Best Kayak Under $300? Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak Review

For many people, who don't have the means of transporting and/or storing hardshell kayaks, inflatable kayaks make paddling possible. In this video, I do a full review of the Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak - one of the cheapest inflatable kayaks on the market. The Sea Eagle 330 is an affordable kayak, but is the Sea Eagle 330 a good kayak?
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[@liznewman4209]

Ken I had the 370 and still have the 330. I put a small ice chest up front for a foot brace and it serves 2 purposes. I have a hard shell but still use my Sea Eagle when I need to they both serve a different purpose. thank you for reviewing this. I have been using mine for 5 or 6 years and have never had a leak. to make it even more portable for me I haul it around in a large rolling suitcase.

[@Yibambe.]

What a brilliant idea - a rolling suitcase!

[@PaddleTV]

I agree, smart!

[@wormymaple99]

I was thinking about using the 2nd chair as a foot brace but this is a better idea!

[@user-vk8vk5ul2b]

Rolling suitcase?!! Thank you Genios, you just ruined the business of my inflatable kayak ramps robbers. Well, but how does it to walk on the sand? 😊

[@liznewman4209]

I have never used it in the sand, I imagine it would not roll well. Lol

[@n8goulet]

These are great kayaks for a low price. I paid $200 for mine 12 years ago, and today in 2023 you can still buy them as low as $200. If you take care of them, they will last. I have 3 all over a decade old. I did mainly upgrade to much more expensive Sea Eagles, but for very little money these are good. Do not use the foot pump on a hard surface! I broke several. No one mentioned that online. Always look for grass, or at least throw a towel under the pump. I eventually figured out the hard surfaces like tar or cement or rocky beach were no good.

[@geoffknight7322]

I have a 370, it’s in its 5th season without any issues, and think that this is a very true review, what wasn’t said is that it’s easy to get back in to the boat if you do fall out. I’ve never fallen out, as it’s very stable, but I have practised getting back in when out of my depth as a safety measure. I’m 62 and 90kgs so not the light spring chicken I used to be. We take ours on holiday from the UK to the Mediterranean, everything fits in a large wheeled roll bag within airline weight limits. There’s two things I’d change, some form of fitted foot brace, and a way to secure the seats, rather than just putting in the boat, they do slide back a little when paddling solo.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Great review Ken. I've had a lot of experience with this kayak and own three of them. After borrowing a friend's kayak, I loved the experience so much, I immediately started shopping for one. I quickly discovered Sea Eagle which offered awesome portability and the SE330 was inexpensive and offered excellent value. This was about 12 years. ago. It was just a $200 investment at the time (I got a deal) and included a pair of decent quality paddles and two seats (cheaper SEC seats). I upgraded to the Deluxe seats later as your using and are more common with them. I absolutely love the Deluxe seats, and I own several pair now because......my gateway SE330 purchase eventually lead to me buying the 7 Sea Eagles I now have in my collection, and expensive accessories like a Torqeedo motor and full sail rig. My Sea Eagle Paddleski 435ps (no longer available, but my favorite model due to it's ability to take a gaoline motor, full sail rig and paddle as a tandom kayak with decent performance) has been used more than 450 times and has never been patched. The SE330 isn't the best selling inflatable kayak for nothing. It's well made and well designed for an inexpensive product. Sea Eagle also has exceptional tech support. I've had two full size adults in my SE330's many times. Totally agree it's not the most comfortable with 2 large adults, but it is possible. My cousin is 6' 2 and bigger than Ken. He never complained and enjoying going kayaking with me many times without paying for a rental. I've gone with my wife and other people in them too. But I would recommend the SE370 for 2 people if you plan to do it often. Performance is fine if you don't plan on going for miles and miles hours at a time. I've spent 4 hours in mine several times however and gone many miles. I have other Sea Eagles for that now like my Razorlite, which is easier to paddle and goes faster so I can see a larger body of water in the same amount of time. Otherwise the SE330 is perfectly enjoyable. As you said, I wouldn't recommend class III rapids on the SE330. I've never tried any kind of white water, but I've seen videos of people getting dumped on this boat. Then again, videos of people doing some rough water water too. Get an Explorer if it's more than beginner white water. The foot pump you mentioned is easy to use. Be aware I broke several of them quickly. I believe this was due to using them on a hard surface like tar. Make sure you use this pump on grass or a soft surface. At the very least, throw a towel under it. The biggest competitor for the SE330 is the Tucktec foldable or the even cheaper Intex. I feel the SE330 is the better kayak of those. The Tucktecs are faster, but I've seen more than a dozen people complain they fill with water unexpectedly (generally from user error in assembly) and you have to swim back with them. And if you flipped a folding kayak like a Tucktec or ORU, forget re-entry from the water. Could be a dangerous situation if there is no place to land near by. The cheap Intex just seem more like a pool toy to me, but I guess ok for the very little money. Durability. All 3 of mine are over 10 years old, and have held up just fine. Like any inflatable, drying them and cleaning them after use is required. Not optional. If you take care of them, they will last. The only issue I had was landing on an all gravel beach where my friend told me to land (bad idea). Avoid gravel with inflatable boats like the plague. It's sharper than you think. If you must, get your feet wet and get out of the kayak before you land and carry it over the gravel. Fortunately Sea Eagle has a great video demoing how to patch with the included kit. The SE material is not as durable as their higher end kayaks, but on the water punctures are uncommon if your careful. It has 3 air chambers and you'd more than likely make it back to the launch even if you had a puncture. Not to mention the punctured chamber likely would still have some air in it. Sea Eagle makes great stuff. This is an excellent kayak for someone that isn't sure how much they will get into kayaking and will offer a fun experience on the water. They offer great high end models if you want to upgrade later. The SE330 is just 26 lbs and lighter weight than their high end kayaks, which is another reason to buy one. I love my Razorlite & Paddleski's the most, but I owe it all to my SE330 for getting me into the hobby. Even if I only had my first SE330, I'd still have fun with it. Ideal kayak for someone that doesn't want to spend a fortune, but doesn't want to buy junk either, yet doesn't have a vehicle or storage for a hard shell. You can also leave this in your car and go kayaking whenever you want which is less practical with a hard shell, easily take it on vacation, etc. The SE330 is a pretty comfortable kayak for it's price, and probably the safest kayak in it's price category. Ideal for a beginner much more than a folding kayak or the other cheap kayaks from less reputable manufacturers.

