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Eleanor and James' "Crossing Scotland Coast to Coast" Blog is now live! You can now follow their adventure on Eleanor's blog.

The local whisky distillery Bruichladdich have made a special edition case of kayak trip whisky with a unique label showing a great picture of Eleanor and James in the tandem. It looks fantastic and will boost the fundraising effort. For a special edition Coast To Coast Malt, send an email & I'll pass your order on.

In the second of this summer's trips that is being supported with Advanced Elements kayaks; an Advanced Elements Convertible has been sent up to Richard Seed who is going to paddle 200 miles from Hunstanton to London raising money for the Royal Air Forces Association. Please help support Richard's fundraising efforts here.

You can see how Richard gets on with the Advanced Elements Convertible & follow his progress on his blog.

An AdvancedFrame Expedition Tandem is just about to get sent up to Eleanor & her dad from Islay (on the West Coast Of Scotland) who are going to paddle 100km from the West Coast of Scotland (near Corran - Fort William) to Inverness on the East Coast.

They've got a month to get practicing before the trip which is in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Gerald Durrell Foundation for Endangered Species.

This review was posted on the the UK Rivers Guide Book Forum, and appears here with the author, YvonneB's kind permission.

I know inflatables are viewed as rather naff in some quarters but many people look for a boat that does not need a lot of space to store and can be taken on planes, etc.

I was looking for a fun touring kayak to keep on our converted lifeboat without perching it on the roof. Previously I've done a bit of sea kayaking so got the taste for boats that are fairly fast and responsive.

My requirements were that it should track well, not be too slow, not be too heavy and preferably not look like a beach toy. After the usual obsessive internet research I decided to go for an Advance Elements AdvancedFrame, a 10 footer.

Comparisons for me are my Epic GP 12ft glassfibre touring boat, a great little boat, fast, light but obviously does not fit into a bag, and a Feathercarft Kahuna which I owned for a while. For anyone unfamiliar with Featerdraft, they are highly respected, but also highly expensive Canadian folding kayaks.

I tried the AdvancedFrame for the first time today and I have to say it is a fantastic little boat for the money.

Assembly was so easy, the stiffening bits at the ends are already inserted and stay there, with little ABS sheets that insert on the first assembly into pockets at the the bow and stern. There are 9 tubes to pump up but it was all very easy and takes about 15 minutes. Everything is well made and good quality. Compared to the assembly of a Feathercraft there is no comparison. As 5ft 2 middle aged female I was able to handle this boat on my own, and apart from my Epic there are few boats that fit that criteria. One good feature is the carrying case which for once is high quality and big enough to get the kayak back into it without a struggle.

Some may be put off by the AdvanceFrame's 32" beam but don't be - it is not that wide at the waterline anyway and does not feel clumsy at all.

The cockpit is huge, easy to get in and out for anyone with limited flexibility. No footrests, but some people will be able to rest their feet on the front bouyancy. I found resting my knees against the coaming was reasonably comfortable but you could alway improvise some sort of footrest like a closed cell foam block. The seat is the standard sit on top type seat and I will be fitting some lumbar support. The high seat back does clash a bit with my BA [buoyancy aid] but wasn't too much of an issue.

I was on flat water with a freshening breeze that got up to a F4-5 by the time I called it a day. It was not quite as fast to accelerate as the Epic, which after all is 2 feet longer, but reached a respectable speed and tracked astonishingly well, with excellent manouevrability. They must have done extensive desingn work on getting the built in skeg just right. Compared to the Kahuna I would say it tracked better, with the wind from any direction building to F5 I never had to fight to control the boat and there was absoutely no weathercocking. Naturally if I stopped I got blown about a bit but it handled that headwind as well as either of the two comparison boats if not better.

If at this point you are thinking"yes but what about edging and rolling" then this may not be the boat for you. You can edge it to enhance turns but it turns easily without. As to rolling I have no idea, I doubt it is relevant to this boat. Initial stability is of course very high. You would have to try very hard to capsize this boat, or be in really big water and then you would probably fall out. Other reviewers have found the rear deck re entry method works. Contrary to one review you may come across I did not find I got a damp bum although it apparently does let some drips in through the zips on the front deck. First time out with plenty of paddle splash my bum was bone dry after 45 minute paddling.

