The Sevylor Minnesota Kayak 2021 is the most recent addition to the fleet, and it’s the best inflatable kayak on the market. A more expensive choice, the Minnesota is an investment in return for unparalleled strength, performance and stability.
❓ Minnesota vs. Alameda
A common question we get here at Aquascene is ‘what’s the difference between the Minnesota and Alameda?’ Both models perform exceptionally well, are the same length and width, and carry the same number of paddlers. So what’s the difference? The Minnesota is styled like a typical canoe because of the wall-shaped internal tubes, whereas the Alameda takes on the shape of a kayak. But it goes beyond aesthetics - the Minnesota feels so solid you can’t quite believe it’s inflatable! The Minnesota's black protective Decitex® skin comes up higher, offering better protection against scrapes if you going through narrow canals, and the Minnesota’s skeg/fin has been modified to be extremely easy to attach/remove without needing to deflate the kayak.
🛶 How does it paddle?
Our team are impressed by the Minnesota’s ability to glide over the water, tracking in a perfectly straight line, whilst remaining stable and balanced enough to carry families in all types of water conditions (coastal, open sea, rapids, inland rivers lakes and canals). Taking a higher inflation pressure than other kayaks in the Sevylor range, this model performs how you would expect a fibreglass kayak to perform.
🏅 The best part
The most impressive and helpful feature of the Sevylor Minnesota is the new 2021 seating design. Each seat is suspended from the side tubes via hooks, which has four enormous benefits:
1. Your weight is spread across the whole kayak, not just the floor - this removes any misshaping of the hull, and resulting drag from the bump.
2. The hooks run the full length of the kayak, meaning that each seat can be moved forwards/backwards inch-by-inch, or removed altogether! Perfect for paddling solo, with a tall partner, or if you’re taking the children/family out.
3. Higher-up, you won’t get a wet bum, and you’ll find paddling much easier when reaching over the side chambers.
4. The backrests have built-in lumbar support bringing comfort above and beyond that of a rigid kayak - say goodbye to backache and hello to longer, more enjoyable journeys.
🐊 Armoured skin
The underneath of the Minnesota is protected by Decitex®, a patented skin formed from nylon that has been meticulously woven through multiple layers of PVC. The result is a smooth and slippery surface with low-drag. Thanks to this ‘iron-like’ skin, you can drag the Minnesota up shingle beaches, run aground over rocks, and graze against low-lying branches and roots. Water will bead off the Decitex® skin, keeping your kayak bone-dry for when you’re ready to pack up.
Despite it’s incredible strength, the material is lightweight and couldn’t be easier to roll up.
💡 Some good ideas
The Sevylor Minnesota can be used for solo, tandem, or family paddling with two adults and children. However many paddlers choose this model with the intention of paddling solo/tandem, removing the 3rd seat for extra legroom or space for camping/fishing gear.
The Minnesota is extremely difficult (near impossible) to flip over, making it a safe option for families. It’s nimble enough to navigate tight rivers, but robust and stable enough to tackle white-water rapids. The raised bow and spray deck makes for good defence against any choppy waves that would otherwise leave you a little wet.
The whole kayak rolls into a neat, watertight backpack – perfect for storing dry items in whilst paddling. The bag features comfortable padded shoulder straps so that you can walk off with the kayak on your back, and a drainage plug so that you can drip-dry the kayak whilst it’s inside the bag. At 20Kg this kayak is more than manageable for one person to carry and fits nicely inside a suitcase for adventures abroad.
The Minnesota has handles at the mid-point, and at each end of the kayak, so it’s even easier to carry by yourself. The new paddle grips hold your paddles for you whilst you rest, removing the need to bring a wet paddle into the cockpit.
The Sevylor Minnesota comes with an attachable skeg and built-in directional strake, which gives the boat incredible directional stability and tracking.
📝 What's included
Sevylor Minnesota Inflatable Kayak
Pro Paddles (Fibreglass/Alu 2-piece), or Pro-X upgrade
Pro Pump (Double-action pressure pump & deflate mode)
2x Aquarius Canoe Buoyancy Aids
Sevylor Minnesota Bag
Sevylor stabilising fin (skeg)
Sevy-Smart pressure gauge
Owner’s manual & quick-repair kit
Aqua-care Warranty (2 Years) + Sevylor Manufacturer Warranty
⚙️ Specifications:
Size: 383x92cm | Size boxed: 81x45x26cm | Weight: 20kg | Max. load: 225kg
Configure as: Solo, tandem or triple-seater
Inflate time: 3 minutes
Deflate time: Instant
✉️ Want more information? Talk to our Sevylor expert: sevylor@aquascene.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you.
