Air Canoe 488 - 4.88m 3-Seater Inflatable Canoe

THE BEST IN INFLATABLE CONSTRUCTION. 
100% DROP-STITCH TECHNOLOGY.

The Air Canoe by Bay Sports is a revolutionary canoe, built from 100% drop-stitch material with a stunning wood-look deck. We have taken inspiration from our hard shall Canadian canoes and addressed the major drawcard - their heavy weight! 

This Air Canoe 488 is designed with generous width and a flat hull, providing stability. The V-shaped bow & stern made from hard plastic cuts a nice clean line through the water, making it track well in a straight line, whilst also being able to withstand impact from submerged objects like a floating log or debris. Combined with high side walls, the Air Canoe is able to be used in almost all bodies of water, from your calm lake to the choppy harbour as boats pass by. 

Best of all, this canoe includes everything you need in one premium wheeled all-terrain bag, so you can take your Air Canoe with you no matter where you adventure. The included oars, hand pump, removable seats and canoe all fold down neatly in a matter of minutes, so you throw it in your vehicle and take away on family holidays, or just on a weekend getaway.

Drop-Stitch vs. Regular inflatable canoes?

Are inflatable canoes any good?
Are they as good as normal canoes?
Being inflatable, do they bend like pool toys?

These are questions we have been asked from beginners and expert canoers alike, as they inquisitively ask about this advancement in canoeing. And for a good reason.

How, for so many years, did most of us deal with lugging around heavy, wooden or plastic canoes, straining our backs, and having to worry about:

• Where am I going to store my canoe?
• How light a canoe can I get?
• What is the easiest way to transport my canoe?

Welcome to the brand new Air Canoe 488 by Bay Sports, a 100% drop stitch canoe designed here in Manly, Australia. The Air Canoe 488 is a brilliant lightweight canoe with excellent tracking and build quality. But what makes this inflatable canoe so much more better than the rest? Read on...

You're not alone if you hear inflatable canoe and think the inside is just filled with air. Whilst your average camping air mattress is just that, Drop-Stitch inflatables like our Air Canoe range (and also our inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards), contain millions of tough polyester threads that connect the top-to-bottom, and side walls of the kayak. This allows them to be inflated to high-pressures whilst giving them rock-hard rigidity and form.

The result? Hard shell feel and performance, with easy transportation and storage of an inflatable.

Watch HD Video Walkthrough

Unboxing the new Air Glide kayak - Note this is the kayak version, but it gives a good overview of what you can expect with your new Air Canoe.

This video shows what's included in the box, Unpacking and Setting up the kayak, Inflating and Deflating, Packing away the kayak.

What makes this inflatable canoe superior?

• Advancements in inflatable water sport technologies, in particular drop-stitch manufacturing techniques, have developed in recent times, we are experiencing a fast transition into more practical, lightweight, yet sturdy watercraft.
• This inflatable Drop Stitch canoe is faster, stiffer and stronger than any conventional inflatable canoe. It can be easily transported in a compact bag. At just 23kgs, the material is much lighter than any polyethylene double canoe on the market, whilst the boat shape is narrower and nevertheless provides more space. And with up to 10 psi air pressure, so it is as stable and solid as a hard shell canoe. 
• The side chambers and bottom floor are made of high-denier (drop stitch) fabric for superior strength, high-pressure inflation, durability, and abrasion resistance in this canoe construction. 
• Moulded V-shaped shape underneath bow and stern made of rigid, durable material for better tracking, easier paddling, and greater speed. 
• Up to 50% lighter than their traditional counterparts plastic canoe, making for easy transportation to and from the water.
• Folds up into a compact bag, making great for those living in apartments, or those with little room to store a plastic canoe - you can leave it in the boot of your car or store it away in your cupboard.
• Remarkably tough and durable, being made from an abrasion resistant material, inflatable canoe won't ding or scratch like a traditional plastic canoes.
• Great performance and tracking capability, with huge advancements in the rigid V-hull, including a clever slide-in skeg, makes for a fast canoe that holds a straight line.

Key Features

The Air Canoe is the ultimate inflatable canoe for use on rivers, light whitewater, on lakes and for canoeing for those demanding more than just a traditional inflatable. 

• Up to 4x higher operating pressure (up to 10PSI) than regular inflatable canoes.
• 2 side carrying handles, allows kayak to be used and transported by one person. 
• Removable aluminium seats with EVA comfort-foam padding provide excellent comfort for hours on the water
• Cloud-like EVA foam deck pad is anti-slip and feels incredibly comfortable under your feet.
• Detachable large skeg keeps kayak on a straight track while paddling
• Tough, durable, compact, and lightweight, with great maneuverability and excellent stability.
• Surpass the speed of a hard-shell canoe yet enjoy easy portability.
• Replaceable H3 high-pressure valves are reliable and airtight.
• Large screw-type drain valves allow for fast, easy draining of the canoe and are easy to open and close.
• Lightweight form at just 23 kgs makes it a breeze to transport, even by oneself
• Note: These inflatable canoes are not ideal to be used in windy conditions due to their lightweight nature and upright sidewall shape.

Equipment Included

• 1 x Premium Ballistic-weave nylon carry backpack with 3 x all-terrain wheels and padded shoulder straps.

• 1 x Double-Valve Hand Pump

• 1 x Slide-in 9” Skeg

• 3 x Removable Aluminium Seats with Comfort EVA Foam padding + 12 x Screws to secure them to the canoe (including extra seating mount to adjust seating position in the 488 only)

• 3 x 2-piece Aluminium Oars

• 1 x 2m buckle strap to keep kayak from unravelling for easy packing away

• 1 x Quick Repair Kit (with spare PVC patches, valve repair tool and adhesive glue)

Specifications

• Length: 4.88 mtrs 
• Width: 0.96 mtrs 
• Height: 0.40 mtrs at middle and 0.57m at bow/stern
• Height from floor to top of inner wall: 0.32m
• Internal floor width: 71cm
• Canoe Weight: 23kgs
• Boxed Weight: 38kgs
• Maximum weight capacity: 380kg
• Capacity: 3 people
• Oar Length: 152cm
• Oar Blade: 42x19cm
• Oar Weight: 900grams 
• Shipping Carton Size: 97 x 70 x 47 cm
• Inflation time: Approx 6-7 minutes by hand or electric pump
  

PSI for both floor and side walls is 8PSI minimum and 10PSI maximum

Inflatable Kayaks Comparison Chart

Click the image below to view full screen

Delivery pricing and information

Free Express shipping within Australia. Select this option at checkout. Includes tracking and insurance. Please refer directly to our page about Pick up, Shipping & Delivery.

Setup and assembly videos

How to use manual hand pump to inflate canoe

For easy, fast inflation & time saving - purchase our Titan Electric Pump with Lithium Battery & auto-cut off. Inflates your canoe whilst you attach seats, put on sunscreen, park the car etc.

User Guide

Click here to download the Air Glide Inflatable Kayak User Guide.