Folding Kayaks Forum

Hey everyone!! Love this forum! Just sold my old kayaks and brought a brand new innova sunny. Loving it so far. The new valves on the main chambers are a huge improvement. Just wondering:

1. What are you using for seats? The stock innova seat or something different?

2. How are you inflating seats and footrests? The new valve is a little smaller than my pump. I'm able to fill by holding the pump over it but looking for a better solution. I'm thinking of getting some rubber tube at the hardware store that will fit snug over the valves. What do you all think?

Congratulations on your purchase.
So far I have been inflating the seat and footrest by mouth. It's not the best, but it was the only way I could think of. Now, especially for the seat, I use the Bravo foot pump. Insert the seat's twist valve into the pump nozzle as far as it goes, hold them together with your hand, then with our other hand push down on the foot pump until done. The seat doesn't need much pressure at all - your butt will take care of that.
As per your first question, I use the stock seat. In my case I add an inflatable cushion under the seat for thigh support. Also, when installing the seat, it can stay permanently attached, adjust the backrest straps so that it tilts about 30 degrees forward. Your back will push it back when sitting and provide a good support.
Hope this helps.

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Hey great! Thanks for the response!

I'm also wondering what people are using to carry it in? I find the Innova backpack a little uncomfortable and I would like more space to carry some extra gear. Has anyone tried carrying with a pack frame? I've been looking at these https://pack-rabbit.com/coyote-pack-mule-ii-frame-wblack-xtreme-harness-set

I had an inflatable for a while and carried it in a custom made pack from Long Haul. They'll make you a bag to your spec for a very reasonable amount.

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Michael Edelman
FoldingKayaks.org Webmaster

There's also the Magna Cart many people use. It's much easier to transport bulky items, such as collapsible boats, boxes or small furniture for fairly long distances. When at home, it just folds up and disappears in a closet. Much easier than having to carry a heavy weight on your shoulders.

http://www.londondrugs.com/london-drugs ... 41963.html

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Thanks for all the ideas! One more question: What's everyone using for a pump? I have a big trip coming up soon and looking for most reliable pump. Right now I'm using a cheapo one from Canadian Tire.

Are you folks on instagram? I tried looking for inflatable kayakers on there for inspiration... looks like mostly packrafters.

Most people use the Scoprega foot pump.

http://www.mec.ca/product/5006-199/scop ... tent=5006-

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Congrats on your Sunny - that was my first proper IK which I ran for many years before I outgrew it and ended up with the latest Gumotex/Innova (via a few other IKs).
For a pump: on the low-pressure Sunny the Bravo will do as people said (watch the tube doesn’t split near the pump mount and – good to know – they can suck on the other port; handy for compact boat packing (took me years to notice that feature!).
I know what you mean about the pack sacks. An early one of mine tore, too. I tried an OTT Tatonka packframe for a bit but realistically, you’re not going to walk far with the boat and gear are you? I’d just get the next size up Gumo bag (for a Seawave - 100L+, huge) or a similar thing from Ortlieb. Or a collapsable trolley. IMO a packframe needs an ‘L’ to it to support the weight without relying on straps, unlike the rabbit one linked.
I find the current Gumotex seats and footrest set up a bit heavy/bulky/basic and another thing to pump up. I’ve modified mine with a packraft seat, an SoT backrest and a piece of plastic drainpipe for a footrest. Much more comfortable and better connection with the boat.

Check out my old Sunny page: https://apaddleinmypack.wordpress.com/s ... le-kayaks/

Enjoy your boat!

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apaddleinmypack.wordpress.com

Thanks for the info! Your "APaddleInMyPack" blog has been a huge help for me actually! Thanks a lot for putting the effort in to it!

I actually spend quite a bit of time walking/hiking with the kayak packed up so a comfortable backpack is important. Last week I did a 5km portage plus travel time to and from the bus on each end. It adds up and a little extra comfort would go a long way. Also I would like more space to store camping gear in the pack. My buddy Matt (https://www.instagram.com/creekstopeaks/) uses one of these http://www.mec.ca/product/5030-375/mec-slogg-115-dry-pack/?f=10+50004+50617 and I think I will get one.

As far as pumps... I prefer hand over foot. Looks like these folks have some thorough descriptions of many brands of pump http://www.theboatpeople.com/raft-inflatable-kayak-pumps

Glad IK&P is useful, snowshoe. It could do with a darn good tidy up but it's too far gone now.

Sounds like you could use a pack then. I actually thought my Tatonka Lax
https://apaddleinmypack.wordpress.com/2 ... xe-review/
might have worked well with some wheels added to the frame.
Those sort of L frame packframes are quite common is North American hunting shops.

That bag you linked to looks a lot like the Ortlieb I mentioned.
The key, as you may know, is having some rigidity between the shoulder and hip mounting points to enable weight to rest on the big padded hip belt, not hanging off your shoulders. Otherwise, a lot will depend how tightly you can manage to pack it, but 115L of volume is a lot of stuff to carry!
I wonder if the expensive SealLine Pro Pack RE on that same page actually features a rigid back panel?
If not, up to a point I have found that the friction between the bag's fabric and what's you're wearing on your back can help support the load. My 'canvasy' Watershed UDB is good for that but has a terrible harness.

Because I love my UDB but not its cheap harness, last year I used an NRS Paragon pack harness
https://apaddleinmypack.wordpress.com/2 ... ss-review/
while hiking with my packraft in Turkey. The holding straps could handle a 200-l bag, but I felt 25kg was the limit (for a 2-week walk). the good thing with a pack harness is you can wrap the Sunny in there for a day paddle, or whatever you like for longer trips.

Not looked at it for years but I learned a lot from the brilliant BP website back when I first got into IKs. They were always big fans of the Sunny which they used to import direct before Innova finally took them on.
If you're a hand pump fan, I can recommend the K-Pump Mini. That's what I use when travelling with my Gumboat. Will take you 10 mins to do a Sunny, and more compact than a Bravo.

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