InnovaKayak - Boats

How to Inflate an Innova Kayak - Quick Video

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:50:00 +0000

Everyone's Travel Club inflates an Innova Helios II inflatable kayak. Actual time to inflate: 7:24...not bad.

Innova's Best Selling Inflatable Kayaks

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 06:55:00 +0000

Safety and Innova Inflatable Kayaks

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:20:00 +0000

From a customer:

We did take the kayaks out on the creek last Sunday with an instructor who seemed very good, very competent, very committed.

There is a lot of discrimination here re inflatables - I am not quite sure why - We were told by the guide the kayaks would be fine for ponds and lakes - and I did remind her they are ocean going vessels - my feeling was they are not considered the true kayakers vessel.

I can understand how because of their lightness - like a feather on the surface - they could get blown VERY easily along and you MUST have both the right conditions and the right place to put in and get out - on the early side of high tide I was told was good to go out and then to come back on the beginning side of the tide - assuming we would not be out for more than an a few hours - which I think is reasonable. I am gathering local lore.

Tim's Reply

Kayakers are independent sorts, but they do tend towards group-think on certain issues, e.g. what constitutes the proper kayak. The sport, more than most I have seen, collects elitists. I have seen some of these guys at on-the-water events. They are recognizable by the $1,500-worth of dry suit and military looking PFD. They stride down the beach with the intensity of Rasputin and bore in on the skinniest kayaks, stepping over anything wider than 18" and scaring small children.

I am open-minded about rigid kayaks and like paddling them. But there are pros and cons to any boat. I think that conventional sea kayaks are fast and sexy looking, but they are a bitch to get back into by yourself, and virtually impossible to reboard in rough conditions. In the accidents I have studied, invariably the paddler is blamed for not having sufficient skill --pilot error if you will. The reality is that less than 1% of the sea kayakers can execute an eskimo roll or even reboard after a wet exit in rough conditions. Does not the basic design of the kayak share some blame?

Your Innova inflatable boats are much safer than rigid kayaks. Even the ultra-stable general-rec rigid kayaks have issues. These particular boats have only a minimum amount of floatation to stay awash if swamped, and they cannot be reboarded and bailed out in the event.

Rolling the Safari

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Customer Question:

Do you know of anyone who rolls the Safari? It would be fun to learn. I saw a Japanese video of a Safari rolling but it was taken from so far away that it was almost impossible to see.

Tim's Answer:

As to rolling the Safari, I am probably not the guy to ask. What I do know is that for lay-back roll techniques, it helps to let some air out of the back rest so you can really lean back.

Double Twist - some photos

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:10:00 +0000

The Double Twist is a 2-person inflatable kayak weighing 19 pounds. It is a beautiful shade of blue and is lots of fun!

Camo Twist - some photos

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:56:00 +0000

The Camo Twist is a 16 pound inflatable kayak made of LightPack material. Reliable, zippy, and fun!

Fishermen Love The Solar Kayak!

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:18:00 +0000

Innova President, Tim Rosenhan, talks about the Innova Solar inflatable kayak.

Would Long Legs Be An Issue When Paddling The Sunny Inflatable Kayak?

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:05:00 +0000

Question:
I am currently researching to determine which Innova kayak model would best suit me and my perceived uses. So far I'm honing in on the Sunny. I am 6'3 1/2 inches tall and weigh 185 lbs. Will my long legs pose any issues that you are aware of?

Answer:
You should have no problem in the Sunny. The Sunny EX has an aft seat that is adjustable fore-and-aft so that the person sitting there can use the lower part of the front seat as a foot rest. I am 6' 2" with a 34" inseam and I paddle the Sunny with the aft seat in the middle adjustment. It can go back at least another 6" to accommodate almost any leg length imaginable.

If you are paddling the Sunny EX solo, the forward seat is turned around to face the other end of the kayak, and what was the aft seat is removed and replaced with a foot rest pad that is then adjustable fore-and-aft. The tracking is then moved to the opposite end, and you as a solo paddler are positioned in the middle of the kayak and thus balanced in a cross wind.

Tim Rosenhan Talks About the Helios II Inflatable Kayak

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:26:00 +0000

Tim Rosenhan, Innova's President, explains a lot about the Helios II inflatable kayak in this video.

Solar Inflatable Kayak - Going Fishing?

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Going Fishing? Tackle Tour published an independent review of the Solar inflatable kayak. It analyzes the use of this kayak for angling. It's a good read: http://www.tackletour.com/reviewinnovakayaksolar.html.

Following are from our collection of angler kayaking photos.

Innova Recycling Program

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:23:00 +0000

Innova kayaks and canoes are made of rubber. Unlike PVC boats, rubber inflatable kayaks and canoes can be easily recycled.

On Earth Day 2010, Innova proudly rolled out the first inflatable kayak and canoe recycling program in the industry!

