You can read more about Neris in the article "About Neris kayaks - company history". The same material is dedicated directly to Neris products - kayaks. Details on how the models differ and how they are completed.

The entire current range of Neris kayaks comes down to two series:

Summary table of Neris frame kayak models
Kayak		Length/width/height, cm	Weight, kg	Cockpit (length/width), cm	Load capacity, kg
Alu-1		400/79/42	19	200/46	150
Valkure-1		400/70/34	21	254/51	120
Alu-2		500/84/42	27	300/46	250
Valkure-2		550/84/44	31	267/48	300
Alu-3		570/88/42	29	370/46	370
Valkure-3		570/88/42	32	370/46	370

Kayaks Neris Alu series

Models of the Alu series are ideal for calm family rafting on routes of various lengths - from weekend water trips to 2-3 week offline trips. The large internal volume of the boats of the Alu series allows rowers to sit comfortably, as well as to place all the equipment in dry bags and trunks without any problems.

The series is available in versions for 1, 2 and 3 seats. All of them are presented in a wide palette of colors and in two trim levels:

Standard; Expedition.

The Neris kayaks of the Alu series repeat the contours and design of the Taimen kayaks, famous among water tourists, which were mastered by the Soviet industry in the 1970s. At the same time, the design of their frame has been significantly improved in the direction of simplifying the assembly process, as well as increasing its rigidity and reliability.

Frame materials

The frame was created on the basis of anodized duralumin tubes of the D16T brand. Fastening connections (knitsa) from stainless steel. The keelson and the bulwark are made of DIN 63 aluminum, which, other things being equal, is lighter than its counterpart D16T. The frame consists of a double kilson and several closed aluminum frames. This significantly increases the rigidity and strength of the structure. There are no short-lived plastic fasteners.

In terms of ergonomics, the developers from Neris adhere to world standards. Neris kayak frames are made accurately and neatly, without tolerances and burrs, which greatly facilitates the process of their assembly. Great help in the assembly is provided by "tips" from the manufacturer:

frames and bulwark parts are sequentially numbered; stem blocks and kilsons, which are easy to confuse, are marked with stickers "Nose" and "Stern"; detailed instructions and videos on Neris's official channel YouTube ; the fasteners of the frames are pre-located in their places.

To check the accuracy of all connections, all Neris kayaks are pre-assembled at the factory.

On the left - the connection of the frame with the kilson and stems in the Neris Alu kayaks. On the right - a set of aluminum frames Neris © neris.ua

Shell materials

The outer shell is made of durable 5-layer PVC boat fabric produced by the German company Mehler Technology. For an optimal ratio of weight and strength of the vessel, the density of the material varies - PVC 900 g/m² is used for the bottom, and 600 g/m² for the deck. To increase the service life of the outer shell, the points of contact between the frame and the bottom of the kayak are additionally reinforced with a polyurethane protective tape. Often, when assembling, the places of such reinforcements do not coincide with the stiffeners of the frame itself. Therefore, in Neris, the tread tape is already glued “in place” when the shell is already stretched over the assembled kayak. The seams of the bottom are welded with high frequency current, and after 12 hours they are checked by the quality control department.

Complete set of kayaks Neris Alu series

All Neris kayaks are equipped with inflatable seats with backs. They do not require lengthy fitting and are very comfortable for rowers. Thanks to a simple fastening, they can be very easily rearranged from place to place and the backrest can be adjusted. They are so quickly removed and installed back that they can be used comfortably in the camp at the bivouac.

Even in the issue of seats, the developers from Neris showed European scrupulousness in the selection of materials and attention to design details - inflatable seats are equipped with reliable Halkey-Roberts valves American production.

In all boats of the Alu series, it is possible to install sailing weapons.

Kayak kits:

Standard. Includes the boat itself, seats, a backpack for carrying and a hiking repair kit in a dry bag. Expedition. Kayak padded apron for one or more cockpits, ripped skirts according to the number of seats, a set of foot steering and plugs for cockpits.

The Standard package is focused on short-term 1-2 day trips on calm water in good weather. Boats equipped with Expedition - for long water tourist routes. Aprons, skirts and cockpit covers keep paddlers and their equipment dry. The steering wheel will facilitate the control of the kayak and reduce the efforts of the rowers to maintain its directional stability.

