My first kayak and  I like it
925219
Im no much into reviewing things...but im bored ...so I will keep it simple

-overall: my first kayak and I like it for fishing, but the next will be a faster one.

-Very stable ( I'm 150 lbs ).
-Not comfortable for 3, but it works for two.  I many single it.
-This is not a fast kayak.  Not good for covering distances quickly.
-great floating diving board for kids (very stable)
-I can use it like a paddle board and have spotted fish that way.
4857717
Could be the Best money I've spent in a long time. I say that because I was looking for something besides going out to eat to do with my 16 year old son who doesn't live with me. Surprised him with it when I picked him up and and we had a GREAT time. He's really looking forward to us going exploring and fishing often.
It does go together really easy and the rudder controls hook up is very quick too. I had a heck of a time getting it apart until I figured out how to get the latch system to release. Then it too was quick and easy. It's best to look at the videos on You-Tube to show you how to do it all.
It rides like a Dream, at least to me. The rudder tracks very well and it's very stable and quick. Seats are really comfortable too. There is even air bladders in the seat backs with attached air pump bulb.
The only draw back is that I under estimated the size of the kayak and also over estimated the size of my old Toyota Camry. It took 3 trips to get it home from the packing store I had it sent too (and had to leave the boxes each piece came in at the store). Once home I figured out how to carry the stern section in the back seat and bow section in the front seat stretching to the backseat. This allows me to kayak solo. But to fit another person in the car and also to tandem kayak I have to put the bow and middle sections on the roof. Which I didn't really want to do. Oh well, I guess I'll take that into account with my next car.
I looked at this kayak for about 2 years and had it in my Amazon Cart for over a year before I FINALLY decided to pull the trigger and spend the money before my son was a full grown adult. So glad I did.

Update: I've now used this kayak several times and Love it more each time I go out. It now takes about 10 seconds to latch 2 pieces together and another 20 seconds to hook up the rudder cords. And the thing that gave me trouble at first, unlatching 2 pieces now takes about 3 seconds after figuring it out. To me this kayak as meant 2 things. A Wonderful Re-connection with my teenage son (that doesn't live with me) and Relaxing Freedom (Solo or in Tandem). I actually leave the bow and stern in my car most of the time for Quick use after work.
4728541
Amazing IK!  This thing is so much fun.  We have used it on the Payette River in Idaho ( class 3) and have no complaints. This is a sturdy and fun kayak, very stable and easy to get back into also.  We are going to install the thigh straps (not included) and try those out as well to see if they offer even more control and stability.  I liked this IK so much that I bought a second single man IK of the same type to use when my wife isn't available.
4874539
I looked at a lot of kayaks before buying this one and am very happy with my purchase. I had some experience in a hard shell kayak, but they were all out of my price range (especially the tandems). I wanted a kayak that would allow me to paddle solo or with a another person, I wanted a kayak that tracked well, and I wanted something that would break down in fit in the back of my car. This kayak is all those things.

Obviously the biggest drawback to this kayak is having to assemble and disassemble after every use (and every time you clean it). It only takes 5-10 minutes to inflate (even with a cheap hand pump) and even less to deflate. Taking it apart and cleaning it after every use has been the only downside. I mainly kayak in the ocean and also live in the Pacific Northwest, so I need to make sure everything is clean and dry when I pack it up.

It is important to fully inflate all chambers for ideal performance, but you don't want to over inflate or you might damage the kayak. This is why I ordered the Advanced Frame Dual Action Pump with Pressure Gauge, however, cheaper pumps work too. When I've gone solo in this kayak I noticed it sags a bit in the center (to be expected for an inflatable) and the sides of the fabric bow out and can start to collect water. I'm sure with the addition of a spray deck and the backbone this won't be an issue anymore.

I noticed a lot of people complaining about how heavy this kayak is and it is heavy (around 55 pounds) but it is just as heavy as a most hard shell kayaks. Another thing people said in reviews is that they were unable to get the kayak back in the duffel bag. I got mine back in just fine, all you have to do is make sure you get all the air out first.

To sum things up, the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertable Kayak is an awesome kayak. It is ideal for people who don't want to spend the big bucks on a hard shell kayak and want something that they can fold up and stick in a duffel bag, while still getting the performance you would expect from a hard shell kayak.

Pros:
Great price for a convertible kayak
Can easily fit in the backseat of your car
Made from high quality materials
Great tracking, cuts right through the water
Very stable on the water, even in choppy and windy conditions.