You can get a spray deck but I did not buy it as I wanted to see if my large Reed deck would work. It does but I imagine would be difficult to seal by yourself on the water. If you are planning paddling moving water or sea then the own brand spray deck may be a good idea. I'll probably get one for the winter. Of course you do get drips from your paddle. I just wore my Reed deck to keep my knees dry without sealing it which on the canal was fine.

The concept of an inflatable with added stiffening to produce a boat that is easy to assemble, highly forgiving, manouevrable and above all, straight tracking must represent a real breakthrough in the portable boat market, especially considering the price compared to other folders. It also looks rather nice, I think, like a high tech rucksack. These boats have an accessory 'spine' which is a metal stiffening rod - at my weight (10 stone) the boat performed perfectly well without it but some reviewers recomend it at all times and others for heavier paddlers (over 200lbs).

I bought my boat from Nick at www.advancedelementskayaks.co.uk - ordered on Monday afternoon it arrived on Wednesday. Overall I would say it is excellent for casual touring, fun and great value for money.

In May we sent down an Advanced Elements Lagoon for Ben Laws to use for his plan to complete a half ironman race at Emberton Country Park on 4th July. The race is now finished and a huge "Well Done" to Ben, who completed the half ironman race.

Ben swam the 1.2 miles followed by a 56 mile bike and finally a 13.1 mile run – towing, pulling and pushing his son Ewan, who has cerebral palsy all the way. A truely heroic effort!

Ben said that he was amazed at how many people asked about the (Lagoon) kayak. "People were looking at it - we left it inflated after I got out of the water - people were sitting it in - touching it, lifting it up- it caused quite a stir. The main talking points were:

1) How light and easily inflated it was.
2) How stable on the water it was.
3) Where could I get one and how much!!!

So it went very well. We have been asked a million times when the next race was - we raised over £4000 for charity which is excellent but the attention we got was amazing."

See the Team Laws website & it would be great if you can help support Ben with fundraising for his 3 chosen charities. The image shows Ewan's big sister (Olivia) during a training session.

The new RapidUp Sail has arrived, just a small batch, so be quick if you want one!

Supplied in a handy carry bag, the RapidUp sail attaches in seconds to your Advanced Frame kayak with 4 robust clips and small carabiner. A handy chord allows the RapidUp sail to be quickly "doused" in use & it can be secured under your deck-top bungee chords. RapidUp Sail details here. I can't wait to have a go!

I sent an Advanced Elements Expedition Tandem down to Justin Miles, who along with John Wilton-Davies will be undertaking the Last Great Challenge Expedition later this year.

Read John's review of the Advanced Elements Expediton Tandem on his blog.

Ben Laws has been training hard for a half ironman race to take place in July. Ben will swim the 1.2 miles followed by a 56 mile bike and finally a 13.1 mile run – towing, pulling and pushing his son Ewan, who has cerebral palsy all the way.

We have sent down an Advanced Elements Lagoon kayak for Ben to train with. See the Team Laws website & it would be great if you can help support Ben with fundraising for his 3 chosen charities.

The AirFusion had its first sea trial today under blue skies in a stiff NE breeze, with white caps on the waves & a 4 foot swell. The location was the Northern side if the Lleyn Peninsular. Some very dynamic paddling was called for to keep everything under control, but the AirFusion was a delight to paddle. It was a roller-coaster ride up an over the waves. I didn't get tipped, & kept on going back for more; paddle out & ride the surf back in. Well done AirFusion, top marks today!

Visit the Surviva stand at the Brimingham NEC Outdoor Show 26th -28th March 2010, and have to opportunity to win an Advanced Frame kayak!

NEC Show Information

Win An Advanced Frame Kayak

Surviva Web Site

The first Advanced Elements AirFusion (on the right) arrived & I had a chance to paddle it today. After identifying the poles that provide the Airfusion with is internal frame, the set up was just over 20 minutes. I should be able to improve on this once the correct positioning of the seat & foot rest has been identified.

The kayak was easy to lift & on the water it felt very smooth, accelerating easily to a comfortable cruising speed. I was delighted with its handling & performance. A sleek touring kayak for paddlers wanting a higher performing kayak than the Advanced Elements Expedition.

I've sent an Advanced Elements Expedition Tandem down to Justin Miles, who along with John Wilton-Davies will be undertaking the Last Great Challenge Expedition later this year. The pair will attempt to become the first people to reach the South Pole and return, completely unsupported. No resupplies, no dog sleds, no kite skiing. Nothing. The longest unsupported polar journey in history!