Kayak Neris Alu-2 in the "Standart" configuration (left) and in the "Expedition" configuration - you can see the apron on three cockpits (one is closed with a plug) and the steering on the stern

Kayak	Weight, kg	Length/width, m	Number of seats	Load capacity, kg	Estimated assembly time	Package "Standard"	Package "Expedition"
Neris Alu-1	19	4/0.79	1	150	25 min.
Neris Alu-2	27	5/0.84	2	250	25 min.		Apron for three cockpits, 2 skirts and 1 plug, steering kit
Neris Alu-3	29	5.7/0.88	3	370	30 min.		Apron for three cockpits, 3 skirts and 1 plug, steering kit

Kayaks Neris "Valkure"

Neris Valkyries are created taking into account all modern world trends in the development and production of frame kayaks. Unlike the models of the Alu series, they have more rapid contours and an elongated shape, which makes them more stable, torquey and propulsive. This saves rowers' strength, especially on multi-day routes, as well as in small waves up to half a meter and side wind. When designing the Valkyrie series, the Neris developers took the time-tested contours of the German frame kayak RZ-85 as a basis. She has the same cult status in her homeland as Taimen has in the post-Soviet space.

German frame kayak RZ-85 © poucher-faltboot.de

Kayaks "Valkyrie" are designed for traveling on open water - large lakes, reservoirs, including in the coastal zone of the seas. At the same time, they are successfully used on calm rivers. On the kayak "Valkure-2" you can also pass the Karelian rapids up to the 3rd category of difficulty.

On the left is the Neris Valkure-3 kayak on the coast of the Norwegian fjords, Hagen Pacher. Right - Valkure-2 in rough water © neris.ua

The key difference between the Valkure and Alu series, in addition to the modified geometry, is the use wooden frames. They are made of moisture resistant plywood and finished with three coats of Tikkurila's salt water resistant yacht varnish. Such frames, unlike aluminum, not afraid of exposure to sea water.

The process of coating Neris wooden frames with yacht varnish © neris.ua

In the kayaks Neris "Valkure" in the cockpit area, the frames have an open design, while maintaining high strength and torsional rigidity. This decision made it possible to achieve higher habitability from boats, despite their elongated shape. Therefore, in the "Valkyries" you can use not only classic narrow dry bags, but also large dry bags and dry bags. To increase the rigidity of the frame, the number of frames in the Valkyrie kayaks has been increased. For example, there are 4 of them in the Alu-2 model, and as many as 7 in the 2-seater Valkure-2!

Kayak Neris Valkure-1. An open wooden frame is located under the seat, and a closed one at the stern. In the photo on the left, a kayak before the appearance of plastic knees. On the right is a modern example. Fixing a wooden frame with plastic brackets

When comparing double models, the difference in the layout of Neris kayaks of different series is clearly visible.

In the Alu-2, the rowers are seated far apart, with the main cargo area between them in the middle of the cockpit. This scheme is familiar to most Russian water tourists.

In Valkyrie 2, on the contrary, the rowers sit close to each other, and the cargo is distributed over the aft and bow compartments. The compact seating of the paddlers provides the kayak with better course stability. Allows you to dial faster and easier to maintain speed. Negative side such an arrangement - the boat becomes less maneuverable. The 3-seater "Valkyrie" retained the traditional Russian water tourism rowing positions.

Kayak Neris Alu-2 on the left and Neris Valkure-2 on the right

The use of plywood predetermined the use of plastic brackets for attaching frames to the keelson and stringers. They are highly durable, do not harm the wooden frame and are not afraid of salty sea water.

Otherwise, the Neris "Valkure" kayaks repeat the materials and design solutions of the "Alu" series - from shell fabrics to the features of fixing inflatable seats and the ability to install sailing equipment. Like the Alu series, the Valkyries are available in 1-, 2- and 3-seat versions and come in a wide range of colors and in two trim levels.

