Explorer 380x

12' 6"
Length
39"
Width (in)
38
Weight (lb)
$1,049
MSRP

Explorer 380x Description

Tackle your adventures in tandem. The 380x is made to be ridden by one or two persons. Now you can do what others only dream of with our most versatile kayak series ever! Designed to tackle whitewater, open-water, and now down-wind sailing! Large enough for two but small enough for one! The 380x does it all!

Explorer 380x Specs and Features

  • Structure: Inflatable
  • Cockpit Type: Sit on Top / Open Cockpit
  • Seating Configuration: Solo, Tandem
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Ideal Paddler Size: Average Adult, Larger Adult
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, Advanced

Additional Attributes

  • NMMA Certified
  • 16 High Capacity Self-bailing Drain Valves
  • Large, Removable, Swept Back Skeg for Flatwater Touring
  • Front & Rear Spray Skirts with Carry Handles and bungee cords
  • Separate Drop Stitch floor for rigidity
  • 24 D-rings to secure seats and gear
  • One-Way Air Valves
  • Sea Eagle motormount receivers for optional motormount

Learn More

Sea Eagle Inflatables
Explorer 380x Reviews

Read reviews for the Explorer 380x by Sea Eagle Inflatables as submitted by your fellow paddlers. All of the reviews are created and written by paddlers like you, so be sure to submit your own review and be part of the community!

Embed these reviews on your site

5

I took this 169 miles down…

Submitted by: Vypaddler on 12/27/2023

I took this 169 miles down the Delaware river last October over the course of 7 days. Set up was a breeze. It handled all water conditions ranging from calm to Class III with no problems. The only fault is that it is a handful going into the wind. This is a problem with all inflatable boats.

5

It is great

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 12/27/2022

It is great

5

the best kayak I have owned

Submitted by: paddler2455844 on 12/20/2022

the best kayak I have owned

4

We bought this 5 years ago…

Submitted by: paddler2114596 on 6/21/2022

We bought this 5 years ago to use primarily around the anchorages when sailing. We have now used it a fair amount and will write a review. We have used it in light ocean conditions, flat water lake, and up to class II whitewater.

For the ocean conditions, they were light conditions and it worked well. It is very stable and we felt confident with it as we paddled from the boat to the shore. The kids had a blast weaving around the anchorage.

When in my personal sailboat, which is 20ft, we use it as a tow behind dinghy and it tows well and is very stable. A dinghy can be a problem if it is flipped by the wind.

I haven't done much whitewater. I have done up to class II+ in rafts acting as the guide, but never in a kayak. Two of us tried it out on a short stretch that has mostly class I and II rapids. It was easy to control and had no problems with stability through the rapids. We learned the self-bailing worked well, but if a substantial amount of water comes in at once, the valve covers will flap down. We had to pull off to the side with the boat completely full after the first rapid. We tucked all the valve covers under the bottom so they couldn't flap shut anymore and had no problems the rest of the time.

I just took it out on a flat water lake. Very clam conditions. Minimal wind. I haven't paddled much, but am trying to get ready for a sea kayaking trip. I had the skeg in place and looking at my GPS track afterwards, they were almost a perfectly straight line as I sighted areas on the shore. My total time was 58 minutes for 3 miles which I think demonstrates a fairly good speed. This was with one person in the boat. Later, with my 11 year old who has a need for speed, I was able to get it up to about 4.5knots, but that was my max.

I agree with others about the pressure, but I use a larger pump for all of my inflatable devices that has a gauge on it. I can fully inflate this in about 10 minutes with that pump.

One reviewer mentioned the carrying bag. This is a bit of a challenge. I have learned how to deflate and roll it up to fit in the bag fairly well, but it is hard to get the paddles in. As the larger pump won't fit, we have a separate place for the pump and paddles.

The only negative was the paddles. It appears that they have changed them, but the press button for connecting the paddles became corroded in salt water with minimal use. They told us that was a reported problem and sent us some new buttons for free to replace. They asked that we just sent them pictures of the ones we removed so they could share with their supplier.

In all, very happy with this.

