Just wanted to say thank you again for taking the time to create this video. I’ve been researching inflatable kayaks for months. There was so much to learn and there are so many options and price ranges out there. Seeing your video and listening to what you had to say about it has narrowed it down and confirm the 380x will be best for me. Plan to purchase today :).
Very informative; we "future Kayak owners" appreciate those who take the trouble to help us be a little more informed. Beyond understanding the basics of this model, it was nice to hear about the rope you added to drag the boat against the shoreline as you walk if you need to get out of tough water/wind, but need to keep moving. At glacier lake recently, 2 girls spent their youth trying to get back to their rental place across the lake with wind against them. I guess they eventually made it (grin). The longer oar makes a lot of sense, and like many say, you can use it forever, thus making the initial cost less of a 'gulp'. Lastly, the skeg (rudder) you bought with the more shallow angle was smart; most folks will want to ensure they don't drag the river/rock bottom; noted!!. Thanks again.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The shallow water skeg is a game changer for mellow river paddling. I don't use it in bigger water tho. Check out my other video and you'll see where the tow rope saved my butt on a crazy portage!
Thanks for the informative and detailed review of various set-ups, Bert! I've been waffling back and forth between this and the 420x. Will have 2 people much of the time, but still want to be able to handle it solo. It looks like this will work for both, especially by mounting the seats higher to get more room for 2, while still being manageable for one on the river in the lower position.
I dont know much about Sea Eagle inflatables. I know they've been making Zodiac style boats for decades. They show jp in the top 10 kayaks all the time. You have made a good choice! Enjoy!
Bert, that's just about the gold standard for review/explanation/analysis. Thanks for the excellent work. You just sold a Sea Eagle 380. One thing though.... Can you list the various add-ons you chose? The PFD popped on the screen, but not the trolling motor, etc. First class. Thanks.
Thanks Tony! I use a Stohlquist Keeper pfd, I purchased a Kerko (cheap Amazon) carbon fiber paddle 260 cm. I use a MinnKota 30lb thrust trolling motor with an AGM blue top battery.
Howdy from Tennessee. Thank you for such a great review. I have been watching your channel and a few others trying to make up my mind on the kayak I want. I have lucked out and found a 380x for $300 and it is like brand new! So happy! I decided I wanted one of these for both me and hubs and a fast track for solo. Now if I can find a fast track that I want at such a great bargain.
@@bertsadventures9974 I did go buy it! I am so happy with it! Two upgraded paddles, hard back seats, inflatable seats and the electric pump! I am still dancing!
Thanks Flavio! Check out seaeagle.com You can get all of the accessories there. I almost never use the standard skeg anymore and always have the swept back skeg on my Explorers.
Thanks, I've been looking for info on fishing kayak. So, you actually place seat on top of the kayak. that surprises me, but it's better to get some height.
Thanks for this video! I have a cheap Pelican kayak that filled up with water and almost sunk a couple weeks ago. I have been seriously thinking about a Sea Eagle. I think your fishing setup might have been the final nudge I needed. How did you attach your motor mount to the kayak? The only hesitation I have is that I mostly paddle on lakes with lots of motorboats and wind, so it's choppy. That makes for hard paddling, even in a hardshell kayak. I guess that's where the trolling motor comes in handy :) By the time you add all this up, it's not cheap though.
Hey Steve, thanks for the note! I think you'll find that the Explorer is much more stable in choppy water than a traditional kayak. The motor mount is held in place with lashing straps and since it is only holding a really light trolling motor it is totally fine. I'm in Southeast PA if you are anywhere nearby and want to check out my setup.
I just think the Explorer is a bit more versatile. The tubes are larger so it might be more cumbersome on flat water, but I really enjoy rivers and the Explorer has been awesome!