Cons:
Inflating, deflating, and cleanup can be a chore
Spray decks and backbone needed for best performance (but not required)
1082582
We bought two of these to take on a boating trip we made into Canada this summer.  I liked how light the kayaks were and easy to inflate and move around.  They were very stable and I felt very comfortable letting the kids paddle around on them.  When I was paddling, I felt very low in the boat and noticed my elbows would brush the top of the kayak and resulted in me paddling with my shoulders hunched up.  I remedied that by sitting on an extra lifejacket to get a little elevation.  They are made of two pieces: the inflatable boat that fits inside a fabric skin.  I felt like the system made the kayaks tougher and I wasn't too concerned about pulling them over rocks or barnacles.  They certainly aren't touring boats but with the spray skirt and the little covered cubby hole, they are great for an afternoon of exploring.
2502598
Wanted a paddle like this so that if the wind came up while out on the lake and far from my takeout, I could switch to kayak mode and sit down.  Living in the Colorado mountains the wind picks up without much notice so is very nice to be able to switch it out.  Was already caught in some bad wind and I could not imagine trying to get back with having to switch sides with paddle as I would have lost every bit of ground I had gained while switching.  It is heavier and not quite as nice of a SUP paddle as the one that came with my board but on the days I know I will be out for a longer paddle and don't know if the wind will come up...I will live with that little inconvenience.  Some reports have said it doesn't float but I tested it out and tried to force it under and it always came back to the surface. Descent paddle for price and convenience of two paddles in one.
2659523
This is the first inflatable boat I have purchased, so I researched them extensively on Amazon.  Also, I wasn't quite sure how well one would really work out . - so I didn't want to invest too much money.

My teenage daughter and I have taken the boat out twice, and think it's a great :/ little boat.  The instruction book is pretty uninformative, but, even still, our first time out went surprisingly well -  given our complete lack of boating experience.

The boat carries great in the bag ... the first time.  Then it's work to compress it enough to get back in, so we don't use the bag any more.  We just roll it up enough to carefully stuff it in the trunk or back seat and then when dry, put it in a large duffle bag or plastic storage tote.

We've used it in a moderate size lake and hope to try some river exploration.  We like to row to a nice spot and then pop into the water to swim.  The boat is amazingly stable .. which helps to feel comfortable.

Flaws ... most have already been noted by reviewers.  I thought the oats looked a little flimsy, but they've worked fine for us, and apparently have held up to some serious rapids.

The seats are my only real complaint ...they are not very comfortable.  I am going to take another reviewers advice and buy some inflatables with back support, and maybe another paddle as a spare.

Getting it inflated was also surprisingly easy.  About 10 minutes from taking out of the car to heading for the water.  Thought I thought I would need to buy a  powered air pump, but even 56 year old mom and teenaged daughter, neither of us in great shape, were able to get the job done with the hand pump included with the set.

So ... I'm definitely pleased with this purchase and think it's a great value for the price
217275
First time I ever used a kayak.  Its nice but seems to me to be a lot of work.  don't get me wrong I don't hate it!  Was actually lots of fun to take my grandson out on the lake.  We have a cabin cruiser and I thought the kayak would be something to do on the side!!  Doesn't steer well in my opinion.  Won't stay straight and the seats seem to be useless!  But it was very easy to blow up and took 2 people to carry it to the water from where we blew it up.  It does seem to be sturdy and held the air just fine.  Ive only used it twice.  Am anxious to try it with just 1 person and see how it works.  There was room for a small bag and a couple drinks but to try to go out camping with it......I think not.
4421209
This was my first kayak (in Barbie pink!).  Performed great.  Over the past two years I have acquired other kayaks.  I took my "Barbie boat" out today to confirm I still wanted it in my fleet...after a wonderful paddle today, I will definitely keep my "Barbie boat" and I am now attempting to unload a very good quality SOT and will be replacing it with a blue and white Swifty Sport.
2307296
This boat is a good affordable option for inflatable kayaking. It seems to be made of pretty durable material and the seats are pretty comfortable. It's a little strange that the bottom of the boat is so wavy but it doesn't seem to matter much. The inflatable removable floor usually needs adjusting right out of the box to get it aligned correctly. Another odd thing is that the valves aren't tethered to the boat which seems like an oversight. In order to deflate the boat you have to remove the valve entirely and keep it in a safe place. Other kayaks have the valves tethered to the boat so you don't lose them. Overall though, this is a good quality boat at a reasonable price point. I purchased it at $240 with free shipping thru amazon. It's not a low end boat like a sevylor tahiti but not a higher end whitewater boat like the aire tomcat. It's a good middle of the road boat and the price reflects that. I use it on class II water as well as flat water lakes and it does great.
427433
I bought this Kayak (red/black color) a couple of days ago at a local retailer (SpAuth), and it was cheaper than here.  I read lots of good reviews about it on paddling.net. and I recommend you head over there for lots more reviews and details on most any Kayak.

