Review: Sevylor Colorado Canoe

This is a review for the Sevylor Colorado Canoe:

These little, packable boats absolutely rock!!! We use them extensively on almost all of our excursions. Tough, durable, extremely stable, lightweight, compact, comfortable....what else can we say!!!

Visit our new lodge in Lake Clark National Park.

We first starting using the inflatable canoe in 2007 and haven't looked back. Most of our destinations require bush plane transportation and a hard bottom canoe is out of the question. We have experimented with the foldable canoes and kayaks but were not super impressed. We needed a lightweight, compact boat able to carry at least two people and tons of gear. We purchased one boat the first year and really didn't have much hope considering the cost. We were very surprised with the quality and durability but the proof was in the the pudding. We made it a point to abuse the little boat to find all its faults. We rammed it into jagged rocks going full boar down class 3 water. We drug it over trees, rocks and beaver dams. We loaded it down with three people and a few packs(on a still lake) up to 550lbs. On the river it comfortably held two people and 120lbs of gear. We used the provided tie down loops cranking them to the max and they never gave way or ripped.  The seating in these boats are also a plus. With an elevated, inflated bladder the paddler sits 3 or 4 inches above the bottom of the boat. The seats are fully adjustable and very comfortable. We had a 36 mile lake paddle this year and spent many 2-3 hour sessions without having to get out to stretch.

The boat is separated into three main bladders. The two side tubes are regulated by the tried and true, one way boston valve. They are very easy to

Gathering Wood For The Fire

 inflate and deflate. The floor and seat compartments are regulated by a cheap rubber valve sorta like the ones on your kids floaties.....more on this later. The side tubes and floor are covered with a tough denier type material that is bullet proof. The underside of the boat is covered with a tough fabric coated rubber. This part of the boat is also extremely durable. We have floated many a shallow river where the boats dragged bottom for several hours and all with no holes worn. We did catch a piece of glass on a portage which ripped a huge hole in both the bottom and the bladder. However, with two compartments still inflated we were able to make the rest of the river. On our return to camp we promptly patched, sewed and glued the hole.....out the next day. The floor of the boat sits above the bottom of the boat by 4 or so inches. There is a gap between the floor and side tube that catches any water that may splash in the boat. You can have a couple gallons of water in the boat and not even get wet....a HUGE plus. The back of the boat has a plug which enables quick drainage.

Now the bad..........

First, the cheap rubber valves in the floor and seats we mentioned earlier. Why on earth would you build a great boat and then almost jeopardize the whole thing with a .20 cent valve were it matters most? They are extremely hard to get air into and of course the self closing feature doesn't allow air out unless squeezed. When these valves are pushed down they are a pain to get out for deflating. We usually have to use our leatherman pliers to dislodge them which sometimes ends in ripping the cap off the valve. We have two boats with ripped off valve caps. Sevylor makes a repair kit for the valves but the new caps really don't fit very tight and there is always a small amount of air leaking out. Good grief, Sevylor, charge us $10 more and finish strong by adding the proper valves. Although a pain its not a deal breaker for us. We alway carry the after market repair kit on every float.

Secondly, the plug on the back that empties any water is always getting stuck. It literally takes two people, one with pliers, to pull it. Good thought but bad design.

Lastly, the inner bladders on the whole boat could be of a little better quality. The outside denier cover is great and very protective but one look inside the zipper might cause you to doubt. We haven't had any problems so far so it is more of a concern than a problem.

Overall we give the boat two thumbs up on the cost to quality scale. If you need a boat that is extremely compact (we can fit four boats, paddles, in a life vests Piper Super Cub) reasonably lightweight, durable, capable of heavy loads and affordable than here it is.