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Austin Canoe Kayak Closes Doors and Camping World Scoops Up Remains

By
Jeff Moag
-
Austin Kayak is now officially part of The House. Photo: Istockphoto.com

Austin Canoe and Kayak, the Texas retailer that grew into a regional powerhouse and stretched its e-commerce tentacles from coast to coast, is no more. ACK’s five retail stores were shuttered New Year’s Eve, together with four Summit Sports locations in Michigan. ACK and the snow sports chain merged in 2016 with private equity financing from Digital Fuel Capital.

Though the closure came with no notice to customers or rank-and-file workers, former employees told Paddling Business the writing had been on the wall for months. As paddlesports retailers across North America scrambled for inventory to meet unprecedented customer demand, ACK didn’t put in fall orders even though ACK and Summit Sports’ parent company had obtained an $8.2 million credit facility at the end of September.

“There was massive demand and no supply,” said former ACK General Manager Juan Carlos Andreu. “By the end of it we had no Hobies, no Wilderness Systems, no Johnsons. The warehouse was empty.”

[ Discover the year’s best kayaks in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ] 

The hammer finally dropped on December 31. ACK’s stores in Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio and two Houston locations were shuttered without notice. Non-retail employees were given a modest severance, while retail staffers who agreed to stick around to clear out the stores received retention bonuses. That work was completed last week.

Just like that, one of paddling’s enduring retail success stories was a pile of ashes.

Camping World subsidiary The House scooped up the remains. The outdoor e-commerce business acquired the leftover inventory of both Summit Sports and ACK, as well as domains, trademarks, lists and other intellectual property. The ACK website now redirects to a page on TheHouse.com offering 65 paddling-related items and a pitch for ACK’s customers: “Austin Kayak may have closed it’s [sic] doors … but The House is here to pick up where they left off as your online dealer for outdoor gear!”

ACK and Summit Sports assets were liquidated in an assignment for the benefit of creditors, a legal device used as an alternative to formal bankruptcy. “It doesn’t go in front of a judge,” Andreu said. “You basically sell everything and all the vendors just have to get in line and try to figure it out if there’s anything left.”

What remains of ACK’s inventory is on its way to a warehouse in Bakersfield, California. The House plans to sell it, either in a liquidation auction or through its online portal, according to sources outside the company. Emails and calls to Camping World seeking comment were not returned. No press releases were issued. The only announcement from ACK was a Facebook Post on New Year’s Eve, and the website redirect.

[ Also Read: A Sea Kayaker’s Guide To Paddling Through An Unprecedented Pandemic ]

The sudden closure left ACK customers wondering what would become of pending orders, and whether the new owners would refund the gift cards ACK sold right up to the end. The House’s response: don’t hold your breath.

“I was able to get an answer about when we’ll be able to fulfill the ACK inventory, sounds like it will take a few months to get things transferred to our new warehouse in California and we are hoping to be able to offer those items around April,” a rep from The House told long-time ACK customer Anthony Joseph in an online chat. When Joseph pressed about a refund for the $200 ACK gift card he received over the holidays, the response was equally Kafkaesque. “Not sure at this point, just hold on to it for the time being and if we need to we can always exchange it for credit at The House.”

That’s cold comfort for customers like Joseph, an avid kayak angler who bought three kayaks from ACK in five years. The House website that replaced ACK’s sprawling online store lists just 11 kayak models, mostly low-end inflatables and hardshells from Erewhon, the house brand Camping World bought out of bankruptcy five years ago.

“What happened with ACK?” customer Cesar Miranda commented on ACK’s Facebook page. “I was going to buy some stuff and it looked like I was on Alibaba.”

The message greeting ACK customers.

Brothers Steve and Peter Messana founded Austin Canoe and Kayak in 2005. Starting from a single store in an Austin industrial park, the brothers spent the next decade building ACK into a retail and online powerhouse, with five stores in central Texas and a nationwide e-commerce site that became the envy of the paddlesports industry.

In January 2016, ACK merged with Summit Sports, a regional retail ski chain with four stores in Michigan and a portfolio of e-commerce sites, including Skis.com, InlineSkates.com and Snowboards.com. Steve Messana says he and his brother thought they could apply ACK’s winning formula to a complementary outdoor business. Instead, the opposite happened.

ACK’s online business had flourished after the Messana brothers began offering free or low-cost shipping on kayaks nationwide. The formula only worked with a combination of low overhead, volume orders from manufacturers and sweetheart shipping deals—and it came about by accident, Steve Messana said.

When ACK launched its website in December 2005, Messana viewed it as a replacement for print catalogs, which were quickly going the way of the dinosaur. “We put everything online, and when we got to the boats we said, ‘What happens if somebody wants to ship it?’ And we were like, ‘Nobody’s going to want us to ship it, but let’s just throw a $75 shipping fee on there.’ We literally made that number up.”

The first online kayak order came days later, and ACK spent several hundred dollars to ship the boat. As the number of online boat orders quickly ramped up, the brothers were barely breaking even. “Kayaks are not a square,” Messana said. “They don’t weigh much but they take up space and most shippers apply their normal charges, making them super expensive to ship.” The breakthrough came when the brothers convinced Estes Express Lines to look at it differently.

“Estes looked at kayaks as something that could go on top of all the other freight in their trucks, so to them it was free money,” Messana said. “We developed a really good relationship with them and got our shipping cost way, way down—lower than anybody I’ve ever talked to was able to ship a boat for.”

For years ACK offered free shipping on kayaks, eating about $150 to $170 in shipping costs with every sale. That left a modest margin if they were careful. They kept inbound shipping costs low by ordering in volume, and paid up front to get the best pricing. By 2015 ACK had five thriving retail stores, and an online business accounting for 42 percent of sales. (By 2021, ACK’s shipping costs had increased and the company was charging $199 shipping for kayaks.)

ACK seemingly had cracked the code, combining brick-and-mortar specialty knowledge with the reach and efficiencies of e-commerce. When private equity came courting in 2015, Steve and Peter Messana thought they could repeat the ACK formula in the ski business. ACK and Summit Sports merged in January 2016 as Outdoor Adventure Brands with private equity financing from Digital Fuel Capital.

The brothers stayed on for about two years in the combined enterprise, Steve as VP of merchandising and Peter as CEO, but integrating the two businesses turned out to be a heavy lift. Rather than replicating the ACK success in a new market, the Summit Sports partnership became a drag on ACK, former employees say.

Most of the buying responsibilities fell to people who had come up in the Summit side of the business. In the beginning ACK was in the habit of pre-paying to reduce overall costs and frequently updating or changing orders to meet customer demand. Summit was built on a pay-as-you-go model, with much less flexibility. “If you run out of red kayaks, it is what it is,” Andreu said. “You sell them blue kayaks.”

Parent company Outdoor Adventure Brands churned through three CEOs in four years and many senior managers lacked experience in the trenches of outdoor retail, former employees said. “They didn’t really understand the business but they were the ones making a lot of the decisions,” Andreu said. “We would want to go one way because we were running the business and knew what worked. And these guys would look at a spreadsheet and make a decision that went the other way.”

By the fall of 2021, ACK had stopped ordering new inventory. The company, whose pay-in-advance policies used to rack up magazine “best retailer” awards voted by manufacturers, had by 2021 earned a reputation for late payment. Some vendors flatly refused to ship boats to ACK until the accounts were brought up to date.

Apparently that didn’t pencil in the spreadsheets. On September 29, Outdoor Adventure Brands received an $8.2 million credit facility from Tiger Finance, a creditor focused on “transactions that include an e-commerce platform or consumer brand as a collateral component,” according to an October news release.

“As OAB gears up for a busy 2022, this $8.2 million credit facility better positions its brands to capitalize on the expanding sporting goods market,” Tiger Finance Managing Director Andrew Babcock said in the release. “We are thrilled to partner with OAB on its go-forward strategy.”

[ Also read: The Paddlesports Industry Just Experienced Unprecedented Growth. Now What? ] 

But OAB never made it to 2022. ACK’s five stores closed their doors on New Year’s Eve, as did Summit Sports four Michigan locations. When the news broke on social media and Texas kayak angling forums, discussion quickly turned to who, if anyone, would step up to fill ACK’s role. Of the three major markets the retailer served – Austin, San Antonio and Houston – only Houston now boasts a full-service kayak retailer.

“There’s a huge void in Texas,” Steve Messana said. “If somebody came in like Peter and I did 16 years ago, it could happen all over again. The opportunity for dealers is still strong but it’s got to be a hands-on business.

How To Solo & Tandem Back Ferry A Canoe

By
Paul Mason, Beth Kennedy
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Two people in a red canoe heading through swiftwater
Learn the back ferry and master whitewater canoe tripping. | Feature photo: Destination Ontario

The back ferry is a great tool for navigating whitewater in a canoe. Unlike the front ferry where paddlers (or a solo paddler) face upstream and paddle forward, the back ferry has paddlers facing downstream and backpaddling.

Doing so can help you steer around obstacles, slow down so you have more time to pick a route through the rapids, move across the river without moving forward, navigate around bends in the river and more. Read on to learn the mechanics and techniques for back ferrying in tandem and solo canoes.