5

We bought this product last…

Submitted by: kmmhug on 7/6/2021

We bought this product last year (2020) and have now taken it out about 25 times. We are thrilled. Some posters mentioned it did not come with a removable skeg and those must have been older models as it does come with one now. We love the versatility of it. We can take it on everything from the great lakes, ocean, and level 4 rapids. I can reach the skulpers from inside the boat and adjust them as needed if the weather changes (on Lake Erie) this is not unusual at all. We set out in calm water and end up in waves of 2-3 feel on a regular basis and the boat can handle it with ease. We bought the optional package to add a motor and are so glad we did. When the weather changes it is great to flip on the motor and not have to fight the waves hard against the current to get back to the put in point. The motor is not fast, but it will get the job

4

Be nice if it came with…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 1/25/2021
Be nice if it came with optional skegs for hitting white water then calm water and still being able to track well. It also does not come with an air pressure gauge and I think this is very important, seeing how you can only fill to a designated psi....
5

I love this craft... I have…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/1/2019

I love this craft... I have 3 inflatables...I have a little hatchback and love the beach, lakes, and reservoirs. I work hard and on my days off when there is no rain I am out on the water all day. My vacation consists of going straight to Assateague or Ocean City outskirts and they are always in my hatchback. I can stop anywhere there is a put in and enjoy the days. The explorer 380x is my love and I always have a hoot at boat ramps and putins when someone is struggling with getting their yaks off there cars or back of their trucks and I just whoosh whoosh throw all my gear in and push her in and away I go. I take fishing gear and cameras anchers and day supplies and comfy and I wonder about the ones who say they are traveling in circles, this beats a hard yak to me any day. I love comfort, and I agree with one of the reviews... I have 330 s and this and I feel they are impossible to turn over.... speedboats fly by and I love the wave ride.-I have the sail and motor if I want to go a step beyond.

5

Versatile!

Submitted by: paddleMT on 5/17/2017

When I got into kayaking a couple years ago, I wanted something that could handle up to class 4 whitewater, but also be good for taking my kid out on the water with as well as doing overnight trips on the river. I ended up choosing the 380x. No regrets. It is a great IK if you are beginning, and even great if you are doing whitewater and are an amateur.

Stable kayak, versatile - from lakes, big rivers with calm water (put the fin on), and even fast flowing creeks with serious whitewater (unleash the self-bailers). I've done all different kinds of water in the 380x and have had great results. My only con really is storage and length sometimes. It's not really meant to do long 5+ days on the river, unless you pack efficiently. Can be difficult fly fishing (fishing is good with the fishing seat attachment). Also, the length can get you into trouble if you are whitewater kayaking creeks or small rivers with tight corners and eddies and tall canyon walls. I have slammed into rock walls and trees on challenging whitewater. The 380x kayak still held up, and I haven't had to patch it yet with about 20 river trips thus far, about 10 in whitewater.

I recommend for the newcomer and even the amatuer whitewater kayaker. This kayak covers a lot of ground.

4

I bought my Explorer over 10…

Submitted by: vlad.z on 7/5/2016

I bought my Explorer over 10 years back, driven by storage space and portability requirements.

On both counts I had NOT been disappointed. The kayak is easy to carry around, quick to inflate, and small enough to store.

I also bought it in mind to be paddling in the ocean (must withstand the caustic effect of salt water) and being able to ride in tandem.

The quality of materials and manufacturing are superb for these boats, so even now it is in near-perfect condition. The spacing on 380, however, is quite limited, so to ride with another adult and paddle becomes difficult.

On a separate note, the boat is extremely stable both in a slightly choppy ocean condition and when fishing on lakes. Just great really!

Here are some things that I did not like off-hand (and why I gave it a 7.)

1. Hul is not sold with a rudder (at least on the older model), so the boat gets span a lot either by the wind or paddling action. It took some getting used to and was barely manageable by me until I bought Sea Eagle rudder separately.
2. I also bought an electric (Bravo) pump for the boat, which stopped working once the battery died, the battery not recharging, and I believe, I was not able to get it running even with another battery.
3. Paddling this boat is a bit awkward if you are used to sit-in kayaks, especially when using their standard low seat. Deluxe seat gives you the additional lift that make it better.
4. Carry bag, even if you manage to put the kayak back tightly, is still fairly inconvenient to carry around. Not much of an issue for me, as I got a portable folding cart to transport it on land, and trunk for car, but still, would be cool to just strap it on and go.

Overall, of course, it's a great boat for fishing, moderate riding in calm waters and family fun!

4

So, I've had my Sea Eagle…

Submitted by: Anave26 on 8/27/2015
So, I've had my Sea Eagle 380X (new version with the 16 drain valves 38lbs) for about 2 weeks now and I've had the opportunity to get it out on flat water, open water and white water so I thought it was time to share my thoughts.

I give the 380X a 9 rating but that really should be a *9. The asterisk is because this is marketed as an all water, versatile kayak and it is... it's just not equally good on all types of water.

