Well, aftrr 2 years of ownership I've had zero problems after the initial bladder explosion. Decathlon replaced my first boat within a week. They said the bladder was faulty during manufacture and that was why it popped. I've since used the boat with the wife in Scotland on lochs and the sea with absolutely no issues at all. It's very stable, plenty of room for 2 adults and stays inflated without a problem. I've launched from sandy beaches, pebble shore lines, concrete boat slips and rocks all without issue. As far as the quality of the boat goes, i think it's excellent!! I also paddle hard shell kayaks too and although it's not quite as manouverable, it certainly tracks well and handles decently in choppy seas. I use 2 single paddles when we are both in the boat, as i find it keeps you a little dryer as you don't get the splashes from lifting them too high from the water. All in all its a great boat and very versatile too, fitting in the boot of the car just in case you stumble across that perfect paddle whilst out. Don't be put off by people saying oh, this or that is a better brand. Unless you are planning a long distance, white water polar expedition this boat is fine for most people. Cheers
Just returned from 3 weeks in Portugal with my Ottawa. Used it on rivers, lakes, sea (mainly flat but some 1-2m swell) and it has been fantastic. Pros: Easy to inflate, incredibly quick to deflate and pack. Tracks well, far more rigid than I expected and even handled some light surf (took on lots of water of course!) Used it with 1, 2 and 3 people. The kids even loaded up with 4 of them and managed fine. Cons: it’s heavy, ~23kgs dry, so lugging it about is not for kids or those with back issues. I carried it up to 2kms including some steep climbs so it is possible but it’s quite a workout. Worth noting: I checked it in as sports equipment on my flight out (TAP) and paid €100 for the privilege. On the way back I simply checked it as a bag, no problem (make sure it is clean & dry else it will go over the 23kg limit). I’ll post a video of it in action shortly.
I bought the same one for a holiday in Scotland. First time inflating it on the beach at Oban and the floor chamber exploded! No where near the recommended working pressure either. Contacted decathlon immediately and they have said they will replace it. So, not had chance to get afloat with it yet, but it looks great if it stays up! ATB. Andy.
Have ordered the Ottawa( after seeing your review) , price difference is approx 90 Euro (lower) than the Minnesota here in Holland. Thanks for the video, well done.
This model is far superior by a lot but it’s also a lot more expensive the sevylor Colorado is more like the itiwit as it’s a single hollow tube each side and has no suspended seats.
Hi All, great review and I'm on the brink of ordering one. Has anyone had any issues with mould? Just wondered if anyone had any drying techniques or advice they could pass on? Is it easy to dry out the bottom completely for storage? Looks to me like water will get trapped between the bottom bladder and fabric bottom. Any help or advice welcome :)
Great review. Decidedly to go for the Ottawa version. I would also like to take my dog but I’m worried about her puncturing it with her claws, have you had any issues with this, Does your dog just sit there or is he trying to walk around? Thanks
Hi John. Great review of the Minnesota. I am seriously considering buying one but I was wondering what your experience was like using it solo. I am looking for something that I can use with family but would occasionally be taking it out on my own. Any views?
Steven Poundall I use it solo from time to time - it performs really well seems much faster obviously. I place my seat between the centre and the rear and try to get the same sort of ratio you see with a one man.
Hello, nice review.One question guys who used it i want to buy one but i dont know if is fitted for not very deep rivers and yes i know the inflatable ones not too greate with rocks but if you take care you can use it on that kind of rivers?Thanks.
RISCHAR12 Hi there, yeah I have used mine in very shallow water it’s very tough, the fin / skeg will catch the ground but you can take it off for shallow water but this will obviously affect the performance
Hi John its been a while now, how has the kayak got on? reading some hit and miss things, mainly regarding blaggers bursting and am on the edge of buying one but they aint cheap and wanted your oppinion or anyone else. cheers
Hi Sharwin this Kayak is still in perfect condition and I’m am still very pleased with it. I have two large dogs that come in with my one of which is 38kgs and still no damage. If you buy ANY INFLATEABLE make sure not to over inflate especially in the morning or at night when the air is cool as when the sun heats up the air will expand this is the same for chairs, boats, and especially tents, a lot of people inflate in the cool morning, then kayak til the afternoon and then leave the kayak in the blazing hot sun upside down pointing all the black coloured hull etc into the sun!!! On all SUP / kayak / tents the instructions give a range of “bar” / PSI if you think the temperature will rise after inflation set it at the lower end of the range and you will notice it get much harder in the sun.