Outstanding video! Thank you for describing the flat back configuration on the Stohlquist Keeper, versus how other PFDs would fit in the high-back Explorer seats. I've been considering that exact PFD, for that reason. Also, may I ask about the extension handle for your Minn Kota? Is yours one of the Minn Kota brand extension handles? (I didn't know they existed until I saw yours..and Google!) PS. Last week, I ordered an Explorer 420, as a camping and fishing boat, with the Minn Kota Endura 30. ...but mine won't be delivered for a couple more months. :)
Thanks for the comment and good luck with the Keeper PFD. It is so comfortable that I literally wear it almost every minute I'm on the water. I forget if the extension handle is a Minn Kota brand but it works great and allows you to sit further forward in the boat for a flatter ride. Good luck with your 420! Sometimes I wish I had gone that route, especially when I have a passenger, but I love my 380X!
Bert, do you ever use the trolling motor to get upstream on rivers and then float back? Also, can Scotty or Yak Attack mounts be glued onto those pontoons?? Lastly, what size paddle works for you on the 380X ?? Thanks, and i really enjoy your videos.
Hey Bob! Yes to both. I often use the motor to go upstream and then float. Depends on the current. I also have Scotty mounts on the boat. I use it for rod holders as well as mounting my camera. The Sea Eagle website sells them.
Hi Bert, I've been enjoying watching your adventures and thank you for reviewing the 380X for us. I am totally stuck in making a decision as to whether I will purchase the 380X or the 385fta. I have seen your answer about not having any problems with punctures while fishing but I'm usually not that fortunate. I have scars to prove it. : / That being said the other thing is I'm not to sure i'm going to do any heavy rapid boating so I'm kind of leaning toward the 385fta. I really don't like the Green color and I wish they would beef up the 385ft. Perhaps I'm over thinking.
Thanks Walter! I don't think you can go wrong with either of them but I do really enjoy the versatility that I get with the Explorer. In fact I'm getting ready to buy a pontoon boat so my kayak will probably become exclusively a river paddler!
Really trying to decide on this 380x or a sit on top tandem kayak. You made my decision more difficult with your videos. 😉 Not sure I plan to do any whitewater in the near future. But I won’t say never! Right now mostly lakes, quiet rivers and saltwater bays tandem with my wife. I’m all about relaxing out there either fishing or just paddling. How difficult is it to paddle with these high seats? I may not get a motor for awhile. In one of your other videos you mentioned putting one of the inflatable cushions that Sea Eagle sells under the adjustable high back seat to give yourself a little height off the floor. How does that work out? Might be better to fish from that combo without a motor. Thanks, Chris
Thanks Chris! I'm a big fan of the black high back seat and when I'm in whitewater it is awesome, but for calmer water I do like to sit a bit higher and a cushion helps with that. The back support of the black seat is so much better than that offered by the standard deluxe inflatable seat (imho). I have never tried a sit on top kayak, but having purchased a hard shell boat over the winter for whitewater and quickly switching back to my inflatable, I can tell you that from a storage, transportation and getting to & from your car to water you can't beat the inflatable option!
It works fine but you do have to manage the steering. See my Frankenmount video where I built a solution to mount the motor on the back of the boat. It works much better!
So what did you end up buying? I'm glad that my review helped in your decision making process, but longevity doesn't seem to be an issue for me. I've met people who have used their Explorers for over 15 years!
@@bertsadventures9974 I went with an Aquaglide Chelan 140. It's not as white water capable, but capable enough for my needs. Yes, I read anecdotes of them lasting a really long time, and anecdotes of them only lasting a few years after the material starts to degrade from UV exposure. I'd imagine it has a lot to do with how you take care of it, but it was enough to scare me away this time.
Nice kayak. I'm curious when you're fishing is it stable enough to stand and fish? Also when I'm out on the water I love to take a dip when it gets hot. Is the kayak easy to get back in from the water if you jump out or fall in (hopefully not)?
I used simple acryllic paint & stencil to put my license numbers on the boat. I did also just apply the sticker to the hull, but I painted over it with clear acryllic to water proof and secure the edges. I'm in year three and it is holding up well.