First, where the 380x shines, white water. This is what the kayak was really designed for and it does it well. With the skeg removed this boat is very turny and for white water paddling that is a good thing. It will go straight if you use good technique but when you need to turn you can do it on a dime. It rides nicely over waves and when water does enter the boat it drains quickly out of the 16 self draining ports. Also, the drop stitch floor can be inflated to a very high pressure (14psi) and that makes the boat very rigid. The only down side, and the reason for 9 rather than 10 stars, is a significant amount of water does enter the boat through the drain valves when they are open. This adds mass to the boat and while I didn't really notice any difference in turning, it can sap some of your burst, not a great thing for white water. This can be mitigated somewhat by making sure the floor (it's removable) is strapped down tight and the pontoons are properly inflated as that will help reduce the water intake. On the plus side, I've found that if the floor is inflated to at least 4 psi I am not sitting in a puddle of water like on a kayak with an I-beam floor (I'm 6'6", 230 lbs) I have seen a few reviews that complain about getting wet when the valves are open and I honestly don't quite know how to respond to that. If you are paddling white water you ARE going to get wet, if you are doing it in a SOT kayak water IS going to enter your boat so... If you are not on white water closing the valves keeps the boat high and dry which brings me to the next section.

Flat water paddling in the 380x isn't actually too bad, as far as inflatable kayaks go. Assuming we are talking about a somewhat protected, deep river for example, you just put the skeg in and the kayak tracks as well, or better, than any hard shell SOT I've ever paddled. It's not even all that slow. It isn't keeping up with a hard shell sea kayak, or even a skin on frame, but as far as inflatables go it isn't terrible. However, it has very little glide which means to maintain your forward progress you have to maintain a moderate frequency on your stroke, there will be no mini-breaks in this boat. I give it a 7 for good tracking and reasonable speed.

On open water the big pontoons start to become your enemy. Wind is not fun to deal with in the kayak, and while that is true on any water craft it is especially true of the inflatable kayak. The skeg will keep you tracking straight, even in relatively high winds but you will notice the wind is going to push you quite a bit. On the plus side the boat is very stable, handles swells and waves very well and is actually pretty fun in a surf zone. Still, if you are primarily looking for a boat for open water and are insisting on an inflatable rather than a folder, then you might want to check out the Sea eagle fast tracks or the Razorlites they are supposed to be decent on flat and open water (can't say, I've never paddled them). As far as the 380x goes, I give it a 5 for open water just because it will easily ride out most water conditions, but plan some extra time in getting to your destination.

Okay, those were the specifics for various water types. In general the 380x is highly stable, the drop stitch floor gives the kayak tremendous rigidity (more so than any other inflatable, some of them quite a bit more expensive, that I've paddled), it tracks very well with the skeg in, it is easily manageable solo but can be used tandem (it's going to be a bit cramped for taller paddles in a tandem configuration though), more than enough room and weight capacity to carry all your gear for an extended trip. It's tough, you aren't likely to puncture it on anything that wouldn't hole or crack a hard shell but if you do manage to puncture it, field repairs are easy (certainly easier than a hard shell). It is easy to set up, fits in the trunk of even a small car, and the removable floor makes clean up at the end of the day very easy. To be honest, you aren't going to find a better (inflatable) boat in this price range or even for 30 or 40 percent more. Great product, lots of fun to paddle and it comes with a 3 year warranty and 180 day, no questions asked, return policy (if you buy direct from SeaEagle). Hard to go wrong with that.

5

Sea Eagle is the best! They…

Submitted by: paddler236455 on 8/26/2015
Sea Eagle is the best! They really do stand behind the money back guarantee/wty as I bought a FT385 and wasn't happy so they took it back w/out issue. I shopped all of the other inflatables (tried many) as well as hard shells trying to find the best "fit all for my needs". W/out a doubt the 380X is that boat. Tracks well w/fin. Not a touring boat but speed id decent. Stability is amazing. Handles boat wakes, white caps with ease. Can stand it in as well (tad tippy, but I'm top heavy too though). Def. stays drier than the FT-the larger pontoons keep a lot splash out and even the drip from the paddles (The openings for the drain plugs help collect any H2O that does venture in.) Went into a rock/tree ridden Texas lake cove, hit one submerged tree and thought "ouch that's gonna hurt". Not a mark. I find it very comfortable with the high back seats. Although I put a Boat cushion under it to lift it up a couple inches which really adds to the comfort especially with the inflatable foot rest. For easy paddling and and floating I added the inflatable cushion on top of the seat. This made it extremely comfortable and was just below pontoon level. In really rough water, I let the seat air out to add stability/lower center gravity.... Great Boat!!!
4

I have owned the 380x for…

Submitted by: sarringt on 7/31/2015
I have owned the 380x for over a year now. I also own the SE 370, so I can compare the two. If you are considering purchasing the 380x, there are some pros and cons (sometimes the same things that are pros are cons!):

Pros:
-It bails quickly. I have sat, stuck, in a class III rapid, and witnessed the kayak not filling all the way.
-Space. Despite being the same length as the 370, it has far more elbow room, due in large part to the drop-stitch floor.
-Material. It's tough. You'll have a very hard time puncturing either boat, but especially the 380x which is far tougher.
-It sits lower in the water than the 370, so it isn't affected by wind as much.
-It has a removable skeg. This helps to track better on flat water.
-You can use either the high back or the low seat, and both secure to the boat.