If you’ve taken your Innova inflatable boat well beyond its 20-year life cycle, and are now wondering what to do with it, send it back to Innova Kayak. As part of our new recycling program, it will be turned into rubber mulch.

Click here for a video of Innova's Tim Rosenhan talking about how Innova inflatable kayaks and canoes are made.

Click here for a photo essay showing how Innova inflatable kayaks and canoes are made in the factory.

Helios Inflatable Kayak - Older Model

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:26:00 +0000

There were quite a few early Helios inflatable kayaks brought into the US prior to 1990s. We would love to find them.

If you think you or someone you know have one of the older Helios boats made in our factory, send us a picture, a story of how you obtained it, and the estimated date of manufacturing (please send us the report if you use carbon dating).

How Innova Inflatable Kayaks Are Made

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:30:00 +0000

Here are a few photos depicting how Innova Inflatable Kayaks are made:

How are Innova inflatable kayaks and canoes made? Why are these inflatable kayaks and canoes resilient?

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:53:00 +0000

What is the Difference between Innova Sunny and Innova Helios II inflatable kayaks?

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:16:00 +0000

The Sunny and the Helios II inflatable kayaks are about the same length width and weight. Which one is best for you depends on how much of the time you would be paddling solo versus with a partner. Either kayak can be paddled solo or double, but the Sunny is a somewhat better solo kayak and the Helios II is a somewhat better double kayak.

Here's why. The Sunny seats tie-in and the boat can be setup with a single paddler in the middle of the boat, with the other seat replaced by an adjustable footrest. Being in the middle of the kayak means that the boat is balanced in a crosswind, and neither end will weathercock away from the wind. The Helios II can also be paddled solo from the fixed aft seating, and to counteract the weathercocking of the kayak the optional rudder can be used -- by taking a cut into the crosswind. But we would give the edge to the Sunny for solo paddling.

For double paddling the Helios II is a little better than the Sunny because the paddler in front will stay drier paddling into a chop. They sit a little further aft in the Helios II than in the Sunny, and the Helios has more foredeck protection. The Helios II's optional rudder also gives very positive foot control of steering when paddling double, whereas the Sunny requires paddle steering.

So if you are going to be paddling primarily solo, but occasionally double, go with the Innova Sunny. Conversely, if you are buying your inflatable kayak for double paddling, the Innova Helios II is hard to beat. The Helios II has been picked for the Readers' Choice Award from Sea Kayaker magazine for the "Best Inflatable Kayak" both times the 3-year award has been given -- for a term of 6 years.

Innova Inflatable Kayaks and Canoes

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:40:00 +0000

Innova Sunny as a Double in Difficult Weather - they made it!

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:36:00 +0000

The main difference between the Innova Sunny inflatable kayak and the Innova Helios 2 inflatable kayak is as follows:

* If you paddle mostly with a partner, get the Helios 2
* If you paddle mostly solo, get the Sunny

When paddling the Helios 2, solo, you can pack the fore area with gear.

When paddling the Sunny with two, you may take on water on gusty days. Below are some photos of a gusty day in November -- two men in a Sunny.

Your Innova Boat Makes a Great Dinghy / Yacht Tender

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:25:00 +0000

From a customer:
Just Enuf is our second catamaran that we have used with our Helios over the last ten years or so. This photo is during an August 2009 trip to the Broughton Islands. We use the Innova Helios as a dinghy if we are anchored out. And for fun when the catamaran is beached. After ten years it has just a few minor bottom scratches - it's a great kayak. It lives on-board, below the berth flat, sometimes sharing the space with a folding bicycle or two. Now we are planning to sell our Helios and purchase an Innova Sunny.

Other customers talking about using Innova boats as dinghies:

Sally Jewell, Chief Operating Officer, REI

SanBlas Islands & Fiji: Helios 380 aboard the Kastaway

2007 Attempt at Circumnavigating Kauai in an Innova Sunny Kayak

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:17:00 +0000

4 to 7 June 2007

7 to 11 June 2007

Innova kayaks and canoes resist punctures and abrasion.

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:03:00 +0000

Abrasion resistance is related to the coating on the underside of the boat. Innova kayaks have a rubber-coated surface on the bottom. Rubber tends to bounce back under stress. Most inflatable boats are coated with PVC and/or vinyl which tends to cut under stress.

Innova kayaks are made of 1200 denier polyester which is a relatively heavy weight yarn that is low-stretch. This results in a stiffer boat.

A quote from Dirk Macfarlane, Lt. Commander, Navy SEAL

"I am very satisfied with your kayak. It is VERY durable, versatile, compact and easy to set up. I have thrown it, dragged it and paddled over jagged rocks with it and it just won’t pop! The bottom is scratched up but there is no sign of serious wear. Believe me, I beat the crap out of your kayak and it laughs at me. I am a dedicated fan."