[ Paddling Trip Guide: View all canoeing skills and instruction clinics ]

How to tandem back ferry a canoe

For long whitewater canoe trips, few maneuvers are as handy and versatile as the back ferry. The ability to slow down and move your canoe in a direction other than where the current is pushing you buys you the time and space required to maneuver a heavily loaded tandem canoe that is about as nimble as a freight train.

Two people in a red canoe heading through swiftwater
Learn the back ferry and master whitewater canoe tripping. | Feature photo: Destination Ontario

Keep in mind that on high-gradient rivers, back ferrying may be out of the question because there are likely to be fewer standing waves to assist your ferry and your backpaddling will be no match for the strong current. This maneuver works best on moderate gradient and in moving from fast water to slow water, such as back ferrying to the inside of a corner or into an eddy.

Illustration of river with four canoes
Illustration: Paul Mason

1 Shift your position, if necessary

Before you try to back ferry, make sure the stern of the canoe is not sitting lower than the bow. The stern paddlers can shift forward to the stern thwart is necessary. To start a back ferry, both paddlers need to slow the canoe’s downstream momentum so that it equals the speed of the current.

2 Set the angle

Both bow and stern paddlers use pivot strokes (draws or pries) to set the angle of the canoe so that the stern is pointed in the direction you want to go.

3 Backpaddle

Backpaddle to develop upstream momentum. Before heated discussion or cooling swims occur, note that steering is always easier from the trailing end of the canoe, which is now the bow, but the bow paddler’s visibility of the canoe is limited. Communication between partners is essential.

[ See also: Try This Effortless River Running Trick For Tandem Canoes ]

4a Steering from the bow

While back ferrying, the bow paddler controls the angle with four correction strokes, two major and two minor.

The major correction strokes control angle only and do not generate momentum. The minor correction strokes generate backward momentum with a little correction.

Major correction strokes

Static back-draw: Angle the paddle so the blade is near the bow and push out with your grip hand.

Static cross-draw: Place your paddle in the water as it would be at the end of a cross- draw stroke, blade near the bow, grip hand extended out over the water.

Minor correction strokes

Back-sweep: Arc your paddle toward the bow, pushing with the non-power face.

Reverse J-stroke: A powerful backpaddle stroke with a J at the end.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all canoe paddles ]

4b Steering from the stern

During a back ferry, the stern paddler can help to open the angle only, by drawing or prying his end downstream with the current. To close the angle, he would have to pull his end upstream against the current…not going to happen.

Downstream tilt is only necessary when waves cause you to back surf as you cross the river. With practice, these small, assistive back surfs will become your objective during back ferries.

 

How to solo back ferry a canoe

Even the best solo open boaters face unexpected situations. The ability to maintain control with a few well-placed back strokes is an invaluable skill. Back ferries are a great way to keep an eye on downstream action.

Despite the fact that today’s solo boats are so short you can turn them around in a heartbeat, renowned OC slalom paddler Andy Walker insists that the back ferry is not dead. He suggests using the solo back ferry as “a save-your-ass tool when your boat is loaded with water after you flip and roll up.”

When practicing solo back ferrying, keep it simple. Start in an area that has wide, easy swifts or Class I current. With your boat facing downstream, begin by using any stroke to point your stern in the direction that you want to ferry and then start backpaddling. It’s that easy.

Maintaining a solid, wobble-free boat is most important. It’s okay if your angle into the current is more extreme than you’re used to during a front ferry. The back strokes taught here are strong, and with practice, you’ll find that you can control your angle well and even jet-back ferry.

Woman in yellow open boat
Beep beep beep, I’m backin’ up here. | Photo: Paul Harding

Essential back ferry strokes

Onside back sweep

Extend your blade well away from the boat and back sweep from your hip to the bow of your canoe. This stroke is easy to learn and very powerful. Extend your reach and use your core muscles for maximum power.

Cross-scoop

Much like a cross draw but with a lower paddle angle. Scoop water up under the bow for an offside correction. When combined with the onside back sweep, you can control the boat’s direction and keep reverse momentum all at once.

[ Read more: Skills—Paddling Backwards ]

Reverse J-stroke

This onside stroke begins with a vertical back stroke. Then rotate the paddle as you move the blade toward the bow and lever off the gunwale with the non-power face of the blade. Your grip thumb should end up pointing at your shoulder.

Other back ferry notes

Be mindful of the importance of reverse momentum. It’s amazing how often people resort to what’s familiar by trying to use their forward or lateral strokes to correct the boat. Ask yourself: Are my strokes helping to propel the boat backward?

Once you’re confident crossing the current in reverse, Walker recommends you try leaving an eddy backward to surf a small wave. “Once you can leave, surf and re-enter an eddy backwards,” he says, “your survival back ferry will be ready for you when you really need it.”

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article originally appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Learn the back ferry and master whitewater canoe tripping. | Feature photo: Destination Ontario

 

How (And Why) This Girl Grew A Canoe From Mushrooms

By
Louise Stanway
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Katy Ayers paddles a mushroom canoe around a lake
All smiles: Katy Ayers takes her "Myconoe" out for a spin on the lake. Photo: Megan Ayers.

Student Katy Ayers first showcased her now-viral mushroom canoe at the Nebraska State Fair in 2019. She was meticulous in its unveiling; she waited until the show was over before launching it on the lake, on the off-chance it failed.

The Columbus University graduate couldn’t have known at the time just how much of an abounding success it would become. Despite what you might think, the aptly named “Myconoe” (a mashup of “canoe” and “myco”— a greek root for fungus) wasn’t simply a gimmick with intentions of garnering internet popularity.

Mushroom canoe launches on the water
Ayers was all smiles as she launched her canoe for the first time. | Photo: Megan Ayers

Ayers created her Myconoe to demonstrate the boundless possibilities of a unique organism often thought of as a simple dinner ingredient. “Mushrooms are here to help us—they’re a gift,” Ayers told NBC. “There’s so much we can do with them beyond just food; it’s so limitless. They’re our biggest ally for helping the environment.”

We caught up with Ayers to take a closer look at the vessel’s durability and dig a little deeper into the “watertight” claim.

The girl with the mushroom canoe

PM: What inspired you to undertake this project?

MA: I was inspired by an English assignment to come up with a problem, then write a persuasive synthesis illustrating how I would solve the problem. It was while I was researching for this project that I came across the documentary Super Fungi by Anne Rizzo. Since then, I think about fungi daily.

PM: How long did it take for the mycelium to grow to a satisfactory size and shape?

MA: Because we cultured and expanded the mycelium before we used it, the fungus only took one week to grow to shape after it was added to the mold. It grew through my paper mache molds and the hammock it was resting in during that week.

Divers Discover A 1,200-Year-Old Canoe (Video)

PM: We’re no fungi experts, but we assume mushrooms don’t naturally grow into canoes. What was your method of shaping it?

MA: After looking into the amazing people who started fashioning things like packaging and furniture, I realized I needed to make a mold to get the fungus to grow into boat shape. I asked around at different businesses, quickly realizing that I needed to think more economically. That’s when I decided to paper mache the molds.

Katy Ayers paddles a mushroom canoe around a lake
Ayers will graduate in 2024 with a degree in Bioengineering and Biochemistry. “I want to be able to better understand the unique chemistry of fungi so that I can help engineer the future,” she said. | Feature photo: Megan Ayers

PM: Can you eat it–or even, have you tried eating it?

This Engineering Student Built His Kayak From Scratch—Here’s How (Video)

MA: The fungus of choice is a commonly used medicinal mushroom, often referred to as Reishi or Lingzhi in Asia. Because it is such a hard bracket fungus, I prefer to consume it as a tea or tincture.

PM: So, what was it like to paddle?

MA: It is far more stable than I ever expected! The first time I took it out, I fully expected to flip. But it was perfect…except it could have used a backrest.

Katy Ayers holds the mushroom canoe steady as she sits in in for the first time.
“The Myconoe was my first passion project, and the passion has yet to cease,” said Ayers. | Photo: Megan Ayers

PM: It’s been described as “watertight.” Water didn’t seep through at all?

MA: No water will ever seep through, but the fungus does not want to drown, so it only allows as much water as it needs to pass through its “skin.” Once the fungus absorbs the water, it is busy using it to grow even more. For example, after an hour in the water, the boat went from 102 lbs 2 oz to 102 lbs 4 oz. After a five-hour float, we found the weight gain was less than 4 oz total.

[ View all Canoes in the Paddling Buyers Guide ]

PM: Can we expect any future mushroom builds from you?

MA: I have three notebooks full of different ideas for mushroom builds! I envision myself using fungi to help create a more sustainable future. Currently, I am focused on solitary bee and wasp conservation using fungal habitat.