Kayak	Weight, kg	Length/width, m	Number of seats Each kayak can be equipped with a child seat. The apron is made to order by the manufacturer.	Load capacity, kg	Estimated assembly time With the right skill and experience.	Package "Standard"	Package "Expedition"
Neris Valkure-1	21	4/0.7	1	120	25 min.	Boat only - frame, shell, inflatable seats, repair kit, packaging	Apron for one cockpit, 1 skirt and 1 plug, steering kit
Neris Valkure-2	31	5.5/0.84	2	300	30 min.		Apron for two cockpits, 2 skirts and 2 plugs, steering kit
Neris Valkure-3	32	5.7/0.88	3	370	30 min.		Apron for three cockpits, 3 skirts and 3 plugs, steering kit

Acquisition Issues additional equipment for Neris kayaks are considered on an individual basis.

Personal experience. Opinion of an experienced kayak Neris Valkyrie 2

Owner of the kayak Valkyrie-2 by Neris since 2008. Actively train, compete and go to the water hiking trips started in 2007. Since 2009, he has been winning prizes and winning the annual kayak orienteering competition "Archipelago-O". In 2016, in his achievement list added victory in the Baida-Rally obstacle race and 4th place in the 32-km RedBull marathon "Way to Sich". In 2017, he took 1st place on the Valkyrie in the “100 km. Marathon along the Southern Bug.

Before buying my first kayak, of course, I managed to hold an oar in my hands and try different boats. That is, the purchase of Valkyrie-2 was not spontaneous. For me the boat was supposed to be:

fast - competitive goals were already ambitious then; light - weight plays a big role, both for dispersing the boat and for carrying it - after all, the main starts are related to orientation, and we also have to run with it through the forest; collapsible - issues of transportation and storage space were critical; relatively inexpensive.

The Valkyrie completely satisfied my main requests.

Good speed characteristics

The length and width of the kayak (550 cm and 84 cm, respectively), its lightness (27 kg), rigidity and good contours allow the Valkyrie-2 to compete at high speeds with good tourist plastic sea-kayaks in twos. They are usually noticeably narrower, but twice as heavy. My partner and I managed to develop and maintain a speed of 10 km / h for more than 4 hours. At a comfortable pace average speed 8.4 km/h

At the last 100 km marathon, we walked the whole distance "nose to nose" and competed with a good siyakom Atlantis is a well-known European manufacturer RainbowKayaks. The crew was also good. Still, we managed to snatch the victory.

Ease

I have already mentioned the weight of the kayak at 27 kg. In addition to a positive impact on speed, this, of course, affects the banal usability. You can easily carry it alone even when assembled. When disassembled, the boat is packed in a backpack with straps, it comes as a set (50x23x90cm) and is transported where necessary in a car, on a train, in an electric train, on foot.

Possibility and ease of assembly / disassembly of the boat, ease of storage and transportation

It is critical when it is not possible to allocate a garage for storing a boat, and the car is not adapted for transporting a solid kayak on the roof - just my case!

To be honest, the first time it took me 1.5 hours to assemble a kayak, with quite accessible instructions, but no practice. From the 6th time on the assembly was reduced to half an hour.

Good value for money

What else did I get with Valkyrie, besides the indicated qualities?!

Good stability and with it a feeling of confidence even in very difficult weather conditions

Of course, any “ship” can be turned over, but in order to turn the Valkyrie over, you need to try very, very hard. My partner and I couldn’t do it even in a decent wave, and it is sometimes no worse on the Dnieper than on the sea.

Why did inflatable kayaks become the subject of my interest as a water tourist, and why did I decide to market them?

First, let's look at the subject itself.
Basically, a kayak is a long and narrow (up to 1m) boat, which causes little water resistance due to this.
Purpose: overcoming long distances and difficult, narrow places on hand-drawn.

By design, kayaks can be divided into 4 types:

WITH RIGID BODY: these are polyethylene, fiberglass and similar collapsible and non-collapsible.

This can also be attributed to wooden dugouts.

FRAME: they have a certain frame (skeleton) made of duralumin, wood or plastic, covered with a shell
from birch bark, animal skins or cloth with various types impregnation or coatings - rubber, pvc and others.
The frame is the shaping for this species.