Great vid thanks very informative ! How are you getting on with it still happy ? I'm thinking about getting an Ottawa. Any issues or drawbacks with it ? Thanks.
Following your great review picked up my Ottawa from Loch Lomond a nice couple used it for 1 hr last year includes pump, oars, all original stuff plus 2 bouyancy vests got it for £350 so very happy 😊 can I ask when used around the bladders it gets wet especially the floor one, how do you dry yours out ? Also is there an inflation order of the valves ? & how the heck do you use the manometer as the connections seem not air tight ? I think the pin on the manometer keeps the boston valve open so the pressure shows up with the valve open correct me if I’m wrong. Any help advice much appreciated. Thanks. Tim
Mcswedx yes the floor bladder comes out there are zips to open so you can replace it. As for the pressure gage the end with the metal spike goes in the valve and the bayonet end attaches to the pump I’ve had no issues with it however I do also tend to use the electric pump made by Sevylor as it stops automatically at the correct pressure.
superb kayak it is the ottawa just decathlon put there stamp on it and looks better in blue. exploding tube sounds like over inflation never heard of that happening before. they did however have a bad batch where the chambers were stitched incorrectly causing them to twist possible you may have been unfortunate and got that one. apart from that you will not find a better inflatable kayak than the ottawa and this one in my opion. I have 3 sevylor's and this being one of them :-)
Dave Wright Hi Dave..I got my Ottawa today and it has a part that appears unstitched.. The boat looks a little unsymetrical too. Just wanted to find out if its normal or the part thats not stitched is the way it is for a reason or its actually an error. Would have sent you a picture but youtube does not have picture sending facility....Please help if you can....
piotr szledak it’s the Sevylor Minnesota from Decathlon or online you can buy the same kayak from Aquascene called the Ottawa exactly the same different colours I’ll be ordering my Ottawa very soon.
with proper care these boats. ottawa ,colorado and Rio. will last a good while. but definitely gotta wash and dry. with every use. cant be kept in a corner in your backyard carefree. or denier material will Rot away for sure......... if well kept boats will put u in many adventures
Nice vid, but folks these Sevylor's a entry level and not made to last. They use cheap Boston style valves and in no way compare to Halkey style. I understand everyone has a budget for kayaking, but this is not a brand I would go with.
Jim McCarthy Jim, I have Boston style valves on my 7 year old Sea Eagle 370. No issues yet, and I live in the south where it is 100F most of the summer.
I bought the same one for a holiday in Scotland. First time inflating it on the beach at Oban and the floor chamber exploded! No where near the recommended working pressure either. Contacted decathlon immediately and they have said they will replace it. So, not had chance to get afloat with it yet, but it looks great if it stays up! ATB. Andy.
with proper care these boats. ottawa ,colorado and Rio. will last a good while. but definitely gotta wash and dry. with every use. cant be kept in a corner in your backyard carefree. or denier material will Rot away for sure......... if well kept boats will put u in many adventures
Well, aftrr 2 years of ownership I've had zero problems after the initial bladder explosion. Decathlon replaced my first boat within a week. They said the bladder was faulty during manufacture and that was why it popped. I've since used the boat with the wife in Scotland on lochs and the sea with absolutely no issues at all. It's very stable, plenty of room for 2 adults and stays inflated without a problem. I've launched from sandy beaches, pebble shore lines, concrete boat slips and rocks all without issue. As far as the quality of the boat goes, i think it's excellent!! I also paddle hard shell kayaks too and although it's not quite as manouverable, it certainly tracks well and handles decently in choppy seas. I use 2 single paddles when we are both in the boat, as i find it keeps you a little dryer as you don't get the splashes from lifting them too high from the water.
All in all its a great boat and very versatile too, fitting in the boot of the car just in case you stumble across that perfect paddle whilst out. Don't be put off by people saying oh, this or that is a better brand. Unless you are planning a long distance, white water polar expedition this boat is fine for most people.
