plantcityguy
Plant City, FL
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Joined: 08/18/2010
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I have found places in my 2005 RoadTrek 190P for most of the stuff I use for recreational purposes on trips - fishing poles and tackle boxes, etc. I know I'm the guy who recently has been moaning about the lack of space in a 190P, but hey, I have these conflicting ideas. So bear with me.
I have always enjoyed being around water. Next summer, I am planning a three-month photography/recreation trip across the country. I would love to take some type of boat with me - probably a canoe. Now I realize it would not be difficult to tow a boat/canoe, but for me, that's a hassle. I don't need a 30+ vehicle to drive and park. I also don't want to put a real canoe on top of the RoadTrek. Although RoadTrek used to show an ad with a canoe on top of an RT, how in the world would you get it up there and down? Bad idea to me.
So I have been thinking about an inflatable canoe (or perhaps a kayak of this type). I wonder if this folded package would be small enough to fit either under the bed or in the back, behind the external spare tire and the rear doors.
Do you have an inflatable canoe, or do you know someone who does?
Thanks for your comments. - Larry
Larry W. Arrington, Ed.D.
Plant City, FL 33565
RV: 2005 RoadTrek 190
Write me at: larryarrington7@gmail.com
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reppans
CT
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Joined: 10/09/2007
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As I mentioned in your other post, I have 2 folding kayaks (both are pretty serious - Feathercrafts) and both will fit under my electric sofa - perhaps at the same time. There's a huge range of foldable/inflatable boats, most will fit in a B class - manufactures typically like to keep these boats within a large backpack size, sometimes splitting them into 2 bags. They cover the entire range from large pool toy (less than $100) to serious expedition quality boats (more than $5000).
You need determine how much you're willing to spend, how far and fast you wish travel across water, and how much effort you're willing to put in to assemble/disassemble. As with anything, there will be compromises. If you want a far and fast boat, expect to spend a lot of money and time to assemble it.
Here's one example in the lower mid-range:
http://www.pakboats.com/
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plantcityguy
Plant City, FL
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One of the inflatable canoes or kayaks I found online just a few minutes ago is called the Sea Eagle. Here is a link to the boats on the Amazon site:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0........agle+inflatable+boat&sprefix=seaeagle+in
They seem to have at least two models, and both seem to be reasonably priced. Looks like an item that could pack in reasonably small spaces.
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Davydd
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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We travel with two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks.
Advanced Frame 10.5 foot Kayak
They cost about $400 and pack down in a bag 11" x 17" x 30".
Davydd
2011 Great West Van Legend Sprinter B Camper Van
Davydd is the Welsh spelling for David with an English twist using a v instead of an f.
See Our 2011 Great West Van Sprinter Legend and my pork tenderloin sandwiches
Visited states in an RV
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Visionquest
Port Angeles
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Joined: 07/25/2006
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We have a friend who travels in her van kayaking the 50 states and used to keep her kayak on top of her van but suffered enough injury loading and unloading that she recently had to have surgery for it. She now keeps it in her trailer which she has always had with her. Really though after watching her have many issues over the last 2 years with parking it and making sure ahead of time she had ample room to turn it around etc, it is clear to me that it is a limiting factor I could never want.
Another friend in his 190 uses a folding kayak and loves it. Keeps it under the bed just as Reppans mentioned. We have other friends who do this as well with various folding kayaks and all have similar happy success stories.
There is yet another option, which one of our friends, Gary, does. He makes his own boats rather often actually and all are various kayaks that break down into smaller sections. He recently completed a trip around around the coast from Washington to Florida for the winter and back using one of these boats inside his modified Scion Box as well as living out of it. Pretty creative guy, trust me! He now has a full sized van and a lot more room. His multi piece boats are a pretty good idea for those who are capable though. I have taken one out and really was pretty impressed with it. Not as compact as a fold up model, but very inexpensive to build and simple to throw together before taking off.
If it was for us, I would opt for the fold up model too.
-Mike & Heidi
97 RT 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
HTTP://WWW.VanTramps.Com
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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There used to be a member here who mounted his windsurfers (or is it sailboards? not sure of the terminology here; now-happily-boat-ignorant ex-USN'er here) vertically on the back of his Roadtrek. They stuck up above the roof, but IIRC not by too much. IIRC, he used a cargo carrier to support them, and had mounted a bracket to the back of the roof to hold the top end in place. Maybe the same could be done with a short kayak. I've seen rigid kayaks on the Nantahala River that would easily work for this.
Jim, "It was different before everything changed."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigermotorhomes.com
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lizzie
Unaka (near Murphy), NC
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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As you probably know, paddling gear (PFV's, paddles, throw bags, pumps,booties, etc.) take up as much room as an inflatable canoe or kayak and are WET when you put them away. We have a cargo hitch rack that takes our inflatable and a waterproof expedition bag with the gear, except for the paddles which go inside. Like Davydd we have an Advanced Elements - StraitEdge kayak but ours is tandem. It is a great boat, but this year we bought a Grabner 14' inflatable canoe. It is made in Austria and is a super product. We took it to the northwest and Candian Rockies this summer and paddled some very exciting water. It is great for our nearby rivers also. It depends on what you want to do. For lakes and flatwater rivers, go ahead and get a tub-toy ducky and a box of patch material. You can have a lot of fun. If you will be paddling in cold or white water, look for something more durable. We actually have room for both boats but haven't tried that yet. PM me if you want more details. lizzie
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Davydd
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/27/2005
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We carry our inflatable kayaks in a hitch carrier along with the double acting pump,life vests and booties. I mounted mop holders behind the cabinets at the back van doors to hold one two-piece paddle and another set of mop holders behind the toilet in the bathroom to hold the other two-piece paddle. Even in two pieces the paddles are too long for the hitch carrier. They do make four-piece paddles that would store away in smaller spaces.
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plantcityguy
Plant City, FL
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lizzie, that is a great-looking Grabner inflatable canoe. I tried to search for it online, but found no information to speak of about its cost. I did find one on eBay and I think it was pretty expensive. Can you fill us in?
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lizzie
Unaka (near Murphy), NC
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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I will be happy to. Did you go online to Grabner-Sports? They have links to some great videos. Our boat is an Outside. It is 13'5' long and 39' wide (but it has straps to pull it in if you choose). It weighs 51 pounds and folds up to about 22' by 12'x 10'. It is self bailing but has a clamp to keep the boat dry if you don't want it to bail. The seats are removable and adjustable. I can paddle it solo in white water. I have been paddling for over 40 years and I like hard-sided canoes best, but this boat has enabled me to stay on whitwater into my 70's so you see why I am so high on it. The down side? New ones cost about 2500 euro's and must be shipped to the US, and it doesn't do well in wind, the ends are too high. I was fortunate to buy mine directly from a guy on the Hiwassee River last summer. I admired it and he said he would sell it to me. Anything under $1000 for a boat in good condition would be very reasonable. Advanced Elements also makes an inflatable canoe. It is 11' long, 36" wide, and weighs 41 lbs. They sell new for about %500 so you might find a used one cheaper. I have not paddled it but it looks nice. Forgive my enthusiasm, but I love this boat! lizzie
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