Cover of Paddling Magazine Issue 67This article was first published in the Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

Ayers will graduate in 2024 with a degree in Bioengineering and Biochemistry. “I want to be able to better understand the unique chemistry of fungi so that I can help engineer the future,” she said. | Feature photo: Megan Ayers 

Touring Kayak Review: Stellar S14 G2

By
Tim Shuff
-
Man paddling red and white touring kayak
Photo: Colin Field

With roots building Olympic rowing shells, Stellar specializes in fast surfskis, performance sit-on-tops and speedy touring and fitness kayaks. This pedigree is evident in their new offering to the premium recreational segment, the redesigned S14 G2. This design is characterized by Stellar’s new Canadian dealer, Frank Scali, as a kayak for the Boomer market, or a second kayak purchase for experienced paddlers looking to invest in something sleeker and lighter-to-lift than a plastic recreational boat to float their active lifestyle.

The S14 was one of Stellar’s flagship models when it launched in 2009 and it has always been the bestseller. After later creating an LV (low-volume) version of the 14-footer for smaller paddlers, Stellar designer David Thomas noticed an opportunity to upscale the G2 to offer a roomier cockpit and more carrying capacity and greater primary stability. All in a multi-purpose boat squeezing as much performance as possible out of its compact size.

“The S14 is a transitional boat,” says Thomas. “A short boat that has the hull speed of an average 16-footer. It’s both recreational and touring, and you can use it as a fitness boat. It’s lightweight at 36 pounds, stiff and easy to handle on and off the water. The most challenging part of paddling can be getting to the water and off, and if you’re having trouble doing that, you’re not going to use your kayak.” The lightweight S14 G2 makes this as easy as possible for a kayak of this size.

If this sounds like the kayak you’ve been looking for, keep reading this Stellar S14 G2 review to learn more about this kayak’s performance, design and outfitting.

Kayak Reviews

On the water with Stellar’s S14 G2

Stellar S14 G2 Specs
Length: 14’ / 4.4 m
Width: 24.4” / 62.1 cm
Depth: 13.6” / 34.5 cm
Cockpit:
33.7″ × 17.3″ / 85.5 × 44 cm
Weight: 36 lbs / 16.3 kg
(Advantage)
Capacity: 342 lbs / 155 kg
Bow hatch: 15.1 gal / 57 L
Stern hatch: 33 gal / 125 L
MSRP: $3,195 USD (Advantage)

 Performance

The Stellar S14’s distinctive geometric lines hint at its affinity for speed and performance. The triangular bow and stern, which look to be drafted with a straight ruler, are reminiscent of the angular dimensions of the red needle of a compass, pointing to this kayak’s craving to go, more than the sensuous lines of Greenland- or British-style sea kayaks.

The shape’s suggestions of modern efficiency, directness and speed follow through in its performance. With a long, straight waterline and minimal rocker, the S14’s aerodynamic hull cruises at a comfortable four or five knots in a straight line with some steady paddle input. Take your hands off the throttle and you’ll skid into a turn. It’s hard to build a 14er that’s not highly maneuverable. But the Maverick flat spin can be remedied by dropping the skeg, with which the S14 comes standard—or using a rudder, which is easily added before or after purchase. The hull comes pre-fitted with rudder cable guides and steering toe pedals.

It’s easy to precisely dial the amount of skeg you need to counteract the S14’s natural tendency to turn in different conditions. Paddling upwind is easy with no skeg. A 10-knot crosswind yields balanced performance too, weathercocking only the slightest amount which can be counteracted with a slight upwind tilt. The full skeg comes in handy in stronger winds or for downwind runs with waves catching the stern.

Man paddling red and white touring kayak with factory in background
Photo: Colin Field

About the S14 G2

Design characteristics

The Stellar S14 G2 design is a bit wider and flatter than generation one for more primary stability. Secondary stability makes it easy to tilt the S14’s soft chines on edge just the few degrees required to initiate a gentle turn in the opposite direction, which works remarkably well even with the skeg down and further negates the need for a rudder. What the S14 lacks in curves it recovers in sensible storage capacity, especially in the voluminous 33-gallon rear hatch.

Stellar’s bow and stern hatch covers of firm, dual density material snap on and off so easily that I was surprised they didn’t leak after a long paddle with heavy waves washing over the deck—a refreshing improvement on certain British-designed rubber hatches that require a rock climber’s finger strength to pry off. A third, small screw hatch above the cockpit allows handy storage for compact items like a smartphone and sunglasses (although a vent hole in the base of this compartment means it may not be completely waterproof if you swamp the cockpit).

Hatches

Capacious hatches enclose ample dry storage for overnight touring. Completely dry in waves, Stellar’s hatch covers snap on and off with impressive ease.

Hull

Stellar’s high-performance racing roots shine through in lines that maximize efficiency—a long, smooth waterline for minimal drag and maximal glide.

Deck

A deck awash in features: a locking bar, a paddle-park recess behind the seat, chamfered deck for a high-angle stroke, and all the fittings to easily add a rudder.

Outfitting and comfort

Unloaded, the Stellar S14 G2 bobs cork-like atop the water, the volume making for a fairly dry ride in chop despite the sharp lines, flat rocker and the knife-like bow. The high deck results in a very spacious cockpit for paddlers up to six feet, six inches tall. A small paddler or one looking for a performance fit should look to the Stellar S14LV. The S14 G2 does still have fairly snug-fitting hips and allows a range of knee positions to lock-in for some aggressive paddling or even a roll.

Man paddling red and white touring kayak
Photo: Colin Field

The front deck has Stellar’s trademark cutouts at the knee on either side so that you can do a higher-angle stroke without banging the hull. Thomas says he paddles his S14 for fitness with a wing paddle. When you dig deep, an unloaded S14 jumps forward because of the light weight of its composite construction and has a sustained glide. Thomas is right that the Stellar S14 G2 is a capable fitness kayak, certainly as fast as just about any 14-footer on the water.

Complementing performance paddling dynamics is the fit and finish that you’d expect from a premium composite touring kayak: deck lines and bungees for safety and securing gear, comfortable bow and stern carrying handles, a locking bar, a comfortably padded, adjustable back band, a water bottle holder in cockpit, and a molded paddle rest behind the seat for entry and exit. The S14 comes in four different materials, with carbon fiber at the top end, but the most popular is the base model we tested—a fiberglass/foam core layup called Advantage.

There might be a few sleeker, lower-volume performance offerings in the short kayak segment more designed for surf and general ocean playboating, but the Stellar S14 G2 is an eminently sensible kayak that maximizes speed and storage capacity in a compact 14-foot package with premium materials and a “stellar” ocean racing pedigree. This versatile combo of speed, light weight, high quality and tour-ability is hard to rival in the 14-foot class.

Related articles

Stellar kayak reviews

Day touring kayak reviews

SEE ALL KAYAK REVIEWS

Cover of Paddling Magazine Issue 67This article was first published in the Summer 2022 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

 

Inflatable Kayak Review: Sevylor Colorado

By
Paddling Magazine Staff
-
man paddles a Sevylor inflatable kayak
Feature photo: Florencia Galan/Unsplash

The Sevylor Colorado kayak is an inflatable 10.5-foot watercraft that can be paddled with either kayak or canoe paddles, solo or tandem. Sevylor was founded in France in 1948 and emerged as a pioneer in the construction of PVC inflatable watercraft (the company joined forces with American outdoor giant Coleman in the early 2000s).

With its excellent stability, the Sevylor Coleman Colorado is a good choice for anglers, and its inflatable construction combined with outstanding maneuverability makes it suitable for light whitewater paddling.

Consider the Sevylor Colorado inflatable kayak if you’re short on storage space and you’re looking for an economical, lightweight and versatile boat that will fit in a closet.

Kayak Reviews

On the water with Sevylor’s Colorado

Sevylor Colorado Specs
Length: 10’6” / 3.31 m
Width: 39” / 88 cm
Weight: 32 bs / 14.7 kg
Capacity: 440 lbs / 200 kg
MSRP: $519 USD

Performance

Stability and capacity are the greatest design attributes of the Sevylor Colorado. This recreational boat feels rock solid and has a maximum capacity of nearly 450 pounds—perfect for two beginner or occasional paddlers, as well as solo kayak anglers with lots of gear. The drawback of being an inflatable kayak is the Sevylor Colorado doesn’t have the hull stiffness of comparable hard-shell kayaks (or higher end inflatables), and so lacks their speed and efficiency in the water. Sevylor Colorado kayak reviews highlight these downsides, which make the boat feel somewhat sluggish on the water.

Market and demographics

The Sevylor Colorado kayak is meant for beginner paddlers looking for a stable, economical inflatable kayak that can be paddled with kayak or canoe paddles. It is a versatile watercraft, sold standard with two seats for tandem use, however one of the seats can be removed if you wish to paddle solo. Its inflatable design makes it extremely seaworthy and capable in modest whitewater, compared to hard-shell recreational kayaks.

Sevylor Colorado whitewater performance is reasonable, however, overall paddling is limited by the inflatable construction, which makes it slower and less responsive than hard-shell kayaks.

The Sevylor Colorado is easy to inflate and deflate and can be stored in small places, making it a convenient option if you want to experience paddling but live in an apartment. Sevylor Colorado fishing is another target demographic; this versatile inflatable provides a good option for those looking to experience kayak angling on a budget—and makes an excellent choice for adults looking to go fishing with a child.