How stable is this with the swivel seat setup? Looks comfortable for fishing flat water. What about paddling class 1 whitewater while seated up high? Would a locking swivel be better?
I find the boat to be very stable. Now if you do need to take care when you are spinning, but I've never had an issue at all. I've also used it on moving water without problem but usually with the trolling motor. You will need a pretty long paddle if you are seated upright and wanting to paddle.
Wondering if you recommend this for a person who is fairly new to kayaking? I’ve enjoyed borrowing an 8 foot small hard shell (Lifetime brand purchased from Walmart) but want to have an inflatable and really enjoy the opportunity to get on the water. I’ve only kayaked on lakes with fairly calm water but have experienced the waves motor boats create. I plan to stay in lakes or calm rivers. No white water rafting for me lol. My concern is the stability during the wakes those motor boat make. I don’t want to fall out! Thank you, Stacey
Thanks so much for your great videos. In the event that the smaller skeg you show in the video hits a ledge in a rapid does that pose a problem for the integrity of the boat or just the skeg? As to the seats do you find the best combination for river running the inflatable seats (to keep dry and better paddle angle) and pro carbon paddles?
Hey William...thanks for the comment! I have run waters of all levels with the smaller swept back skeg with no problems. In really skinny water you are better to take it off. Personally I like the comfort of the deluxe black seat and I have a cushion under it for a few inches of added height. But in whitewater situations I just use the seat by itself to lower my center of gravity. I use a carbon paddle from Kerco that I purchased on Amazon. I think it is a 230 cm which is really good on flat and calm rivers. When I go whitewater I use a shorter paddle.
Fishing! I have several lakes that i fish in. I live in a small apt so i needed something that i can store in a closet or under my bed. I chose this because of the class 4 rating just in case.
Geri informative and helpful! We are looking at the 380 and 385 angler. I currently own a pontoon boat and am considering using the swivel seat and motor mount part on the kayak. Is there anything wrong with that in your experience? Thanks
No problem at all. I have even setup my 380X with 2 swivel seats and the electric motor and my son and I fished in the bay down in Miramar Beach FL. We had to be careful, but it worked. As a single angler the swivel seat is a great setup! Check out my "Frankenmount" video to see the motor mount I fabricated myself to place the motor off the stern of the boat. Much better tracking and control, but you have to adjust where you sit to balance out so much weight in the back.
I have a Sea Eagle 380 X coming next week. Used you evaluation to make a decision. We are interested in the multiple purpose capabilities. I do have two questions about the seat you setup for fishing and the battery. What brand of seat dud you purchase and does it swivel? What size motor do you use for the Minkota? Thanks.
Do you think my 12 year old son and I could fish comfortably from this model, or would it be too cumbersome and awkward? I am either looking at this or the 420x
Hey Phil! Sorry for the delay getting back to you. Depending on how big you guys are then, YES, you can both fish. Especially if you are paddling. But in my opinion the 420X is a better choice if you think you'll be doing tandem frequently.
@@bertsadventures9974 thanks for the response. Actually looking hard at the Saturn Kaboats now. A little bigger space to work with when it comes to fishing
Doesn't look like the paddle is available on Amazon anymore. It was probably some kind of knockoff carbon fiber paddle, but it has served me well. The PFD is a Stohlquist Keeper and the care is the C-Tug Kayak Cart. Both are available on Amazon.
How does the stability compare in scenarios: deluxe inflatable seat vs the swivel fishing seat mounted on top? Awkward to paddle when sitting that high above the water?
I'm lucky enough to work with Sea Eagle as a brand ambassador and they sent me a 300X as well as a Razorlite to play with and make videos. The 300X is far more maneuverable for a single in white water than the 380X, but I love both!!!
Watching your video for about the 4th time. One more question. If you were willing to get your head wet, could you install/uninstall the skeg, rather than taking the boat out of the water.
