The Tucktec kayak and the Sea Eagle 330 kayak are entry-level, budget, portable kayaks. How do you choose between the two? Should you get a folding kayak or an inflatable kayak? Which one is better? Read on to discover the answers to these questions and more in this Tucktec vs Sea Eagle 330 comparison!
Kayak Specifications
The Tucktec Kayak
This kayak is a folding recreational kayak with the following specifications:
Retail price: $350 (USD)
Length: 10’
Width: 30”
Weight: 28 LBS (13 Kg)
Capacity: 300 LBS (136 Kg)
The Sea Eagle 330 Kayak
The Sea Eagle 330 is an inflatable recreational kayak with the following specifications:
Price: $230-280 (USD) depending on the package. It does, however, come with a paddle, pump, and carrying bag.
Length: 11’ 1”
Width: 34”
Weight: 26 LBS (12 Kg)
Capacity: 500 LBS (227 Kg)
Number of Paddlers
One of the obvious differences between these kayaks is that the Tucktec is a solo kayak designed for one paddler, while up to two paddlers can use the Sea Eagle 330, because it is slightly longer and has a higher weight capacity. For that reason, the 330 is available as a solo package or a tandem package. The tandem package includes two seats and two paddles.
Portability
Both the Tucktec and the Sea Eagle 330 are portable kayaks, weighing about the same amount (28 and 26 LBS respectively). The Sea Eagle comes with a carrying bag that makes it a little bit easier to carry.
When it comes to assembly, both kayaks are very quick and easy to assemble. They can both be ready to paddle in minutes, although the Tucktec is a little quicker to put together.
All in all, the Tucktec and Sea Eagle 330 both get top marks for portability.
Stability
The Tucktec and the Sea Eagle 330 are similar in terms of stability. Both kayaks are very stable. The Tucktec is 30 inches wide, making it narrower than the Sea Eagle. However, the seat is lower in the Tucktec giving the paddler a lower centre of gravity. On the other hand, the Sea Eagle 330 has a higher seat but is a wider kayak. As a result, both kayaks share great stability.
Performance
Performance is the first place where these kayaks start to differ. Both kayaks are entry-level kayaks, or as I call them, gateway kayaks. They are kayaks that people purchase to test the water and see if kayaking is something that they enjoy. If it is something that you enjoy, at some point, you will naturally want to upgrade the kayaks.
When comparing the two, the Tucktec kayak is the first kayak you would need to upgrade. The Sea Eagle is a more versatile kayak and can handle a wider variety of conditions. This is because it is an inflatable kayak and cannot swamp. More specifically, even if water does get inside, the kayak is full of air and has drain plugs, so it won't sink. This is why the Sea Eagle 330 can handle rougher water, such as waves on bigger lakes and up to class 2 river rapids.
On the other hand, the Tucktec is strictly designed for use on flatwater, because if it swamps it doesn't have any floatation to keep it afloat. This means you'll have no choice but to swim the kayak to shore. The benefit of the Tucktec is that it travels a little faster through the water. The extra speed comes from the fact that it is a narrower, hard shell kayak with a pointier bow.
Durability
Both kayaks have a three-year warranty, which says a lot about their durability. Being a hard shell kayak, one of the benefits of the Tucktec is that you don't need to worry about getting a puncture, as you do with an inflatable like the Sea Eagle 330. That being said, quality inflatable kayaks don't puncture very often, unless they're abused.
A risk factor that comes with the Tucktec is that the kayak uses a lot of hardware. The concern is that if one of these parts fails, the kayak will no longer float. Comparing this with a puncture in the Sea Eagle 330 – even if you get a puncture in the 330, the kayak has 3 main air chambers, which means 2/3 of the kayak will still hold air. This means you'll still float enough to paddle back to shore.
Comfort
Both the Tucktec and the Sea Eagle 330 are comfortable recreational kayaks. They are wide and open, which gives the paddler a lot of freedom of movement. The Sea Eagle gets a little edge simply because it is inflatable, soft, and cushiony. The seat in the Sea Eagle is also a little more comfortable.
The biggest drawback of the Sea Eagle 330 is that it does not have foot supports. Having foot support when paddling for a long period reduces leg fatigue. The Tucktec does have basic foot support, making it more comfortable for longer days of paddling.
Safety
When looking at the Tucktec and the Sea Eagle 330, many people would assume that the Tucktec is safer because it cannot puncture. I would disagree for reasons I've already mentioned. The Sea Eagle 330 has three air chambers, so should one of those chambers puncture, you will still float and can paddle to safety. On the other hand, if something fails on the Tucktec, you are out of luck because the boat will not float.
Similarly, if the Tucktec swamps, the kayak won't float. This is why it is so important to only use the Tucktec on water that will always be calm and flat. On the other hand, the Sea Eagle is safe to use in a much wider range of water environments.
The Benefits of the Tucktec Kayak
- It cannot be punctured
- It is a little faster to assemble
- It is a little faster to paddle
The Benefits of the Sea Eagle 330 Kayak
- Significantly higher maximum capacity
- Can be used as a single or tandem kayak
- Significantly cheaper than the Tucktec (comes with a paddle too)
- Much more versatile and can be used in a wide range of water conditions, including up to class 2 rapids
Overall Summary of Best Portable Gateway Kayak
To summarise my feelings on these two kayaks – while they're both decent gateway kayaks, the Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak would be my clear choice.
If you simply don't want an inflatable kayak, the Tucktec is not a bad option. I do think that you can do better. For example, the Oru Kayak Lake is the base model of the Oru kayak, which costs about $150 more than the Tucktec, but is a significantly better quality kayak.
Kayaks: Tucktec and Sea Eagle 330
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray
PFD: NRS Zen PFD, NRS Ninja Lifejacket
Clothing: NRS Long Sleeve Paddling Shirt, NRS Short Sleeve Paddling Shirt