Cons:
-The removable skeg. If you are on a rafting trip with stretches of flat and whitewater, just leave it out. It's annoying having to flip the boat over and take it out, put it in, take it out, put it in. If you are in low water, also, take it out.
-The self-bail design is poor in comparison to NRS's boats. With theirs, you are sitting dry; with the 380x, you are sitting in two inches of water all the time. Since the plugs are on the underside It doesn't matter whether you have just one or all 16 plugs open.
-Closing or opening the drain plugs is a royal pain in the rear. Even with the boat completely deflated, it takes effort; with it inflated, you need little monkey hands to get to them.

5

Just came back from…

Submitted by: paddler236357 on 7/13/2015
Just came back from Monksville Reservoir in New Jersey for a 4-hour kayaking day trip with my new 380x. What an impressive inflatable kayak! Firstly, setup is literally less than 10 minutes. I especially like the adaptor for the valve being a twist in and twist out, pump and done! The seats also inflated with ease because of their boston valves. The floor, wow how rigid! making it super easy in and out of the boat! The material of the boat is as advertised - see the "hammer-cinderblock-Jeep" stress test, which made me a believer.

When I was looking for my second inflatable kayak, at first I thought $1K was too much. I know I only have one experience with the boat, but I believe it's worth every penny, plus with the 180-day trial, 3 year warranty, you can't go wrong! You might find the same boat on other online stores, but you will NOT get the 180-day trial period.

Overall, I am very glad I got this boat! Well done sea eagle! and thanks!

4

Pros: 1. Stable & forgiving 2. Tough material. 3. Spacious Cons: 1. Very slow in flat water. You…

Submitted by: paddler236192 on 4/22/2015

Pros:
1. Stable & forgiving
2. Tough material.
3. Spacious

Cons:
1. Very slow in flat water.

You can find my detailed review (constantly updated with my experiences) with pics at:
http://funonbayou.blogspot.com/2015/03/sea-eagle-explorer-380x-brief-review.html

4

For the last two years I've…

Submitted by: paddler235429 on 9/3/2014
For the last two years I've owned both a SE 385 FastTrack and a SE 380X Explorer. Both are excellent inflatable kayaks each with their own strengths and weakness but the 380X Explorer is the best in my opinion. First, a little about my wife an I. She's 5 foot 0 inches and I'm 5 foot 8 inches and we are both very overweight. If you're a tall person or weigh over 200 pounds then this review will pertain to you.

The SE 380X Explorer is great for people who are heavy but no so much if you are tall or have long legs. The extra large 11.5" diameter tubes are excellent at holding lots of weight while keeping the kayak high in the water. Much better than the 10" diameter tubes on the 385X FT and WAY better than the 9.5" tubes on the current 2014 model 385 FT! With two people in the boat plus coolers and gear the 380X Explorer still sits high on the water while the 385 FT sits very low and sometimes allows water into the boat during fast turns especially in light whitewater. On both models the person in the rear sits very far back while the person in front sits just ahead of the middle of the boat. This causes the boat to rise in the front and drop in the back. Having the extra air volume in the 380X Explore keeps the water out even in moderate whitewater. Having larger tubes does pose one problem though. There's less room width-wise which can cause the tube to pinch you and cause discomfort. Riding two up in the 380X Explorer the person in the rear has less room than the person up front due to the tubes converging at the rear. Riding two up in the 385 FT both persons have more than enough space without the tubes touching them. On the SeaEagle website it says that both boats have 3'1" of interior width but I disagree. The 380X Explorer has a few inches less due to the larger tubes.

Regarding leg space the 380X Explorer wins hands down. According to the SeaEagle website the 380X Explorer only has 2" of extra interior space but it feels like a lot more. It's possibly due to the placement of the D-rings that hold the seats to the boat but I don't think so. When riding in the back of the 385 FT my feet touch the back of my wife's seat but in the 380X Explorer I have 6 inches of space which is just enough for me to place my cooler there. My wife has the same amount of legroom on both models. If you're taller than 5'8" or have long legs I highly recommend you look at the larger 420X Explorer or 465 FT especially if you want to bring a cooler or two or plan a multi day trip.

Both models track great on the water but the 385 FT tracks best and glides further on less paddle strokes especially with the front keel inflated. The 380X Explorer track great with the removable skeg installed but just ok without it. The larger tubes on the 380X Explorer make it susceptible to wind even with the skeg installed. For lakes and other flat water the 385 FT is best but on bayous and especially whitewater the 380X Explorer without the skeg installed is king. Our fully loaded 380X Explorer with two riders can easily float in as little as 5" of water but the 385 FT needs at least 8" due to the inflatable front keel even with it un-inflated. On rivers or shallow bayous the keel gets stuck quite often on rocks, tree stumps, and sandbars. Tree stumps grab hold of the keel and won't let go which means a trip into the water for me to get the boat free. The 380X Explorer gets stuck less often and when it does I can rock the flat bottomed kayak back and forth and usually get free.

