r/Inflatablekayak

So, I happen to have two Bote Aero Lonos and I’m super interested in learning how wind works.

https://www.boteboard.com/products/lono-aero-inflatable-kayak

It is sort of modular in that the rear deck and seat can be left off to make it a “SUP”. When inflated to 14psi it’s rigid as wood.

I’m certain that what I really want is a Hobie Islander or any old rotten $500 catamaran but those necessitate a trailer and the Islanders are expensive / rare in my area.

I feel like I could fashion the two Lonos together in a way that would make /r/ DIYfail flinch. It’d either be a hack together kit like [this](https://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Katamayak?srsltid=AfmBOoox14d-dN2haIHAnaSdj-5S6Hl15bYhA1GwChMDw5cM\_xkUVnnC).

Or something more homebrew like [this](https://kayakamaran.com/sailing-setup/). I could possibly start with a drop stitch 7’x7’ square float pad but I figure that would be less rigid than tube / ladder.

How dumb would building my own Kayakamaran actually be?

Thoughts on what kind of mast equipment I’d want to clear over sitting height? I’d probably want to start small until I learned to avoid turtling in my gust mountain lakes. I’m also not terribly opposed to running one hull with outriggers.

Give me your thoughts. Give me suggestions to make it happen. WindSUP kits? Tell me what parts I’m being most dumb about. Let’s hear it.

Great experience, paddling up the stream of the river from the sea.

Was windy, but in the direction we were going, so we went really fast the way there, the way back was less fun :) but

Not my video. It's a video from Instagram from @redequipment.

I ordered this on Amazon. The price is $100 USD currently.

Thank you in advance for your inputs!

I’d thought that my paddle was too short because I have to lean to the sides to generate enough power to push through 30+ km/hr winds. I’ve now learned about high and low angle paddle strokes and realized that if it’s the angle generating the force more than the amount of paddle in water, then a longer paddle won’t help, I’ll still have to lean to the sides (which extends my shoulders a bit much because I’m short and have short arms). I know, simple answer is don’t go out when it’s that windy, but I live in the upper Midwest and even at the times when I can have my pick of which days to go out, it’s rarely not windy. I enjoy the experience, I just want to learn how to maximize safety so that I don’t do myself an injury. This last outing in 45km/hr gusts, when I was driving straight into it I was anchoring about every 50 yards and resting, stretching my shoulders to prevent injury. Looking for advice on how to improve my form with the tools I have (and also very open to paddle suggestions, although I don’t know when I’ll be able to afford a new one: I’m currently using the 240cm aluminum paddle that came with my Sea Eagle)

Photo of a more sheltered stretch from the outing during high winds the other day.

Found some small leaks in the bottom hull at the seems that are in bad spots to patch well. I patched them but still a slow leak. I had this 2" foam insulation board laying around so I decided to experiment with it. Fits good I imagine it will work well I'm just wondering how what I can do to strengthen the center section where I step in and sit so it doesn't crack. I don't think it will crack if I'm careful but I've heard when this stuff gets cold it's more fragile. Don't plan on going out in the cold though. I was thinking about placing a skim board or something under my main seating position.. any ideas welcome. Its just my small lake fishing kayak I'm trying to get one more year out of.

For Sea Eagle 330. Used and came to me with these parts detached.

Wind picked up in the afternoon, so the way back was very windy (20+ km/h winds) and a bit of waves, but we managed.

Did manage to break the skeg at the end :-(