Comfort

An inflatable canoe or kayak like the Sevylor Colorado can literally feel like paddling on air. The air-chamber seats are comfortable for some paddlers and a little too soft and unsupportive for others. The back rest is large and rigid, providing solid support into the middle of the back. Unlike most hard-shell recreational kayaks, the Sevylor Colorado lacks foot braces, an omission that makes for a sloppier fit in the boat and less efficient paddling overall.

About the Sevylor Colorado

Design

Design features and details

The Sevylor Colorado kayak gets amazing stability from a broad, flat-bottom hull. The air-filled chambers further enhance stability by molding to the water’s surface, making the Colorado very resistant to capsize—an excellent characteristic for whitewater paddling. Outstanding seaworthiness is built into an inflatable kayak like the Colorado, with the air chambers offering a dry ride over the waves and the flexible hull diminishing wave spray. The Colorado’s compact, 10.5-foot length allows it to turn on a dime.

Of course, the trade-off of a wider, shorter kayak is ease of paddling; you’ll want to use a long kayak paddle (more than 230 cm in length) to be able to reach the water—or choose a canoe paddle instead. The flat bottom also limits the Sevylor Colorado’s speed and glide. The Sevylor Colorado skeg is essential to keep the boat going straight and make paddling less frustrating on deep, flatwater.

While the Colorado is outfitted for tandem use, bear in mind its short, 10.5-foot length means you’ll sit close to your partner and need to paddle in unison.

Material and construction

Following the Second World War, Sevylor introduced PVC as a rugged material for recreational boats, including canoes and kayaks. The Sevylor Colorado inflatable kayak is based on this tradition. The hull is constructed of impact- and abrasion-resistant rubberized vinyl covered in a nylon shell fabric that’s UV-stable and designed to stand up to rough use.

The design remains seaworthy even if one of the air tubes is punctured. What’s more, the material is easy to patch and repair using contact adhesives (a repair kit is included).

Sevylor Colorado outfitting and accessories

Sevylor Colorado outfitting is highlighted by its modular seats, which can be adjusted and removed from the kayak for use as a single or tandem. The Sevylor Colorado skeg is a removable fin attached to the stern of the kayak. Use the Sevylor Colorado fin for improved tracking in deep water paddling; remove the fin for use on shallow rivers and in whitewater.

Wear A Life Jacket
  • Everyone, even strong swimmers, needs to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water. It is extremely difficult to put a life jacket on once you fall into the water. Even a light wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, faster than you can swim.
  • Always wear a USCG-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling.

The Sevylor Colorado kayak also features directional strakes—narrow strips molded into its bow for improved tracking in all water conditions. While it’s not a standard feature, adding a motor is an upgrade popular amongst kayak anglers. To do so, you’ll need to rig a motor mount near the stern of the kayak; a small 12-volt electric trolling motor offers plenty of thrust for the lightweight Colorado.

DIY tutorials are available on YouTube. The Sevylor Coleman Colorado kayak motor mount has been discontinued by the manufacturer, but you may be able to find one by searching eBay and online buy-and-sell markets.

Setup and assembly

The Sevylor Colorado inflatable kayak is easy to set up with one-way Boston valves for inflation by foot or electric pump. You should be able to prepare your Colorado in 15 minutes or less. The manufacturer recommends inflating the PVC chambers to a maximum pressure of 1.5 PSI; the kayak comes with a convenient manometer gauge to determine the correct pressure.

The Sevylor Colorado skeg is installed or removed with a simple friction fit. Deflation is fast, just be sure you rinse the hull with freshwater before and allow time for your Colorado kayak to dry before packing it away in its storage bag.

Portability and storage

At 32 pounds, the Sevylor Colorado inflatable kayak is supremely portable and easy to move, even on public transportation. When deflated the Colorado packs down to fit in a 30” x 18” x 10” duffel, perfect for apartment dwellers or other users with limited storage space.

How it compares

The value-priced Sevylor Coleman has plenty of competitors. Here’s an overview of other options for paddlers in the market for a versatile inflatable kayak.

  • Sevylor Madison vs Colorado

    The Sevylor Madison boasts similar specs to the Sevylor Colorado. The difference is in the outfitting, with the Madison featuring Sevylor’s clever Seatography system, which allows you to tweak the position of the seats in the kayak to adjust for different paddler weights—perfect if you plan to paddle with a youngster.

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Itwit

    The Itwit inflatable kayak is another option for paddlers considering a Sevylor Colorado. The Itwit two-person kayak is about the same length as the Colorado, with a slightly wider beam for even greater stability. The Itwit features a sleek backpack for easy transportation to and from the water. Three molded-in keels on the hull improve tracking on flatwater and, like the Colorado, the Itwit’s seats can be arranged for solo or tandem paddling.

    The Itwit has a capacity rating of 330 pounds, over 100 pounds less than the Sevylor Colorado. If you need greater weight capacity for two adult paddlers, the Colorado is the obvious choice.

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Sea Eagle 370

    The 12.5-foot Sea Eagle 370 kayak has space for three paddlers and a maximum capacity of 650 pounds, far greater than the Sevylor Colorado. This added length and volume makes the Sea Eagle 370 kayak a better choice if you’re looking to go on overnight trips or wish to paddle heavier whitewater. The Sea Eagle 370 kayak is capable of handling up to Class III rapids with experienced paddlers.

Know The Local Hazards
  • Check navigation charts before you launch.
  • Check with those who have local knowledge of man-made and natural hazards, e.g. low-head dams; sweepers, strainers and undercuts; tides and currents; and rocks and shoals.

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Waterton

    The Sevylor Waterton is very similar to the Colorado, but with Sevylor’s comfortable HighRest seats and integrated bow and stern spraydecks for enhanced seaworthiness. The maximum capacity of this two-person inflatable kayak is less than the Colorado, at 363 pounds (compared to 440 pounds).

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Sirocco

    The Sevylor Colorado and Sevylor Sirocco kayaks are virtually identical, with the same specs and paddling characteristics. Sevylor labeled the Sirocco for sale in certain markets and changed the colors from the Colorado, with a minor tweak to the boat’s carrying handles.

  • Sevylor Yukon vs Colorado

    The Sevylor Yukon is a larger two-person inflatable kayak that’s a bit faster and, with partial spraydecks in the bow and stern, a drier and more seaworthy ride than the Sevylor Colorado. Foot pegs and a larger cockpit area add greater paddling efficiency and space for overnight trips. The Yukon is also better suited to paddling in moderate whitewater. Better paddling performance comes with a somewhat heftier price tag, but it’s worth the investment if you want a boat that’s faster, more capable and easier to paddle.

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Tahiti

    The Sevylor Tahiti is significantly narrower than the Colorado and features kayak-style, integrated bow and stern decks, making it better suited to river paddling. The Tahiti’s carrying capacity is somewhat less than the Sevylor Colorado canoe. Length and paddling performance are similar, with outstanding maneuverability and limited speed. The 10’7” Tahiti tips the scales at a feather-light 25 pounds.

  • Intex Excursion Pro vs Sevylor Colorado

    The Intex Excursion Pro is designed for recreational paddlers and kayak anglers. It features similar specs to the Sevylor Colorado and retails for nearly the same price. The Excursion Pro is longer at 12 feet and includes two removable skegs for better tracking. Adjustable seats and foot rests complete the outfitting in this two-person inflatable kayak, making it a bit more comfortable and efficient to paddle than the Sevylor Colorado.

  • Sevylor Colorado vs Hudson

    The Sevylor Hudson is a larger kayak than the Sevylor Colorado and comes standard with a third seat, providing more paddling options. It’s a good choice for two parents with a child, or three youths (the cockpit of the Hudson is a little too cramped and the 465-pound capacity too limited for three adults). The Hudson can also be paddled solo or tandem, making it a versatile choice. Being longer, it also glides better than the more compact Colorado.

  • Sevylor Adventure vs Colorado

    Take a look at the Sevylor Adventure if you want an ultralight, easy to assemble inflatable kayak for casual use. The Adventure is slightly shorter than the Sevylor Colorado and a full seven pounds lighter. Want something bigger? The 12-foot Sevylor Adventure Plus can be arranged as a single, double or triple kayak.

  • Sevylor Wabash vs Colorado

    Like the Sevylor Colorado, the Sevylor Wabash kayak is a good choice for casual paddlers looking for a budget-friendly inflatable kayak. This discontinued model was originally distributed in Europe and features similar specifications and features, with kayak-style bow and stern spray decks.

Where to buy Sevylor Colorado

Sevylor inflatable kayaks can be tricky to find in North American stores. Check out Walmart and Amazon; Sevylor Colorado kayaks may be available through these outlets. Specifically, some Walmart stores in the United States sell a “hunt and fish” version of the Sevylor Colorado that’s perfect for kayak anglers.

