Community Forums

don springhetti · 02-23-2007, 05:24 AM

Hi everyone,
My wife and I just ordered our first RV, a 21 foot BT Cruiser from Gulf Stream. We are moving up from 30 years in a tent! Love to drive and "Cruise America" so the smaller model seems to fit our needs.
We also love to kayak but have no way to carry rigid boats. So we were wondering if any of you have found a good inflatable or light frame kayak that is suitable for RVing?
Don

don springhetti · 02-23-2007, 05:24 AM

Hi everyone,
My wife and I just ordered our first RV, a 21 foot BT Cruiser from Gulf Stream. We are moving up from 30 years in a tent! Love to drive and "Cruise America" so the smaller model seems to fit our needs.
We also love to kayak but have no way to carry rigid boats. So we were wondering if any of you have found a good inflatable or light frame kayak that is suitable for RVing?
Don

hondo122 · 02-23-2007, 05:47 AM

Depends on your budget and use. I've had kayaks on and off for 50 years. If your budget allows a Klepper or other first class folding kayak is the way to go. I don't have any experience with inflatable so I won't comment. We are currently the owners of a 16' Loon by Old Towne. Nice recreational boat. Seats myself, wife and Zeus the wonder dog (90lb American Bulldog) no problem. We carry it on the toad. Kayaks are a lot of fun and can take you to great places. Good luck.

Fossilhog · 02-27-2007, 12:39 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by don springhetti:
Hi everyone,
My wife and I just ordered our first RV, a 21 foot BT Cruiser from Gulf Stream. We are moving up from 30 years in a tent! Love to drive and "Cruise America" so the smaller model seems to fit our needs.
We also love to kayak but have no way to carry rigid boats. So we were wondering if any of you have found a good inflatable or light frame kayak that is suitable for RVing?
Don </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We have 2 Sevylor Inflatables. I don't like them because they're too boyant and a light breeze will just blow you sideways.They really don't cut thru the water like a regular one and sit too high. As for storage, they fold up to a 2X3 and I fit both in a plastic tub with the pump.

Gary the Wombat · 02-27-2007, 06:28 PM

I got my new catalog in the mail from WestMarine the other day. They have several inflatable kayaks in there. I suggest you check out their website at westmarine.com.

I don't own any of them, so this is not any kind of endorsement, just a potential starting point. Good luck with your search.

Fxrscotty · 02-28-2007, 01:19 PM

Check out www.kayakonline.com.

don springhetti · 03-05-2007, 06:07 AM

thanks everyone,
The responses have been verry helpful. I have checked out several and will continue to do so. The RV arrives in April so I have some time to look.
I think that i am going to put a carrier on the hitch and add a cargo box to carry the kayak and maybe some other bulky "stuff'
Look forward to being on the road this summer!
Don

Rick A · 04-03-2007, 08:58 AM

In the March issue of Canoe & Kayak magazine, there was an ad for a small folding trailer for carrying such things as kayaks and bikes. When I have a chance I will take look and see if there was a website. It was small and light enough to be wheeled around by hand as well.

hrhuggie · 04-03-2007, 12:31 PM

Don,
you didnt state what kind of kayak you are interested in other than asking about inflatables. I have placed ocean kayaks (sit on top) on my RV's for many years either by attaching bars to risers attached to the sides of the RV or by drilling through the roof and using large bolts and fender washers to hold kayaks. Most kayaks (even my 14+foot ocean kayaks) are not that heavy and are easily hoisted onto the roof. The other option is to place them on top of the tow or towed vehicle.
my latest motor home I dont wish to drill through the roof or attach risers to the side walls so I will be changing toad so I can carry them on top of the toad.
As previously stated, the inflatables are ok for just fooling around in but I sure wouldnt want to spend anytime on one particularly if a breeze came up. I use mine for anything from a dive platform in the ocean to fishing in the ocean or lakes

Hope this helps.

cavareno · 04-03-2007, 01:34 PM

Hi Hugh and Cyndi,
We currently have two kyaks,12 and 14 footers, that we use on rivers, lakes and ocean bays. I would love to be able to carry those but have not been able to find a roof rack that will work with all of the equipment up there and am afraid to drill through the roof in hope of finding something to secure a home made rack to. Therefore we thought that we would look for a good tandum inflateable that would fit in the RV or in a storage box mounted on the rear hitch. We just want to be able to take time out and enjoy the many water bodies we will pass in our travels.
The side mount sounds interesting as well but like on the roof, how do you find something strong enough to mount a rack onto?

DirtyDogg · 04-10-2007, 04:07 AM

I guees Im lucky.Just bought the Minni and redoing the roof with the Eternabond tape.Added a roof rack as I am a Canoer from the time I was old enough to wear a life jacket.

Bob Cowgill · 04-17-2007, 07:07 AM

Take a look at the Pak Boats folding kayaks.
I've been considering a folder also, as we have 16 foot Impex sea kayaks, and we have to take the toad to haul the boats.
Many of the folders such as the Klepper are QUITE expensive.
The Pakboats run from about $800-1100 or so, and reviews of them have been quite positive.
For reviews on just about any kayaks, check out the product reviews at www.paddling.net.
Bob

cavareno · 04-25-2007, 05:01 PM

Hi Bob,
We were at a kayak show last weekend and saw a Pak Boat there. It was a good looking boat from a local dealer that I have purchased from in the past.
He said that with practice that the boat could be set up and in the water in 15 to 20 minutes.
I would certainly consider it. Hope to be able to try one out in the water in the next few weeks.
Thanks for the link.
Don

hrhuggie · 04-25-2007, 07:06 PM

Cavareno,
what I did to mount the Kayaks on the roof of the RV was to attach a "gutter mount" standoff modified (by me) to extend up higher than the roof of the RV and then extend (replace) the usual car/suv size cross member to RV size. I mounted the "gutter mount" to the awning rail on the passenger side and installed an awning rail to the driver side. biggest obstacle is finding the right place for the kayaks on the roof with all the other "stuff" (airconditionsers, vents, etc) up there. I would post emails but that RV is long gone before the day of digital cameras