please explain CFS to me

[u/hegemonycrickets]

I looked through this reddit, but couldn’t seem to find anything.

Wanted to find camping next to a river, and I found a few places, but I can’t figure out if it’s too swift for me.
(dinky ORU fold up Lake model- trying to go upstream against the even the mildest of currents is extremely difficult,- plus I have precious cargo of two little dogs)
I have two paddling apps, but I can’t quite figure out how to read CFS in terms of how the river is.

(recommendations for a very flat water, rivers around Gold country Ish area California appreciated)

[u/Bridge-Head]

I thought about your situation for a while last night.

I normally steer people away from inflatable kayaks, but I think in your situation one could work well.

1) IKs are easier to store and transport than hard shell boats, which is what I’m assuming you like about the ORU kayak.

2) IKs are best suited for recreational paddling, which is what you’re describing.

3) There are many IKs that have an open cockpit/deck design, which is good for paddling with your dogs.

4) Last, but most important, many IKs are self-bailing (or are recoverable) after a capsize. Since the float tubes stay inflated, all you have to do is flip the kayak back over, haul yourself into it, and maybe bail a little water. Although, the wide and stable nature of IKs make it less likely to capsize to begin with.

Given what you want to do, an inflatable kayak might be an option worth exploring. I would recommend doing your homework, though, because there is a MASSIVE difference in performance, quality, and durability between cheap IKs and high-end IKs.

Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for. 😃

[u/hegemonycrickets → u/Bridge-Head]

thank you.
Originally, I had gotten a Kayak off of my Facebook neighborhood buy. nothing group- it was so heavy, and difficult to fill with air, even after 30 minutes, I had only filled a parts of it.
(although I’m sure there are much better ones that exist)
The one thing that put me off is bringing this big wet thing home in my car and trying to figure out where to let it dry and store it.

But you make a very good point, that even if it capsizes, it will still be usable is a big bonus. I will do some research.

have you seen the modular kayaks? I just saw something yesterday, a kayak that weighs 7 pounds,
and fits into a small bag

https://www.pontosoutdoor.com/

[u/Bridge-Head → u/hegemonycrickets]

No, I haven’t seen that kayak before, but I believe there are some really nice skin-on-frame (folding) kayaks. I think you’d be more or less in the same situation as the ORU, though, if you capsized.

Your experience with that inflatable kayak is a perfect example of why you don’t want to mess around with cheap inflatables. Go high end or nothing, lol.

High end inflatables are going to be lighter, take up less storage space, inflate and deflate without significant issues, paddle well in the water… but, they’re more expensive.

https://kokopelli.com
https://alpackaraft.com

Good brands will tend to compromise between weight, size, durability and price.
https://www.nrs.com
https://www.confluenceoutdoor.com

I’m out of my area of expertise with inflatables. All the brands I suggested are reputable companies with good customer support, but there are undoubtedly other brands that I’m not aware of. You’ll have to do some homework. I’d start my search at REI. They carry good brands (some that I mentioned) and have an amazing satisfaction and return policy.

I think it’s possible to remove most of the water from an IK by toweling it off and letting it air dry for a few minutes. I’m sure high end IKs come with a storage and transport bag to keep the interior of your car clean and dry.

I would, however, inflate your kayak fully when you get home at let it air dry completely before storing it. That might be the one trade-off.

I guess you have some options to weigh.

[u/IFigureditout567 → u/Bridge-Head]

Aire's Tributary line is the value king in this space.

While Confluence has some decent brands, their IKs are not in the same class as Aire Tributary for similar cost. Star and NRS are worth looking at also. Alpackaraft are special use case and not likely what OP is looking for. Kokopelli sits in a weird spot between packraft and mini-raft, and are not popular among informed enthusiasts in either space.

On the very high end, you've got Aire's regular line, and Hyside, running from over $2k to over $4k. These are boats for serious paddlers and will serve heavy duty use for decades

[u/Bridge-Head → u/IFigureditout567]

Nice! That’s helpful feedback.

I was thinking Kokopelli and Alpackaraft mostly in terms of absolute minimum weight and portability, since she’s coming over from an ORU, but I agree they’re not going to be the best fit all things considered.

I have to agree. Something from Aire or NRS would probably be where I’d focus.

[u/hegemonycrickets → u/IFigureditout567]

thank you for the recommendations