Description The Safari is a new concept in inflatable design. Self-bailing, definite rocker, slight keel, compact size and low profile combine to provide a sophisticated and technical paddling experience on white...
Reviewed by: Wolfgang H(Unregistered User)
,
Mountaineer
Price Paid:
$499.00
at Boat People San Jose
Summary: The Innova Safari is my first kayak. The boat is pretty good on flat water, I haven't taken it into whitewater yet. One complaint I have is that it gave me a serious skin rash as the saet and arm rest padding is made out of Neoprene, and I am allergic to Neoprene. The Neoprene poisioning symptoms are just like when you touch Poison Oak. Just in case you are sensitive to Neoprene DON'T buy this boat.
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Summary: Woah Nellie, this is not a boat for beginners. It's narrow width and definite keel is tippy to say the least. I know the literature says don't start out in Class III water with this boat and they are correct. I have run class III+ rivers in other IK's and never swam. Well, this day was different. I hit one vee just off center and before I knew it, I was tipped into the McKenzie River. If you know this river you know there are no pools, the gradient is always moving and it is very cold. Well, 1/2 mile later I felt like I was fighting for survival. It was extremely hard to get out of the current and toward shore. When I finally made it, the cold had sucked all my energy and I was whipped. I never lost any equipment and the boat survived all the rocks, tree limbs, etc...but the experience was not fun. I have used Rikens, Hysides, Stars, and AIREs all of which performed well in terms of stability. The Safari is not stable so become proficient before venturing into more dicey rivers. It is a nice boat, affordable and well built but I think I am going to sell it and buy an AIRE. To me, stability is worth the extra $500.
Customer Service: Have not used customer service other than some initial questions. All were handled nicely.
Similar Products Used: AIRE, Hyside, Riken, Star
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Summary: i have found this little boat an absolute blast to own and paddle. i've taken it all over mexico, down the rio grande and chama rivers in new mexico, many ozark streams, and out in the broad waters of the puget sound. of course it's not so fast as a longer boat, but it goes in the overhead of the boeing and packs comfortably to carry for a trip any time.
Customer Service: i''ve only had a slight problem with the backpack/dry bag, which was replaced immediately.
Similar Products Used: innova helios 380; about ten other kayaks of various materials and designs
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Summary: I love my boat. It packs into my Miata and onto the back of my bike. It takes very little time and effort to inflate. It is tippy but I've learned how to manuever it well in Class II rapids and in ocean surf. On lakes it tracks very well with the detachable fin. The one disappointment is that ads said it could be rolled like a hard-shell but several teachers at roll clinics have tried it without success. This means that whenever I tip, I swim, which is very inconvenient at times.
Customer Service: I haven''t needed customer service for problems with the boat, but I have had quite a few questions about glueing on D rings, optimal paddle length, etc, with which the folks at Innova have been very
Similar Products Used: Aire, other inflatable kayaks
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