You hate the idea of paddling alone, right? Well, you are not alone. There are tons of likeminded people like you who want to paddle with their friends and family members. But the problem is there are not many kayaks available in the market where you can accommodate 3 people. To help you out, here we have listed some of the most popular 3 person kayaks that you can purchase without paying an astronomical amount –
4 Most Popular 3 Person Kayaks
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1. Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak
Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak is designed mainly for lakes and rivers. With this Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak, you would not have to worry about puncture at all as this inflatable kayak has got tough tarpaulin bottom. Making this kayak rugged is its heavy-duty PVC construction. Basically, Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak has got all the features that you will ever expect from a decent quality inflatable kayak.
Should this Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak develop a puncture, you can rely on its multiple air chambers to get back to the shore. The seats are flexible and highly adjustable. Inflating this kayak is as easy as pie. Double threaded Boston Valve makes it super easy to inflate and deflate this kayak. It barely takes 10 minutes or less to get it inflated properly. However, there are some downsides of this 3-Person Kayak and the chief among them is its height. You simply can’t expect a dry ride in this. You should be prepared to get while paddling in this kayak and therefore, it makes sense that you should put on a pair of rain pants.
2. Sea Eagle 370 Pro 3 Person Inflatable Sport Kayak
Sea Eagle 370 Pro 3 Person Inflatable Sport Kayak is a lightweight yet highly reliable inflatable kayak that can easily accommodate 3 people without making you feel uncomfortable during the entire journey. The maximum weight capacity of this kayak is around 650 lbs which is more than enough. It hardly takes 10 minutes to get it inflated. The best thing about this Sea Eagle 370 Pro 3 Person Inflatable Sport Kayak is that it can be used by both beginners and seasoned paddlers.
The hull of the Sea Eagle 370 Pro 3 Person Inflatable Sport Kayak is made from thick Polykrylar that adds to its strength and durability. The bottom of this 3-Person Inflatable kayak features an I-beam construction that makes it super rigid. The front and the rear seats can be removed and readjusted whenever you want. You can even take this with you on Class III whitewater and it will survive the ordeal with flying color. The best thing about this 3 Person Inflatable Sport Kayak is that it is NMMA Certified.
3. Sea Eagle 465 Fasttrack Inflatable Kayak
Sea Eagle 465 FastTrack Inflatable Kayak lets you track straight on the water. This inflatable kayak is highly stable and moves nimbly on the water. This 3 Person Inflatable Kayak lets you ride over waves effortlessly almost effortlessly and the credit must be given to its inflatable bow keel. Its Drop stitch floor mimics the performance of that is a hull. The bottom of this inflatable kayak is secured with double-layer fabric that helps it withstand impacts.
The best thing about this Sea Eagle 465 FastTrack Inflatable Kayak is that it has got a modular design. That means you can remove the drop stitch floor whenever you want and then place it back to its original position again. Sea Eagle 465 FastTrack Inflatable Kayak is wide at the stern whereas it gets narrower at the bow. This unique asymmetrical shape helps it cruise through waves almost effortlessly. The maximum weight capacity of this Sea Eagle 465 FastTrack Inflatable Kayak is 795 lbs. The hull is highly resistant to salt water and the sun. You will get a repair kit in the package.
4. Bris 14.1 Ft Inflatable Kayak
Bris 14.1 Ft Inflatable Kayak can be doubled as a regular kayak. You can take this inflatable kayak with you on nearby lakes, rivers, or in the ocean. You can get an electric trolling motor attached to this Bris 14.1 Ft Inflatable Kayak and it will work just fine. The most amazing thing about this 3-persons inflatable kayak is that it can be folded down when not in use. It can be fitted inside a medium size bag. You can do fly fishing on this 3-persons inflatable kayak as it is extremely stable.
It can help you reach those spots that can’t be reached by other hard-shell kayaks. This 3-persons inflatable kayak is made from heavy-duty 1,100 Denier PVC that adds to its incredible strength and durability. It can withstand heat and humidity with equal ease. The seams are welded with care and perfection and this is what makes it super durable on both the freshwater and saltwater. 17.5” tubes add to its impressive buoyancy and help increasing its stability.
