Have you ever sat under the shade of your awning, gazing out across the placid blue water of a lake or bay near your RV spot and wished you could be out there on the water, paddling around, exploring all the nooks and crannies, feeling adventurous? The reason many RVers don’t venture out on the water is because it isn’t easy to haul a canoe or kayak with an RV, right? Well, if that sounds like your reasoning, don’t give up hope of spending wonderful days on the water — things have changed.

One of the best changes in the canoe and kayak industry has been the improvement in portability. Nowadays, it’s as easy to carry a canoe or kayak in an RV storage compartment as it is to toss in another suitcase. There is no longer any excuse for not taking along a sleek watercraft that will glide you almost effortlessly across lakes, bays, and rivers. The secret to enjoying this kind of activity is the inflatable canoe or kayak.

Now, I know what you’re thinking — when I mention inflatable water toys, you’re probably picturing one of those cheap, soft rubber rafts that deflate almost as fast as you pump the air in. Good news — that’s not what I’m talking about at all. These days, there is a new generation of inflatable canoes and kayaks that fold down into a compact package about the size of a suitcase. These boats are lightweight, designed to be shipped as luggage aboard airplanes for expeditions to Alaska and other exotic places. And that makes them perfect for transport in your RV.

New materials offer many inflatable kayaks and canoes superior durability and great paddling efficiency. The fabrics and plastics employed in their construction make it possible to inflate a canoe or kayak until it is drum tight, making the inflatable hull almost as hard as a traditional rigid hull, delivering surprisingly good paddling performance. Couple these new materials with innovative designs that provide an unprecedented level of stability on the water, and suddenly paddle sports have become safer and easier than ever.

Over the years, we have owned two rigid canoes and have borrowed numerous recreational kayaks from friends. I have to confess that it takes a while for us to get our balance and feel comfortable in these narrow boats. In the back of our minds we have always been concerned about stability. Face it, rigid canoes and kayaks are tipsy. The reason is because the center of buoyancy runs fore and aft right down the middle of those boats, like the fulcrum for a teeter-totter, so if you lean left or right, the boat tips easily.

Enter the world of inflatable canoes and kayaks. Some of these watercraft have the buoyancy tubes running along the outer edges of the hull, making it almost impossible to flip over. We like the stability of this type of kayak so much that we bought two of them. Ours are Advanced Elements DragonFly™ solo models that weigh 19 pounds, measure 8 feet 4 inches long and are 34 inches wide, and we sit on comfy seats with high backs, so we can just relax. We bought paddles that disassemble for easy transport, and the whole shebang stuffs into a duffel bag.

Of course, there are many kayak models to choose from. Some are for solo paddlers (like ours), some are tandem, and some feature convertible seating arrangements so you can go it alone or add a second paddler. The same choices exist in the canoe market. If you worry about getting splashed, some of these inflatables offer spray skirts or spray decks that enclose the opening to keep water out.

Here are a few examples of popular inflatable canoes and kayaks that make it easy to enjoy paddle sports while RVing around the country in your Holiday Rambler. Each of these companies offers many more models than are included here, but this sampling will give you an idea of what’s available.

Advanced Elements

Advanced Elements offers several different models of canoe and kayak, some for soloists and others for tandem paddling, ranging in length from less than 8 feet to 15 feet. All of their boats feature a marriage of soft and hard components — the soft part is the inflatable hull, and the hard part is some type of framework that provides rigidity for increased efficiency through the water. Every model folds into a compact duffle that can be taken anywhere in the world, without the need for a roof rack. Tough and capable? Just look at what Jeff Morrow of Jacksonville, Florida did — he caught a 100-plus pound sailfish with a fly-rod while paddling one of these kayaks 40 miles off the coast of Guatemala!

If it’s an inflatable canoe you want, the Advanced Elements StraitEdge™ Canoe will fill the bill for family enjoyment on the water. Integrated aluminum ribs (installed at the factory) are located in the bow and stern. These provide a rigid structure that makes the canoe almost as efficient at cutting through the water as a fiberglass or aluminum canoe. Because everything is assembled at the factory, all you have to do is unfold the canoe, inflate it, attach the seats and take off across the water. The great stability of this canoe makes it possible to paddle without having to worry about tipping over. Stability is provided by the wide beam, the low center of gravity due to the adjustable seats being low in the hull, and the outboard buoyancy chambers in the sides of the hull.

