you. It never fails. Recently, a couple and their child came up and asked about it. They said they’d seen ads for Sea Eagle but asked if they can trust the ads. I said, ‘Absolutely!’’

Regrets?

We asked Vickie if she had any regrets. “I only wish I’d gotten it a long time ago,” she said. “I’d have gotten one earlier if I’d known about it!”

Do YOU have a Sea Eagle story and photos to share? Email us. Our blog visitors want to know!

Henry Michael roars through Class III rapids in Idaho’s Payette River in his Sea Eagle 370.

“At 67, I did my first whitewater kayaking trip this summer on the Payette River in Idaho. The river was at high water (Class II and III+ rapids). What a BLAST!”

Some folks are simply adventurous. Henry Michael, of Caldwell, Idaho, tells us he spent 10 years in the Coast Guard; drove truck for 16 years, and piloted 100-ton commercial ships in the Gulf of Mexico. He rides an 1100cc motorcycle. He bought his first Sea Eagle inflatable boat 10 years ago. And this summer, at 67 years young, he took his first whitewater kayak trip in his Sea Eagle 370 Sport Kayak.

Henry and his wife, June, bought a Sea Eagle SE9 when they lived in Texas. “We have adult kids and grandkids. We got the SE9 so we could all go out when they came to visit,” says Henry. “It’s a big boat.” Then they bought a smaller Sea Eagle 370 Sport Kayak just for the two of them.

“You’re crazy”

“When we moved to the desert, in the Boise, Idaho area, I saw the local rivers and they just looked fantastic for boating,” said Henry. “I started talking about going whitewater kayaking and my wife said, ‘You’re crazy, you’ve never done that before.’ I said, ‘Well, the 370 is inflatable, it’s got extra chambers, an inflatable seat, and I’ve got a good lifejacket.’ One morning, I just got up and said ‘I’m going to go whitewater kayaking.’”

“There was a river rafting excursion company putting in the Payette River at the same place and same time I did,” says Henry. “I decided I ‘d just follow them because I’d never been in whitewater before and didn’t know how to read the river.”

“I went into a spot called Mike’s Hole, just below Banks, Idaho,” said Henry. “It was Class III rapids, and high water.” A photographer snapped the shot of Henry shown here. “The water rolls over a rock and forces water out of the downriver side and leaves a hole that’s actually lower than the rest of the river. I’ll never forget that day.”

Henry’s ready for a day of adventuring with his Sea Eagle strapped to the back of his motorcycle. Because the Sea Eagle is inflatable, it folds up tight and fits in a small bag for easy packing, easy transport…even on a motorcycle.

Transportation logistics: truck, motorcycle, boat

“When you’re boating down a river,” says Henry, “you have to have someone come and pick you up downstream.” But Henry and June have figured out how to do it all themselves. “We have a pickup truck and a motorcycle with a sidecar. We put the Sea Eagle in the pickup. We drive downriver to the farthest point we’ll boat to — my wife drives the pickup and I drive the motorcycle. I park the motorcycle there and get in the pickup. We drive upriver to the launch point, unload, inflate, and launch the Sea Eagle. Then when we boat down to where the motorcycle is, roll up the Sea Eagle, and strap it to the passenger seat. My wife rides in the sidecar, and we drive back to get the pickup.”

What’s coming up for Henry and June? “I’ll do the Payette River again,” he told us. “And June and I will go boating on the Boise River. The 370 is a sturdy boat. It’ll take anything you throw at it. I highly recommend it.”

Do YOU have a Sea Eagle story and photos to share? Email us today!

There’s no mistaking Mary Mattes’ enjoyment of Estes Lake and her Sea Eagle 330 with the dramatic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.

Doesn’t this sound rather idyllic? Rambling around the great open spaces of the beautiful USA in an RV with one of your kids and a couple of Sea Eagle Sport Kayaks…then meeting up with the rest of the family halfway across the country for a family boating adventure?

That’s just one RV-and-Sea Eagle adventure Iowans, Mike and Ellen Mattes, enjoyed this summer. And there’s more family RV’ing and boating fun to come!

“We spend all of our summer vacation time RV’ing around the United States. We live in Iowa, which usually means a long, cold winter, so when summer rolls around we are ready to get outside and be as active as possible. That’s where our Sea Eagle inflatable boats come in handy.

For the price, why not?

We don’t have room for hard hull kayaks or canoes in our RV, so when we came across the Sea Eagle online, we thought, ‘For the price, why not give them a try?’ And we love them! My wife, Ellen, and I have the SE370 Sport Kayak. And our Daughter, Mary, has her own SE330 Sport Kayak. The boats, paddles, and seats all fit into one storage compartment in our RV.

Mike takes some time out beside their RV. There are two bunk beds where the two windows are behind Mike. Below the bottom bunk is a storage compartment where they store their Sea Eagles.

RV’ing and Sea Eagles are a perfect match. When you’re traveling long distances you need to pack light. Having the convenience of boats that roll up and fit into one compartment is awesome because you never know when you might want to go boating in your travels, and they’re always there ready to go.

So far this year we have had the boats out at Estes Lake in Colorado, Neshonoc Lake in Wisconsin, down the Root River in Minnesota, and in several lakes at various Iowa state parks.

Easy RV camping with lake access

Estes Lake has great scenery, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, and has a marina where we could easily park our RV close to the lake. Neshonoc Lake in West Salem, Wisconsin has its own campground with lake access. We went out on the lake both nights after dinner and watched the sun set from our kayaks.

