Gumotex Helios 2 Tandem Inflatable Kayak - Excellent Condition.

Gumotex Helios 2 Tandem Inflatable Kayak. The kayak has been used only occasionally and is in excellent condition. It is only being sold now as I have bought a larger 3-seater Gumotex canoe. The Gumotex Helios 2 is a two-person tandem kayak with half decks, which give protection from spray and under which you can store your baggage. It has three main buoyancy chambers, with another three separate chambers forming the decks and seat backs.

The Helios 2 can carry two adults comfortably but can also be used solo, with baggage in the forward seat. You can get an idea of the quality of the Helios 2 by the fact that it was used by the Canadian Ranger Kayak Patrol for search and rescue operations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Gumotex make high quality kayaks and canoes, using Nitrilon, the same material as is used in whitewater rafts. They are much tougher than typical inflatable canoes and kayaks (such as the Sevylor Colorado and Hudson) which are made from cheaper PVC. Gumotex kayaks are also inflated to a higher pressure than most cheap inflatables - this makes them more rigid and easier to paddle.

Gumotex canoes have a tough single skin which can be wiped down and dried quickly after use. This is a big advantage over the cheaper inflatables which have a thin inflatable bladder inside an outer skin: these can stay damp for long periods, causing mould problems. The kayak is being sold with all its original equipment (instructions, tracking fin, luggage nets, valve adapter, repair kit, sponge) and its cleverly designed rucksack carrying bag. It also comes with a double action hand pump that pumps on both up and down strokes. There are several further articles and independent reviews of the Gumotex Helios 2 (also sold in the USA as the Innova Helios 2) available on the internet.