The Sevylor Colorado has been in production for many years and the used market is a solid bet to find a great deal. Check out Kijiji, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and search Sevylor Colorado eBay.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Portable and affordable: stores in a closet and retails for well under $800
  • Lightweight—just 32 pounds
  • Perfect for casual paddlers and young families looking for a light and portable kayak for recreational use
  • Supremely versatile: use with single-bladed canoe paddles or double-bladed kayak paddles; seats arrange for single or tandem use
  • Stable and spacious platform for anglers
  • Built on over 70 years of Sevylor inflatable kayak technology—easy to assemble and remarkably durable

Cons

  • Slow and unresponsive compared to a hard-shell kayak. Choose a hard-shell recreational kayak if you want more glide and performance that allows you to develop paddling skills.

Related articles

Sevylor kayak reviews

Budget kayak reviews

Carry A Whistle (And A Light For Night Use)
  • Every paddler should have a whistle attached to his/her life jacket.
  • Carry a light at night. Consider carrying a distress signal device.

Inflatable kayak reviews

 

How Tough Were The Voyageurs, Really?

By
James Raffan
-
a pair of voyageurs reenact a tough trip
Don’t doubt how tough the voyageurs were until you a try a swig of bumbo. | Feature photo: Nancy Greifenhagen/Alamy Stock Photo

Ah, les voyageurs, short on height but legendarily long on suffering and strength. What of those happy-go-lucky little gnomes chanson-ing across the country, paddling 60 strokes a minute and tumping two 80-pound packs across freshly chewed goat paths, their bowels pushing through rotting abdominal walls. Behind their cheerfully colored ceinture fléchée, how tough were the voyageurs, really?

[ See also: How To Make Your Own Voyageur Hat ]

The voyageurs were plenty tough

Can you imagine hour after hour, day after day, week upon week of those call and response ditties? Try this: Visit the iTunes store, search by V’la l’Bon Vent, buy the karaoke rendition, sync your iPod and select repeat, then board an overcrowded Greyhound for a six-week trip from Bonavista to Buenos Aires.

It’s amazing more of them didn’t bail into the wild icy waters of the Ottawa’s Culbute (ass-over-tea-kettle) Rapid just to escape their musical hell. Maybe the strangulated hernias were a pleasant diversion of sufficient intensity to buffer another round of early traditional folk.

“Hey Etienne, apportes-moi un petit peu
de cette bière d’epinette s’il vous plaît.” 

Voyageur diet was a deadly combination

And then there’s the food. No matter how you serve it, a steady diet of pea soup or berries and fat mixed around ground hair and animal parts is going to cause a deadly combination of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and hydrogen sulfide. My research suggests that, on average, a regular diet produces about half a liter of gas per day, distributed over an average of about 14 daily farts.

[ Read more: Paddlers’ Rules About Portage Trail Etiquette ]

Imagine what it might have been like in a long line, nose to tail, straining up a steep and muddy portage. Phew! I’m thinking that in the classic works of Frances Anne Hopkins or Arthur Heming there was more hanging in the air than the early morning mist.

Don’t mess with the best. | Photo: Nancy Greifenhagen / Alamy Stock Photo
Don’t doubt how tough the voyageurs were until you a try a swig of bumbo. | Photo: Nancy Greifenhagen/Alamy Stock Photo

Fancy a swig of bumbo?

And don’t even get me started about the grog. Skunky spruce beer or corked wine is one thing, but these guys got into some serious gut rot. Although they carried fine wine, good rum and French brandy, it was for management only. More often than not, the engagés were offered bumbo—a rum so black, thick and ugly with wood alcohol that it had to be sweetened with brown sugar and flavored with nutmeg.

The worst of the worst was English brandy, a cheap gin flavored with molasses. It has been explained to me as drinking juniper-tinted naphtha stove gas. A great fire starter or fine anesthetic perhaps for when your entrails are dragging on the ground.

Other types of deprivation

What has truly earned my admiration for these trippers of yore however was their tolerance for sleep deprivation. Imagine the time required to make and break camp, to cook up the gruel and make canoe repairs.

[ Browse the widest selection of boats and gear in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

In the fur traders’ journals it reads that voyageurs were often up at one and two in the morning having only gone to bed at 10 p.m. (And, don’t get me started about paddling and portaging in the dark.) These hardy chaps couldn’t have slept more than a few scant hours, only three or four, night after night. Eighteen hours of paddling and portaging. Two hours of bug-infested camp chores. Four hours of sleep. I get tired just thinking about it.

“Hey Etienne, apportes-moi un petit peu de cette bière d’epinette s’il vous plaît.” 

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article first appeared in Canoeroots and Family Camping, Summer/Fall 2010 and appeared in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Don’t doubt how tough the voyageurs were until you a try a swig of bumbo. | Feature photo: Nancy Greifenhagen/Alamy Stock Photo

 

Inflatable Hybrid Review: TAHE Beach SUP-YAK

By
Paddling Magazine Staff
-

Tahe Outdoors’ 11.5-foot Beach SUP-YAK is an inflatable hybrid design that brings together the easy grab-and-go mentality of paddleboarding and the versatility of kayaking. The focus of this hybrid category is recreational paddling that’s fun for the whole family, and Tahe’s easy-paddling SUP-YAK delivers. At just 25 pounds, the 11.5-foot Beach SUP-YAK is stable, lightweight and easy to use either as a paddleboard or a kayak, and for one paddler or two.

North American paddlesports enthusiasts may not be familiar with the brand TAHE, but they’ll know powerhouse brand BIC Sport. Established in France in 1979, BIC Sport was a pioneer in the windsurf industry before expanding into surfing, kayaking and standup paddleboarding. In 2019, BIC Sport was acquired by Tahe Outdoors and rebranded as TAHE. The Estonia-based company is one of the largest and fastest-growing European paddlesports manufacturers.

Kayak Reviews

On the water with the TAHE Beach SUP-YAK

TAHE Beach SUP-YAK Specs
Length: 11’6” / 3.5 m
Width: 36” / 91.5 cm
Thickness: 6” / 15 cm
Volume: 99 gal / 375 L
Weight: 25 lbs / 11.3 kg
Capacity: 450 lbs / 205 kg

The Beach SUP-YAK’s 36-inch width, extra-wide tail and six-inch thickness makes it feel extra stable on the water, while its narrow nose works to cut through chop when under paddle power. The SUP-YAK is more rigid than many other boards of this size I have tried, and that rigidity translates to better on-water glide. Though the three fins are small, they worked together to keep me tracking in a straight line.

There’s so much you can do with this board, even while remaining in protected bays and lazy rivers. I paddled it solo, then with my dog. I don’t practice yoga, but with the full-length deck pad and ample stability, it would be a great choice for yogis of all levels.

The Beach SUP-YAK shined for me as an easy-paddling fishing platform. The Daisy Chain Attachment System made it quick and easy to attach my fishing cooler, and I set up the anchor to the D ring on the tail. My landing net stowed perfectly on the nose’s bungee storage system. Given how stable the SUP-YAK is, I felt very comfortable moving around on the board and casting.

SUP to ‘yak conversion

When you want to turn the Beach SUP-YAK from paddleboard into a kayak, conversion is as quick and easy as latching footrests and the soft and supportive cushioned seat (or seats) to the preferred attachment points running the length of the board. These seats can also double as comfortable beach chairs.

Paddling the Beach SUP-YAK in kayak configuration, I found the high seat and bow rocker helped keep me dry when paddling through some small waves. I didn’t even really get wet. The three-piece convertible paddles that come standard with the SUP-YAK have an aluminum shaft with injection-molded blades, and they were easy to assemble. The ferrules wound up being right where I would naturally place my hands, but they were rounded and smooth, so gripping the paddle there felt just fine.

My father-in-law and I thought we were testing the limits of the tandem capabilities of the SUP-YAK when we set on a clam-digging expedition with my family hound, Gauge. The three of us easily met the top range of its weight capacity, which is 450 pounds. However, even then, the SUP-YAK retained its easy-handling characteristics.

Another benefit of this hybrid design is how easy it is to get on and off. My father-in-law doesn’t paddle much, has a bad back and has had a couple of knee surgeries, so it’s difficult for him to get into the cockpit of a sit-in, and sometimes even a sit-on-top recreational kayak. It was comparatively easy for him to get on and off the Beach SUP-YAK. Then he even offered to carry it back up the beach while I carried the clams. Try doing that with a tandem kayak.

The 11.5-foot Beach SUP-YAK with a Kayak Kit conversion is an excellent option for families who want a complete package in a single design. This beginner-friendly hybrid is easy to transport, easy to store and very light to carry. Add to this its ability to double as a yoga and fishing platform or day-tripper with the capacity to bring all your goodies, and there will be unlimited adventures to enjoy at the beach on this easy-going hybrid design.

About the TAHE Beach SUP-YAK

Options and accessories

The TAHE Beach SUP-YAK is available in 10.5-foot and 11.5-foot lengths. The shorter version is appropriate for solo paddling, whereas the 11.5-foot model can perform as a solo or a tandem. Both lengths of the versatile SUP-YAK are offered in a paddleboard-only package, or with a convertible Kayak Kit package. The Kayak Kit package easily converts the board into a sit-on-top kayak.

Our loaner 11.5-foot Beach SUP-YAK arrived with the Kayak Kit conversion accessories, and everything was packaged compactly in a travel bag that can be carried as a backpack or duffel bag. The bag contained the board, two seats, two footrests, two convertible paddles and a pump.