While the 385 FT has some great features that make it superior to the 380X Explorer like better tracking,longer gliding per paddle stroke, and more interior width it does have one fatal flaw. It does not hold up to the extreme Texas heat. The material used to make both models is top notch and have held up to rebar, sharp rocks, sharp tree branches, and being dragged across concrete while inflated but it's the welded seams that hold the 385 FT together that are weak. After each trip I always inflate the boats and wash them to keep nasty smells from sinking in then let them dry in the sun. Last summer both boats were drying in the back yard when I noticed the 385 FT was losing air. Seems the 100 degree heat had melted the 'glue' holding a seam together and air came pouring out. I tried using the included patch kit but to no avail. A quick call to Sea Eagle headquarters and a replacement hull was delivered in 4 days! Sea Eagle has THE BEST customer service hands down! No questions asked, they just sent a new hull. Last weekend my wife an I went for a trip down the San Marcos river in the 385 FT. The San Marcos has Class 1 and minimal Class II whitewater but nothing the 385 FT can't handle. After portaging a large dam we set the 385 FT on some gravel on the side of the river and ate lunch. Fifteen minutes later we heard a loud swoosh and looked to see that the heat had once again melted the 'glue' on not one but two seams and the boat was toast. It was only 95 degrees that day but the gravel rocks must have been hotter. My sister was using the 380X Explorer that day and it was sitting right next to the 385 FT with no leaks. The 380X Explorer has larger weld seams which make all the difference in the heat. My new 'second boat' will be a 420X Explorer due to it being built better plus the extra legroom.

5

The Sea Eagle Explorer (47…

Submitted by: paddler235810 on 8/4/2014
The Sea Eagle Explorer (47 years in business!) is an excellent class IV rated white water inflatable - yes you heard right: inflatable - kayak.

I have had different types of hard shell and I can honestly say the Explorer soft shell 380x is an amazing Kayak very forgiving, you can sail, add a motor or paddle it. at the end of the day deflate it and pack it in your car trunk. this Kayak is very rugged and durable awesome unit highly recommend it.

4

If you enjoy the water you…

Submitted by: nenegrande on 7/3/2014
If you enjoy the water you will love the Explorer 380x made by Sea Eagle. This inflatable kayak is tough and rugged and yet fairly spacious even for someone who is 6'8" like myself. It holds up to 750 lbs including cargo which gives plenty of space for overnight trips.

The 380x can handle class 3 and 4 with ease. this kayak is great in white water in addition to paddling in the ocean. I have used it to travel down the kayak down the Snake River in Wyoming and "kayak surfing" in California. I agree that a directional stabilizer or fin is needed if you do not want to fishtail while paddling on flat water.

I do wish that the kayak had a spray guard to limit the amount of water during white water kayaking. All in all, this is one inflatable that everyone should enjoy!

4

Very happy with this so far.…

Submitted by: paddler235628 on 7/1/2014
Very happy with this so far. Have done high class III's on the Potomac and it rode the high waves without ever feeling like it would flip. Problem is that it fills with water very fast since Sea Eagle does not yet make any kind of splash guard for it. So you have to dock and drain it from the valves. Otherwise, it handles quite well for it's size, even through some tighter turning. On flatwater, the skeg is A MUST. Otherwise, you will fishtail a lot. I hope Sea Eagle makes a splash guard to fit the 380 soon. But overall, a very fun all around kayak that transports easily.
4

My wife and I took the 380x…

Submitted by: paddler235603 on 6/20/2014
My wife and I took the 380x out for our maiden voyage yesterday. Class II/III WW on the Colorado river. We went with rafter friends for support and river advice. The only reason I gave an 8 is that the self bailing is not that great. You sit in water once you hit any WW waves. Otherwise the boat was extremely stable and comfortable. It forgave a lot of bad moves through the class III WW. Never came close to tipping. Even when going through waves that were two or three feet high. Scary for a first ride but now I'm looking forward to a second run.

I would say the control and steering are comparable to a canoe. You can't turn on a dime like a hard shell kayak but you don't have to worry about tipping. At 50 yrs old I'm more into the safety and comfort than high performance sport kayaking. I'm 6'1" 225lbs and had plenty of room. The high back seats were very comfortable and secure. I may go to a higher deluxe seat for my wife. She did not enjoy sitting in the water.

The 380x seems to be high quality and very durable. I spent a little more money for a boat that will last many years. I ran the boat up the concrete exit ramp and it didn't even scratch the bottom.