FRAME-INFLATABLE: the same frame, but with the addition of inflatable balloons (tanks)
for unsinkability in case of flooding with water during a coup or a hole. (on the left in the photo is Design Bureau "Taimen 2", on the right is KNB "Katran")

INFLATABLE: consist of inflatable compartments (cylinders) sewn or glued together.
They may have some frame elements to impart certain properties, such as directional stability,
but the balloons are shaping, and when removing the frame elements (if any
the boat will still sail and perform its functions.
According to the production method, inflatables are divided into 2 types: monoballoon (similar to tubeless rubber in a car)
and two-layer, consisting of a sewn shell and cameras inserted into it.

I made my first trips on a Polish inflatable kayak "Salamander". After her "death" due to old age
began to walk on the frame "Salute", "RZ" and "Taimen".

Numerous Karelian routes were passed on these kayaks.
The remains of several boats lie safely at the bottom of various reservoirs.

The idea of ​​a puffball appeared in one of the campaigns in the south of the Murmansk region.
At the end of our route, on which thresholds beyond the limits of complexity for carcasses were surrounded,
we met two peasants who were rafting along Krasnenkaya and Kutsayoki on the raftmaster's Jaeger.
Naively, I asked if these rivers are more difficult than the Chirko-Kem. They laughed...

Then there were years of road trips with parking on sandy beaches, families, with small children ...
When my son was 9 years old, we resumed hiking.
Since the main famous Karelian routes were passed, I was interested in deaf places,
unknown to a wide range of tourists.
This involved the passage of low-water upper reaches of the rivers, overcoming blockages, the passage of complex low-water rapids
with a large number of stones and a noticeable fall, climbs against the current through numerous shivers,
dragging off-road with the need to disassemble and assemble the boat several times.
I assure skeptics that I dug up about a dozen such routes in the maps of Karelia. Among them were little-visited,
and those about which there is no information on the net, and even those where the foot of a tourist has never set foot (thank God).
I wanted a boat suitable for all this, as well as stable, unsinkable when broken down,
convenient for fishing and allowing the child to sleep in the boat without disturbing the father.

An image of such a ship formed in my head: a length of about 4 meters, a width of a meter,
inflatable flat bottom, breakwaters in the stern and bow, glued apron with 2 hard goggles.
It is worth saying that the width of the blowers is basically about a meter, this is the sum of 40 centimeters of the cockpit
and two cylinders 30 centimeters in diameter.
Flat bottom, provides good maneuverability on the rapids, the ability to easily turn the boat on the jet,
and, most importantly, there is no keel, which often clings to shallow stones and contributes to the overturning of the boat.

Having stated his wishes in a well-known store (2010), I heard that he should go further and not fool his head,
because such boats do not exist, and in general, this is not good for me, but I need a frame-inflatable,
which, of course, they have for sale. The salesmen's arguments were understandable, but I had mine.

Compared with frame and frame-inflatable:

1. Inflatable is lighter in weight, some models weigh only a few kilograms.
2. Assembled (disassembled), on average, in 10-20 minutes.
3. Cheaper, on average, one and a half times.
4. Unsinkable when breached.
5.Unable to break.
6.Resistant.
7. Allows you to walk in shallow water.
8.Flat-bottomed puffballs are easy to "steer" on rapids
and allow you to merge with any obstacles, whether it be a rock or a log.
9. Durability. PVC boat life span is at least 20 years.



In general, inflatables have a greater windage than frame ones, but the reason for this is not the dimensions, but the shape and low draft.
The speed, for example, of "Harpoon" or "Smena2" - 9 km / h, is not inferior to the frame ones.

It makes sense to talk about small capacity only in comparison with frame,
in frame-inflatables, the internal volume is also eaten up by balloons. My personal opinion,
that in the coming years, it is frame-inflatable kayaks that will be seriously forced out of the market by inflatable ones.

The lack of a store in Moscow that would present the entire range of nauvastics,
allowing the buyer to compare them with each other, as well as try on the water, rent,
make the necessary tuning, equip for yourself - prompted me to create one.

Below is a table of comparative characteristics of kayaks of different types:

Sergei Makarov.