The included pump is a standard, single-chamber, dual-action pump. With this board boasting a hefty 375 liters of volume, I anticipated a workout while pumping it up. Yet, after just six minutes of steady pumping, I reached 15 psi. That’s pretty standard. To paddle the Beach SUP-YAK as a paddleboard, that’s all the setup required.

There are a couple of design features paddlers will notice right away upon inflating the SUP-YAK. First of all, there’s a D-ring under the board’s nose. This thoughtful design feature is for towing, but I found it equally handy to attach a bow line to it for more security while transporting the inflated board. Speaking of transport: bow, center and stern carry handles make for easy transport for one or two people, and for easy re-boarding after swimming.

Paddlers will also notice Tahe Outdoor’s innovative Daisy Chain Attachment System (DCAS). This unique feature runs tip-to-tail on both rails and is a latch point for seats, footrests and a bungee storage system. The DCAS system makes it easy to customize your setup to paddler height, solo or tandem travel, different gear carried, and paddleboard or a kayak mode.

The other design feature I love is the full-length honeycomb deck pad. The whole deck is covered, which is perfect for creating a non-slip footing for kids or dogs along for the ride. The 11.5-foot Beach SUP-YAK also comes with three permanently installed fins on the tail, so you don’t have to think about installing fins or potentially losing one.

SUP-YAK construction

This hybrid features Tahe Outdoors’ SUP-AIR inflatable construction, which is a single-layer of PVC encasing a high-density drop stitch core. At 15 psi, it feels reasonably stiff for an inflatable board of its size. In addition, the rails are reinforced with an inner and outer PVC layer, which Tahe calls their Twin Stringer Stiffener Technology (TSST), which helps increase rigidity.

Related articles

TAHE reviews

Paddleboard reviews

 

How To Land A Cobra Flip (Video)

By
Paddling Magazine Staff
-

If you’re a whitewater kayaker and have not yet uttered Aniol Serrasolses’ name (yes, mispronunciations are allowed), well, we suspect you’re not really a whitewater kayaker.

The Spanish sender has made quite the name for himself in recent years, from landing the world’s first double kick-flip, to kayaking on snow at 100 km/h, to paddling off previously un-run waterfalls in Iceland.

[ Also watch: Kaelin Friedenson Throws A Switch-Freewheel Off A 60ft Waterfall ]

But perhaps his most noteworthy achievement in recent years has been to coin the trick everyone’s talking about: the “Cobra Flip”.

Aniol Serrasolses is mid-cobra-flip off the lip of a tall waterfall
Before trying to throw the trick from a lip of a waterfall, Serrasolses suggests trying out the move on smaller features – such as peaking waves – to start with. Photo: Aniol Serrasolses | Youtube

The move itself involves a barrel roll off the lip of a waterfall, spinning a complete 360 along the axis of the kayak before landing upright in the pool below.

In this instructional video, Serrasolses strips the move back to basics. He breaks down the steps involved in landing a Cobra Flip, while also offering some advice you may be surprised to hear.

[ For more top picks and expert reviews, check out Paddling Magazine’s guide to the best whitewater kayaks here. ]

How Much Are Paddleboards?

By
Paddling Magazine Staff
-
woman paddles a standup paddleboard from Boardworks
Feature photo: Courtesy Boardworks

One of the most common questions from first-time paddleboard buyers is, “How much are paddleboards?” With paddleboards, the saying, “You get what you pay for” often applies. Essentially, you can pay as little or as much as you’d like, within the range of a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars, and the price tag will reflect the quality and design of the paddleboard.

There is no standard paddleboard price. That being said, inflatable paddleboards are generally cheaper to manufacture and ship, which results in a lower price than what would be paid for a similar shape in a rigid paddleboard. Entry-level inflatable paddleboards can start at the unbelievably low price of about $350 CAD while low-end molded plastic paddleboards start at around $500 and rigid, foam-core paddleboards start at over $1,000. On the high end of the price spectrum, carbon fiber paddleboards, racing paddleboards and pedal-powered standup paddleboard prices can be in the range of to $3,000 to $4,000.

Paddleboard cost is determined by the materials used, manufacturing methods, brand name and any included accessories, features or attachments. Having a sense of your budget as you start to figure out how much a paddleboard costs is helpful so you can see quickly at what end of the market you might land.

The cost of paddleboards can vary between retailers so it is good to shop around to compare prices. If you have an idea of the type of paddleboard you are looking for, I also recommend shopping between SUP brands to compare specs and see what paddleboards cost from each brand.

Best Paddleboards For 2025

Let’s dive deeper into exploring what paddleboards cost by looking at the average cost of paddleboards.

Average cost of paddleboard

How much does a paddleboard cost? While the standup paddleboard price range can vary by hundreds to thousands of dollars, let’s look at a few of the determining factors of the average cost of a paddleboard, including materials, features and size.

The most inexpensive and affordable materials for paddleboards are the PVC layers used in inflatables. The price for a single-layer inflatable is under $500 CAD and the more layers that are used to add strength and durability, the more the cost goes up. Molded plastic is the second cheapest material option for paddleboards and results in costs under $1,000.

Paddleboards which use a foam core and a PVC or fiberglass outer layer cost over $1,000 while those with carbon fiber layers tend towards the $2,000 and higher mark as they are designed to be lightweight and use premium materials.

Paddleboards with basic or minimal features will be priced low. The price climbs as more features get added, such as additional grab handles, bungee tie downs, additional D-rings and a camera mount.

Some paddleboards come with features for holding paddles or waterbottles, for attaching fishing gear or for transforming into a kayak. Specialized paddleboards will tend to cost more than $1,500 as they have more add-ons and are designed for a particular activity and use.

When it comes to paddleboard cost, price is directly related to length, since longer paddleboards require more material to make. Essentially you are buying more board so you are paying for more board.

So, how much does a good paddleboard cost? The short answer is at least $1,000 CAD on average and the long answer depends on what type of paddleboard and what it’s being used for. In my opinion, a good inflatable or rigid all-around paddleboard costs over $1,000, a good touring paddleboard costs over $1,500, and a good racing paddleboard costs over $2,000.

Let’s look at some of the characteristics, features, and trade-offs that you can expect to see from paddleboards in the following cost tiers. The tiers are labeled according to affordable, mid-range, and high-end standup paddleboard prices.

Affordable standup paddleboard pricing

Under $500

  • Low-quality inflatable paddleboard with limited features, designed for entry-level paddlers who don’t want any extras
  • Accessible entry point into standup paddleboard with minimal investment
  • Limited performance options and capabilities for a paddleboard in this range
  • Not a good investment in the long run

$500–$1,000

  • Heavy, molded plastic paddleboard or basic soft-top board for leisure paddling
  • Single drop stitch inflatable package with some features like bungee tie downs and a leash
  • Low cost option for novice paddlers
  • Offers a noticeably lesser paddling experience compared to higher-quality paddleboards
  • Often paired with very heavy paddles

Mid-range paddleboard pricing

$1,000–$1,500

  • Double-layer inflatable SUP packages with better durability and limited features and accessories beyond the standard adjustable paddle, storage bag, repair kit and hand pump
  • Rigid SUPs made with a foam core and PVC layers
  • More durable paddleboards which will last longer than low-end paddleboards
  • Enhanced paddling experience
  • Likely still no specialized features on these paddleboards

$1,500–$2,000

  • Highest-quality inflatable paddleboards or double-layer inflatable SUPs with additional features like added handles, camera mounts, accessory mounts, paddle or water holders, D-rings and anchor attachment points
  • Rigid SUPs made with a foam core and fiberglass layers
  • Higher-quality paddle often offered as a package
  • Some specialized paddleboards designed for specific activities
  • Materials becoming more lightweight
  • Improved on-water performance

High-end paddleboard pricing

$2,000+

  • Rigid SUPs manufactured with carbon fiber
  • Tandem or multi-person inflatable paddleboards
  • Pedal-powered paddleboards
  • Racing, touring and expedition paddleboards
  • Motorized paddleboards
  • Offer high-performance handling and efficient travel
  • Many features available for outfitting the board

If you’re wondering why paddleboards are so expensive you’re not alone. With specialized manufacturing technologies, composite materials, unique designs for each paddleboarding activity and special features and attachments, the price of production can creep up.

But paddleboarding is an investment in physical, mental and emotional wellbeing as well as a huge amount of fun. The price of a paddleboard will be well worth the on-water experiences that you get out of it.

How much are used paddleboards?

Similar to how a new car driven off of a car lot depreciates in value, the price of a paddleboard also goes down once it hits the water and has been paddled and becomes considered used. As an example, you could expect to knock off at least 20 percent off a gently used paddleboard that was sold for $1,500 when it was purchased new. After a couple of years that paddleboard would sell used for under $1,000.

The condition of a used paddleboard is a determining factor in its resale value. A gently used paddleboard would hold its value better than one which isn’t in such pristine condition and has scratches, dents or holes. Used paddleboard pricing should reflect the level of damage that a board has, knocking the price lower for each issue.

