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

The post Tucktec kayak vs Sea Eagle 330 kayak appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Nowadays, every notch on the minuscule to remortgaging price spectrum has been occupied, and with different styles. One of the more creative designs to crop up is the folding kayak.

But since there are so many options, the challenge becomes not so much which style of portable kayak to buy, but which specific model within that class best suits your needs and preferences. I hope that by comparing these two juggernaut sellers, you can determine if the Oru Kayak Inlet or the Tucktec Kayak is up your alley. Let's get into it!

ABOUT THE ORU KAYAK INLET

Price: $949 (USD)

Length: 9'6″

Width: 30″

Weight: 20 LBS (9 KG)

Capacity:  275 LBS (125 KG)

The Oru Kayak Inlet also comes with a 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and a 1-Year Warranty.  

ABOUT THE TUCKTEC KAYAK

Price: $499 USD

Length: 10′

Width: 30″

Weight: 28 LBS (13 KG)

Capacity: 300 LBS (136 KG)

The Tucktec Kayak comes with a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and a 3-Year Warranty. 

Round 1: Portability

How much does the Oru Kayak Inlet weigh?

At a mere 20-pounds, the Oru Kayak Inlet is definitely the lighter of the two competitors. In fact, legitimate kayaks don't come much lighter than that. Also, when folded up, the Inlet makes a nice, tight, self-contained carry-case. It's basically a little briefcase. And finally, assembly only takes a few minutes and is easy to figure out. I have to give the Oru Kayak Inlet a 10/10 for portability. 

How much does the Tucktec Kayak weigh?

As for the Tucktec Kayak, this thing still only weighs in at 28-pounds and also folds into a similarly sized package. It's just not quite as slick as the Inlet. A problem I can anticipate is pieces falling out of the tube-structure when transporting it around. Assembling the Tucktec was also quick, but involved a pinch more figuring than the Inlet. Nonetheless, the Tucktec is still ridiculously portable and I give it a 9/10 in this department. 

Round 2: Stability

Are folding kayaks stable?

The Oru Kayak Inlet is a 30-inch-wide boat, so it's inherently stable while sitting flat and even balances on a slight edge reasonably well. I'd feel comfortable putting pretty much anyone in this. The Tucktec Kayak is the exact same width and also provides significant stability. You certainly don't have to be a pro to stay dry in either of these. 

Round 3: Performance

Are folding kayaks any good?

For the purposes of this comparison I looked at each kayak's speed, tracking (i.e. ability to hold a course), maneuverability, and ability to handle rougher waters. The Oru Kayak Inlet is a sub-10-foot boat and therefore, not designed for speed or traveling long distances. Rather, it aims to be a stable, fun, and portable vessel for general enjoyment. That being said, for what this kayak is, I was impressed by its ability to cut through the water and hold a line, even without a rudder or skeg. It also maneuvers very well. However, the Inlet is for flatwater and flatwater only. Whether modest river waves or wind waves, this kayak will easily swamp and send you swimming for the shore. 

As for the Tucktec, all the performance attributes of the Inlet essentially overlap with this kayak. The one extra standout is its drop-skeg system, which gives it that little extra trackability. It was a calm day when I tested this out, but with some wind, the Tucktec's skeg might come even more into play.

Can Oru Kayaks sink?

Both the Inlet and the Tucktec are for flatwater and flatwater only. Whether in modest river waves or wind waves, these kayaks will easily swamp and send you swimming for the shore.

Round 4: Durability

How many times can you fold an Oru Kayak?

Time and real-world conditions are always the true test, but Oru Kayak makes the bold claim that the Inlet is good-to-go for 10,000 folds! I can't imagine who would ever come close to that milestone. In terms of what I can ascertain from appearances, the Inlet looks solid for such a light boat and all the trim and little details look like they were well-thought-out. The 1-year warranty isn't the best deal around, but it still shows that Oru Kayak trusts their craftsmanship. 

Are folding kayaks durable?

The Tucktec Kayak is one big piece of plastic, which suggests surprising durability, again, relatively speaking for such a light boat. The weak point would of course be on the fold lines, but Tucktec has the more vulnerable ones reinforced with some extra plastic pieces. If I had to caution users about anything, it would be the little things like the tiny straps, ropes, footpegs and the foam sponsons, which seem like they would get pummeled by continued sun exposure. Nonetheless, Tucktec says that it's good for thousands of folds, and the 3-year warranty backs up that claim.

Round 5: Comfort

What are the disadvantages of folding kayaks?

Comfort is not really the Oru Kayak Inlet's strength. The back support is fine, but even though it adjusts up and down, I found that it was quite high overall. This caused it to regularly push my lifejacket up. I'd recommend you get a rec-lifejacket that has the flotation high in the back in order to compensate. Moving along, the seat pad is on the narrow side and it's quite thin. It didn't take long for my butt to start barkin'. So the whole seat is definitely an area for improvement. Otherwise, in terms of sizing, I'm 6-foot-2 with about a 34-inch inseam and I'm right at the limit for this boat. My feet were pressed against the bulkheads rather than the footpegs. I was still comfortable, lengthwise, but I wouldn't recommend that anyone taller try to paddle this thing. 

As for the Tucktec Kayak, the seat is quite cushy, but it's simply too narrow. I think if they widened it a bit then they would really have something. A clear tick in the pro column  is that the seat is slightly raised, which means your butt doesn't get wet as easily, like in the Inlet. I also appreciated the sponsons. They acted like a couple Lazy Boy arm rests and protected from the harsher edges on the boat.

I paddled around for over an hour and never found myself clipping any awkward folds or notches throughout the cockpit. So that's always encouraging! In the end, I'd say both kayaks offer similar, passable comfort, with maybe the slight edge going to the Tucktec. 

Round 6: Overall Value

Are folding kayaks worth it?

The Oru Kayak Inlet retails for $949 (USD), though it can regularly be found online for $899. That's no small chunk of change, but for a well-built, recreational kayak, that is a reasonable sum. The featherlight, highly-portable frame comes at a premium, but these attributes open the door to so many people who may not otherwise be able to own/store/transport a kayak.

I wouldn't say that the Inlet is an exceptional value, but it looks great, paddles well, and is therefore a worthwhile purchase for a sizable demographic of kayakers. 

The Tucktec Kayak is advertised at $499 (USD) but can often be found for $350. That's pretty remarkable, especially because it does its job. Saving some money isn't worth much if the kayak can't, well…kayak. Like the Inlet, the Tucktec is light, portable, and well put-together. It's not as pretty or refined as the Inlet, but obviously some concessions have to be made to get this kind of a bargain. Overall, I think it's clear that the Tucktec Kayak is a valuable package for the customers in question. 

Judges Decision: Oru Kayak Inlet vs Tucktec Kayak

Well, given that both the Oru Kayak Inlet and the Tucktec Kayak have similar attributes, only edging each other out across different metrics, the final decision really comes down to your budget, aesthetic preference, and subtle gut-feeling.

It would be hard to ignore the significantly lower price tag of the Tucktec, but it would also be hard to resist the unique design of the Oru Kayak Inlet. In either case, I hope this comparison helped you comb through some of the finer details and arrive at a confident decision. 

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