Cheers
Just returned from 3 weeks in Portugal with my Ottawa. Used it on rivers, lakes, sea (mainly flat but some 1-2m swell) and it has been fantastic. Pros: Easy to inflate, incredibly quick to deflate and pack. Tracks well, far more rigid than I expected and even handled some light surf (took on lots of water of course!) Used it with 1, 2 and 3 people. The kids even loaded up with 4 of them and managed fine. Cons: it’s heavy, ~23kgs dry, so lugging it about is not for kids or those with back issues. I carried it up to 2kms including some steep climbs so it is possible but it’s quite a workout. Worth noting: I checked it in as sports equipment on my flight out (TAP) and paid €100 for the privilege. On the way back I simply checked it as a bag, no problem (make sure it is clean & dry else it will go over the 23kg limit). I’ll post a video of it in action shortly.
I bought the same one for a holiday in Scotland. First time inflating it on the beach at Oban and the floor chamber exploded! No where near the recommended working pressure either. Contacted decathlon immediately and they have said they will replace it. So, not had chance to get afloat with it yet, but it looks great if it stays up!
ATB.
Andy.
Brilliant video! Just bought one of these and took her out yesterday for the first time. Great ride!
Nathalie M ours is still going strong years of use and had so much use and pleasure out of it.
Can I ask where you bought yours from? I'd love to get one of these but they're hard to locate.
@@st3johno Do you know where these are available from? Don't seem to be available from Decathlon anymore. Great vid by the way.
Paul Molyneux if Decathlon are sold out sea r h for the Sevylor Ottawa it is the exact same boat.
@@st3johno aquascene
Just ordered the Minnesota from Decathlon thanks to your video. Can't wait for it to arrive.
Have ordered the Ottawa( after seeing your review) , price difference is approx 90 Euro (lower) than the Minnesota here in Holland. Thanks for the video, well done.
what's the difference between de Ottawa and Minnesota?
Are these better than the ittiwit from decathlon?
This model is far superior by a lot but it’s also a lot more expensive the sevylor Colorado is more like the itiwit as it’s a single hollow tube each side and has no suspended seats.
Great review. Thanks for sharing. I have two Sea Eagle kayaks, but after this I will research Sevylor as well! Cheers!
Hi All, great review and I'm on the brink of ordering one. Has anyone had any issues with mould? Just wondered if anyone had any drying techniques or advice they could pass on? Is it easy to dry out the bottom completely for storage? Looks to me like water will get trapped between the bottom bladder and fabric bottom. Any help or advice welcome :)
Just got a second hand one..impressed
Great review. Decidedly to go for the Ottawa version. I would also like to take my dog but I’m worried about her puncturing it with her claws, have you had any issues with this, Does your dog just sit there or is he trying to walk around?
Thanks
Hi do you think the three man one should be ok for a 24 st man
Hi John. Great review of the Minnesota. I am seriously considering buying one but I was wondering what your experience was like using it solo. I am looking for something that I can use with family but would occasionally be taking it out on my own. Any views?
Steven Poundall I use it solo from time to time - it performs really well seems much faster obviously. I place my seat between the centre and the rear and try to get the same sort of ratio you see with a one man.
Thanks brilliant video - sold 👍🏻😁
Thanks for content. Very helpfull 👍
Hello, nice review.One question guys who used it i want to buy one but i dont know if is fitted for not very deep rivers and yes i know the inflatable ones not too greate with rocks but if you take care you can use it on that kind of rivers?Thanks.
RISCHAR12 Hi there, yeah I have used mine in very shallow water it’s very tough, the fin / skeg will catch the ground but you can take it off for shallow water but this will obviously affect the performance
@@st3johno thanks for your advice mate.Have a nice day :)
Hi, do the floor bladders come out of the Minnesota?
Hi John
its been a while now, how has the kayak got on? reading some hit and miss things, mainly regarding blaggers bursting and am on the edge of buying one but they aint cheap and wanted your oppinion or anyone else.
cheers
Hi Sharwin this Kayak is still in perfect condition and I’m am still very pleased with it. I have two large dogs that come in with my one of which is 38kgs and still no damage. If you buy ANY INFLATEABLE make sure not to over inflate especially in the morning or at night when the air is cool as when the sun heats up the air will expand this is the same for chairs, boats, and especially tents, a lot of people inflate in the cool morning, then kayak til the afternoon and then leave the kayak in the blazing hot sun upside down pointing all the black coloured hull etc into the sun!!! On all SUP / kayak / tents the instructions give a range of “bar” / PSI if you think the temperature will rise after inflation set it at the lower end of the range and you will notice it get much harder in the sun.
do you know if they will ship to the US?