Although damage effectively drops the price down further, professional repairs in used paddleboards help a board to hold value more than DIY repairs or issues that have been left unrepaired.

Generally, high-end paddleboards such as racing paddleboards and carbon fiber paddleboards are a hot commodity in the used SUP scene and tend to retain their value more than other types of paddleboards.

Brands that hold their value well over time include Starboard, Infinity, SIC, 425 Pro, Red Paddle Co and Kahuna, especially if there is a particular favorite model that was manufactured only in specific years and is hard to come by.

Two women paddling paddleboards on a lake The Ultimate Guide To Buying A Used Paddleboard

Prices by type of paddleboard

  • How much are blow-up paddleboards

    Best Inflatable Paddleboards For 2026

    Blow-up paddleboards, known as inflatable paddleboards, are generally more affordable than rigid paddleboards. They range in price from around $350 CAD for a basic, low-quality, entry-level inflatable SUP to $2,000 for a high-quality inflatable paddleboard. A decent inflatable paddleboard package that includes a paddle will cost roughly $700 to $1,000.

Paddleboard prices by brand

  • BIC standup paddleboard prices

    BIC standup paddleboards prices were generally in the mid-range for recreational paddleboards, starting at a little under $1,000 USD for heavier and durable Tough-Tec models. BIC all-around and touring rigid boards in the Ace-Tec material cost around $1,099 to $1,299. The higher-performing BIC racing paddleboards which were manufactured with lightweight composites were priced at over $2,000 USD.

  • BOGA paddleboard price

    BOGA paddleboards prices begin at $995 USD with their inflatable SUP yoga model. All BOGA paddleboards are stable boards 11 feet in length, designed for yoga with a large grippy deckpad and tie-down bungees at the nose of the board. The three models are essentially the same design but with different materials. The rigid BOGA paddleboard price is $1,095 while the eco-friendly bamboo version sells for $1,195.

  • Chanel paddleboard price

    A few years back, the fashion brand Chanel sold a limited-edition paddleboard which paired well with yachts, secluded beaches and navel-gazing Instagram photoshoots with an incredible price tag of around $20,000 USD. This standup paddleboard price was solely based on the Chanel luxury brand name as the board itself was incredibly basic, was not designed for performance, and left a lot to be desired.

    If you were able to find a used Chanel paddleboard this is one brand that might retain some value as a collector’s item, although I wouldn’t advise anyone to pay much for it for the sake of paddling performance.

  • Dragonfly paddleboard price

    Dragonfly paddleboards are manufactured individually by boat builders and are offered in four touring and fishing models, priced from $1,600 to $2,200 USD. Dragonfly paddleboards are stable and rigid paddleboards which are customizable and have add-on options such as underwater LED lights.

    The cost of Dragonfly paddleboards reflects the U.S.-made, two-part mold manufacturing process over a foam core that’s sold in a niche market for anglers who have money to spend on fishing gadgets and gear.

  • Easy Eddy paddleboard price

    The price for an Easy Eddy three-piece paddleboard which assembles together in sections is $1,575 CAD. An additional $100 will buy a leash and low-end adjustable paddle while the rolling carry case costs another $271. The cost of an Easy Eddy paddleboard is the cost of innovation, since you are paying for a hard paddleboard which has the storage and transportation capabilities of an inflatable paddleboard.

  • Elliptical paddleboard price

    Elliptical paddleboards are some of the highest-priced paddleboards on the market with prices hovering around the $3,000 CAD range. There is some variation of elliptical paddleboard pricing between different manufacturers and retailers of these pedal-powered paddleboards. See Hobie paddleboard prices for more information on some elliptical paddleboard prices.

  • Goosehill paddleboard price

    Goosehill’s all-around 10.5-foot inflatable paddleboard packages for beginners start at $642 CAD. Amazon sometimes has cheaper prices on the Goosehill paddleboards so be sure to search around for the best price. These low prices reflect the Goosehill SUP designs being geared toward entry-level paddlers with no distinct features or accessories and which are not manufactured with the highest-quality materials or methods. Customizable Goosehill paddleboards are available for under $1,000 USD.

  • Hobie paddleboard prices

    The prices of Hobie paddleboards are quite high at $2,660 to $3,400 CAD for these innovative pedal paddleboards. The inflatable Hobie model is priced higher than the rigid model. The reason that Hobie paddleboards cost so much is because pedal paddleboards are niche items and expensive to manufacture with holes in the middle of the paddleboards to accommodate the addition of both a removable pedal drive system and handlebars.

  • Imagine Surf paddleboard price

    Imagine Surf paddleboard prices start at $799 USD for a dual-layer PVC inflatable paddleboard which includes a leash and adjustable paddle but no storage pack or hand pump. They are fitted with innovative, snap-free or kick-up fins but do not come with an included bag and pump, which are typically standard in an inflatable package.

    A rigid, all-around Imagine Surf paddleboard with a polycarbonate shell over an EPS foam core costs $949 and includes a paddle and leash. All-around and touring Imagine Surf SUP models made of fiberglass and bamboo are priced at $1,399.

  • Kahuna paddleboard prices

    Kahuna paddleboards are high-quality paddleboards with price tags starting at $1,499 CAD. Their rigid all-around or touring paddleboards have a durable ABS outer shell with a dropped deck and unique deck pad. Kahuna recreational entry-level paddleboard packages are priced from $1,649 to $1,899 and include a two-piece adjustable fiberglass composite paddle, board bag, fin and leash.

    The Kahuna recreational paddleboards are made of fiberglass and have an additional carbon fiber layer where paddlers stand and around-the-board rails for additional protection. Price tags for Kahuna bamboo paddleboard models begin at $1,999 and high end models with additional carbon fiber layers cost up to $2,699.

    Inflatable Kahuna paddleboard packages are priced ranging from $1,499 to $1,899 as they are constructed to be high-quality with carbon-reinforced rails at the standing zone, and include a three-piece carbon paddle and a wheelie bag.

  • Lilly Pulitzer paddleboard price

    In 2019, a beautifully patterned, limited-edition, all-around fiberglass epoxy Lilly Pulitzer paddleboard was made and priced at $1,650 USD plus shipping. The Lilly Pulitzer standup paddleboard was priced slightly higher than boards of the same construction quality due to the name of the popular women’s clothing brand.

  • POP paddleboard prices

    POP inflatable paddleboard packages retail at $849 USD as a result of being constructed with durable reinforced military-grade PVC and having more D-rings, grab handles, and bungee tie downs than a standard basic inflatable board.

    The prices for rigid POP paddleboards which have a foam core, fiberglass mid layers, and a polycarbonate shell range from $975 to $1,399. Rigid POP standup paddleboards are priced to reflect their high strength and durable yet lightweight construction.

  • Pulse paddleboard price

    Pulse standup paddleboard prices begin at $999 CAD for inflatable models with strong and durable construction and added D-rings at the nose and tail of the board. The highest priced Pulse paddleboards are fiberglass and bamboo veneer all-around boards as well as displacement boards which can cost up to $1,699.

    These well-made paddleboards are worth the cost with beautiful colors and graphics and include a go pro mount, leash, storage bag, and an adjustable carbon fiber paddle.

  • Red paddleboard prices

    As a premium inflatable SUP brand, the paddleboard prices from Red Paddle Co range from $1,479 CAD for the shorter all-around boards to $1,999 for the longer touring boards. A tandem paddleboard from Red costs $2,699. Red paddleboards don’t have any overly exciting features apart from their unique bungee system and removable rail stiffeners.

    However, they set the standard for offering incredibly high-quality paddleboard construction. Red paddleboards come with a five-year warranty, which blows all other competitors out of the water.

  • Seaflo paddleboard price

    The price of a Seaflo paddleboard is hard to pin down, as they are not currently listed online with any retailers for the 2022 season. The two models of inflatable Seaflo paddleboards should land under $500 CAD as they are a low-quality board made with single drop stitch material intended for use by entry-level paddlers getting into the sport with minimal investment.

  • Starboard paddleboard price

    Starboard’s inflatable paddleboards range from $879 to $1,369 CAD and are highly rated for their performance as a good-quality paddleboard at the mid-range price point. Starboard is really known for their high-end rigid paddleboards which can cost upwards of $4,800 for the newest top-of-the-line carbon fiber racing standup paddleboard.

    For intermediate and advanced paddlers looking for a touring board, Starboard has rigid paddleboards starting around $1,699.

  • Sun Dolphin paddleboard price

    Sun Dolphin has three options coming out for standup paddleboards manufactured in the U.S. While prices are not yet listed on their website or through retailers, they can be expected to be comparable to Sun Dolphin kayak prices, between $280 and $600 CAD.

    The low cost is because Sun Dolphin SUPs will be sold through big box stores and are comparatively heavy plastic paddleboards that weigh around 50 lbs, making them suitable for the entry-level recreational market rather than performance paddleboarding.

  • Wavestorm paddleboard price

    Wavestorm paddleboard prices are quite affordable as they are a mass-manufactured foam paddleboard sold at Costco. A Wavestorm 9.5-foot soft-top paddleboard costs $399 and includes a paddle and leash. The Wavestorm hybrid SUP kayak price is $499 including a collapsible seat, adjustable foot pedal, leash, a foam roof rack system and a paddle that can be used for either paddleboarding or kayaking.

