If you are looking for a highly versatile and durable inflatable kayak, the Sea Eagle 300X might be the one. The Sea Eagle 300X is part of a versatile line of inflatable kayaks, the Explorer line. It has been designed for flat water paddling, kayak camping, running rivers, and up to class four white water. The 300X is supposed to do it all. But the question is, does it really do it all? Is the Sea Eagle 300X good value? Let me test it out and give you my full Sea Eagle 300X review!
Sea Eagle 300X Review: Specifications
Price: $800 (USD) and comes with a paddle, pump, repair kit and bag.
Length: 10’
Width: 39”
Weight: 31 LBS (14 Kg)
Capacity: 395 LBS (180 Kg)
Use: All conditions; flat water, white water, ocean surf, fishing, etc.
The 300X features:
- 16 floor drains to make it self-bailing
- A reinforced fabric floor
- A seat
- A large removable skeg
- Carry handles
- 18 D rings to secure the seat and gear
- A drop-stitch floor
- Three air chambers for safety
- A three-year warranty.
Portability
The Sea Eagle 300X is only 31 pounds. This is very lightweight for a kayak of this length. Hard shell kayaks of about the same size would usually be about 10 to 20 pounds heavier than this. The Sea Eagle 300X is, therefore, comparatively much lighter.
The Sea Eagle 300X is relatively small and has only three air chambers. This means that it does not take very long to set up. The two side chambers only need to be pumped up to around 3 psi, so they are quick to inflate. It has a drop stitch floor, which can be pumped up further. This makes the kayak more rigid and performs better, but does take a little more time to pump up. As I regularly use inflatable kayaks, I use an electric pump. This saves a lot of time and effort. However, it still only takes 5-10 minutes to fully inflate the 300X using the provided pump.
Stability
The Sea Eagle 300X is 39 inches wide, which is very wide for a kayak. Something that comes with width is stability, so, unsurprisingly, the 300X is a very stable kayak because of its width. On flat water, it would be very difficult to flip the kayak – you are more likely to fall out of it than to actually flip it. So, the Sea Eagle 300X gets high marks for stability.
Performance
Flat Water
No 10-foot kayak is designed for speed, so the 300X, like any other 10-foot kayak, is not designed to go fast. Its width further emphasizes that this kayak was designed first and foremost for stability – speed was more of an afterthought.
Having said that, the Sea Eagle 300X has a drop stitch floor that pumps up to 10 psi. This means it has quite some rigidity and does not feel like you are paddling in an amoeba. It has a good, hard feel to it.
When you have the large, removable fin attached to the boat, it is surprising how well the 300X tracks. It does a really good job, even when you stop paddling, at gliding in a straight line. Once you remove the fin, the boat turns every time you put the paddle in the water. The kayak spins out, which is to be expected with a flat-bottomed and wide kayak such as the 300X.
White Water
Think of the 300X as the four-wheel drive of kayaks: very stable. It was very stable in white water. The 300X is designed to get through waves and rapids very easily – even for someone who does not have a lot of experience in rough water. It is confidence-inspiring and stable.
Sea Eagle claims the 300X can be used in up to class four white water. However, I personally think that this is a bit of a stretch. I would not take the 300X into grade four white water. This is not because of the durability of the kayak, but because the 300X does not have the correct outfitting for it. Namely, the 300X does not have foot braces or thigh hooks to keep you attached to, and in good control of the boat. Without these parts, I am just sitting on top of the boat, cannot easily edge it, and am likely to fall off the kayak. It is comparable to wearing flip-flops instead of wearing a well-fitted trail shoe. You just don’t have the control in the 300X that is needed for class four white water.
That said, I would absolutely use the Sea Eagle 300X in white water up to class three. This, of course, depends on your skill level.
Durability
Sea Eagle has been making inflatable kayaks for 56 years. They have really figured things out and know what they are doing. This is why they have three-year warranties on all of their inflatable kayaks.
That being said, the Explorer series is designed for doing pretty much anything, including up to class four white water. I would trust the durability of this kayak in white water. That said, like with any inflatable kayak, you cannot abuse it. You can, however, definitely use it with confidence.
The Sea Eagle 300X has a reinforced fabric floor. This means that a sharp object would have to go through two layers of fabric – one of which is a drop stitch layer. You would really have to hit something very sharp for it to manage that. I have no questions about the durability of a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak.
Value
Sea Eagle, in general, provides pretty exceptional value. The 300X packages start at $800 (USD) and go up to around $1000 (USD). The price difference comes from the different upgrades you can get. For example, you can upgrade both the seat and the paddles.
Regardless, $800 (USD) for a well-made and durable kayak, such as the 300X, is a good deal. Especially when the kayak comes with a paddle, pump, bag, and repair kit. In warm weather, all you need to start using the 300X is to buy a PFD (personal flotation device). I think the Sea Eagle 300X is exceptional value for the cost, but only if it is the type of kayak you are looking for.
Who is the Sea Eagle 300X For?
Simply put, the 300X is not a kayak that you can cover a lot of ground with on flat water. Instead, you get this kayak if you want a stable, durable, and versatile kayak. This is the sort of inflatable kayak you buy if you want to use it for a variety of purposes: flat water, fishing, kayak camping, running rapids, etc. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced kayaker, you can have a lot of fun in the Sea Eagle 300X for a long time without feeling like you need to upgrade.
Kayaks: Sea Eagle 300X
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray
PFD: NRS Ninja Lifejacket
Clothing: NRS Long Sleeve Paddling Shirt, NRS Short Sleeve Paddling Shirt