Length: 11 feet
Width: 36 inches
Weight: 41 pounds
Capacity: 2 person or 400 pounds
MSRP: $449.99

For solo kayak lovers, the AdvancedFrame™ Kayak is a splendid choice. This model is a hybrid of a folding frame kayak and an inflatable kayak. The bow knifes through water and the stern serves as a skeg to increase tracking performance, allowing it to rival the trackability of a hard-shell kayak. With a 300-pound capacity, and room onboard for stowing equipment, this is a kayak that can take you away for extended waterside camping trips or long days of exploration. On the scale, everything weighs only 36 pounds, and it all packs away in a duffel measuring only 30"x17"x10" for easy transport. The nice thing is that it takes only a few minutes to set up and get you on the water.

Length: 10 feet 5 inches
Width: 32 inches
Weight: 36 pounds
Capacity: 1 person or 300 pounds
MSRP: $399.99
For more information:
www.advancedelements.com

Sea Eagle

This company has been around since 1968, building affordable inflatable boats of all descriptions. Today, Sea Eagle kayaks and canoes come in varieties that will take enthusiasts across placid lakes, down white water rivers, or out on the ocean — you don’t need to go on a jungle river safari to enjoy the benefits of these craft.

Model 420 is an open-topped kayak that’s big enough for the whole family. It’s a boat that’s designed with the capacity to carry more people and more equipment, to satisfy the need for a family-sized boat, or for those who want to explore a little farther afield and need to carry extra gear. An expedition quality kayak, this one is rugged enough to handle class IV whitewater. It’s large enough to hold three people, and spacious enough to transport supplies for a month-long wilderness trip. Even with all that, it can be deflated, folded up and packed into a duffel that can be stuffed in the cargo compartment of your RV.

Length: 14 feet
Width: 37 inches
Weight: 54 pounds
Capacity: 3 person or 855 lbs.
MSRP: $999
For more information:
www.seaeagle.com

Stearns

Stearns is a venerable company that offers a broad variety of outdoor equipment of all types, including a line of very capable inflatable canoes and kayaks.

The Back Country™ Inflatable Canoe is a rugged two-person craft that easily can be folded away and tucked in the cargo compartment of your RV. It weighs in at only 39 pounds and is easy to transport in its own convenient carry bag. Made of 600 Denier polyester and heavy-duty Tarpaulin outer shell, this canoe features two abrasion rails that protect the bottom from contact with the shoreline or unseen obstacles in the water. The hull offers the safety of five air chambers, giving the canoe a 500-pound capacity. Inflatable seat bottoms with adjustable backrests provide comfortable seating for paddlers, and two tracking fins keep you going in a straight line.

Length: 11 feet 6 inches
Width: 39 inches
Weight: 39 pounds
Capacity: 2 person or
500 pounds
MSRP: $427.99

Not to leave out the kayakers among us, Stearns offers several versions of kayak, both solo and tandem models. The Cordova™ is an inflatable high-performance solo kayak that is designed for experienced paddlers. This is truly a full-featured expedition/touring boat that can be collapsed into a compact package for easy transport

One of the best changes in the canoe and kayak industry has been the improvement in portability. Nowadays, it’s as easy to carry a canoe or kayak in an RV storage compartment as it is to toss in another suitcase.

via airplane or RV to destinations of your choice, whether they are exotic or local. Seven puncture-resistant fabric-covered air chambers provide extra safety, and they can be inflated until the hull is virtually rigid, providing great performance and efficiency on the water. To keep the paddler dry, there’s a removable spray skirt, and a covered hatch will keep your equipment dry. Additional features include tracking fins, abrasion rails and adjustable footrests.

Length: 10 feet 10 inches
Width: 30 inches
Weight: 31 pounds
Capacity: 1 person
MSRP: $654.99
For more information:
www.stearnsinc.com

This is only the beginning. I’d like to stay here and tell you more, but the sky is reflecting an inviting blue on the calm water of the bay across from our local RV campground. The temptation is just too powerful to resist, so I think it’s time to shut down the computer, inflate our Dragonflies and go for a paddle.

Rich Johnson is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. Rich has over 25 years experience as a professional editor with several automotive and RV publications, including TrailerLife and Motorhome.