We came up with a list of outdoor gear that would make our life in California dreamlike and a Sevylor kayak was the first thing that made the list. Luckily, Sevylor was kind enough to send us a Sevylor® Fiji™ 2-Person Kayak and a pump for review. Most days, Athena and I head to the beach for a day of fun in the sun and Darren joins us on the weekends and evenings. The Fiji kayak is light enough for me to carry on my own and large enough for both Athena and I to ride around the marina. It holds up to 400 lbs which is plenty for the whole family, making it easy for Darren to join us when he’s not working. Now, we can enjoy the feel of a full-size kayak with the convenience of an inflatable boat.

It took less than five minutes to pump up the Fiji kayak, and Athena practiced her paddling while we prepared the boat. One person can easily pump it up on their own and it requires very little effort. Mini Double Lock™ and Double Lock™ valves use two locking points for easy inflation and deflation. One paddle and a carry bag is included but I’d highly recommend getting the Dual Action Hand Pump. The innovative design inflates or deflates each time you push down and pull up on the pump. Looking out at Dana Point Marina while pumping up the kayak made me smile. This is why we moved back to California.

Once inflated, we picked up the kayak and carried it to the water, but I would easily be able to drag it into the water myself if Darren wasn’t with us. I climbed in the front and Darren got in the back. Since we only had one paddle, I relaxed while he did the work. I guess we should get another paddle but I’m not in a rush. (I may have lead Darren to believe that I already ordered another paddle. Let’s keep it our little secret.)

Rather than taking Athena out on the first run, Darren and I took a quick trip around the marina to test it out. Everything went smoothly and we circled back to pick her up. She patiently waited with Auntie Sara on the beach while we glided around the marina, but she was equally anxious to try it out.

The two-person kayak comes equipped with a fixed seat in the rear and a removable seat in the middle. Athena sat on my lap and I just moved the seat back to allow for lots of room. She grinned from ear to ear for the next 30 minutes as we paddled around her ocean playground.

The Airtight® System is guaranteed not to leak and the multiple air chambers allow another chamber to stay inflated if one is punctured, which gives me piece of mind when Athena is in the boat. The 22-gauge PVC construction is rugged and it’s certified to hold up to 400 lbs.

The inflated dimensions are 10 ft. 4 in. x 2 ft. 9 in. yet it fits in the trunk of our car easily when deflated. I struggled with getting it back in the carrying bag after we used it but I think it will come more easily with practice.

I love swimming but being back on the water was long overdue. As a family, the inflatable Sevylor Fiji Kayak is the right direction for us. It’s safe, high-quality, affordable, and more portable than a hard shell. We’ve just doubled our beach fun in SoCal by adding a Sevylor kayak to our outdoor gear.