They will be using the kayak for raising the profile of the expedition & for some fund raising activities in the run up to the big trip. You can see how Justin got on with the kayak on his blog.

Advanced Elements have lauched another new model for 2010, the AdvancedFrame Sport available in the Spring. The AdvancedFrame Sport Inflatable Kayak is a lightweight and compact version of the popular AdvancedFrame kayak. With a large cockpit opening for easy entry and exit, the proven aluminum ribs in the bow and stern provide increased paddling performance in this sporty new design.

Advanced Elements have some exciting new products for 2010! Take a sneak preview of the Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak, due for launch in the Spring. A super stealth design, it is one of the most sophisticated inflatable kayaks we have seen, with all the convenience of an inflatable model. I can't wait to have a play!

This week on The Gadget Show Ortis Deley and Jason Bradbury go head to head in a full-on Extreme Wild Challenge! The challenge is a straight, hell for leather race across Derbyshire, with different sections for testing personal transport. Jason used an Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Kayak for one leg of the race.

View Video (Series 12 - Episode 12)

I am looking for a worthy project to sponsor for 2010. Send me details of your project & how you are going market it & I promise to get back to you.

Have a look at Mike Lamb's 2009 Kayaking Expediton Across Lake Malawi and Nigel West & Karen Ward's 2008 Thames Challenge (below) for previous projects that have been supported.

This is a report or Mike Lamb's 2009 kayaking expediton across Lake Malawi.

Kayaking Livingstone's Lake of Storms

In February 2009 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust awarded me a fellowship to complete an expedition that I had been planning for several years. The expedition was to retrace a route taken by David Livingstone across Lake Malawi some 150 years ago. Along the way I wanted to use my skills and experience to make a difference to the country that was going to host me and so I arranged to meet and work with teachers and schools along the route. As a qualified teacher and carrying environmental education materials I hoped to make some kind of contribution.

 

When I was contacted by the Trust in February the serious planning started. I had only ever kayaked once or twice before and so learning the skills required for the journey became my first priority. Luckily the outdoor education department (Fred and Dan) at my school (Hurstpierpoint College) supported me with this, as did Martlet Kayak Club and their many instructors headed up by Dai Thomas. With their help and guidance I ventured from the warmth of the school swimming pool to the murky Ardingly Reservoir and eventually the unforgiving English Channel.

As well as learning to kayak, arranging the logistics for my travel and all the other planning required, it as essential that I sourced the right equipment and most importantly the right kayak for the job. I would be kayaking some 300km over approximately three weeks, carrying a substantial amount of kit in what could be considered ‘sea' conditions. Despite being landlocked the lake can be incredibly dangerous and was once dubbed the ‘Lake of Storms' by David Livingstone. July/August is also the windy season and swell of several metres is not at all unusual at this time of year. Not to mention that crocodiles, hippos and tropical diseases abound in the area.

During my training I was lucky enough to try several types of kayaks to start to get an idea of what would be required. However not only did I need the right vessel for the conditions but it soon became apparent that I would also have to get it there. Through my research I soon realised that a collapsible or inflatable kayak would provide the flexibility that I needed. The ability to pack the boat in a bag not only meant that the air travel would be easier but transport at both ends would be manageable and this also provided flexibility if there were problems on route.

 

I contacted various people and trawled forums and noticeboards finding the very useful www.foldingkayaks.org which has a regular group of knowledgeable contributors. Due to the cost of many folding kayaks I started to seriously consider an inflatable. Considered by many to be unresponsive, heavy and poor in the wind I was sceptical. On top of this availability in the UK was limited.

Luckily I stumbled across Advanced Elements who seemed to offer a top of the range ‘hybrid-inflatable' that seemed to tick many of the boxes. Nick Pipe at Vortex, one of the few stockists in the UK, was very swift in his response and exceptionally helpful and enthusiastic about my adventure. He kindly offered to send down an Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Expedition kayak. To allay any concerns about whether it would have sufficient space for packing kit he offered to send it down with no obligation to buy as well as throwing in some extras for free. A very kind offer although I did feel a bit stupid sitting in one in my very small living room one Thursday evening in spring.