Name	price, rub	Weight, kg	assembly time, h	partial assembly-dismantling time (for example, for a long drag)	side roll resistance	draft at nominal load, cm	calm water speed	crosswind or headwind speed	repair time in case of breakage in half, h	cost of repair in case of breakage in half	cargo capacity	longitudinal stiffness
frame kayak "Taimen 2"	45000	28	1,5-2	2-3-4	+	15-20	7-8km/h	++	4-6	50-70% of the cost of the kayak	++	++
frame-inflatable kayak "Varzuga 2"	55000	24	1,5-2	2-3-4	++	15	7-8km/h	++	4-6	50-70% of the cost of the kayak	+	++
inflatable kayak "Khatanga 2 sport"	30000	17	0,3	0,5	+++	7	7-8km/h	---	---	---	+	++

Overview of inflatable kayaks: main advantages and disadvantages

The inflatable type of kayak includes boats with inflatable compartments. They are suitable for summer and autumn rafting on calm waters. Consist of two or four inflatable balloons and a bottom. There is no central deck, but there may be decks in the bow or stern. To give additional rigidity to the design of an inflatable kayak, an duralumin frame made of pipes or a bottom made of duralumin help.

Each manufacturer has models of this class:

Stream - Extreme, Weekend;

Free Wind - Taiga;

AquaSport - Brusnichka;

KB Stalker - Pike, Burbot.

Please note: you have to transport the kayak on your own during the hike, so we recommend that you carefully analyze two parameters: the weight of the boat and the shipping dimensions. It is also important to choose the right 1, 2, 3 or 4-seater model.

Types of inflatable kayaks

Inflatable kayaks are divided into categories.

With double layer construction. This type of vessel involves an outer shell (skin) made of PVC and plug-in inner cylinders.

monoballon models. They are one-piece construction and are made of high-strength polyvinyl chloride.

with frame elements. These are inflatable models with stems that give rigidity. Such vessels are used not only for weekend trips, but also on rivers with a small category of complexity and on long expeditions. Look at the models from the Khatanga and Khatanga Sport series (Stream company).

In our store you can pick up an inflatable kayak:

For family holidays;

For rafting on rivers of different complexity;

Expeditionary model for a long trip;

For hunting or fishing.

Benefits of inflatable kayaks

Inflatable kayaks are quickly assembled. An experienced tourist prepares a “kopeck piece” with a frame in 15 minutes. At the same time, in the assembled state, the vessel is compact, overall dimensions rarely exceed 100x40x40 cm, and the weight allows you to take a kayak on long expeditions with foot crossings.

Attracts buyers and value. The average price of inflatable models is kept near the mark of 30,000 rubles. The ship takes up to 300 kg of cargo on board, these are two adults and a large number of things and products. Or, two adults and a child plus things for a small family picnic.

Summing up, we note that kayaks have long been loved by rafters, tourists and fishermen for their:

Vitality and maintainability;

Light weight and ergonomic;

High stability on water and low sinking;

Large load capacity and high practicality.

Disadvantages of inflatable kayaks

There are inflatable structures and disadvantages.

The floating craft must be protected from broken glass and nails in the boards along the banks. It is almost impossible to break through an inflatable kayak on the water.

No matter how hard the manufacturers try, inflatable models are inferior to frame models in speed. Under equal conditions and calm weather, the difference in speed will be 1.5-2 km / h.

The large volume of onboard cylinders reduces the amount of space for luggage. If things are fixed on top of the hull, then a large windage is created. It will be difficult to row against the wind.

Specifications of inflatable kayaks

Like any watercraft, an inflatable kayak has a number of characteristics. Let's consider them in detail.

1. Overall dimensions: length, width, side height, draft. For example, the double model Khatanga-2 Sport has the following dimensions:

Length - 4.2m;

Width - 1m;

Height - 0.4m;

The length and width of the cockpit is 3.8mx0.45m.

2. Stability. Stability is understood as the ability of a kayak to withstand the action of external forces that tend to tilt it in the transverse or longitudinal directions, and the ability to return to a straight position. This indicator is directly proportional to the width and length of the structure and inversely proportional to the height of the common center of gravity. In addition, stability is affected by the shape of the underwater part of the vessel. If the crew or cargo is shifted to one side, then the ship becomes less stable. Therefore, the most stable will be a wide watercraft, with a blunt bow and stern, the cargo in which is located at the bottom. A good example is the STREAM Khatanga Game model.

