Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks

Sevylor is one of the oldest and original manufacturers of inflatable kayaks.   They are not for everybody but there is no denying that Sevylor kayaks are very popular and meet the needs of a lot of people.

While doing some research on Sevylor I found the story of how they began to be quite interesting and thought I would share it with all of you.

How Sevylor Began…

Sevylor began originally as an electronics company in 1948 in Paris, France. It was called Societe Electronique de Vitry… or SEVY for short.

SEVY was commissioned by a man in New York to produce high frequency welding machines that were capable of welding a new material (at the time) called PVC. The machines worked very well and the American company became very successful manufacturing swimming pool products. From there SEVY learned how to work with PVC.

One of the first products that SEVY produced was an inflatable bathtub called Dou Dou. It was a very popular invention in postwar France giving mothers a way to bathe their children even when there were no facilities. From there SEVY began constructing small pools and all sorts of flotation devices such as pool toys.

The company eventually established a new headquarters in a tiny Alsatian village called Buhl and decided to add the letters “lor” to its name… thus it became Sevylor.

In French, l’or means gold and with this new name they became a massive contender in the inflatable kayaks and inflatable boats market.

Inflatable Pool Toys or Inflatable Kayaks?

The fact that Sevylor began with making inflatable pool toys this branding has stuck with them and consequently many of their kayaks are considered to be like pool toys. They are known for producing cheaper inflatable kayaks but in recent years have begun to make some fairly high quality ones as well.

Their popularity I believe can be directly related to the fact that many of their inflatable kayaks are so affordable. For anyone looking for a play boat or a way to get out on the water a few times a year, the Sevylor prices can seem pretty good.

Even though the quality of Sevylor inflatable kayaks do not compare to other manufacturers such as AIRE, Innova, NRS and Sea Eagle, they are still one of the most popular inflatable kayak brand names and the company seems to be making a major effort to offer higher quality inflatables as well.

Most people who have used an inflatable kayak or have thought about using one have heard at some point or another the statement that inflatable kayaks are simply over-glorified pool toys. Unfortunately this kind of statement originated from having used a product such as a Sevylor inflatable kayak.

Of course it is not true, the inflatable kayaks of today are anything but a pool toy and are even used by the US Army and Navy as well as the Coast Guard. The inflatable kayaks of the past don’t even compare to the quality of the inflatable kayaks of today.

Sevylor was one of the original manufacturers of inflatables and have had to step up their game in order to compete with the amazing quality and performance that we see in inflatable kayaks today.

Conclusion on Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks

I may not be a huge fan but there is no doubt that Sevylor is here to stay and their products are used all over the world. I cannot deny that if you only want to spend a couple of hundred dollars then a Sevylor may be your perfect boat. I have heard from many people who have very much enjoyed using them and their higher end kayaks do deliver a decent performance and seem to be rising in quality each year.

The market for Sevylor kayaks is recreational paddlers looking for a low to mid price range. If this is you please check out our Sevylor inflatable kayaks reviews for detailed information and pictures for each Sevylor boat.

Cheap Inflatable Kayaks

I would classify a cheap inflatable kayak as one that can be purchased for under $500. Sometimes we don’t want to spend a lot of money on a boat if we are not going to become avid kayakers. If you are looking for an inflatable kayak to pull out a few times a year for some paddling fun or perhaps to bring along with you on camping trips with the family you may not want to invest a lot of money.

There are some really excellent choices for inflatable kayaks that cost less than $500 that will last a fairly long time. Just because you are not spending a $1000 or more does not mean that you will be getting a glorified pool toy. Inflatable kayaks have come a long way as far as quality and performance are concerned and there are some really good name brand cheap inflatable kayaks. Read more

New Inflatable Kayak and Inflatable Canoe Reviews

We have added four new inflatable kayak reviews and one new inflatable canoe review over the last couple of months that may be of interest.

New Inflatable Kayak Reviews

• Innova Twist – Extremely lightweight, small inflatable kayak that can be carried on your back and taken hiking, camping, traveling, cycling or on an airplane. Inexpensive yet with Innova’s great quality. Read full review.

• Advanced Elements Firefly – The smallest of the Advanced Elements kayaks it is really best suited for flatwater recreational paddling. It is recommended for new kayakers, children or for someone who wants a solo inflatable kayak that can be taken easily be taken anywhere in the world. It is not suited for a larger person. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK1 – Known as a river kayak but can actually be used on all types of water. Its versatility and lightweight make it ideal for traveling. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK2 – Tandem version of the XK1 and has a fair amount of room for two people. Good for traveling, rivers and ocean surf. Read full review.

New Inflatable Canoe Review

• Innova Vagabond Inflatable Canoe – Extremely rugged and superior river trekking inflatable canoe that can handles up to class III rapids. It is light enough to take anywhere and works very well for multi-day expeditions. Read full review.

Check back often as we are continuously adding more inflatable kayak and inflatable boat reviews each month.

View a complete list of our inflatable boat reviews.

Sevylor Pointer K2 – New Review

The Sevylor Pointer K2 has been added to our tandem recreational inflatable kayak category.  It is the first Sevylor that we have done a comprehensive review on.  I don’t get too excited about the Sevylor boats as I don’t find their quality to be as good as the Advanced Elements, Sea Eagle or the Innova kayaks.  However the Pointer K2 is worth looking at if you are a brand new kayaker and want an affordable boat to paddle with. Read more