Advanced Frame Convertible Inflatable Kayak - 1

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Introduction

There were a few reasons why I decided to buy an inflatable kayak. The main one was portability. Neither me nor my wife wanted to drive hundreds kilometers having boat on the roof of our car. In the second place was my white water experience with big inflatable boats and rafts. I was comfortable with anything inflatable and even like them for their safety and flexibility. Thus I was looking for something intermediate (not the 10-person raft) and as universal as possible to use it both on the flat water (thousands of Ontario lakes including Georgian Bay) and on the moderate white water (hundreds of Ontario rivers).

Comparison to folding kayaks

Of course I knew that people (especially back in Russia) use widely folding kayaks, but their prices are well above my budget.

For example one of the best choices would be Russian foldable kayak (baidarka) Varzuga, which costs about $1200 CND + shipping from Russia (a few hundred).

Canadian folding kayaks are even more expensive - $3,000 to $7,000 CND Feathercraft K-2 Expedition,39 kg, 6.0x0.84, 2 person, 320 kg, $6,750 CND

Inflatable Kayaks

Among inflatable one could easily find good stuff at around $1,000 CND. One of the best choices would be 420 X Explorer: 24 kg, 427x0.94x0.29 (tube diameter), 2-3 person, 388 kg, ~$1,000 CND:

It looks like a good choice for white water rafting, but I was not sure that it will be as good on the flat water.

Airkayak.com sells another kind of self-bailing white-water inflatable kayak manufactured by Advanced Elements - StraitEdge2 ($699 US).

But then I sow an Advanced Frame Convertible from Advanced Elements and fell in love forever. This is why the following posts will be fully devoted to this kayak.

To finish this Comparison Chapter I summarized the main characteristics of these kayaks and one can immediately draw a conclusion I made: AFC is the best!

Advanced Frame Convertible

Thus I decided to buy Advanced Frame Convertible manufactured by Advanced Elements. My next step was to shop around and try to find the store somewhere in Toronto area to look at the kayak, to seat down into it, to touch it with my hands. From the Internet I discovered that they are sold by various dealers, West Marine being one of them. I liked the price and package they had, but they had nothing to show in store.

Then I found out another store not far from downtown Toronto in Etobicoke. Their prices were higher, but I was able to look at the kayak in store. I did it and I even really seat down in it and felt how it would be paddling this kayak. Strictly speaking it was not Covertible - it was it's solo replica - Advanced Frame Kayak AE1012-R, but everything else was the same and I received what I was looking for - a general feeling of this kayak. And I loved it even more then.

There are several dealers selling these kayaks all around the world. I heard many good words about Airkayaks.com (Harris & Lamb, LLC, Box 926, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423). Especially people noticed their service and support, though their prices aren’t the best. And for me they were too far away from Canada. After days of searching Internet and shopping around I’ve the general picture.

As I told earlier West Marine price and their package seemed to be the best offer on the market. After final search on the Internet I composed the Table of various price/dealers/packages/accessories and made myself sure that West Marine was really the best choice. Thus on March 29, 2009 I placed an order at their store in downtown Toronto.

As to the Table I mentioned above it is updated version reflecting situation at the end of October, 2009. You can see it on my blog Inflatable Kayak. The general picture is still the same as was in spring 2009 and I hope one can use it as a starting point when shopping around.

One of the most frequently asked questions is: What is the difference between AF Convertible2 AE 1007-WM sold by West Marine and AF Convertible AE1007-R sold by all others? The best answer came from manufacturer of these kayaks - Advanced Elements Inc.: no difference but the color: green & gray for WM and orange & gray for others. As I understood AE Inc has a special agreement with the WM and manufactures for them the same kayak as a different model. It's simply a marketing move, no more. But what is important and it is seen from the Table - West Marine price-for-package ratio was and is one of the best on the market. And if you are tolerant to the green & gray combination as I am, you better go with WM and save a few tens of dollars or more. (At the end of May 2009 WM had unbelievable discount and sold the same package for only $459 US!)

See also "Advanced Frame Convertible Inflatable Kayak - 2" here on Wiki