After going out 2 times for a total of about 5 hours of paddling, I have some preliminary comments, and they are pretty much the same ones on paddling.net.  The boat handles great, and has a good cross between some straight line stability (more than my wife's SunDolphin), and maneuverability.  It seems a little tippy just off center, but the secondary stability is good.  The seat is comfy enough (slightly padded bottom), and keeps my butt off the wet floor well.  The seat back angle adjusts on the fly with a quick release cleat on the starboard gunwale.  This single adjustment line is actually in front of you, so you don't have to contort to change the back recliner.  Nice.

I accidentally dumped the Kayak today while getting in at a boat ramp.  My fault from poor technique.  Aside from some wounded pride, it did show some negatives of the boat.  The open cockpit is nice, but when the boat is full of water, the ridge around the opening actually holds water IN the boat even when you turn it upside down.  Gallons of water wouldn't come out by turning it upside down.  There is a water drain plug on the top on one side, but the location is terrible for actually finding the perfect position to get water out.  You strain like crazy trying to find the right spot, fore/aft and side to side tilt to actually get the water to run out of that hole.

The other negatives are that this boat has zero attachment points to hold anything.  There are no bungees, hooks or eyelets anywhere, except for the very good carrying handles on the front and back.  In addition, they tout the paddle holder, but it's more of a resting spot and doesn't hold the paddle securely at all.  You could easily lose the paddle overboard without some kind of a lanyard (not included).

Overall, I like the boat, and for the price I paid (less than here), it was a good value.
3532677
This is a great starter kayak.  Very stable.  Holds two people and a dog easily.  The seats are not the best so figure out how to sit comfortably or find a position where you don't count on the seat.  I love that it travels so well.  It takes about 15 minutes of pumping to fill it up.  Not bad.

I have used this on the ocean and lakes up in Mammoth.  Smooth and steady even in some decent chop.
2868485
A genuinely usable intro to the world of kayaking. I would upgrade the paddles for a more comfortable grip. Also, I improvised a semi-official solution to the lost-skeg problem by using a Go-Pro tethering system (search GoPro Surf Mount) to keep the skeg from getting lost once disconnected. See photo.
1334996
<div id="video-block-R235CUO3BNK3ME" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1v8Rij4DUS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71fM1W4JCnS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;&nbsp;This has been a nice sturdy kayak so far.  We have taken it to the lake three times since we bought it about a month ago.  It is easy to fill with air using the pump that is included.  The pump has a special feature so that whether you are pushing in or pulling out with the pump lever there is air going into the boat.  (Many pumps aren't multi directional like that.)  It is also easy to let all the air out afterward.  Based on some of the reviews I was worried that I would need to buy new paddles, but so far these have been good oars.  For the low purchase price I have been very happy with this boat.
1228867
My family would typically have one kayak outing a year, which we all greatly enjoyed.  I've been considering buying a kayak for several years, but I wasn't convinced I would use it enough to justify the $500+ price of most kayaks, and never saw any used ones available that were any less expensive.

My first purchase was a&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Coleman-Two-Person-Inflatable-Touring-Kayak-with-Paddles/dp/B0009PURZY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Coleman Two-Person Inflatable Touring Kayak with Paddles</a>.  I've had lots of fun with that one, but still longed for a more traditional kayak to use for exploring and fishing the lakes, rivers, intracoastal waterways of Florida.  I saw a film clip online for the Spitfire and was convinced this was the next step.  With Amazon free shipping, a brand new kayak for under $300.  Perfect!