Yes. I did get a high back, but mostly because I plan to do more white water this year. For normal paddling I also got the 5" square cushion from Sea Eagle to get me off the floor of the boat. I gotta be honest that I never had any complaints about the deluxe inflatable seats, but this new combo is pretty damn comfortable in my opinion!
Thank you for your amazing insight. Thinking about getting the 420X Sea Eagle. They sell it with a 24lb water snake trolling motor. Is the 30lb Minn Kota a better choice ? JC
My personal opinion? I would go with a better brand than the water snake. Minn Kota is the best in the business and really not that expensive. You only need a 30" shaft for the Explorer and 30lb thrust seems to be plenty although if you typically are in water with grass & lilli pads you may want more thrust to get through heavier junk.
I have a 380x with the transom from Sea Eagle and the Minn Kota C2 30lbs thrust motor. Even with just myself and some gear there's times in high winds that require full throttle to keep the boat moving in the direction I'm attempting to head. That is on a protected lake as well. The 24lbs motor from Water Snake will work and it's capable of being used in salt water unlike the C2 30. However, even the 30lbs thrust Minn Kota feels underpowered at times (which is the maximum supported thrust listed by Sea Eagle). You also have a 15lbs weight limit for the Sea Eagle transom in regards to the motor itself (according to the manufacturer). I really want to get a Minn Kota Endura Max 40lbs thrust because of the increased efficiency and power it offers for a longer run time from a battery. However, I'm not sure if it's smart to go above the weight or the thrust limitations that Sea Eagle recommends.
I assume that boat is fairly old. Although I've never seen an Explorer without the dropstitch flooring I can't imagine the rigidity is anywhere near the current model. That would be fine on flat water, but would be a concern for me in whitewater.
@@bertsadventures9974 You're right it looks like the previous version from 10 years ago. I'm new and looking to test the waters. It seems like a good price, but missing the flooring. I would imagine the tracking wouldn't be ask good as you'd start to fold like a taco.
Love your videos, my wife and I have a 380x for our RV Trips, cant be happier. I'm getting an electric motor with it and wondering what your thoughts are on the CF numbers and decals, how did you do it and how is it working for you.
Glad you like the videos! Do you mean the Regiatration # & sticker? I actually stenciled the numbers and painted them in by hand and they're holding up great! For the sticker I applied it directly to the hull and then triple sealed the edges with a clearcoat to prevent them from peeling off. Two years in and they are holding up pretty well. I will need to remove them and put new stickers on later this year, so we'll see how that process goes!
Hey Tom! I just have the battery in a battery box from AutoZone and place it behind me. I try to make sure it isn't all the way back just to spread the weight.
It is sold as a tandem, but the weight capacity is 650 lbs so I guess you could put a child in with you. There is also a 420X that is even longer and would certainly work for you.
Another great video Bert. I have an rl 473 because I mostly do ocean kayaking. however yours is quite capable on the ocean too. Just a little slower but mine can not add the fishing set up you have It is strictly a high performance full drop stitch made to get the most bang for your paddle stroke I have watched a few of your adventures and they are awesome makes me want to do some calm rivers in mine. Keep up the good times!!
Thank you for sharing. May I ask what kind of battery you use? We have a similar model (Sea Eagle 285fta) & are wondering if our lead acid battery is too heavy.
Thank you for your comprehensive Sea Eagle video , it helped us with our decision for the 380x. What do we need to know about folding the kayak so we dont damage anything? We neex to squeeze it through a small RV compartment dooe. Is there a video of yours that shows how you do it? Thanks in advance! Ahoy!
Thanks Karin! You'll love the Explorer! I have not made a folding video, but have never had any trouble at all fitting it into the bag that Sea Eagle provides. Just be sure to wipe it dry so you don't get mold buildup if it is going to be stored for a while. I actually leave mine inflated from April to November because I use it so frequently.
