Innova Sunny Touring Inflatable Kayak review by TBP

[Lee Arbach TBP]

The Innova Sunny Tandem Inflatable Kayak is one of our favorite tandem kayaks from Innova. This symmetrical touring model is far more versatile than the “cockpitted” Helios 2 because if you want to use it solo, you can turn the “front” seat around, leaving you perfectly centered instead of having to choose between sitting way aft or way forward as you do in the Helios. You can also re-position the rear seat forward a bit as well if you would rather not invert the whole boat. Along with the Tributary Sawtooth, our Trinity II USA, and the Innova Solar 410, this is one of the four fastest boats under $2,000.

Innova Sunny Tandem Inflatable – Fully Coated Nitryl

Please also note: as of a couple years back, the Sunny has returned to being fully coated with nitryl rubber on the exterior, no more half-and-half “litepack” versions like what was made from 2007 to 2009. With the EX series, we get back to the great rigidity of the pre-2007 Innovas.

We like the fact the Sunny does not have inflatable dodgers like the Helios, since they are more vulnerable to damage from the sun being way up out of the water. In other words this is a simple boat with very little to go wrong. The Sunny seats were improved several years back and not only have smooth backrest sections, but they can also be inflated to above 2 p.s.i. with their new valves for maximum comfort.

Unlike the Helios & Seaker models from Innova, the Sunny uses single side tubes (rather than a stacked “double tube”) like most other boats in this section, increasing stability somewhat and making this boat far easier to re-enter from the water. This makes it ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and for scuba divers.
Tracking Fin for Innova Sunny Inflatable Kayak

Sunnys come with a removable hard plastic fin to keep the boat tracking. Without this fin the Sunny is very squirrelly, so only leave it off if you are paddling very shallow water. The current Sunny fin no longer requires the bolts and nuts, you just slip it in the mounting patch before you inflate the floor. Once the floor is tight, the fin’s locked in place.

These are not self-bailing but for the type of easy rivers you could run a canoe down, they’ll work just dandy. More solid class II’s are a bit tricky in a Sunny. This kayak can last over 20 years for fresh water paddlers, or even salt water users who take care to wash the boat down after their excursions. The Sunny has always been a great value. Anything equivalent made in West Europe or the States would be $1800 or more.

Sunnys have been used on high seas too as this you tube video shows

though we strongly advise paddlers paddling anything as difficult as the Napali Coast to take great caution. Strong currents and winds can take an unprepared kayaker – inflatable or hardshell – far off course and farther away from the coast than they ever intended. Winds coming from the side will push harder on an inflatable compared to a plastic or fiberglass sea kayak. And for any tye of open water with chop higher than 7″ or 8″, make sure you have a bilge pump in the boat. A bleach bottle with the bottom cut out will not work!
Color for Innova Sunny Inflatable Kayak

Sunnys come in fire engine red with gray interiors. Please note that any accessories purchased with your boat are 10% off, and also note that our shopping cart as yet does NOT reflect these discounts – it will show a higher total so we will adjust the bottom line before ringing the transaction through.
Manufacturer’s Specifications for Innova Sunny Inflatable Kayak

RIVER RATING: Class I
LENGTH: 12 ft. 8 in.
WIDTH: 31 in.
WEIGHT: 33 lbs.
AIR CHAMBERS: 3 Main
CAPACITY: 396 lbs (2 person)
PACKED DIM: 21x15x9 in.
MATERIAL: 1200-denier Nitrylon™ – No PVC!
COLOR: Red/Gray
INCLUDES: Drybag/backpack for transport, removable tracking fin

Attachments:

1. 

   sunny.jpg
   

[Author]

Posts