So with the self bailing exception, the 380x is all that I hoped for in an IK. Safe, stable, durable, comfortable and fun. I look forward to many years of river runs and camping floats.

5

What a great inflatable…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 9/23/2013
What a great inflatable kayak. I have been kayaking for over 20 years in a variety of hard shell kayaks. Being of age now and having had several surgeries, my legs just aren't what they used to be, so I have been searching for a solution to getting out of our kayaks with my weakened legs. I fitted it with a seat similar to the optional fishing seat, and what a dream come true. It is so stable and easy to get in and out of now. I can keep up with my wife in her 13' Perception America except in strong wind. Sitting higher in the fishing seat as opposed to the Deluxe or Pro Highback seats makes paddling a breeze.
I highly recommend this kayak fitted with or without the optional fishing seat.
1

We purchased one a few years…

Submitted by: paddler234666 on 7/20/2012
We purchased one a few years back and had used it a few times...performance was so-so. The kayak isn't very steady, always feeling like its going to tip over, even on a calm lake. Material does feel very thick and durable but after using it about 4 or 5 times we put it away for some time, and when we re-inflated it had stains all over. We contacted sea eagle to see what to do about and sent them pictures, but nothing. They recommended simple green and said that would probably not work and would not affect the performance of the boat...I wish I would have gone with a hardshell, even a cheap hardshell would have been better.
4

We purchased this boat this…

Submitted by: paddler233770 on 8/18/2010
We purchased this boat this spring as a whitewater tandem since my wife was wary of paddling alone. We intended on running the upper New in WV. The boat is great in mild whitewater...with the valves closed. We ran the Lower Yough in SW PA this weekend. A much smaller river that packs a big punch with most of the rapids rated III/IV. We still ran with the valves closed because if the rear paddler is a little larger, he sits in about 2 inches of water that slows quick moves required on this river to a great extent. Getting hung up on a rock can spell disaster as the boat quickly fills with water and made it like trying to turn a battleship. I have contacted Sea Eagle to find if an additional floor can be added or a thicker floor installed to displace the water that enters when the valves are open.

I still like the boat but with the design as it is, the floor needs to be thicker to displace the water so the rear paddler sits at or above the water level and the self bailing feature really works, because as it is now, it really isn't a self-bailer, at least not with the high back seats.
I can attest to the fact that even filled to the brim, it still CAN be paddled.

5

This is my first kayak. I've…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 7/20/2010
This is my first kayak. I've rented hard shells for flat water paddling. I've been on commercial rafting trips through class IV.
My first impression of the 380X is the rugged construction. I took it out in the San Francisco Bay the day I received it in 30 knot winds. I really couldn't control the direction or make any headway by myself. On a lake the next day with little wind the boat was great.

I have the optional fixed rudder and I think it helps the tracking. I ordered the thigh straps and took it to South Fork American Fork to run the Gorge. It was flowing 1500 cps. With two people first time, self guiding, class II rapids blind, the boat forgave our many mistakes. For the class III section we had an experienced guide showing us the lines. We flipped in a scary place but I was able to dolphin kick myself back in kayak in calmer waters. The guide we met was impressed with the boat's capabilities and the boat really forgave our many mistakes.

4

I've been padding solo canoe…

Submitted by: paddler233371 on 9/15/2009
I've been padding solo canoe and kayak (hard shell) for nine years. Just got my 380X last of August. Outfitted it for W.W. Got the optional bow float and made a custom foot rest. Added a set of thigh straps. These two elements are key for W.W. First 3 times on the lake. Did 6 miles on a narrow dam controlled river. Class I high 2's. Had to get technical with some moves. With drains open the boat looses performance because all the water doesn't exit the boat. At the end of the run it was holding quite a bit of water under the floor. This makes the boat handle sluggish. Thinking of retrofitting the floor with foam. With the rib shape of air floor water has a place to accumulate.
5

After a lot of online…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 9/15/2008
After a lot of online research, I picked up a Sea Eagle Explorer 380 in June. Spent the summer fishing the Cannon and Mississippi river from the Explorer. This is one well put together boat, very tough and stable. My son and I did a run down the Porneuf river through Lava Hot Springs, many rapids and small waterfalls. At not time during all my trips I have I felt unstable like a regular kayak. The boat does not track like a regular kayak, but some practice in rowing and the rear stabilizer helps (think quick shallow strokes). I works well for two people to fish out of. My recommendation would be skip the tall back seats and go with the deluxe kayak seats, much better back support and comfort. They also let you sit 4 inches higher for easier fishing. The deluxe foot pump allows me to fill up the kayak in 5 minutes or less. Yes the Sea Eagle Explorer is more expensive but I look forward to many years of kayaking without it wearing out.
4

Paddled at the Bay of Quinte in Ontario. With the directional stabilizer…

Submitted by: paddler232869 on 9/9/2008
Paddled at the Bay of Quinte in Ontario.

