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DragonFly™ FAQ's
Design Background:
- Materials and construction: The outside cover is made with two different materials; the topside is a high-denier Polyester with a PVC laminate, while the bottom (Hull) is made with a PVC tarpaulin. "PVC tarpaulin" is made by combining two sheets of vinyl with a fabric mesh in the middle. The outer cover provides an additional layer of protection for the inner tube. This is very durable and resistant to stretching and tearing. The perimeter of the cover is electronically welded so that it is watertight. The inflatable tube is made of heavy-duty PVC. When the tube is inflated the outer cover takes form and the kayak becomes more rigid. The bow and stern have rigid forms built-in to the cover, which gives the kayak increased performance on the water. The seats are constructed using a very durable 420D Nylon Rip-stop fabric with a Polyurethane coating. The inner parts of the seat are composed of a closed cell foam and plastic board. This offers comfort and support. The seats will float should they happen to get outside of the kayak.
- Use and performance:
Your center of gravity is lower in our kayaks, which results in a nice feeling of stability when paddling. Instead you can focus on the nature surrounding you, or fishing, or even just soaking up the sun. The two-person DragonFly can also be paddled by one person sitting in the back seat. This allows more room for gear on an extended paddle trip. Each kayak has a tracking fin on the bottom as well as a skid plate for running ashore. The fin helps keep the kayak going straight and the skid plate provides additional durability when beaching the kayak. These boats a great for lakes, bays, marinas, mild rivers but always be familiar with your surroundings, and thoroughly read and understand all instructions and cautions.
DRAGONFLY INFLATABLE KAYAKS
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Q. What type of valves do the DragonFly kayaks use?
A. The main chamber uses a 2-way Boston Valve. This prevents the air from escaping when inflating. When deflating, simply unscrew the valve center and the air is released unrestricted. - Q. What is the outer cover made of?
A. The top fabric is a high denier polyester with a PVC laminate, while the bottom is a heavy-duty PVC tarpaulin with a polyester mesh. The top cover is similar to fabric used in expedition quality backpacks while the bottom material is common to higher end inflatable boats. - Q. How well do these kayaks track (paddle straight)?
A. Tracking is dependent on the length, weight and hull shape. The DragonFly1 is more maneuverable because of its length, however both kayaks have a tracking fin, and skid plate which improve tracking. The DragonFly2 is longer and tracks very nicely with two people, or with one person and gear. The rigid bow and stern are formed to lift upward and allow the kayak to punch through waves with little resistance, instead of plowing through the water. - Q. Are these kayaks self-bailing?
A. No these are dry boats. Self-bailing or self-draining boats are intended for whitewater use. The floor of a self-bailing kayak has holes that allow water to move in and out of the boat, and are always a wet ride. They are less stable because you must be seated above the water line for them to work properly. The DragonFly kayaks are NOT self-bailing. - Q. What kind of pump should I use?
A. We recommend a bellows style foot pump or double action hand pump.
- Q. How long do the kayaks take to inflate and deflate?
A. On average it takes about 5 minutes when inflating with a foot pump. It will obviously take longer than that the first time you setup as you will want to get familiar with the components and assembly described in the owner's manual. - Q. How does the bow and stern improve the performance?
A. The unique bow and stern improve performance by doing the following. The bow is narrow and sharp as well as raised. This reduces the resistance through the water and keeps the waves from breaking on the deck. The Stern closes the water behind the boat to keep the kayak traveling straight. - Q. What is the best way to pack the boat back into the duffle bag?
A. The key to repacking the kayak is to get all the air out of it. Do this by reversing your pump and sucking the remaining air out of each chamber. - Q. How many inflation chambers are there?
A. The DragonFly1 has 4 chambers, while the DragonFly2 has 6 chambers. - Q. What type of conditions you can expect to use the DragonFly kayak
in?
A. These kayaks are great for exploring lakes, bays, marinas, and mild rivers, but always be familiar with your surroundings, and thoroughly read and understand all instructions and cautions.
AdvancedFrame
Below is a list of commonly asked questions about the AdvancedFrame inflatable Kayak.
Q. Will my pump fit the inflation valves? - Important - (valve adaptor
is located in the black nylon repair kit in the mesh seat pocket).
A. Yes, our kayaks can be inflated with a standard bellows style, or double
action hand pump. The AdvancedFrame kayak comes with an adaptor to fit
different size pump nozzles
Q. What kind of valves does the AdvancedFrame have? (Click here for more information)
A. The main chambers use high-end military style, plunger valves (Push in and twist 90 degrees to activate the spring-loaded check valve for inflating, or push-in and twist to lock open for deflating). You will notice the stem of the valve move outward, or lock inward. When inflating the stem should be in the outward position (or valve closed position). The pump pressure will bypass the the closed valve then when you stop pumping and remove the adaptor no air will come out. If using a standard foot or hand pump, you will need to use the hose adaptor included with the AdvancedFrame kayak. (located in the black nylon "repair kit" bag) Inflate the first chamber until it starts to fill out. Then close that valve, and proceed to the second gray valve. Inflate the second valve until the tube body fills out and feels firm. The other chambers are twisting style valves. Simply hold the pump hose on the end of the blue nozzle and pump. When the chamber is full twist shut.
