Kayaking at Ispiritos Santos

I picked up 2 Advanced Frame Kayaks made by Advanced Elements for use both with the boat in Mexico and at home during the summer. They fold up into a bag the size of a large suitcase and weigh 36 lbs. so they were perfect for us to use and move back and forth when we fly. I checked several forums to see what others thought of them and then bought one to try out. My first trip was down the Bow River. I just got into the current when I spilt the kayak over. Not the kayaks fault, just the operator. It took me a few minutes to get it back over to shore, drained out and then back on the river. They are light in weight, sturdy, and a very responsive craft. After the trip, I came home and ordered the second one.


They are great on the sailboat because they store so easily and handle so well. When inflated, they can lay on the deck and do not interfere with the operation of the boat. Launching them is easy, and we had not problems either getting in or out and back into the boat. I use the swim ladder off of the stern of the boat and ease myself into the kayak or out. We have found them great for getting back and forth to shore or for kicking around the marina or exploring when anchored out. I can see us using the kayaks over the dinghy in many cases.


We sailed out to Ispiritos Santos for a few days, something that I had looked forward to for the whole trip but alas, a perfect trip was not in store for us as we experienced an engine problem. On the way out, the engine quit and inspite of all my efforts could not get it going again. We sailed into a secluded anchorage at the north end of the island and spent the night there, then slowly made it back to La Paz in some very light winds. In between we were able to to a little kayaking which was a welcome relief from the messing around with the diesel.


I picked up the back bone for them which just gives them a little more rigidity. There is a skeg on the stern which helps with tracking. When we left the boat, it was pretty calm but when we returned, a pretty stiff breeze had picked up. The kayaks handled very well and easily took the waves that were just starting to build from shore. Going into the shallows was not a problem as the boats only need a few inches of water to float in. This got me right up to a small island right next to a number of sea birds that were just hanging there with me, quite unconcerned.



We found them great to get around the marina in and used them to tour and look at different boats as well as just to visit with friends. Our long time friends Bob and Cindy came up from Cabo to for a few days with thier truck making it easy to go out for a day trip.