Mike and Ellen’s two sons met the rest of the Mattes family in Minnesota. They rented canoes locally while the others took to their Sea Eagle Sport Kayaks. Mary’s in her 330; Mike and Ellen are in their 370; oldest son, Corey, is in the canoe while his younger brother snaps the photo.

The Root River in southeast Minnesota was a hoot! We met up with our two grown sons at a campground in Lanesboro, and spent the day navigating the river. Mary really enjoyed going down the Root River, and now she wants to find a river with bigger rapids!

Black Hills next?

Summer is winding down and we’ll be kayaking locally in our Iowa state parks as the season wanes. We don’t yet have our vacation plans set for next year yet, but we’ve been talking about the Black Hills in South Dakota and I’m sure we will put the kayaks to good use! We couldn’t be happier with the ease of use and performance of our Sea Eagles.”

Thanks again, Mike, Ellen and Mary Mattes

Read MORE stories about RV’ers who love their Sea Eagle boats!

RV’s and INFLATABLE Sea Eagle boats are simply made for each other!

MANY of our customers are RV’ers. They’ve chosen Sea Eagle boats because every model rolls up small and packs tight. And any model is ready to go at a moment’s notice, multiplying the pleasure being out on the road in the beautiful USA. Check out some blog posts by some of our RV’ing boaters!

• “We Live in Paradise” — Julie Olson and Larry Allen RV and boat in Florida.

• “RV’ing & Fishing” — Nick & Yvonne are on the road and on the water.

• “Stalking the 30-lb. Salmon” — George Davis has an unusual rig.

• “Great RV Camping” — Timothy and Karen love RV’ing…fishing, too!

• “20 Years Into Retirement” — Alan & Joanne Hodges ramble around.

• “Put Some Adventure in Your Vacation” — RV’ing & boating in Alaska with Mark and Chantal McCanna

Do YOU have a Sea Eagle story and photos to share? Email us today!

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 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. 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!

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!

When smoke from a nearby forest fire became too much to bear, Anna and Scott Corbin headed for the mountains and the cool, clear waters of the Green Mountain Lakes of Wyoming with their Sea Eagle FastTrack.

Dear Sea Eagle,

On June 30th, 2012 we desperately needed to escape breathing the intense smoke from the Fontenelle Forest Fire, so we loaded up our kayak and drove north about 40 miles. In these pictures we are kayaking at the lower Green River Lakes…the headwaters of the Green River near our home in Wyoming. What a view of Square Top Mountain and the Wind River Mountain Range! We are really enjoying our 385 FastTrack here in Wyoming. We now get to visit beautiful remote areas on our local lakes! It’s very stable, maneuvers well, and glides easily through our high-altitude lakes! 

Sincerely, Scott & Anna Corwin

God’s country turns hellish

Scott and Anna Corwin live in one of the most scenic parts of America, in Wyoming, just down the road from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. But when the Fontenelle forest fire roared through 150 acres of nearby woodland, their town was blanketed with heavy, acrid smoke.

When 150 acres of the Fontenelle Forest burned, acrid smoke caused the Corwins to pack up their Sea Eagle kayak and head for clean air and cool waters.

“We had a tough week of breathing forest fire smoke,” Scott told us. “Our eyes were burning, we had sore throats, and we decided to head north to get out of the smoke.” They packed up their Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack and headed for greener pastures — Green River Lakes, a National Forest Recreation Site of the United States Forest Service.

“Kayaking is something we can do together.”

Their escape from the smoke gave the Corwins some fresh air and a chance to enjoy one of their favorite activities, kayaking. “For us, kayaking is something my wife and I can do together,” said Scott. “We like to get away and be together. We work together and like to play together.”

Renting vs. buying

Scott and Anna were introduced to kayaking on a recent trip to Maui. “We took a guided kayak tour on a trip to Hawaii,” said Scott. “We saw whales close up; a humpback whale swam beneath us.” That experience got them interested in doing more kayaking, and as they researched, they decided to buy rather than own. “Renting a kayak costs a lot,” says Scott. “I didn’t want to buy a hard hull kayak because our big plan is to pack our inflatable Sea Eagle kayak in a bag and take it back to Maui.”

But until their next Hawaiian vacation, they’re exploring local lakes including Wyoming’s Freemont and Halfmoon Lakes. “We kayak to get away and relax, to enjoy each other’s company and the scenery. We love it. We can visit and talk about our kids and what they’re doing. We’re what you’d consider recreational kayakers,” Scott told us. “We’re new to kayaking, we’re not super knowledgeable about techniques but we’re really enjoying our Sea Eagle kayak.”

Online research & reviews

Scott says they keep their FastTrack inflated full time for local kayaking trips. When the day comes that they return to Hawaii, they’ll pack it in a suitcase and go ocean kayaking. “Renting a kayak is expensive,” says Scott. That’s Green Mountain Lake and Square Top Mountain in the background.

The Corwins chose the Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack after doing quite a bit of research online. “I like the internet for research,” said Scott. “I read all the reviews on inflatable kayaks and Sea Eagle gets great reviews. And the company has been in business for over 40 years.”

“I liked the FastTrack because the reviews said it responds like a hard hull kayak.” The FastTrack’s skeg at the stern and drop-stitch keel under the bow are like two underwater blades that keep it on a steady course. “It’s fast and it tracks straight,” says Scott. “For us, it’s very stable. My wife loves it and I do, too. It’s steady. You can twist around, kick back, hang out over the sides.

Between their kayaking trips in Wyoming’s pristine mountain lakes, Scott and Anna are busy running their business, Pickaroon Timber Products, Inc., specializing in roundwood fence posts and poles.

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