I love it.  I use the paddles from my Coleman; adding&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Yak-Grips/dp/B000DZXN2Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Yak Grips</a>&nbsp;have increased the comfort level greatly.  I bought a&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/YakClip/dp/B000TQB7VG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">YakClip</a>(designed for a sit-in type kayak), which I was able to clip on my seat strap.  It holds the paddle in place perfectly along the side of the kayak for those times when you want it out of the way.  Amazingly, for this price the kayak even comes with a seat back.  I didn't want butt blisters, so I investigated seat cushions, and the<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Crack-of-Dawn-Self-Inflating-Seat-Pad/dp/B0011FZC92/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Crack of Dawn Self Inflating Seat Pad</a>&nbsp;has served me well.

My 7-foot fishing rod sits perfectly well in any of the 4 scupper drain holes.  Add my cooler to the back well, put on my vest, clip on my dry bag, and I'm ready to go.  Another great feature: the 8 foot length lets me haul it back and forth with it hanging out of the trunk of my mid-sized sedan, snugly secured with tie-down cords.
2772164
I got this 3 years ago. I use it on the canyon lakes in Arizona. I take cameras with me on the water so I wanted something really stable - this is. I got the mid section so my wife could go with me. But to go from single to tandem requires you to dissemble the single and snap in the center piece - a little work. Then it hit me, if I got a second center (4 sections total) I would constantly have a 1, 2, or three man kayak, and I would not have to dissemble and reassemble the kayak every time I want to take a passenger. I also have a 16 foot kayak for very cheap (price one of those). The single is very stable, but it gets more stable with added sections. With 4 sections nothing external can flip it. The load capacity is over 600 pounds. Another advantage is that longer kayaks track better. I keep it in my van. I KEEP it there. I don't have to load it when the urge hits to paddle - I just go. When I get home it's usually dark. I don't have to take it off the roof of my van. I don't have to do a thing. I just walk away. All the pain of the sport is eliminated. I have a 16 foot boat in the back of may van at all times. So if on the road I run into a lake I can experience it and not just wish I had my boat. I can just use the front and rear sections as a one man kayak that fits in the back seat of my wife's Altima. Lot's of rocks in mountain lakes. You can't help but hit them. If I punch a hole in this kayak. I just replace the section. Cost? Under $200 for the front or rear  section (which are the most vulnerable). I bet a kayak repair would cost about that. But, I get a brand new section instead of a nasty repair. This boat facilitates paddling...period. It eliminates a majority of the work. I can go into rocky canyon channels where no motor boat can go with much less fear of damage. I can take more camp equipment with me than most kayaks. I love this thing. I think about getting a faster kayak - for a moment. Then I remember the above.

Kayaking for exercise? The paddling motion gives you a profound workout, focusing on your abs, especially your love handles. When I go to the lake I don't melt down in a comfortable lounge chair on a beach or power boat. I'm relaxing in a sleek and comfortable craft that allows me to find special places and wildlife few people ever see, while getting a great workout...just where I need it. It's the best way to intimately learn a lake. It's beautiful adventure.
841003
I have held off reviewing this boat until I had a chance to use it. The Good: My first impression was that the boat is pretty good quality.  There are lots of "D" rings to lash things to which is nice.  The wrap-around rope is very nice.  The boat is very stable and has won the approval of several local fishermen who know a great deal about boats.  I was worried how the boat would handle a 185 lb engine, Fuel tank, and battery, plus a big guy in the back.  It does very well.  One wants a good bit of weight in the front when alone, and the D rings hold the milk crate that I fill with rocks, for that purpose.  My wife and I were able to drag it back into the water, with engine and gear, several feet through the sand, after getting left high and dry by the tide.  It's a good bush rig.  The boat rides well and is stable, and handled well with 4 good size people.
The Bad:  The rear seat is too far back and interferes with the tiller handle on tight left turns, I just edge off the seat and then there's room.  The seat can and sometimes does interfere with the tiller handle when I raise and lower the engine also.  The middle seat/oar lock combination is better suited for rowing backwards than forwards.  There just isn't any seat that's located correctly for rowing, in relationship to the oarlocks. It's doable in an emergency and I didn't get this boat to row it.  The other main problem I have is that I have cavitation/aeration problems.  I can't get the boat up on plane because at about 1/3 throttle or more, I lose propulsion and the engine revs, I have to slow back down.  I haven't identified the problem yet, but I'd say it's getting the right motor setup for the boat, not a boat problem.  There were only 2 reviews to read before I purchased the boat, one was good and the other was gibberish.  Maybe I should only give it 4 stars but I'm just too darned happy with it. I'll update the review as I use it more, so far I have only 2 days experience with it in the Aleutians.