The kayak and gear even fits in the trunk of a small sports coupe
quickly, probably faster than assem- bly, so long as you don’t have a lot of water to dry or dirt to clean up. RW suggests using a sponge, as it eases the removal of any water that finds its way inside the boat. He also sug- gests taking advantage of the pump’s deflation setting, if it has one. “It helped to remove air with the pump, then close off the valves quickly. Taking out all the air made the boat much easier to roll up and put away.“
Overall Impression
GB liked how it tracked well—much better than other IKs she has been in. Yet it was still maneuverable. She would not feel comfortable in waves, without some sort of thigh straps to help her control the boat.
KL loved the portability. All the boat parts and the pump fit into a large duffle. The filled duffle is not light, but easier to carry than a hard shell sea kayak. The inflated kayak was also much easier to carry than her sea kayak. Advance Elements lists the boat at 32 lbs, less than half the weight of her Perception sea kayak.
PD felt that it was an excellent price for a boat that stores and travels in a small package, yet still acts like a more traditional sea kayak. He does wish they would come out with a ver- sion that is a foot or two longer, so it
could have a higher weight capacity (though he added that dieting would also help) and a bit of storage.
RW felt that the AirFusion is a capable little kayak, ideal for most flat-water situations. With practice, it is easy to setup and take down, and it fits inside the trunk of your car. “For those times where you are not ven- turing out on the ocean, it can be the handiest boat you’ve ever paddled!”
Who Should Paddle this Kayak
This boat would be recommended for people who will use it for day trips on protected, flat water. It is not recom- mended for white water or in signifi- cant waves. KL stated it well “The AirFusion was a good boat for the quiet, protected water of the Alviso Sloughs I tried it in. It’s easy turning and short length are nice for the nar- row channels.”
It does set up and take down easily, so would be good for a person who has tight storage requirements at their home or is not able to transport a full sized, hard shell kayak on their vehicle. It would be preferable if you have a place where you have access to a hose to rinse the boat off and space to lay the boat out to dry.
It would also make a good second kayak that could be used when you have a guest. v
Photos are by California Kayaker, unless otherwise noted.
California Kayaker Magazine 29
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