With the directional stabilizer boat tracks straight & moves slower than a kayak but faster than a canoe.

Paddling into a strong headwind requires effort but this is really a great boat that will handle open water & for some reason is easier paddled sitting up front as possible, & even easier when there is some weight behind you as the boat will carry it's momentum better.

Big waves & boat wake are easily handled & still water is surprisingly fast.

Tandem paddling gets you moving at a brisk pace & there is lots of room for two people to sit comfortably with some gear.

The Deluxe seat will put you higher up than the Pro seat & is also a good platform for fishing. You can jump from the dock into the boat without worrying about tipping.

This is a very fun boat & it will do everything from solo to tandem paddling with relative ease. The 380X was faster than the 340X solo. See my 340X review.

4

I've been fishing lakes in a…

Submitted by: paddler232675 on 6/19/2008
I've been fishing lakes in a Sea Eagle 420X for the past week. Most days in pretty high winds. ANY inflatable watercraft is going to be lumbering on flat water and catch wind like a sail. Nature of the beast. But the SE 420X was BY FAR the best inflatable I have ever used...AND my absolute favorite fly fishing boat of all time. I ordered a 380X after the 2nd day. I don't need the extra length of the 420X.

I paddled this boat for hours in 30 mph wind on an East Texas lake, transiting open water and along shoreline structure while fishing. I have no qualms with the way it handles. Does it handle as well as a hard boat? Yes... a canoe. But not a kayak. But for an inflatable kayak, that's as good as it gets! I even paddled the boat for an hour while my brother fished where I was sitting in the bow and he was fishing from the stern. 290 lbs of former football lineman sitting over the skeg and 30 mph winds...and I had no problem keeping him in position for fishing the shoreline we were covering.

But my favorite things about this boat are that it is ultimately comfortable and it has nothing on it to foul a fly line when fishing. These are the two most important ingredients for any fishing boat in my world.

4

We purchased a 340x and a…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 1/29/2008
We purchased a 340x and a 380X one each for my spouse and I in 2007. We are experienced paddlers with canoes and hard shell sea kayaks. While the Sea Eagles are sold as kayaks, they are really more like an inflatable Canoes (in terms of load carrying) that you paddle like a kayak, and which behaves like a raft.

In flatwater any substantial wind will seriously affect your progress and while this may be true of all water craft the effects are really serious with the sea eagle. We purchased the boats for long (read 7+ days) treks in rivers of Canadian wilderness. The boats are great for that. Have taken them in Class 3 rapids fully loaded, while you do get wet, the boat rides the rapids just like a raft. No more long portages. One benefit of these inflating crafts is that they load on aircraft at a fraction of the cost (or impossible for) hard shell watercraft. They pack inside your vehicle and no wind drag. We plan more river trips in 2008.

I agree with most other positive comments on this site (regarding comfort, paddling, skeg etc). When loaded with equipment in flat water with chop the self bailing plugs usually do not work very well.

4

I first reviewed my 14 foot…

Submitted by: haught on 8/31/2006
I first reviewed my 14 foot Sea Eagle in 2004 & thought I would add a couple of observations. I have used the boat in a wide variety of conditions & I still enjoy the boat's versatility. She excells at camping & load carrying. We took her to Baja Sur Mexico & was a comfortable day long fishing craft during an extended camping trip. Also discovered that she was perfect for birding & approaching wildlife - very quiet - you can't make noise if you bump your paddle into the side. Can be a bear in the Sea of Cortez winds, but all the paddlers I saw were working hard. Now that I have a home, I plan to buy a hard boat that I can throw onto the roof of my truck & go. The ritual of inflating, deflating, & wrestling her into a packable unit grows tiresome for casual paddles around the area. I could leave her ready to go, but fear the elements would get to her. Still, she has been a great boat & I will hang on to her for road trips & other suitable adventures.
4

I bought the 380 two years…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 8/19/2005
I bought the 380 two years ago as a go anywhere boat. Nope this won't give you a hard shell's performance on flat water but if you are looking for quality, load capacity and at an economical price, this is a great boat. The skeg will really help out in flat water as will not carrying your stroke past 90 degrees otherwise you get that left/right fishtail go nowhere movement. The hull is rugged raft type material. This is a great multi purpose boat which will find itself at home in an apt closet.
5