Paddleboard prices by store

How much are paddleboards at Costco?

As a high-volume, big-box retail store, Costco has prices that can’t be beaten for family-friendly recreational boards. At Costco, paddleboards cost from $380 CAD for a kids paddleboard to $1,200 for a multi-person inflatable paddleboard.

Costco’s best-selling, 11-foot SUP in an all-around inflatable package is $500 while yoga and soft top paddleboards are priced a little higher, with tandem inflatable paddleboard packages landing between $760 and $900.

What is a good price for a paddleboard?

One of the first decisions to make to narrow the field and guide your potential selections in shopping for a paddleboard is determining how much to spend on a paddleboard and what a good price is for you. Your decision should be based on whether the board is inflatable or rigid, the desired manufacturing quality, activity type, how long and how often you plan to use the paddleboard, and any additional requirements you have such as features, board availability near you, or board weight. You can learn more about selecting a paddleboard based on structure or activity by reading our article, Types of Paddleboards.

If you are an entry-level paddler who isn’t certain if they will paddle much and want a low cost option to get started right away then a good price for you might be $500. This price might also be suitable if you want a paddleboard to leave at the cottage that you will only use a handful of times each year. If you are looking to get into racing and need a lightweight board then a good price for you will be a minimum of $2,000 for a new board or perhaps even a used paddleboard for $1,500 if your budget is tighter.

Refer to the pricing tiers in the average cost of paddleboard section of this article for general guidelines on what to expect from a paddleboard at each pricing tier. As a reminder, you typically pay more for rigid paddleboards than inflatables, for higher-quality manufacturing, for lightweight composite materials, for specialized designs or paddleboards which are efficient and have high performance characteristics, and for added features on the board.

For novice paddlers who want a good-quality SUP experience, I would recommend budgeting around $1,000 and looking for paddleboards in the middle of the price range. At this pricing tier you will begin to experience better performance on the water and the construction will be a bit higher quality than low-level boards. Considering that paddleboards should last many years, a $1,000 investment in a good paddleboard spread out over the lifetime of the paddleboard is quite reasonable.

As paddleboarders gain more experience and skill they are often much happier to invest more money in their next SUP as they recognize the value of the investment in getting a board that they really love, which performs well, and is specific to their preferred paddling activity. Along these lines I would recommend that if you are torn between buying a lower-cost SUP just to save a few bucks or saving up to buy a paddleboard in the next pricing tier I recommend you put a little more cash into your purchase.

This is especially true if you think you will spend a lot of hours on your paddleboard rather than using it once in a while. Money invested in a higher-quality paddleboard purchase is negligible over the board’s lifespan and will absolutely help you to continue to progress in your SUP skill development and enjoyment of the sport.

Ultimately, a good price for a paddleboard for you is up to your budget and your judgment after doing your research into what paddleboards cost by reading this article and checking out paddleboards in our Paddling Buyer’s Guide. If I could leave you with some final words of advice to guide your paddleboard purchasing decision I would tell you, “When in doubt, don’t cheap out.”

 

7 After-Dark Activities For Your Next Family Camping Trip

By
Virginia Marshall
-
roasting marshmallows is one fun after-dark activity for family camping
Roasting marshmallows isn’t your only option for fun after-dark family camping activities.

Nothing holds the promise of adventure quite like a warm summer’s night—especially when you’re camping. Looking to make your next family camping trip truly unforgettable? Before settling down around the campfire to share scary stories and roasted marshmallows, try one of these fun and unique after-dark activities.

[ See also: 29 Expert Tips For Family Camping ]

7 After-Dark Family Camping Activities

1 Go for a night paddle

Wait for a calm, clear evening to enjoy the memorable magic of a quiet night paddle. Gliding through the seamless union of water and sky and piercing the hearts of constellations twinkling on the still surface transforms your Evergreen Starburst into the Starship Enterprise and its occupants into intergalactic explorers.

Head to Quebec’s La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve—just two hours from Ottawa and three from Montreal—for comfortable campsites, 2,000 kilometres of canoe routes on over 4,000 lakes and inky night skies blissfully free of light pollution. Nine recommended two-to-three-day circuits make it easy to plan a weekend away.

2 Howl with wolves

On Thursday evenings in August, park interpreters at Algonquin Provincial Park lead public wolf howls from the park’s Highway 60 corridor. The spine-tingling canine chorus frequently attracts up to 2,000 park visitors at a time. Success is by no means guaranteed, but wolves have been heard on 88 per cent of the outings held over the past two decades.

Check the park website or bulletin boards to confirm that the wolf pack has been located and the howl is a go, then join the hundreds of other vehicles lining the highway and listen quietly while park naturalists deliver imitation wolf howls and wait for a response from the dark woods.

3 Swim in a bioluminescent sea

Imagine plunging into an ocean where every break of a wave or flutter kick of a swimmer’s feet sets the ocean ablaze. The otherworldly glow isn’t harmful; it’s merely the biological response of billions of microscopic plankton agitated by the disturbance. Bioluminescent dinoflagellates occur in all the world’s oceans, but you’ll only see them when sea temperature and nutrient availability combine to spawn high concentrations of the tiny creatures.

Take a late spring trip to Vancouver Island when cold, well-oxygenated water promises good plankton blooms and bring your diving mask for an unforgettable aquatic experience.

[ Read more: 5 Of The Best Places In The World To Go Bioluminescent Kayaking ]

Photo by Flash Dantz from Pexels
Photo by Flash Dantz from Pexels

4 Catch and release fireflies

Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are better known vessels of bioluminescence for most landlubbers. These members of the beetle family prefer wet, wooded areas and use their talent to attract mates and prey. Burn off pre-bedtime energy by arming your family with butterfly nets and seeing who can catch and release the most fireflies. If chasing these elusive, dying-ember-on-the-wind sparks doesn’t tire everyone out, it’s probably time to cut back on their s’mores intake (see below).

[ Plan your next family canoeing adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]
Make The Ultimate S’more | Photo: Virginia Marshall
The ultimate s’more will provide plenty of energy for more after-dark activities. | Photo: Virginia Marshall

5 Make the ultimate s’more

A contraction of the words “some” and “more”—as in “gimme s’more”—the first printed record of this gooey, campfire treat appears in the 1927 Girl Scouts manual. While every camping family has almost certainly sampled the classic s’more, a roasted-to-perfection marshmallow sandwiched with a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers, we invite you to get creative.

Try, for example, the Fire Ban S’more, which is marshmallow spread and Nutella on graham squares. Or, for the ultimate delicacy, the Hedgehog S’more. For this cute one, roll your campfire-toasted marshmallow in M&M candies before placing between graham cookies. Mom and Dad can dip their hedgehog ‘mallows in Bailey’s before toasting. Yum.

[ See also: 9 Best S’Mores Recipes According To Pinterest ]

Photo by Felipe Helfstein from Pexels
Photo by Felipe Helfstein from Pexels

6 Count the shooting stars

This year, the most dramatic astronomical display is slated for mid-August when the Perseids meteor shower—considered by many to be the best annual shower visible from the northern hemisphere— enlivens the night sky with countless (at up to 50 meteors per hour, you’ll literally lose count) falling stars. Shooting or falling stars are actually debris from comets that enter our atmosphere and vaporize due to friction with the air.

The Perseids is one of nearly a dozen annual intersections between Earth’s orbit and cometary orbits’ meteor streams. For the best show, you’ll have to stay up after midnight on the night of August 12th and get far enough from any cities to enjoy a dark night sky. Find more meteor showers at EarthSky’s meteor shower guide.

[ Browse the widest selection of boats and gear in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]
sing with frogs, like this one, as an after-dark family camping activity
Each species of frog has a unique call—used to attract a mate, mark territory, presage rain or sound alarm. | Photo: Desmond Owers/Pexels

7 Sing with frogs

Many frogs are most vocal from dusk until after dark. Each species has a unique call—used to attract a mate, mark territory, presage rain or sound alarm—but some are more distinctive than others. As wetlands thaw in the warm sunshine, spring peepers kick off the chorus in March–May (depending on latitude) with their cheerful, onomatopoeic peeping, wood and chorus frogs begin “ribbit”-ing soon after, and the American bullfrog joins the choir with its deeper croak, “jug o’ rum,” in June and July.

Stroll the floating boardwalk after twilight in Presqu’ile Provincial Park on Lake Ontario to listen to the frogs’ sonorous refrain resound up to a mile across the still wetlands. Become an Ontario Frogwatch volunteer and listen to frog calls by province. And no, Dad, none of them say “Bud-weis-er.”

Paddling Magazine Issue 65 | Fall 2021

This article first appeared in the Fall 2010 issue of Canoeroots Magazine and in Paddling Magazine Issue 65. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions here, or download the Paddling Magazine app and browse the digital archives here.

Roasting marshmallows isn’t your only option for fun after-dark family camping activities. | Feature photo: Virginia Marshall

 

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