I was thinking about buying an inflatable kayak/canoe for messing around on the lake and in the bay. Are they OK for such a thing? I live in Rhode Island, I don't know if that info is helpful. Thanks.|||It depends. There are $100 inflatables (like Sevylor) all the way up to $2,500 (Feathercraft Java). Cheap inflatable "kayaks" are not much more than rafts, slow and tedious to paddle and don't track well. The cheap boats are not safe to take in the ocean or strong currents so they limit your options. Some people love their somewhat inexpensive inflatables and I have to admit that models like the $400 Advanced Elements kayaks do look like they are well designed and built. Except for some top end models, no inflatable will perform like a hardshell or skin-on-frame type boat.
If you can, you should try to paddle a variety of boats and see how they feel before spending your money. See if a local kayak outfitters shop has any "demo days" where they provide a variety of boats on the water for potential buyers to try out. You should experience how the performance of an inflatable feels to you, compared to other types of boats to see if it is acceptable for what you want to do.
Of you do decide to buy an inexpensive inflatable, make sure you buy a good paddle (this will likely cost you over $100). Having a competent, lightweight (fiberglass shaft, not metal) paddle that is long enough (at least 240 cm) will have as great or more of an impact on your enjoyment of paddling as the boat itself will.
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