I own the Intex Excursion Pro Kayak. How does an inflatable kayak handle in windy conditions? We have used our inflatable kayak in moderately windy conditions and it performed quite well. As long as you are paddling the kayak and not stationary it remains on course. Using the large skeg that is provided prevents the kayak from being blown sideways and keeps the kayak moving in a straight line. We have used our kayak in sheltered ocean bays, tidal rivers, and lakes. Compared to a canoe an inflatable kayak actually handles wind just as good if not better as long as your moving. A hard shelled kayak will perform the best out of the three.
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Fishing In Windy Conditions
If you are fishing from an inflatable kayak and are stationary it will easily blow across the lake because of how lightweight it is. If you can fish with a partner than one can cast while the other paddles, holding the canoe in place. Other option would be to bring an anchor to hold the kayak in place. The Intex excursion pro comes with two rod holders and I have used them to troll effectively while paddling in single mode.
Paddling Upstream in Windy Conditions
We have paddled our inflatable kayak upstream and against the wind. Even from a standstill the kayak was able to pick up speed fairly easily with both of us paddling together in tandem. During this excursion we decided to use the smaller skeg that came with the kayak. The smaller skeg is better when it comes to kayaking over shallower areas such as in a river. We found that even though we used the smaller skeg the kayak still tracked adequately.
Turning around and going downstream the kayak handled well. As far as speed I found the inflatable kayak’s max speed is not as great as a hard shelled kayak. That being said the kayak is surprisingly fast for an inflatable and as long as you are not racing the kayak’s speed is adequate. Because you are kayaking and not canoeing you are able to guide the kayak in a straight line more easily as opposed to paddling a canoe which requires certain paddle strokes like the J-stroke to gather any sort of speed.
Paddling In Wind Tandem Vs Single
The Intex Excursion Pro Kayak has optional tandem and single paddling modes. How do these two modes compare while paddling in windy conditions? Both modes handle well in the wind. Tandem mode handles a bit better in wind due to the kayak weighing more, the fact that it sits a little lower in the water (less wind resistance), and that there is more power applied to the kayak with two people paddling vs one. That being said once the kayak is converted to single mode with the seat positioned more towards the center, it is still a well balanced kayak with good tracking control in moderate winds.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about purchasing an inflatable kayak but are worried about how it will handle in moderately windy conditions, hopefully my experience will convince you that wind shouldn’t be a real concern. If you have experience paddling a hard shelled kayak already, than the transition to an inflatable one is easy. You will notice some differences in handling but overall if you keep your expectations realistic and consider the advantages of owning an inflatable vs hard bodied vessel you will do doubt be satisfied at what it can do. It is true that there are differences in design and durability in different models of inflatable kayaks so it is important to do your research and choose one that is suitable for what you will be doing with it. We are very happy with the Intex Excursion Pro Kayak and it has served us well thus far.