Q. How does the bow and stern improve the performance of the kayak?
A. The unique bow and stern improve performance by doing the following. The bow is narrow and sharp as well as raised (Greenlander style). This reduces the resistance through the water and keeps the waves from breaking on the deck. The Stern closes the water behind the boat and acts like a skeg to keep the kayak traveling straight.
Rigid Bow and Stern Internal View
Q. Do I need to make a plywood floor for my kayak.?
A. NO, absolutely not. When the AdvancedFrame is inflated properly the skin is tight, and the air chambers are firm. The AdvancedFrame requires no additional stiffener. The only reason that a board would be needed would be if the kayak was not inflated properly. You must use a foot pump or hand pump to inflate to the needed pressure, an electric mattress inflator will not generate enough pressure.
Q. What is the deflated and packed size of the AdvancedFrame kayak?
A. The dimensions of the deflated AdvancedFrame kayak are 33 x 17 x 8 inches.
Q. How much does the kayak weigh?
A. It weights 34 lbs.
Q. Does it come with a carry case?
A. Yes, The AdvancedFrame kayak comes complete with a very heavy-duty duffel bag for transporting your kayak to your favorite destination.
Q. What is the best way to pack the boat back into the duffle bag?
A. The key to repacking the kayak is to get all the air out of it. Do this by reversing your pump and sucking the remaining air out of each chamber. Then follow the folding instructions in the owner's manual.
Q. Is there a way to increase the foot room?
A. Yes, if you need more space for your feet, simply let the air out of the floor chamber, then fold the rear of the floor over on itself (by 6" or 8") and slide the floor toward the rear of the boat. Then re-inflate the floor. This adds about 4" of toe room.
Q. Can I fit a spray skirt on the seating compartment coaming?
A. Yes, the coaming around the seating area can be used to attach a spray skirt, however it is not a rigid coaming so it would not be sufficient for Eskimo rolls, but it will keep excess water out of the boat and keep the warmth in on winter day. We have one specially designed for it. It is now available for purchase on our website or through our toll free number, and a various retailers in Spring 2003.
Q. What other accessories do you recommend?
A. These are a few other accessories that we would suggest if you don't
already have them.
a. Bellows style foot pump (to take with you).
b. A good quality paddling PFD (lifejacket) designed for kayaking.
c. Roll-top dry bag 1 or 2 (for stowing gear on deck or behind your seat).
d. A 4-part take-down paddle (so it will fit in your kayak duffel bag).
e. A paddling jacket is a nice thing to have on cold wet days.
f. Safety whistle and strobe light. Always play it safe.
g. An external frame pack for packing your kayak into a back country lake.
Q. How do you clean the kayak?
A. Hose it down with freshwater, and let it air dry before packing away for extended periods. Use a sponge to soak up any excess water and grit that may have made its way into the boat.
Q. How long does it take to set up?
A. On average it takes about 5 minutes when inflating with a foot pump. It will obviously take longer than that the first time you setup as you will want to get familiar with the components and assembly described in the owner's manual.
Q. Is there storage room inside the kayak for additional gear?
A. Yes, one of the nice features about this kayak is that there is actually room behind the seat to bring extra gear along on your adventure. There is also deck space to lash down any safety gear (spare paddle, etc.).
Q. How easily can the boat be punctured?
A. We use top quality reinforced PVC, and Hi-density fabrics. In order to puncture the main chamber from the bottom you would need to pierce through (3) three layers of material.
Q. Do I need a UV fabric protector?
A. If you would like to use a spray protector, we would recommend 303 protector (available at REI) this is the best on the market, and their tests do show that it extends the life of fabrics that are used in sunlight for extended periods.
Q. How should I store my boat?
A. When storing for an extended period of time, we recommend storing your kayak deflated in a cool dry area, out of direct sunlight.
Q. How well does the AdvancedFrame track in a straight line?
A. The AdvancedFrame kayak is designed to move thru the water like rigid and folding boats, instead of on top of the water like most inflatables. This greatly enhances the tracking, especially on powerful strokes.
Q. What type of conditions you can expect to use the AdvancedFrame kayak in?
A. The AdvancedFrame is designed to be a day touring type boat, for flat or open water. The bow and stern have a rigid semi-frame that gives it a hard edge. This greatly improves the tracking over traditional inflatables. The AdvancedFrame is fine for class 1 and 2 rivers, and durable enough for class 3, however it is really designed to paddle in a straight line, and therefore not recommended for rivers above class 3. When choosing a kayak for class 3 whitewater or greater, you really want a boat with a very rounded hull that will not grip on to the current, especially in eddys. Unfortunately kayaks with very rounded hulls will not paddle very straight on flat water.