I prefer the Swept Back Skeg from the Sea Eagle site. It is a great multi-purpose skeg for both deep and more shallow water. Plus it runs over shallow rocks a lot easier, but you still need to be careful.
looks like you have painted you registration numbers on your kayak - what kind of paint did you use? Also, looks like you have just applied your state annual registration sticker directly to the inflatable surface. Knowing you deflate and fold up your kayak - how does the annual registration sticker hold up? Just got my kayak and am registering it Monday. Last question, what kind of battery are you using for your electric motor setup. A typical lead-acid deep cycle battery seems to be the wrong type to use. But also thinking about weight. What is your experience and Amp hr rating you are using? Thanks...love the videos, keep them coming...ok, one more question...what is the box with rockets you use for your holding your icebox? :)
Hey Jack...thanks for the comment! I stenciled and used acrylic paint and it has held up well. I did apply the sticker directly to the hull but then put a couple of coats of clearcoat over it and around the edges. It has held up really well so far. My crate is just a milk crate with rod holder attached. New video dropping tonight!
Thank you for showing us your preferred PFD and explaining why you chose it. One of my fears was spilling over and loosing my phone and prescription glasses. If I buy a PFD like yours those fears will be gone and I’ll be safe too!
Great explanation of the 380x. Have you tried it on the ocean at all? Are you able to rig up some sort of foot rest using the front seat D-rings when using it in solo mode?
Hi Gareth, thanks for the comment. Yes, I have used it in the ocean, but now with large waves. I also have a foot brace system that I have made with PVC pipe and a strap, but I don't use it that often as I've come to prefer thigh straps when I'm in bigger water. I hope this helps.
Thank you for all the awesome videos. I just recently bought a 380x (partly from your recommendation) and love it. Did you purchase swivel seat from Sea Eagle? I missed it in the video if you addressed it.
Thanks Joey! I have one swivel seat from Sea Eagle and I have another that I made myself. Yes, I actually go fishing with two swivel seats, a motor and battery!
Excellent video, Bert. I've pretty much been sold on getting this one - particularly for my size of 6'3 and 275 (I don't like being cramped) - and each video or little more info I find on it just makes it seem to be that much more of a no brainer.
I came across Bert's videos while researching inflatables. The versatility of the 380X is what sold me on it, from having fun with two people, to carrying a few days gear for a river adventure, to some white water... sure it's a compromise, but it will get you out on the water and having fun. Bert has inspired me to paddle the length of the Schuylkill in my 380X!
Four issues run thru my mind when deciding whether my eventual Sea Eagle buy will be a 380x or a 385ft. 1. Speed and yawing. 2. 9"tubes vs 11"tubes. 3. 2 scuppers vs. 12. 4. Weight. My brother lives in Manheim and the two of you could be twins, LW
So your brother is a good looking man? Ha! I would add one more consideration. Do you plan to do anything bigger than class I whitewater? For versatility I don't think you can beat the Explorer.
I wont go looking for whitewater but you never know, On your Schulkyll trip were some of your rapids class II or III? I'm also contemplating a trip south on the InnerCoastal...something my father wanted to do but never did. I have graduated from the complexities and expense of big boat (32') sailing on the Chesapeake. @@bertsadventures9974
@@larrywenger1750 had one section of class III near Reading, PA due to recent rains, otherwise just some I & II. Now I'm getting ready to go back to Pine Creek Gorge in April and with all of the snow we had and is still in Upstate NY that feeds that water, plus I'm going a month earlier than last year, and I'm expecting to see a lot of II, III & some IV. Can't wait!
@@bertsadventures9974 That is good to know. I wasn’t trying to bash the boat. I just ordered one, 15/16 inches just seems narrow. I am used to hard shell sit on tops but my back wants something lighter.
The seat is from Sea Eagle, but I also made a second one by buying a standard swivel seat from Cabella's and replicating the mount. BTW... my son sells Solar in NJ/PA!
