“Gateway” kayaks are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can be accessible and affordable boats that get new people excited about paddling. On the other hand, if someone's first foray into the sport ends up being a lousy experience, then this may turn them off for life.
So the key is to identify which starter boats are going to lead to happy converts. This is my main mission with today's review, and ties into one of my primary missions with PaddleTV and In4Adventure (i.e. getting more people to enjoy the outdoors). Let's unpack the Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak, which is one of the best-selling gateway kayaks on the market, and talk about how it fared during my latest paddle test.
ABOUT THE SEA EAGLE 330 KAYAK
Price: $250 – $450 USD (Depending on the package)
Length: 11′ 2″
Width: 34″
Weight: 26 LBS (12 KG)
Capacity: 500 LBS (227 KG)
Best Use: All Conditions
The SE-330 has 5, one-way valves, a sun & salt-water-resistant PVC material, an I-beam construction floor, two integrated skegs, a drain valve, a combination of seats and paddles (depending on the package that you go with), a carry bag, a repair kit, and a foot pump. It also has a 3-year manufacturer defect warranty.
How do you inflate the Sea Eagle 330?
I often recommend that anyone with an inflatable kayak invest in an electric pump. It usually saves a lot of time and energy. But in the case of the Sea Eagle 330, the provided foot pump was all I needed for an easy inflation. Sea Eagle also includes a small pressure chart that when applied to the appropriate spot on the kayak, gives a helpful reading based on the stretch of the exterior.
In many cases, unless you own an high-end pump that has a built-in pressure gauge, it can be a guessing game as to whether or not you've reached the boat's recommended firmness. So this is a simple, and thoughtful bonus. In case you run into any issues, the SE-330 has a scannable QR code on it, which as long as you have cell service, will take you to an instructional video.
After the first run-through, I could tell this kayak would be a breeze to set up going forward. This would also be a good place to mention that upon deflation, the kayak and the pump easily fit into a drawstring carry case. So high marks for the inflation procedure and overall portability.
Sea Eagle 330 stability
The Sea Eagle 330 is so stable that anyone could hop in this kayak and feel comfortable. It isn't entirely flip-proof, but it would take an impressive effort to do so. There are some inflatable kayaks out there that offer even more stability, but as I always point out, there are trade-offs between performance and stability. I would give this kayak an 8 out of 10 in terms of stability, but that last 20% leaves the door open for better paddling efficiency (which we'll talk about next).
Sea Eagle 330 kayak performance
This kayak exceeded my expectations in terms of paddling performance. Typically, an 11-foot-long inflatable kayak, that uses PVC rather than drop-stitch construction, doesn't move all that well on the water. But that smidge of stability that the SE-330 sacrifices really makes a difference when it comes to covering distance. It doesn't feel overly laborious, like a “floating dock” (as I like to call some kayaks) would. This kayak also stays on course reasonably well (thanks to the integrated skegs and I-beam floor), and is highly maneuverable when using sweep strokes.
Sea Eagle 330 comfort
Another common trade off with kayaks is between performance and comfort. The softness of the Sea Eagle 330 does slow it down a bit, compared to if it was made with drop-stitch construction and inflated to a higher PSI, or particularly compared to hard-shell kayaks, but it also provides a cushy ride.
The sit-on-top design also gave me lots of room to lounge around. And I must say, I was impressed with the seat. It not only had a plush base for the tush, but the back support also felt great. There are more advanced seats available, that's for sure, but for a low-cost, inflatable kayak, this was a good one.
Sore ankles without foot support
The one con worth noting is that the angle at which the lateral air tubes taper really reduces the usable space in the bow. This, in turn, caused my feet to compress together and then point to compensate. By the end of my hour paddle test, my ankles were starting to get a bit sore. Although, the ever-present option to take a break and kick my legs up over the sides did help to alleviate this discomfort. If the SE-330 had a bit more space, and equally as importantly, some foot support, then this would be an even comfier, better-performing kayak.
Sea Eagle 330 kayak length
The Sea Eagle 330 is 11-feet, 2-inches long. It is billboarded as a one or two person kayak, with the upgraded package providing an extra seat and paddle. But because the air tubes taper at the ends of the boat, I would recommend that only smaller couples, or parent-child duos use this as a tandem kayak. Two adults would be pretty crammed in this thing, even if they dip under the 500 pound capacity. Instead, I'd recommend taller pairs check out the Sea Eagle 370, which is a bigger version of this boat.
Sea Eagle durability
Though it's difficult to get a sense of a kayak's durability from a single paddle test, I can still tell you a few things about the Sea Eagle 330's lifespan. For starters, Sea Eagle has been making popular inflatable kayaks for 50 years. They know what they're doing! For instance, the SE-330 is made with a thick, sun/saltwater-resistant PVC material (33 mil Polykrylar K80 PVC), which strikes a nice balance between cost and resiliency.
Though this isn't quite as strong of material as the reinforced polyester fabric used in their higher-end models, Sea Eagle obviously still has confidence in their craftsmanship, as is evidenced by the 3-year manufacturer defect warranty. Just make sure to do your part by avoiding sharp rocks, too rough of waters (I'd recommend Class 1 & 2 waters for the SE-330), and keep the boat clean, dry, and free of needless sun exposure when not in use. If you look after this kayak, I could see it lasting a long time.
Is the Sea Eagle 330 worth it?
If you're someone looking for a solid, general-use, portable kayak, then the Sea Eagle 330 is one of the best all-around values in town. For between $250 – $450 USD (the exact price depends on the options you choose), you get a fun boat with everything you need to start paddling (minus the life jacket!) — mostly as a single, but with the option to get another seat and go as a tight tandem.
Ultimately, I do see the SE-330 as a “gateway” kayak. It will get you out there on the water, let you develop your skills, and hopefully instill a love for paddling that will make you want to eventually upgrade crafts. So on that note, if you do have a more lenient budget, and you have a feeling that you're going to want to grow as a paddler over the years, then you may want to consider starting out with one of Sea Eagle's more advanced options, or one of the other high-quality inflatable kayaks that I've reviewed on In4Adventure.
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