Practice paddles from Brighton beach soon showed that the kayak was very easy to assemble and launch, handled well in small waves and had enough space for the kit that I would need. The boat was very stable which was considered a huge benefit considering I would be carrying all of my kit and also as myself and my paddling partner were relatively inexperienced. It was also exceptionally easy to enter from the water. After several runs the kayak (and a second I had subsequently purchased) was deflated, cleaned and packed for Malawi. With a decent weight allowance (which is not supplied by South African Airways) you can check-in an Advanced Frame Expedition onto a plane as packed down it fits into a large holdall and weighs around 23kg. Despite the preparations I arrived at the lake still nervous as to how the three week long trip would progress.

Now sat some 350 km from where we started I feel content, satisfied and very tired. As an inexperienced kayaker I am unable to compare the kayaks that we used with many other models. However what I do know is that two inexperienced kayakers carrying all of our kit (around 30kg each) travelled over 300km on lake/sea conditions with swell up to two metres, covering over 30km on good days. The boats provided sufficient kit space, were very stable in swell and breaking waves and generally tracked well. In strong winds I am sure they didn't track as well as a hard shell kayak and probably required more effort to paddle, but for our purposes they were perfect.

The zips on top offered easy access to kit, even when on the water, although they did let small amounts of water drip in on long days. The inflatable floor and seat actually meant for a relatively comfortable seating position and when sitting the backbone running the length of the boat and any water in the bottom of the kayak could not be felt. The three part paddle was not the lightest but again it did the job adequately. Deck space on top allowed for a large bag meaning that we had enough kit to travel unassisted several days with no worries.

In summary, for the expedition that we carried out, the Advanced Frame Expedition did the job perfectly. I am sure that there are better boats out there, but if you don't have an endless amount of cash then these are great value for money. I sourced two new boats, paddles, backbones, seats and floors for less than I would have been able to buy one new collapsible kayak. Having completed the expedition only now can I feel smug about that. Clearly if you want to cross the Atlantic then don't buy one of these. Alternatively if you want something that packs away, is stable on the water and you are going to be using it on flattish water then these kayaks really should be considered. With summer now cooling off the kayaks are wrapped up in bags and packed away in the cupboard, but as soon as the sun shines I will be back down Brighton Beach, pump and paddle in hand.

For more information on this expedition and others see www.inspire-worldwide.com.

 Download a copy of Mike's review of the Advanced Elements Expedition Kayak (PDF format 498kb).

A big thank you to Mike Lamb for this report on his kayak trip across Lake Malawi with feedback on how the Advanced Elements Expedition kayaks performed on the trip.

A great start to the season with some perfect paddling weather over the last few weeks. In all the heat is seemed that the best place to escape was on the water....

One of our best selling kayaks has been the Advanced Frame Expedition. The reviews speak highly of it and customer feedback has been simply fantastic.

It has beeen a while since I'd taken one out, so a quick drive through the mountains to find a quiet lake.

Set up is simple, straight out of the bag, 2 main chambers to inflate, floor, seat & deck combing & we done in 5 mins. An adjustment to the foot rest and I'm away. So, so easy!

Under grey Snowdonia skies, the Advanced Frame Expediton whispered along with ease. The inflatable back rest gives plenty of support and the foot brace allows for very comfortable positioning of my long legs. Knee purchase against the upper deck  area makes for easy paddling.

A quick tour of the lake, through the "narrows" & back before the skies threatened rain. Time for a quick exit. The Advanced Frame Expedition can be lifted out of the water by one, easily folded in seconds before throwing back into the boot of the car.

This year we are providing some sponsorship to Mike Lamb from Inspire Worldwide who is padding across Lake Mawali this summer.

The seed of the idea was planted two years ago when Mike helped manage a project building a school in the rural Blantyre district of Malawi. "The day that they we handed over the school to the children was one of the most amazing days of my life. To see so many children so happy was a moment I knew I would never forget and it was then I vowed to return".

The plan is to kayak 250 kilometres along Lake Malawi retracing the route taken by David Livingstone during his initial exploratory expeditions. Mike plans to make undertake environmental education workshops along the way.

Read more details on Mike's Blog.

We have had so much demand for buouancy aids & life jackets for use with Advanced Elements Inflatables, that we have now added 2 new lines from Baltic.

Baltic Child Life Jacket 100N: For non-swimmers, the Baltic child's life jackets for children 15kg - 30kg. has an easy to adjust robust centre belt, sturdy locking Delrin zip and crutch strap keep the lifejacket in place.

Baltic Canoe Buoyancy Aid: For adults (swimmers), the Baltic Canoe Buoyancy Aid is a classic universal size canoe buoyancy aid for persons over 40kg. Single size in 3 different colours.