3 Person Kayak Buying Guide
Materials
The durability of an inflatable kayak is closely associated with the material which is being used in its making. Thick material can help the kayak resist puncture but it can increase the weight of the kayak and this can have a direct impact on its portability. Thickness is usually measured in Denier in the world of kayaking. The higher the Denier, the ticker the kayak is. An inflatable kayak with a higher denier count can provide ample protection from wear and tear. Some 3-person inflatable kayaks have got reinforced cover on them. This cover will keep the kayak protected from sunlight. It can also provide protection from sand and dirt while dragging it on the shore.
Size
Size matters, period! Since you are planning to paddle with 2 more people in the same kayak, you need to make sure that the 3-person kayak is large enough to accommodate them all. You need to give equal attention to the width, length, and the cockpit size of the kayak in question. If all three of you are lanky, you need to make sure that the kayak you are planning to purchase is at least 10 feet long otherwise, it will be a long and tiring journey for all three of you.
Moreover, you also need to take into consideration other factors like the gears that you are planning to take with you during your next kayaking escapade. If the 3-person inflatable kayak does not have any room for your fishing gears, maybe it is not a good idea to invest your head earned money on that. Now, those of you who are planning to purchase an inflatable kayak, you should ignore the obvious fact that inflatable kayaks tend to have smaller cockpit since they are surrounded by large tubes that keep them protected. So, always check the specs of the manufacturer to figure out the cockpit size in advance.
Depth of the cockpit is another important factor that you should not give a miss. The deeper it goes, the better (sorry for the innuendo). It will increase the stability of the kayak. Since people will not stay stationary in the kayak most of the time, a deep cockpit is preferable.
Skeg Or No Skeg
A 3-person inflatable kayak, when not fitted with a skeg, might fail to offer optimal performance when it is needed the most. Imagine getting hit by large waves and your inflatable kayak is not moving in the direction that you want it to move. That would be a nightmare! To be honest with you all, without a permanent or semi-permanent skeg, you will not go far. You will have to paddle for hours just to make it move straight and it can drain you down sooner than you might have guessed.
Having a permanent skeg on your 3-person inflatable kayak could be a lifesaver if you are planning to paddle on rough water most of the time. Cruising an inflatable kayak through choppy water is almost next to impossible unless you have installed a skeg on your kayak. However, there is a downside of using a permanent kayak and that is – it stops you from paddling in shallow water.
Semi-permanent skeg on the other hand can prove handy in such a situation. You can just take them off when you are entering shallow water. These Semi-permanent skegs snap back into the place once they are just like that. Simple and convenient.
A retractable skeg is another lesser-known type but they don’t go usually with 3-person inflatable kayaks. However, a Retractable skeg has its share of advantages. More often than not, you don’t even have to remove these skegs altogether. Just raise them a bit and it will do the trick.
Weight
Inflatable kayaks weigh much less compared to their hard-shell counterparts but even so Inflatable kayaks are available in different weight categories. A heavy 3-person inflatable kayak can make it difficult for you to get it transported to a nearby lake or river and this is the reason why you need to carefully consider the weight of the 3-person inflatable kayak in question.
Hand Pump Versus Foot Pump
Thankfully most 3-person inflatable kayaks that you will come across on the web usually come with an air pump of some sort to allow you to inflate the kayak in no time. But the design and the model of the pump can play a much bigger role. A double-action pump should always be the first choice of all the paddlers out there. Unlike a single-action air pump, a Double-action pump allows you to push air inside a 3-person inflatable kayak in both directions. This will help cut down on the amount of time that you usually need to inflate a 3-person inflatable kayak properly.
Foot pumps should always be given preference over hand pump as human leg muscles have got more power than arm muscles. Moreover, you are going to use your arm muscles to paddle, it makes sense that you should give it some rest at the initial stage by opting for a foot pump. Moreover, you can double it as an exercise tool just to stay in shape.
