Sea Eagle 350fx Fishing Explorer Inflatable Kayak Review

The 350fx is the fishing model for the Sea Eagle Explorer inflatable kayak series. While testing this kayak I was reminded how much I loved my very first original inflatable kayak, the Sea Eagle 380X, which is part of the same Explorer series.

The 350fx has the same shape and design as the 380X but it is completely decked out for the perfect fishing experience.

I have to say that I love this kayak. My partner and I were both really happy paddling the 350fx and found it to be an awesome ride.

Read on and I will tell you everything you need to know about it… both the pros and the cons.

Note:  You will notice our two dogs in many of the pictures!  Our dogs LOVE to kayak with us and it is tough to leave the house without them when they know we are going to the water.  We can confidently say that the 350fx is 100% dog approved. 🙂

BEST USES: Best suited for fishing, expeditions and carrying lots of weight. It is equally at home on flat water lakes as when exploring ocean coast lines or taking on some whitewater rapids. This is a very versatile model.

NUMBER OF PADDLERS: This is a solo kayak with room for one adult. You can easily also fit a dog or two depending on their size.

SPECS:

• Outer Length: 11’5” long / Outer Width: 39” wide
• Inner Length: 10’ long / Inner Width: 17” wide
• Weight: 23 kg / 50.7 lbs.
• Load Capacity: 261 kg / 575.5 lbs.
• Deflated Dimensions: 31” x 19” x 10”
• Air Valves: 3 recessed one way
• Engine Capacity: 34 lbs. thrust electric (max engine weight 15 lbs)
• Whitewater Rating: Suitable up to class IV rapids
• Inflation Pressure: 3.2 PSI

MATERIAL: 1100 Decitex w/ 2200 Decitex Reinforced Sections

PROS: Super stable, easy to set up, durable construction, very comfortable, easy to paddle, quick to turn, very functional for fishing.

CONS: Not that fast, doesn’t track as well as their FastTrack Fishing model, we found it heavy to carry too long of a distance but doable with two people.

AVAILABLE AT:  Click here for the best deal on the 350fx fishing kayak at SeaEagle.com.

MORE DETAILS

So I will be honest, I wasn’t expecting to love the 350FX as much as I did.

I originally started off my inflatable kayak experience with the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer model over 10 years ago.

I have since moved on to sleeker and faster kayaks – such as the Sea Eagle FastTrack and the Sea Eagle Razorlite (my fave).

I knew this 350FX would be similar to my old 380X and I was thinking that it would feel slow and sluggish compared to my Razorlite that I use most often now.

However what I realized is that you really can’t even compare them. They are completely different designs for totally different types of kayaking and experiences.

STABILITY

Consequently I found that paddling the 350FX was awesome in its own way.

It is easy, it is ultra comfortable, and it is so stable I think you’d have to literally stand on the side tubes in order to try and tip it.

Even then you might fall in but I’m not sure the kayak would actually tip right over. Yes it is truly that stable.

One of my little dogs would actually walk along the pontoon-like side to make his way from the back to the front of the kayak with no fear of falling in.

The excellent stability is one of the reasons it is perfect for fishing.

With the rigid high-pressure floor you can stand and feel quite comfortable and know that you will be okay.

No matter what you are dealing with, you can expect to feel secure in this kayak.  You can sit back, put your feet up and relax!

COMFORT

I find with inflatable kayaks the comfort level can vary depending on the stiffness of the floor, the quality of the seat and the spaciousness inside.  The 350fx Explorer excels in all of these areas.

RIGID FLOOR

A weak floor base that does not hold a lot of air pressure can cause the kayak to sag and I find with a floor like that it can get uncomfortable after awhile. There isn’t enough support and you will sink in the kayak with the ‘squishy’ floor.

Amazingly all inflatable kayaks used to have floors like this but technology and construction have improved and some of the better brands now offer very rigid high-pressure floors.

Basically these high-pressure floors can hold at least twice the amount of air pressure as before if not more.

As you can imagine a more rigid floor will create a better performing kayak in every way.

A personal observation after testing many different inflatable kayak models is that I also find that a high-pressure floor increases the comfort level.

The seat sits solid on top and with the floor fully inflated you can sit or stand comfortably.

This kayak as a very durable, high-pressure rigid floor that is removable.

COMFORTABLE HIGH-BACK SEAT

I love the Sea Eagle high-back seat. It has been improved upon over the years and the latest version is awesome.

It has ample padding on the bottom, a rigid back that can be adjusted to your liking and a zippered back pouch for storing gear that you want quick easy access to like food, or in my case it often holds the leashes and dog treats for my furry paddling companions.

This deluxe seat is a huge bonus as I can assure you not all inflatable kayaks come with great seats that offer decent back support.

The seat is a winner and it will keep you comfortable for hours.

With the multiple D-ring attachments you can secure the seat in the middle or near the back depending on how much room you need up front.

SPACIOUSNESS

Although inflatable kayaks are typically fairly wide, much of the width is taken up by the pontoon-like inflatable sides.