Great vid thanks very informative ! How are you getting on with it still happy ? I'm thinking about getting an Ottawa. Any issues or drawbacks with it ? Thanks.
Tee Pee yes still going strong, really good condition! Now have 2 dogs that come in it with us but it handles the 4 of us no problems.
st3johno nice one thanks for your reply, I think I'm gonna get one for next year. Best review I've seen of this 👍
Following your great review picked up my Ottawa from Loch Lomond a nice couple used it for 1 hr last year includes pump, oars, all original stuff plus 2 bouyancy vests got it for £350 so very happy 😊 can I ask when used around the bladders it gets wet especially the floor one, how do you dry yours out ? Also is there an inflation order of the valves ? & how the heck do you use the manometer as the connections seem not air tight ? I think the pin on the manometer keeps the boston valve open so the pressure shows up with the valve open correct me if I’m wrong. Any help advice much appreciated. Thanks. Tim
Boot in the car?
Rickyboyz 100 Sorry the boot is what the English call the storage area of a car - like the Americans call it a Trunk.
Oh ya, right. Thanks
where did you buy it?. Thanks
Hey great vid thinking of Ottawa thanks for posting this for research nice one
Can’t work out how to use the pressure gauge that comes with the Minnesota, any advice?
Mcswedx yes the floor bladder comes out there are zips to open so you can replace it. As for the pressure gage the end with the metal spike goes in the valve and the bayonet end attaches to the pump I’ve had no issues with it however I do also tend to use the electric pump made by Sevylor as it stops automatically at the correct pressure.
Thank you.
superb kayak it is the ottawa just decathlon put there stamp on it and looks better in blue. exploding tube sounds like over inflation never heard of that happening before. they did however have a bad batch where the chambers were stitched incorrectly causing them to twist possible you may have been unfortunate and got that one. apart from that you will not find a better inflatable kayak than the ottawa and this one in my opion. I have 3 sevylor's and this being one of them :-)
Dave Wright
Hi Dave..I got my Ottawa today and it has a part that appears unstitched.. The boat looks a little unsymetrical too. Just wanted to find out if its normal or the part thats not stitched is the way it is for a reason or its actually an error. Would have sent you a picture but youtube does not have picture sending facility....Please help if you can....
Thanks for the review buddy 👍🏻
Great review, very helpful mate :)
is there any chance that somebody of you could tell me exact name of this kayak?? I am planning to buy one
piotr szledak it’s the Sevylor Minnesota from Decathlon or online you can buy the same kayak from Aquascene called the Ottawa exactly the same different colours I’ll be ordering my Ottawa very soon.
with proper care these boats. ottawa ,colorado and Rio. will last a good while. but definitely gotta wash and dry. with every use. cant be kept in a corner in your backyard carefree. or denier material will Rot away for sure......... if well kept boats will put u in many adventures
Qual o preço ?
Como adquirir ?
So what's the difference between this and the Ottawa?
@@teepee4296 Have you got one? Is it worth paying the extra?
TheTreeOctopus Just the colour scheme
@@st3johno thanks, realise he did actually say at beginning, have you got one?
excellent answered all questions
Nice Review!
Great video
good vid thanks
nice and good video..Thanks.
Nice vid, but folks these Sevylor's a entry level and not made to last. They use cheap Boston style valves and in no way compare to Halkey style. I understand everyone has a budget for kayaking, but this is not a brand I would go with.
Jim McCarthy Jim, I have Boston style valves on my 7 year old Sea Eagle 370. No issues yet, and I live in the south where it is 100F most of the summer.
Too much explosion for me love my heart sardaukar
I bought the same one for a holiday in Scotland. First time inflating it on the beach at Oban and the floor chamber exploded! No where near the recommended working pressure either. Contacted decathlon immediately and they have said they will replace it. So, not had chance to get afloat with it yet, but it looks great if it stays up!
ATB.
Andy.
where did you buy it?. Thanks
with proper care these boats. ottawa ,colorado and Rio. will last a good while. but definitely gotta wash and dry. with every use. cant be kept in a corner in your backyard carefree. or denier material will Rot away for sure......... if well kept boats will put u in many adventures