Sevylor Tahiti Plus Review
Rating
Performance: 2
Size/Weight: 8
Durability: 3
Setup: 7
Value: 6
OVERALL: 5.2
Three people? No. But a decent budget option for two.
The Tahiti Plus was designed as a family edition, equipped with three seats and intended for two adults and one child. For us, it’s more more suitable as a two-person, disregarding the weirdly-spaced configuration for two, and has a lot going for it in terms of portability. We’re also not convinced by its durability, but you get what you pay for.
Comparison
Rank: #10
Open Size: Small
Packed Size: Very Small
Weight: Light
Capacity: Medium
Perfect For: Lakes and calm rivers.
Pros: Affordable, stable, easy to transport.
Cons: Inefficient to paddle, lacks firmness.
Verdict: Not big enough for three, but if you use it as a two-person it’s a great lower-cost option.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Sevylor Tahiti Plus compares to others in our list of the Top Ten 2 Person Inflatable Kayaks or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.
Specs:
Open Size: 361 x 90cm
Packed Size: 75cm x 40cm x 25cm
Weight: 13.5kg
Capacity: 200kg
Approx Price: £185
First Impressions
The portability and simplicity of the Sevylor Tahiti Plus is the real star here. The kayak comes in a very small package and we found, if we got our folding process right (and managed to remove almost all the air from the kayak after use), the whole thing, seats and all, rolled back into almost the same size it came out of the box in. Probably the most impressive feature is the integrated outer backpack cover, which opens up and then attaches to the inflated kayak to form a spray deck. Including seats, the whole kayak backpack is 13.5kg which is a very manageable carry on your back - but keep in mind that unlike other bags which allow space for paddles and pump, you’ll have to carry these separately (in your hands…?).
However, we’re not massively sold on the durability of this kayak. The thinner-denier PVC pinches together easily between your fingers and would be relatively easy to slice open or puncture, and the seams don’t appear to be as well-sealed as many of the other kayaks we’ve reviewed. It definitely has that pool-toy feel to it.
Setup/Packdown
As with all kayaks with inflatable seats and spray decks, keep in mind that there are more parts to inflate once the kayak itself has been inflated! There are three main chambers that need inflating, which has Boston valves, a simple valve that you just stick the pump into and go.
Something we didn’t realise, however, is that unlike Boston valves on other kayaks, the floor valve needs a decent push down to close it properly before pushing in the lid, or you will risk air coming out while you paddle. It’s a similar process with the seats. We didn’t realise this and on our first test, the kayak got extremely soft and spongy very quickly as air leaked out.
With the kayak inflated to the correct pressure, and the valves correctly closed, it holds air fine.
The packdown is very simple. Being a straight PVC outer it’s an easy kayak to dry, and air escapes the main valves easily (the seats still need a good squash to make sure all the air escapes before you roll it back up).
Paddling Experience
Good points: the Sevylor Tahiti Plus, being wide, is very stable on the water, and relatively high sides and spray skirts keep you quite dry. The rocked-up bow and stern float well over choppy water as well.
On the downside, it’s a very inefficient kayak to paddle if you’re actually trying to go anywhere. Its bulk means it struggles to maintain forward momentum, and without a fin it tracks very poorly in a straight line. Often that can mean it’s at least manoeuvrable, but again, its width means it’s difficult to turn anywhere in a hurry.
It also lacks a lot of firmness, which means it doesn’t cut through the water well and isn’t particularly comfortable, the seats providing very little in the way of actual support.
Final Verdict
The Sevylor Tahiti Plus is an option to consider if you’re on a budget, and need a bit more space than other budget 2 person inflatable kayaks can provide. It’s also a good option if you really valuable portability, with a light weight, small packed size, and ease of pack down. However, the paddling experience is frustrating and uncomfortable, so if you intend to use the kayak to move anywhere through the water, you may be better served by another option.
Want to see how the Sevylor Tahiti Plus compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our list of the Best Two-Person Inflatable Kayaks.
Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.