Kayaboat or traditional sib

[Daithidonegal]

Hi all, any one have one of these kayakboats from boatworld, excel etc. I'm thinking of getting one for coastal exploration and beach launching. mainly solo but would like to take the kids island hopping too.. The pros seem to be quick set up time, run well on lower power outboards. I have a 6hp outboard that's new so I want something that works well with it. Maybe I'd be better off saving a bit more and getting a trukit 330? But then there is the cavitation problem. What do you all think?

[Fenlander]

Hi and welcome to the forum. As usual a bit more detail helps with advice. What ages are the kids and would there be another adult? Does island hopping mean you will be exposed to the possibility of significant currents and sea states in the area you propose to launch? Also is this a first boat of have you experience of other smallcraft types on the sea.

[Daithidonegal]

Hi Fenlander and thanks for the reply. So I have a fair bit of experience on the sea. Currently have a whaly 400 on a drying mooring. The sib is going to be for those nice evening when the tide is not right for the whaly. The kids are from 5 -10 years old and another adult might join from time to time. I'd only be using the sib in fair weather. Say F4 and under and not going too far, just pootling about. I am on the Atlantic so it can be exposed and there would always be the possibility of getting caught. Oh and no really big currents.

So what im looking for,
Something quick to set up
Good for one person, ok for 2/3 from time to time.
Goes OK with 6hp.
Can be beach launched by myself. 42 year old middle aged man.

Thank you for your reply Fenlander.

[chipko]

Hi there,
First off hands up, I have zero experience with K-boats of any make but plenty of nautical miles in sibs and sibcats.

Having said that I’d be super wary of going out to sea in such a narrow boat. Potentially very tippy in a beam sea or getting caught in surf and turned beam on. Not too bad solo perhaps where quick weight shifting may keep you out of trouble, but much more risky with crew. I do realise they are very efficient with small motors and the long length will improve ride in chop.

I notice you mention a TrueKit cat as a possibility. Sibcats are generally very seaworthy craft, as are conventional width sibs, and lots of fun plus go well with smaller motors and, contrary to popular belief do not give a wet ride. We currently have a TrueKit Discovery 400 in our limited fleet. As with all sibcats it will require time, patience and often some modifications to eradicate ventilation issues at higher speeds. Due to the high cost of TrueKits after carriage, import duties and Vat it would not be something I’d recommend, as quality and ride offer negligible advantages over much cheaper alternatives. As a starter I’d be initially considering something like the Boatworld KatSport 330 or Kolibri SeaCat 340 if you’re set on going down the catamaran route.

[Daithidonegal]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for your valuable experience. We actually have a kolibri dealer here in ireland who gas a cat 340. The only thing is the 43kg weight but I appreciate what you say about the beam sea. I asked for advice and think I will follow yours. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Daithidonegal

..........42 year old middle aged man.

Have I been so deluded for so long......42 middle aged, it makes me feel ancient

I'll say hi and welcome again.

Like chipko I've no experience of the Kaboat type of sib, but personally running on the sea in the open I would be a little concerned about stability with 2 small children. Lake, river, loch I think it would be a great idea especially with a 6hp. Take a look at this video by Donny Wilcox, bere in mind Donny has much, much more experience than the vast majority of us:-

https://youtu.be/Kiifj5q3iuI?si=xB-nhr5B8jOYzP7p -

Two other alternatives to look at which would be light enough (for a middle-aged man ), stable, good as a solo craft and with two children, maybe a little cramped with 2 + 2, but under powered with a 6 hp:-

https://excel-leisure.co.uk/products/excel-explorer-330-inflatable-boat

https://boatworld.co.uk/collections/small-inflatable-boats/products/polar-bound-signature-model

[Fenlander]

I'm inclined to follow the opinion of Steve and Chipko. These SIB/inflatable kayak crossovers will be more stable than a GRP craft of those dimensions but far from ideal with kids involved compared to the huge stability of a normal SIB. Apart from this obvious potential for stability issues there is very little room to move about in a Kaboat and that's something kids are often doing when boating.

I would accept, as Chipko alludes, for a competent solo person a Kaboat should not be an issue for keeping upright.

Wanting to match to a 6hp does provide a dilemma though, most conventional SIBs will be slow to plane or not plane at all once you have more load than just yourself. 10hp would be the smallest really to plane OK solo or solo plus two lightish kids on a 3m-3.3m conventional SIB. I assume you would wish to plane if possible?

You mention a 43kg SIB as a negative, I guess compared to the 37kg of a long Kaboat. The advantage of a SIB over Kaboat though is the ease of fitting flip up transom wheels which will come in useful mid trip if you are island hopping. 43kg is light for a SIB and very easy to manage on transom wheels.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Donny Wilcox has done a great review on a kaboat that will give some valuable info on YouTube

[Orwell boy]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Donny Wilcox has done a great review on a kaboat that will give some valuable info on YouTube

[Fenlander]

Yes it was Donny I was thinking of when I commented... "for a competent solo person a Kaboat should not be an issue for keeping upright"

[Daithidonegal]

Hi all, thanks for all the feedback. An aqua marina air car 335 has just come up for 600 euro new so I think mighht be worth a punt.

[Steve509926]

€600 isn't particularly cheap. Last year I saw the price as low as €450 (Micksgarage)
I'd do plenty of research before I parted with any money. Use the search function on the on the forum.

[Fenlander]

This is a very good thread regarding one member's journey with his Aircat 335 for family boating...

https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/aqua-m...ues-91480.html