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Are hard shell kayaks faster than inflatables?

12K views 37 replies 15 participants last post by  lmyers  
#1 ·
There are inflatable kayaks made from durable PVC designed to be rigid as well. On top of that inflatables are light weight. Would this make a kayak faster? Than lets say a whitewater kayak.

Never owned a inflatable before, and I would like to explore some of the creeks with them then hike near by.
 
#4 ·
Depends on which boats you are comparing.A narrower more streamlined ducky with little rocker can probably go as fast or faster than a play boat.That boat will be less forgiving than other duckies though.I found myself backing off from creek boats at times so I was not right on their ass,not racing or anything.The trend has been towards wider more stable ducks.

There are canoe and sea kayak type inflatables that are longer and would go faster than a whitewater hardshell kayak on flatwater,but not as well as hardshell canoes or sea kayaks.
 
#8 ·
I saw these big 12 foot 50 lbs double seat hard shell kayaks that outfitters like three rivers uses on the class 2 section of the middle fork of the clearwater. Maybe if you compared that to say the Maverick IK. Then one might find a case for the faster IK. But there aint no IK that will keep up with a Karma. Also, not all people can paddle a hardshell in a straight line like they can a IK. That can effect speed over distance. If you kayak a hard shell with other crafts, you soon find out that all hard shells do is wait for everyone else. Even IKs.
 
#19 ·
Sorry electric, You are right I did not get the jist of your post. I read it as you where buying into the idea that a pack could be as fast.

I read confusion in your post that there just might be a situation or style where it would be hard to find a clear winner.

But I don't believe its hard to find a clear winner about speed when all speed records are attempted in hard shell kayaks. I would laugh at anyone who thinks they will set a speed record in an inflatable anything. I think this is open and shut case of hard shell superiority. IMHO anyone who has sat in both would be in the know if you know what I mean...

I could put a motor on my cat and it would go fast too.

And here comes the name calling and insults. (calling me a troll because I have a different opiniont) Just saying....
 
#38 ·
Yeah, my statement early on was based on an assumption I was comparing a creek boat to a ducky. I have no idea how fast a packraft is, and I would guess it's probably a lot faster than a stubby little playboat.... there could be lot's of variables to the comparison, but I do think that a rigid boat made of fiberglass or plastic will be faster than an inflatable (of any kind) that displaces the same volume of water, when being paddled on the same lines on the same run by the same paddler putting forth the same amount of effort.