The inner width is big enough to fit people of all different sizes but small enough that you feel comfortably snug while paddling .

There is ample leg room and room to spare up front and in the back for a cooler, a dog and/or for all your fishing gear.

PERFORMANCE

Although it’s true this isn’t the fastest kayak out there, we were not disappointed with the performance at all.

The rigid high-pressure floor and the easy clip-in fin greatly helps with tracking and keep it gliding smooth.

It is really easy to paddle and turns are quick and take very little effort, which is especially helpful in whitewater or when dealing with chop or boat wake.

If you were mostly going to be paddling and fishing on calm flat water then take a look at the Sea Eagle 385fta, which moves a little faster.

However if you want a more versatile ride that can cruise on flat water or take on some rapids then this 350fx is the right one to get.

Also worth noting the 350fx is solid in the water and not that susceptible to being blown by the wind.

FISHING

Of course the main goal of the 350fx is to get you out fishing so just as important as the aspects above is how well it is outfitted for convenience and functionality for anglers.

There are several features and accessories that make the 350fx ideal for fishing.

FRONT & REAR SPRAY SKIRTS

The front and rear spray skirts help keep water splashes out of the kayak and provide protected storage space underneath.

BUILT-IN ROD, TOOL, HOOK & LURE HOLDERS

The front and rear spray skirts are multi-functional as they also provide built-in rod, tool, hook and lure holders.

We thought these spray skirts with the built-in holders were so well thought out and extremely functional.

BLACK SIDE TUBES

Different from their other kayak models the 350fx has black side tube sections.

These sections are reinforced with 2000 denier fabric that Sea Eagle states is nearly indestructible.

The extra tough sides will help to protect against sharp fins, hooks and abrasions. The reinforced sides are perfect for the regular wear and tear and abuse that comes with the territory when fishing.

HIGH PRESSURE FLOOR

The high-pressure floor is removable for easy cleaning.

It is reinforced with an extra layer of 1000-denier fabric making it extremely durable and rigid.

It also has non-slip EVA foam padding and an extra top layer of tough crocodile hide material making it ultra rigid and durable.

With this floor you can choose to fish standing up or sitting and you don’t have to worry about any tears or abrasions from the hooks or sharp objects.

BUILT-IN 40” FISH RULER

The 40” fish ruler is a thoughtful touch and it allows you to quickly and easily measure your catch.

This is useful to document the size, confirm if it is a legal catch or whether you need to release your fish.

SEA EAGLE FLEXBRACE™ FOOTREST

We were really impressed with the the Sea Eagle FlexBrace™. This is a fully adjustable ergonomic foot brace and it really helps with comfort!

You can adjust it depending on your height and brace your feet against it allowing you to maximize your power when paddling.

This FlexBrace is far better than any other foot brace that I have tried in an inflatable kayak before. We really appreciated this cool feature.

SEA EAGLE MOTOR MOUNT RECEIVERS

The motor mount receivers allow you to attach a small motor if wanted.

The Pro Motor Fishing Rig Package option comes with a light weight electric motor.

RIGHT & LEFT SIDE ANCHOR TROLLEY ATTACHMENT D-RINGS

There are two D-rings on either side at both front and back that can be used to control the position and location of your anchor point.

These allow you to stay in place while controlling your point.

16 DRAIN VALVES

There are 8 high-capacity self-bailing drain valves on each side of the floor in the kayak for a total of 16.

These drain valves are great to use when paddling through rapids and ideal for letting out any extra water that has gathered in the kayak.

FRONT & REAR CARRY HANDLES

With front and rear carry handles the 350fx can easily be carried by two people. The handles are solid and durable.

22 D-RINGS

There are a whopping 22 D-rings attached to the 350fx! With all those D-rings you can secure your seat and all the gear you want to bring and trust that it will be secure even when paddling through heavy chop.

REMOVABLE TOURING FIN

The large removable clip-in rear skeg is important to use for better tracking when cruising on flat water.

It is easy to clip in and we definitely recommend using it as it really helps to keep you moving straight.

3 AIR CHAMBERS

There are three one-way air valves, one on each side and one on the floor.

Inflatable kayaks are nearly unsinkable because of these thee air valves.

If the worst happens and a leak occurs only one air chamber will deflate allowing you to paddle safely back to shore with the two other air chambers still fully inflated.

BOTTOM LINE

It comes down to this:

• You can set up the 350fx quickly and easily.
• You can launch this kayak from anywhere.
• It is extremely well thought out for the perfect fishing experience.
• It comes with a 3-year warranty and 180 day guarantee – If you are not happy with it you can return it at anytime within 180 days if it is in good condition (awesome!).

We loved it and we will be using the 350fx a lot. Bring your cooler and all your gear and go explore new areas where the fish are plentiful!

There are four different package options to choose from so you can customize your kayak to suit your needs and budget.

Click here for the best deal on the Sea Eagle 350fx from the official SeaEagle.com website.

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