Replacing the DragonFly XC, Advanced Elements have relased the Lagoon.

Packed away in its bag it looks very compact, so certainly no problems to to keep it permanently in the car. It looks like this summer the Lagoon will get lots of use!

Unpacked, yes, very nice! Certainly not a cheap inflatable from the garage. The finish is very smart, with top deck bungee, paddle ties and the zip on the deck top mesh pocket even has a compass "zip pull". Advanced Elements really do pay attention to every detail.

The Lagoon is easy to inflate in just a couple of minutes. Remember to check that the foam floor protector is centred, and to turn the valves to the “inflate position” before staring to pump up.

Like on the 2008 DragonFly XC that preceeded it, both of the inflation valves are now very conveniently located on the top surface of the kayak, behind the paddler. On inflation, the Lagoon feels very rigid, yet light enough to pick up to move to the water's edge.

So what is it like on the water? Well, importantly it tracks straight, the small skeg at the rear really helps. It is a delight to turn, it is actually quite nimble.

Stability is excellent, it will be very confidence inspiring for first timers. No problem to secure the paddle to the deck ties to stop & take some pictures while you are out on the water.

I liked the inflatable seat, very comfortable, it will also ensure that your "behind" stays dry, as it raises you off the kayak floor.

Packing away is simple, switch the valves to "deflate" and fold in the sides of the Lagoon. Then fold in the two ends, and then again in half, & it easily slips in to the carry bag in 30 seconds flat!

The instruction manual is clearly written & for those that don't “do manuals”, don't worry, it is all pretty straight forward.

Stock of the Lagoon will be available this Spring. Looks like Advanced Elements have come up with another winner!

On Sunday Nigel & Karen completed the Thames Challenge after just over 3 hours of paddling.

They arrived at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich having kayaked 18 miles of the River Thames.

"...Weather was brilliant, but the best bit was we raised over £2,000 for The Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice".

They wished a big thank you to the RIB crew Steve, Mark, Sophie, Evelyn, Emily, Charlotte & Laura and to Mum back home who put together a fantastic homecoming tea - ..."you can stop worrying now!"

"Kayak was fantastic, very stable and easy to handle. Tide was very strong in Greenwich so we moored the RIB, pulled alongside, hoped in and deflated the kayak and pulled it into the RIB - I don't think we could have had a better boat quite frankly."

Well done Nigel & Karen!

Read Nigel's review of the Advanced Elements Convertible (526kb PDF format).

We get asked lots of times if it is worth paying the extra for an Advanced Elements inflatable compared to the other (cheaper) brands on the market.

One of our best sellers, the Advanced Elements Straitedge Canoe has had lots of thought putting in to the design that make us confident that Advanced Elements really are superior to other products on the market.

 

 

Note additional features here on the Advanced Elements Straitedge Canoe:

• Large storage bag, makes putting away a doddle, no more struggling to fold up for storage.
• Additional front & rear air bags for extra buoyancy.
• Light-weight aluminium ribs at front & rear provide a very clean profile for more efficient paddling.
• Hidden front & rear zipped pockets.
• Fishing rod holders.
• Very easy to use valves that can:
  • Easily be used with pumps with pressure gauges.
  • Easily allow air to be released "on the go".
  • Easily allow the pump to be used to "deflate" the air chambers.
• Full length zips to air bladders for easy access for e.g. cleaning, checking or drying.

We have now received stock of the the excellent WindPaddle, a self launching sail for your canoe, kayak or boat.

New to the UK, it is very neat. It stows either on-deck or below in a small coiled/folded package that is 1/8th of its original size. Combine this with the ability to be quickly launched and put away, while out on the water and you have a very easy to use sail.

Read more.....

Vortex, UK retailers of Advanced Elements Inflatable Kayaks are proud to be a sponsor of the Thames Challenge 2008!

We have provided Nigel & Karen with a brand new Advance Elements Convertible kayak.

The Advance Elements Convertible kayak is a 15 foot, 2 man inflatable kayak that will fold away to fit in to the boot of their car. Nigel & Karen will only need to inflate the kayak with a a foot pump and they can then be on the water in minutes. The bow slices through water like a knife and rivals the tracking of hard-shell kayaks.

With excellent stability, Vortex are confident that they have the very best Advanced Elements equipment available to help them succeed on their fund raising challenge.

We wish Nigel West & Karen Ward every success in their fund raising for the Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice.