I've been looking at both these kayaks. Difficult to justify the price difference in my country is double the price for the 312 Steam, but seems like it's build for more than just the casual paddle around as per their product description which would give me more confidence taking on longer distances from the shore which is my intention. But at the same time worried based on previous inflatables if R10 000 investment what life time could be expected from it. Before it starts to deflate and leak. My expensive thin blow up camping mattrass only lasted a few camps before it started leaking.
Well, I don't think the quality is 2x and worth the price increase. I relatively quickly got a puncture on the 312 Steam which could be fixed but not great as it happened while on the water, luckily close to shore. If you're planning on going far from shore I would consider something not inflatable :)
Hi. I bought the same kayak on Ali, but "solar marine 312". this is a complete copy of the aquamarine, but it has only one place for the fin. it is not enough. I bought a second fin separately from the sup board. in your version, this is already provided from the factory, so I correctly came up with such a solution. It's a pity that the manufacturer didn't make railings and fasteners for fishing rods. I bought a handrail and a cable, and glued it myself. I also glued 4 fasteners with plastic rings to fix things. what is on the nose in the form of an elastic cord - for attaching swimming trunks)) in expeditionary sea inflatable kayaks are self-draining along the sides, and there are a lot of them, there are only 2 points here. and low balloons, small waves easily sweep over the side. do you swim only in warm weather? autumn / spring on cold, but calm, water do not swim on it? I bought it for myself for sea rock fishing. how do you feel about the inflatable keel? some use noodles to form the keel of soft bottom kayaks))
Hi. Nice to hear you were able to add some customizations to make it fit your requirements. As for my use, I only use it in the summer and near shore. Basically, I consider these kayaks to be more of a toy. So the stability, self-draining etc. fits my expectations. I wouldn't go on any expeditions with these kayaks, especially in cold weather :) That's also why I haven't been so concerned with self draining. However, in my experience, I don't think it works that well in these kayaks. For my use, its more of a toy to be used in summer for water activities.
@@BornToGetBusy I absolutely agree with you)) in fact, this kayak is like a sap board with inflatable sides. but the fish swims at any time, and you want to catch it not only in summer) why did I ask about self-watering - our fishermen wear swamp pants-overalls, or dry wetsuits, and swim at any time of the year, in calm water. I don't really like the low seat, I put an intex inflatable pillow under it, I just don't want to sit on a flat floor. in general, I am happy with the kayak, but 312 is short, 412 is probably more convenient, but if you swim alone, then it is quite long. aquamarine is probably the best among inflatable kayaks. this is if the kayak is not entirely drop-stich
@@BornToGetBusy It's a pretty expensive toy then, cause the version for two persons is mostly around 700e in Europe. Do you know, is this material more durable than in something like Intex Excursion Pro? Cause if it isn't, I than it really is a very expensive toy.
Ahoj, koupil jsem inovovaný steam 412,luxusní model pro rok 2022 a je krásný. 🙂Zvládne i divokou řeku, dlouho jsem vybíral a 15 kg váha, není tak hrozná. Pozdravuji z České republiky 🙂
Haven't tried it but quite sure it won't fit that end of the hose as it has a special lock in mechanism with the pump. Will check the manual later but almost certain it says to use it the way I'm doing.
I'd trust the 312 more than the Intex also. Been looking at options myself, but I'm shorter. Just wonder how long the 312 will last before leaking as it's 3 times the price of the Intex and double the price of the beta in my country.
@@francoisnel5253 I bought an Excursion Pro K1 it's an opened fishing inflatable kayak , Its very sturdy but almost impossible to paddle against the wind it just blows you all around !
Steam :+ faster self-bailing drain system, harder floor. but the Betta" is weight lighter (Betta 9Kg) (Steam11.5kg). if no car for carry the kayak, the Betta is better. i would like to know Betta 's self-bailing drain system is enough for sea?
I don't really care for self-bailing as it will make your backside wet. I prefer to keep it relatively dry. That being said, the self-bailing on the Betta seems to be sufficient should you need it.
We have the Steam and have tried it in heavy surf. The baling system is inefficient if you are not moving fast, and can't get rid of the breaking wave water fast enough, The side tubes don't have sufficient buoyancy to cope with the extra water and we find that the rigid drop-stitch floor then "floats" out of the kayak under the pressure of the waves. So it was a disappointment in heavy sea conditions if you want to surf with it. Otherwise we have been very happy with its light weight, small folded up size and reasonable tracking. We use it in rivers and in smoother sea conditions. Other than the time required to dry the kayak off, folding and set-up is very quick and simple. The position of the seat can be moved so we move it to level out the kayak for better tracking. In the video above the seat is too far back (ie the bow is too high) and this affects the tracking as it swivels around the rear end of the kayak as you paddle. If properly balanced we do not need the inserted fin.
Hej John, Jeg overvejer at købe en Betta til 2 personer - hvordan vil du mene at de to kajakker stiller sig ud fra hinanden? Er Betta'en noget værd eller vil det være bedre at bruge de ekstra penge på en stem?
Hej Pernille, hvis du har pengene så er Steam bedre, især får du meget bedre sæder. Synes stadig Betta er pengene værd, den er jo pænt billig. Du skal nok regne med pakajer til begge. Til Steam følger der ikke nogen med - dem der følger med Betta er noget bras.
I liked that you were informing much about everything much needed to know. I enjoyed your review , Thank you .
Thanks for the video! Would love to see a comparison video of the steam and the tomahawk.
I've been looking at both these kayaks. Difficult to justify the price difference in my country is double the price for the 312 Steam, but seems like it's build for more than just the casual paddle around as per their product description which would give me more confidence taking on longer distances from the shore which is my intention. But at the same time worried based on previous inflatables if R10 000 investment what life time could be expected from it. Before it starts to deflate and leak. My expensive thin blow up camping mattrass only lasted a few camps before it started leaking.
Well, I don't think the quality is 2x and worth the price increase. I relatively quickly got a puncture on the 312 Steam which could be fixed but not great as it happened while on the water, luckily close to shore. If you're planning on going far from shore I would consider something not inflatable :)
Hi. I bought the same kayak on Ali, but "solar marine 312". this is a complete copy of the aquamarine, but it has only one place for the fin. it is not enough. I bought a second fin separately from the sup board. in your version, this is already provided from the factory, so I correctly came up with such a solution. It's a pity that the manufacturer didn't make railings and fasteners for fishing rods. I bought a handrail and a cable, and glued it myself. I also glued 4 fasteners with plastic rings to fix things. what is on the nose in the form of an elastic cord - for attaching swimming trunks)) in expeditionary sea inflatable kayaks are self-draining along the sides, and there are a lot of them, there are only 2 points here. and low balloons, small waves easily sweep over the side. do you swim only in warm weather? autumn / spring on cold, but calm, water do not swim on it? I bought it for myself for sea rock fishing. how do you feel about the inflatable keel? some use noodles to form the keel of soft bottom kayaks))
Hi. Nice to hear you were able to add some customizations to make it fit your requirements.
As for my use, I only use it in the summer and near shore. Basically, I consider these kayaks to be more of a toy. So the stability, self-draining etc. fits my expectations. I wouldn't go on any expeditions with these kayaks, especially in cold weather :)
That's also why I haven't been so concerned with self draining. However, in my experience, I don't think it works that well in these kayaks. For my use, its more of a toy to be used in summer for water activities.
@@BornToGetBusy I absolutely agree with you)) in fact, this kayak is like a sap board with inflatable sides. but the fish swims at any time, and you want to catch it not only in summer) why did I ask about self-watering - our fishermen wear swamp pants-overalls, or dry wetsuits, and swim at any time of the year, in calm water. I don't really like the low seat, I put an intex inflatable pillow under it, I just don't want to sit on a flat floor. in general, I am happy with the kayak, but 312 is short, 412 is probably more convenient, but if you swim alone, then it is quite long. aquamarine is probably the best among inflatable kayaks. this is if the kayak is not entirely drop-stich
@@BornToGetBusy It's a pretty expensive toy then, cause the version for two persons is mostly around 700e in Europe. Do you know, is this material more durable than in something like Intex Excursion Pro? Cause if it isn't, I than it really is a very expensive toy.
@@loonaya I haven't seen the Intex so can't really say. But I would guess both are similar. And yes, I would consider both toys.
Николай, на воду не опускали еще? как он в деле? и что за фокус с плавником который нельзя поставить после накачки ?
О, именно такой обзор был мне нужен! Спасибо большое, все очень подробно!
Ahoj, koupil jsem inovovaný steam 412,luxusní model pro rok 2022 a je krásný. 🙂Zvládne i divokou řeku, dlouho jsem vybíral a 15 kg váha, není tak hrozná. Pozdravuji z České republiky 🙂
Thanks for the review.
Hows the steam 2022
Surely the pressure gauge should be mounted on the pump end of the inflation tube rather than at the Kayak end? Have you tried this?
Haven't tried it but quite sure it won't fit that end of the hose as it has a special lock in mechanism with the pump. Will check the manual later but almost certain it says to use it the way I'm doing.
@@BornToGetBusy Alternatively, if you would never need to remove the gauge, you could glue it in place?
Just pump and go by feeling.
@@francoisnel5253 that’s what I do too. Barely ever look at the gage. You can tell by feel. Did it that way for over 10 years and no problems..👍🏽
Thanks for the Video! Is the adapter from the pump for the holes for both the same?
@@patriciawolfslast yeah, as i remember the pump adapter/noozle is the same for both models.
La struttura esterna ...il materiale di composizione dei due kayak e uguale?
there is a difference between construction material between both without taking into account the floor?
No, besides the floor I don't think there is any difference.
Great video 👍
Thanks for making this video. I think I'd rather go for an inflatable SUP.
sup only near shore 300m , have no 3 Air Chambers for safety
The valve must be installed at the pump… However interesting cheap inflatable kayak 🤘🏻
Does Betta 312 have lots of legs room for a person like 6"2 ? I tried the intex explorer and my legs were cramped in ! Thanks
I'd trust the 312 more than the Intex also. Been looking at options myself, but I'm shorter. Just wonder how long the 312 will last before leaking as it's 3 times the price of the Intex and double the price of the beta in my country.
@@francoisnel5253 I bought an Excursion Pro K1 it's an opened fishing inflatable kayak , Its very sturdy but almost impossible to paddle against the wind it just blows you all around !
Steam :+ faster self-bailing drain system, harder floor. but the Betta" is weight lighter (Betta 9Kg) (Steam11.5kg). if no car for carry the kayak, the Betta is better.
i would like to know Betta 's self-bailing drain system is enough for sea?
I don't really care for self-bailing as it will make your backside wet. I prefer to keep it relatively dry. That being said, the self-bailing on the Betta seems to be sufficient should you need it.
We have the Steam and have tried it in heavy surf.
The baling system is inefficient if you are not moving fast, and can't get rid of the breaking wave water fast enough, The side tubes don't have sufficient buoyancy to cope with the extra water and we find that the rigid drop-stitch floor then "floats" out of the kayak under the pressure of the waves.
So it was a disappointment in heavy sea conditions if you want to surf with it.
Otherwise we have been very happy with its light weight, small folded up size and reasonable tracking. We use it in rivers and in smoother sea conditions.
Other than the time required to dry the kayak off, folding and set-up is very quick and simple.
The position of the seat can be moved so we move it to level out the kayak for better tracking. In the video above the seat is too far back (ie the bow is too high) and this affects the tracking as it swivels around the rear end of the kayak as you paddle. If properly balanced we do not need the inserted fin.
Hej John,
Jeg overvejer at købe en Betta til 2 personer - hvordan vil du mene at de to kajakker stiller sig ud fra hinanden? Er Betta'en noget værd eller vil det være bedre at bruge de ekstra penge på en stem?
Hej Pernille, hvis du har pengene så er Steam bedre, især får du meget bedre sæder. Synes stadig Betta er pengene værd, den er jo pænt billig. Du skal nok regne med pakajer til begge. Til Steam følger der ikke nogen med - dem der følger med Betta er noget bras.
It looks very similar to my Solstice, but it looks like that one uses cheap vinyl for the tubes.
Yeah, I've had two punctures already with very little use.
@@BornToGetBusy If you get a more expensive one with an outer hull you won't get any punctures.
@@BornToGetBusy Have you had punctures on the steam or the betta?
@@alixchoinet6075 the Steam
@@BornToGetBusy Ok thanks!
Which one do you prefer?
Well, I prefer the Steam. But for the price the Betta is good too.
👍👏🖒
дякую
decathlon pump have no this problem