Hey this is Emily at Oz Inflatable Kayaks
and in this short video, we're going to have a look at
the three different backbone slash floor options
we have for our kayaks.
People get a bit confused between these three.
So I'm just going to clarify what is for what
The Drop-Stitch Floor is a performance enhancer
and it's tough as nails.
So it's great for... sometimes when people are paddling
say the AdvancedFrame Sport
and they're over about 90kg
I'll say "Look, you really need a performance enhancer and the Drop-Stitch Floor can do that."
It's also fantastic for dogs
because (a) it takes the extra weight of the dogs really well.
and (b) it's really really durable. Okay? So there's absolutely no danger with claws.
With small children, it's a good idea if you need the performance enhancer
but they tend to be, uhm, they tend to be less claws
when it's small kids so it's not that big of a deal
and for fishing it's excellent
because again, it gives you that really sort of strong floor
there's no way that a hook is going to do any damage to a Drop-Stitch Floor.
Now, when you get to the Backbone.
The Backbone is a performance enhancer
but it's nothing to do with the durability on the floor.
So the Backbone goes under the soft-floor
that comes with the AdvancedFrame Sport, the AdvancedFrame and the AdvancedFrame Convertible.
Now, the advantage of the Backbone is it gives you a quill.
Therefore enhances performance and it also improves the rigidity of the kayak
but what it does not do is toughen up this soft-floor.
So if you're taking dogs and whatnot, it is not gonna prevent their claws from damaging this floor
Now, in terms of pros and cons. Everyone says "Which one's better?"
Look, they both improve performance of the kayak.
The Drop-Stitch improves performance by giving you great rigidity and chines.
What they call "Chine" which is corners in the hull.
The Backbone gives you great rigidity and it gives you a quill in the hull.
The difference is more in convenience.
So if you're going to put the Backbone,
you literally have to install it under the floor every time it breaks down into parts?
If that makes sense. So you connect, you slide it in before you inflate
so that it goes under the inner tube and then you connect those bits
It's not complicated, it's not difficult
but it adds, you know, a couple of minutes to your set-up time
and then when you finish paddling
you have to take it out
'cause you obviously can't fold the kayak up if it's got a rod down the middle.
Whereas the Drop-Stitch Floor goes into the kayak, instead of the soft-floor
and you just leave it there.
You can take the floor out of if you want to clean the kayak,
if you got a lot of water in there and you want to mop it out
but it's no more difficult than a soft-floor except that it takes more air
and therefore requires more pumping.
Now, the other reason you might get the Backbone over the Drop-Stitch Floor is buoyancy
So, for people that are heavier, the Drop-Stitch Floor is kind of good in the sense that
it gives you a bit of extra buoyancy
or if you want to go for a multi-day expedition and load up with gear
then you know, it's great to have that buoyancy
but if you're really, if you're fairly lightweight
if you were sort of
trying to paddle a Sport and you are less than 60kg
or 65kg like I don't have a definite figure but you know what I mean.
If you're a reasonably light person
then you might actually end up with too much buoyancy in your kayak with the Drop-Stitch Floor
simply because you want the bow and stern of your kayak to be in the water
to get that really good tracking
and the Backbone might be a better option
because the Backbone, if you think about it
there's no extra air in the kayak with the Backbone
it's just giving you rigidity
it's not raising you up out of the water, if that makes sense.
The other thing we look at is as I've said, if you're taking a dog or going fishing
makes sense to get the Drop-Stitch Floor because then
you've got the durability covered as well as rigidity
Whereas the Backbone only does rigidity
and for durability of that soft-floor, you need to look at the Dura-Floor.
So the Dura-Floor is quite a difference design.
It's literally just like a high-seating floor mat,
it's about a half a centimetre thick,
it rolls up and it reminds me of when we were kids and we used to go camping
and we have those foam mats
that's kind of what this is
but it's perfectly shaped to fit over the top of the soft-floor
it's got a little hole for the inflation tube
and it's got little tabs to tuck under the inner tube.
So this one goes over the top of the soft-floor.
Now, the advantage is you still get that nice soft-floor
under your bum. It's a little bit firmer because you got a foam mat over the top
but you get the nice soft-floor whereas the Drop-Stitch Floor is quite firm. Okay?
It's a harder floor under your bottom than that nice soft-floor.
By the way, with the Backbone you shouldn't be feeling the rod.
If you're feeling the rod, something's either gone wrong with the rigidity in your tube.
In fact, it's more likely to be a lack of pressure in your tube.
Or maybe you need a little bit more air in that floor.
So the Dura-Floor is great for like a, if you like the soft-floor and you're not taking your dog out
or going fishing all that often
but you just want something in case you are.
It's also a lot less expensive
so the Dura-Floor for an AdvancedFrame size for example.
For an AdvancedFrame or for an AdvancedFrame Sport is $69.
Whereas the Drop-Stitch Floor for an AdvancedFrame or an AdvancedFrame Sport is...
$339. So you can see that there's...
you know, if you don't need the rigidity or the buoyancy...
the Dura-Floor can be a great option.