Faster Drying

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:49:00 +0000

You might like the notion of inflatable kayaks because they are easy to store, simple to travel with, and fast to setup. But when you are done paddling, it's also really great to have a boat that's quick to put away.

Innova kayaks are the fastest on the market to break down, dry off, and pack up. Our boats have large diameter valves that deflate the kayak in seconds when opened, and the kayaks fold up rapidly into their backpacks. More importantly, our Nitrylon rubber-coated boats can be simply wiped off with a towel to completely dry them in a couple of minutes. And you don't have to unpack Innova boats when you get home to finish drying them.

This is not true of some competing inflatable kayaks which can take hours to dry. Why? A common competing inflatable construction uses internal bladders with a zip-on cover for their air chambers. These "bladder boats" get water between the cover and the bladder that can take hours or days to fully dry. This can be a big deal if you have used your kayak in salt water and want to avoid smells and biological science projects growing under your kayak's skin.

Contact Us

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:04:00 +0000

If you have a question that is not answered in this section, we want to know. Please send us an email, fill out our contact form, or call us.

Send an Inquiry
Email us:
Call us 360.707.2855
We're here to answer your questions Monday through Friday, 9-5 PT. And we might also pick up the phone on weekends during our busy season.
Our address:
Innova Inflatable Kayaks
11781 A Watertank Road
Burlington, WA 98233

Performance

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:26:00 +0000

...in a 25-knot headwind, the Innova was faster (by ½ a knot) than the rigid sea kayaks in the race...

In the 1997 San Juan Challenge an Innova Helios (as the only inflatable entry) was one of only 17 kayaks out of a field of 41 to finish this 40-mile race. With winds of 25-29 knots, gusting to 45 knots, nine rigid sea kayaks capsized and needed to be pulled from the water by chase boats when they could not self-rescue in the rough conditions.

The Innova Helios II won its section, averaging 3 knots. In a 25-knot headwind, it was faster (by ½ a knot) than the rigid sea kayaks in the race. In calm water, it was slower (by ½ a knot) than those same boats.

Some inflatables, like the Innova Safari, are unique in their ability to handle a wide variety of water conditions. Use your Safari in whitewater, surf, and when touring.

Solar Purchasing Questions

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:34:00 +0000

I read some (very good!) reviews about the Solar. It is recommended that I buy a seat so a not to be sitting on the bottom and getting wet. I wonder if a seat also makes it easier to get in and out of the kayak?

I always recommend that people try the kayak before modifying a seating position. Everyone is different, and the original configuration may fit you best. You can install an after market seat in most of our boats, and some folks have put in seats made by Crazy Creek.

The Solar actually has pretty good back support as is, and you can adjust the amount of firmness by adjusting the air pressure. (As a side note, the factory that makes these kayaks also makes the air bladders for Select Comfort mattresses.) You might also try just a boat cushion under you if you have a short torso height. This sometimes helps a paddler's ergonomics.

I don't find that the Solar is a particular wet boat to paddle. That said, most of our kayaks have open cockpits, like sit-on-top kayaks, and you can get some paddle drips blown off onto your legs and bottom. That's not a big deal in warm water, but in colder conditions the way to stay dry and warm is to wear paddling dry pants. Take a look at the ones we sell from Kokatat. They are made of GoreTex PacLite material and are very breathable, completely waterproof, and pack to nothing.

It was also recommended that I buy a rudder. Tell me about that, please.

The Solar comes with a tracking fin (skeg). It's a little like the fin on the back of a surfboard and helps the kayak stay on a straight course when paddled. We do not have a steerable rudder for the Solar, but it is really not needed because the kayak is easy to steer with the paddle.

I have a nice double ended wooden paddle that I used in my kayak and also my single canoe. Will that work?

Your existing wooden paddle may well work for you. I would try it first. We generally recommend a 230-cm length for the Solar.

I have a foot pump that is VERY basic and will pump up a double air mattress in about 15 minutes. Would that work or would it take forever to inflate? What else do you have?

Your foot pump might work. Most of these are generic. The foot pump we sell, the Bravo I, is also pretty basic, but it would only take about 6 minutes to inflate the Solar with the Bravo I.

Boarding a Kayak

noreply@blogger.com (M*) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:17:00 +0000

I can't get in and out of a conventional kayak due to back and hip surgeries. Is the solar easier than a regular kayak to get in and out of?

Most of our models are much easier to get in and out of than rigid kayaks. From a beach launch I suggest two methods of boarding the kayak. The first is to simply straddle the boat when it is in the water and sit down. Innova kayaks are generally narrow enough so this technique is pretty easy to do. The second method is to walk the kayak out to where the water is at your thighs, and with your back to the kayak and with your legs up against the boat, sit down in the kayak and then swing both legs around into the boat. Of course, you would have to figure what works best for you, but we have always found an easy way for folks to get into the kayaks, and get style points for grace as well!

The Solar is a nice, stable platform to work with.