3. Driving performance. The ability to develop remote speed directly depends on the resistance of the water and the efficiency of the engine. The crew acts as a motor in an inflatable kayak. Physical training participants, correct technique stroke greatly affect the speed of the vessel. If we talk about dimensions, then the kayak that is as long as possible, with a sharp nose, and a smooth surface of the bottom, has the best running characteristics. A good example is the Timetrial Vega-3 model. The speed is set by a sharp stem and the shape of the bottom. Keep in mind: patches at the bottom negatively affect speed.

4. Manageability. This indicator depends on two opposite qualities: course stability and agility. A long kayak with pronounced stems will be stable along the course, and a short one with rounded limbs will spin and turn perfectly, but it will not hold the course well.

5. Low sinking. This characteristic refers to the ability of the vessel to stay afloat, while maintaining navigable qualities, when a hole or overkill has occurred. An inflatable kayak, even when completely flooded with water, remains afloat and is reasonably controlled. Experienced watermen during a coup are able to turn the ship back and climb aboard.

6. Mass. In frame models, most of the weight is on the frame, so the weight of inflatable kayaks is one and a half times less with equal dimensions. So, the frame-inflatable model Triton Varzuga 2 weighs 26 kg. A similar inflatable kayak Odyssey 480 for two tourists has a weight of only 17.7 kg. Even a girl can carry such a load.

In conclusion, we note that modern technologies gluing and welding seams allow you to inflate cylinders up to three atmospheres, this improves the speed qualities of inflatable kayaks. In addition, comfort and stability are improved by liners on the bottom, closed or open decks, and spacious trunks.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a kayak or packraft, it is better to learn from someone else's experience. Here I will talk about my experience. I have kayaking experience since 1989. And I also use the experience of my friends Samara kayakers. There will be reviews of tourists and information from the forums.
1. Purchase of canoes and kayaks, which are extremely difficult to assemble.

The fastest kayaks are often very difficult to assemble. I know several telling stories showing that this factor is very important. In one of my acquaintances, he could not assemble his very expensive kayak "Ladoga-2" at all. She lay quietly in the garage. And he bought an inexpensive inflatable kayak, which gave a lot of positive emotions. Another sent his kayak to the manufacturer to be rebuilt. It turned out that it is generally impossible to collect it. The third suffered 4 days trying to assemble his kayak. Fourth and fifth rent garages not far from the Volga, so as not to suffer from the assembly of their first-class, but very difficult to assemble kayaks. One owner of the Ladoga-1 kayak told me that according to the instructions, this kayak cannot be assembled at all ...

It is relatively easy to assemble the Legor kayak from single-seaters. But even assembling this extremely simple kayak, you can get a little injury.

Well, hybrid kayaks are quite easy to assemble, for example, kayaks "Varyag-480" .

Well, very little time and effort is spent on preparing for the start of the Gora63 kayak.

2. Poor quality materials

20. The presence of oarlocks for swing oars

Send your comments to the article and reviews about kayaks to [email protected]

21. Safety in case of a puncture of a kayak and during a coup.

Karska kayaks, beloved by many tourists, are not designed for sailing on waves higher than 15 cm (as indicated in their passport). Therefore, they are well suited for small rivers. For crossing major rivers, lakes and reservoirs with a width of more than 1 km, they are not suitable. The main disadvantage of skeletons is that during a coup they can literally go to the bottom, since they do not have their own buoyancy compartments. A coup for an inflatable kayak with life jackets is not a problem. The inflatable kayak can be flipped back in the water. And calmly continue swimming. The kayaks "Gora63", "Kalar" and "Sensation-3" due to their special shape with a raised bow and stern of large volume return to their normal position with less effort than traditional pointed kayaks.

Further important point this is a lineup of inflatable compartments. On Gora63 kayaks, the partitions are glued in the middle of the boat. When one of the compartments is punctured, you are left with the floor of the boat, on which you can safely reach the shore. On kayaks "Taiga" and on similar ones there are no partitions in the cylinders. There are left and right cylinders. When one of the balloons is punctured, you end up in the water next to the remaining balloon.