I bought the boat 2 years ago…

Submitted by: sailmaster on 7/22/2004
I bought the boat 2 years ago because my wife insisted on a tandem. As it turns out, this boat is a perfect starting out boat for newbys. With the skeg mounted, the tracking is good on flat water, I think this boat may be impossible to capsize, we have paddled the Puget Sound and many lakes between there and Los Angeles. It handles ocean as well as lakes. I haven't tryed witewater yet in it but plan to next month. I strongly recommend this boat if you are thinking about giving Kayaks a try for the first time. I also own hard kayaks but we keep coming back to the Sea Eagle because it is stress free and holds everything you could want.
4

First, this kayak is not…

Submitted by: timrunn on 7/5/2004
First, this kayak is not comparable to a "hard" kayak, but it will fit in the backseat or trunk of the smallest car when deflated. I purchased the boat to be used as a fishing craft in swift river situations. I have now owned this craft for 2 years. It handles well and performs admirably up to class III (I have not had to brave anything higher so far). The optional stablizer is almost necessary for flat water paddling. It is certainly a tough craft. I have bounced off many rocks and often suspend the craft on rocks to fish. I have even stood up in this kayak but this is definitely not recommended nor safe. The 380 is a good stable IK for fishing or fun in moderate white water. By the way, the fly fisherman's optional seat will raise your seated position about 3 inches--very helpful when fishing.
4

I puchased the 380x because I…

Submitted by: haught on 6/1/2004
I puchased the 380x because I have no place to keep a hard boat right now. I have been very pleased with craft, accepting its limitations. It is broad & doesn't have the speed of a sleek hard boat, but you gain a ton of comfort. For camping it's hard to beat its gear carrying capacity (850 lbs) and it's by far the most stable boat I've owned. The removable skeg permits very straight tracking & it can be removed for whitewater. I've paddled the California coast, Lake Mead, Kern River & lower Colorado river & the boats versatility has been exceptional. If you accept the craft for what she is, you have a versatile workhorse that will handle a variety of conditions.
4

Not bad for an inflatable…

Submitted by: guest-paddler on 5/2/2003
Not bad for an inflatable kayak. Though it is a very hard boat to paddle in flat water (maybe due to the large surface area in contact with the water) VERY VERY poor tracking for beginners in flat water. This is contrary to what they state on their web site .I think on their site they stated that there could be "hours and hours of flat water paddling enjoyment". Well, for beginners, it's going to be hours and hours of paddling in circles. That was my only major disappointment. (According to their website though, an optional stablizer is suppose to help improve tracking greatly. Another 40 bucks US) I haven't tried the boat yet in white water but from the looks of it, it's built to last so when I get better I'm definitely going to take her down a class 2 or 3. Prepare to get WET! because of the boats width, the water dripping from the paddles tend to drip on the pontoons and splash back into your lap or your seat. I will be upgrading my paddles as the flat ones that came with the boat weigh a ton. Other than those few things, this boat is good price wise and is pretty portable. I hope that with enough time and experience, maybe the boat will prove itself to me.
4

Been paddling the 380x for…

Submitted by: paddler229692 on 5/14/2002
Been paddling the 380x for one full season in whitewater. This boat can handle up to class IV- pretty well. It is made of a hard WW Raft-like material, Denier 1100. The boat is 12' long and about 36" wide. Tracks well in moving water, tracks poor flatwater.

The only drawback is that it floods rather quickly in big water. It drains eventually, but if you get stuck in a big hole, you sure do feel like you are one with the river!

It comes with inflatable seats, but I prefer to paddle it kneeling down. It is still quite comfortable and you can see a whole lot of the river downstream.

If you are looking for an inexpensive white water "Ducky" this boat has what it takes to get you out on the river safely. I have just upgraded to a WW K1 and will not be selling this boat due to the overall amount of fun I had last whitewater season. It will always find its way back to the river.

4

I know, it's not a hard shell…

Submitted by: paddler229665 on 5/2/2002
I know, it's not a hard shell kayak...but it never claimed to be. I just took my Sea Eagle on her maiden voyage and was satisfied with my first trip. It really only took 5-10 minutes to blow up with the foot pump. and after hooking up some seats and attaching the optional 'directional stabilizer', a friend and I paddled across a nearby lake.

Two 6' 180lb guys fit in the kayak/canoe comfortably. If I would have adjusted the straps on my seat more I could have put my legs straight out, so the interior has plenty of room. I haven't tried it without the rudder/stabilizer; with the stabilizer in place it tracked straight. I felt the 380x was a sturdy, reliable craft. Since the bottom has so much surface area you can't get moving that fast, but it turns ok and is comfortable. One negative is that it seems a bit wide for the type of strokes I wanted to do. Since you're not packed in like a sardine you've gotta pay for that comfort somehow!

I'll try to post a follow up when I do some summer paddling, but I predict this will be very enjoyable for some leisurely River Running and Class I/II action, with a little current to keep things interesting.

For someone looking for a recreational paddling solution, the 380x is a nice combination of comfort, stability, and portability.