It’s an exhilarating feeling, paddling out into open ocean, with nothing but water between you and the horizon. To rise to the challenge, you need the Open Ocean Kayak Package. It has the right kayak and the right accessories for you to have a confident and exciting sea kayaking experience. The basis of this package is the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite inflatable kayak with the RapidUp Sail, so you can let the sea breeze do the work for you! See below for why the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite inflatable kayak is ideal as a sea kayak for use in open ocean.
Are kayak campers / expeditioners who want to load up with gear
Are tall (6’2” or above) and need some leg room
Are casual paddlers who want speed AND comfort
Are NOT going in whitewater and whitewater class III
Here’s why this kayak is ideal as a sea kayak for use in open ocean:
Stable
In open ocean, the water is moving a lot more than in flat water and it moves your kayak around under you. If you are in a very narrow kayak, it can take a lot of concentration, core strength and energy just to prevent capsizing. For most people, this just isn’t a lot of fun! A stable kayak will allow you to sit back and relax from time to time, and to concentrate on your paddle stroke, rather than on staying upright.
Dry
The AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite Kayak is an enclosed sit-in kayak, rather than an exposed sit-on-top kayak. The cockpit is narrow with inflatable coaming, so you get quite a bit of protection from splash. If you want even more protection, you can attach the skirt to the coaming to keep the water out and the warmth in. This gives you the freedom to go kayaking even in choppy or very cold water.
The patented AdvancedFrame bow and stern cut through chop easily.
Comfortable
Often when you are sea kayaking, you are on the water for long stretches without a break on dry land to stretch your legs. It is therefore SUPER important that you are comfortable. The AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite Kayak has an adjustable foot rest and a high back seat with adjustable lumbar support – magic for your back!
Gear
There is heaps of deck space, heaps of D-rings and bungee lacing and a huge weight capacity, so if you are thinking of gearing up for a multi-day expedition, load ‘em up!
Attachments
The D-rings and bungee on the decks allow you to attach various items for safety (eg EPIRB, PLB), navigation (eg smart phone) , or assisted paddling (eg the awesome RapidUp Sail).
The kayak comes with an adjustable foot brace. A lot of paddles swear by foot braces for encouraging good paddling technique and for supporting the lower back.
The AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak has excellent back support – the seat backs are high and stiff and there is an inflatable lumbar cushion included for extra support.
What is the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite Kayak good for?
The Expedition Elite kayak is quite large inside and you can unzip the front deck so they are not cramped into a cockpit.
The drop-stitch floor is very tough and won’t be a problem with dog claws.
The wide flat hull means the kayak is very stable so you won’t all go over board if your dog gets excited and makes a sudden move (not that they ever do that …).
The AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite is fine for class 1 and 2 whitewater, however it is really designed to paddle in a straight line, and therefore not recommended for rivers above class 2.
Who is the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite Kayak good for?
The key feature for beginners is stability and the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite is wonderfully stable, so no dramas there.
The design is so good that it’s super-easy to paddle straight.
But…
It’s a fairly heavy kayak, which means it takes a bit more strength to get going than our lightweight kayaks. Once it’s going, however, it leaves them for dead!
And it’s quite long. This is what makes it go nice and straight, but it also means it takes a bit more technique to turn. Not difficult to learn, just something to consider.
There is no rudder on the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak, but the Rudder Kit we sell IS compatible with this kayak.
Note that the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak is easy to paddle, tracks very well and is not very wind affected, so you are not likely to need a rudder.
But my strong recommendation is that you take a look at the setup video:
AdvancedFrame Expedition kayak Setup Video AE1009 from Advanced Elements and Oz Inflatable Kayaks
Note that this is for the original AdvancedFrame Expedition kayak, the Elite version has a drop-stitch floor and an aluminium deck riser, so the set-up is slightly different.