22. Transverse rigidity of the hull. If the transverse rigidity of the hull is insufficient, then when landing a rower weighing more than 80 kg, a hull break is formed, which sharply slows down the movement. Insufficient transverse rigidity is typical for kayaks with a cylinder diameter of 26-30 cm, cylinders with fittings. They cannot be pumped up to the rigidity of mono-balloon kayaks. The creator of the Pike kayaks, Mikhail Chernetsky, carried out intersting measurements. First, we tested an empty kayak "Pike" with one solid rower and with a characteristic break in the hull. Then they put 50 kg of ballast, which reduced the fracture. As a result, with 50 kg of cargo, the kayak went faster than empty!

23. Freeboard height. Many people specifically buy kayaks with a minimum side height to make it easier to row against a headwind. But the price for this plus is that a lot of water gets into the kayak during the excitement.

Material prepared

A kayak is a specific vessel that must be selected for a specific alloy. In other words, an inflatable kayak may not be a very effective solution when you need to navigate calm rivers. In this case, it is better to give preference to wireframe models.

Let's look at the characteristics of individual types of watercraft in this category, we will try to determine the best option for moving in certain waters.

Inflatable kayak

Such vessels include products that do not have a rigid frame. Inflatable onboard balloons located in the bow and stern of the boat are responsible for maintaining the shape.

An inflatable kayak can consist of a PVC shell, where removable cylinders are placed. Another solution provides for a monolithic connection of the outer protective layer with inflatable tanks, which are responsible for the buoyancy of the vessel. It is the latter option that is increasingly seen on the market.

What are the advantages of inflatable kayaks? User reviews make it possible to highlight the following positive traits such boats:

• light weight;
• easy assembly and disassembly;
• small volume of the boat in packed form;
• high permeability on rocky areas, "survivability" of the vessel;
• good stability in white water.

At the same time, the inflatable kayak has some drawbacks. Products of this type have high windage. In other words, in addition to the current, rowers often have to contend with gusts of wind. In addition, inflatable structures climb the wave rather poorly.

Frame kayaks

Products of this type consist of a lightweight aluminum or duralumin frame, covered with a dense shell. Some models are equipped with a protective apron that prevents the vessel from filling with water.

It is rational to use frame kayaks when organizing rafting on relatively calm rivers. The main argument in favor of this option is the possibility of developing an impressive speed.

Frame kayaks are maneuverable, have a significant amount of internal free space, which becomes an indispensable quality if you need to raft along with camping items. A special role is played by a small draft of the hull in the water column along with a high carrying capacity.

As for the negative qualities of wireframe models, it is worth highlighting here:

• impressive weight and dimensions of the structure;
• low ability of the outer shell to resist strong blows and contact with sharp surfaces;
• the high cost of restoring a damaged frame;
• build duration.

Frame-inflatable kayaks

Such designs combine a rigid frame with an elastic outer shell that contains inflatable balloons. This structure allows to reduce the total weight of the vessel, which has a positive effect on the handling performance. At the same time, the presence of onboard cylinders provides the boat with good stability.

If we talk about the disadvantages of frame-inflatable models, then, as in the previous version, the high cost of repairs and the duration of assembly of the structure come first.

There are a number key points that deserve attention when choosing a kayak:

1. The nature of the waters in which the vessel will operate. Due to the stability, inflatable products are the best solution for moving through rough rapids. Frame kayaks, on the contrary, are effective when it is necessary to overcome significant distances in relatively calm waters.
2. Kayak speed. Models of considerable length are characterized by speed, which have a “sharp” bottom and are devoid of blunt body contours.
3. Spaciousness. Frame and frame-inflatable models differ in impressive useful volume. If it is necessary to organize long trips in large groups, it is better to give preference to three- and four-seater kayaks.
4. Transportation. Inflatable models are compact in the assembled state. Therefore, it is convenient to transport them in a car. As for the frame products, the latter are good for the possibility of disassembling into separate components and rational distribution of the load between the participants in the alloy.

Eventually

To determine the best option, it is recommended to evaluate in practice the advantages and disadvantages of a particular type of vessel. The final choice should be made based on your own observations, the conditions of the swim, the nature of the waters and the type of terrain on which the kayaking will be performed.