[@PaddleTV]

Excellent, thanks for sharing your experience!

[@ronmorgan3246]

On a scale of 1 to 10, your Razorlite being our 10 ... how comfortable is the Paddleski to kayak paddle _______. How efficient/speed capable is the Paddleski to kayak paddle ________. I mostly like to paddle, but would like the option to attach a 6 hp and cover some area!

[@gloppy101]

One of your best (and probably the best SE 330/370) videos on YT. Job well done.

[@teresaquarles9158]

I have the 370 and the 330 and I love them both. I’ve been rough with mine and they’ve held up wonderfully. They get me out on the water and enjoying life with family, friends and my Boxer Maxx.

[@NeKrokodilu]

@@NoTrail Sea Eagle: "dang it Loch Ness Monster, I ain't giving you no 350"

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope your family and Maxx have fun on the water.

[@jeffshaf4019]

I just got the 370, I'm wondering it will be good for large dogs, I'm worried about the nails puncturing it

[@khausere7]

This was my gateway kayak. I owned it for a little over a year and paddled on flat water and easy rivers. Pros included portability, low cost, and getting in the water quickly. Cons came with experience: the integrated skegs can get bent out of shape, and putting them back into place is a painstaking process using a blow dryer that I never got to work just right. Also, I found tracking on flat water to be iffy at best, and keeping on a straight line was tricky especially if there was any wind. The lack of foot braces became tiring after a while and there is no onboard covered storage. "Yaki" did the job, though, and I upgraded to a hard-shell with a drop down skeg ("Yaki II") then sold "Yaki" to my sister who wanted to get started on the water. Overall no complaints, and a good introdcution to the sport.

[@PaddleTV]

Great points, thanks for sharing your experience.

[@danielboyle4885]

2nd year owning the SE-330 & we love it. We like to take it out onto lake Erie where we've launched from at least five different points along the shoreline. Going out about a mile and paddling along the shore line then coming in close to see all the properties and how they are dealing with erosion is interesting. We meet a lot of people that way. The kayak handles well in some really choppy water and is great fun when we turn into the wakes of large power boats or Jet Skis! We do get better speed on calmer days but it's fun either way. My wife is 5' & I'm 5'10.", we fit in it snug but comfortably even with a soft cooler & dry-bag.

[@erinfough4344]

This was a great review! Thank you. Considering something portable I can put on the floorboard of my scooter to try kayaking all the beautiful spaces around me.

[@omilasimittrarachchi5607]

This is an informative, unbiased and detailed review of SE 330. I followed this review and a few other reviews connected to SE 330. Then I bought one for myself. I am so pleased with its performance and I am thankful to PaddleTV for such a nice reviews. Your in-depth reviews helped me immensely to make the right choice of the first kayak.

[@gcml1990]

Ken you are the best. I just got one after your review and years of wanting to paddle I hope this is the begging of some good adventures.

[@PaddleTV]

Great to hear! Have you had a chance to get it on the water yet?

[@ToddRehm]

I was paddling tandem in a Sea-Eagle 380x headed to Nantahala Falls from the little takeout you use to scout the rapids. Something caught my peripheral vision and I looked to the side to see this high-school age kid in an SE-330. He made it through the falls perfectly, and I talked to him at the take out and he said he’d run the falls seven times that week in his boat. I might not take one down a long series of class 3 rapids, but it certainly handled Nantahala Falls at the end of the run.

[@glyn829]

Good review 👍 looking like it paddles well

[@ronmorgan3246]

Thx Ken - It apparently paddles better than expected. This would be a good social boat add for friends and family joining a casual paddle.

[@DenKwonDo]

Weve had a SE370 for about 10 years, and it had held up great! The only issued we've had with it is 2-3 pinholes from fish fins, other than that it's handled alot of fishing and some class 1-2 whitewater. We have many hardshell kayaks that we use more than the Sea Eagle, however it still has its purpose and still gets used:) I'm currently in the market for either a Sea Eagle 350fx or an Aqua Glide Blackfoot 130 Angler. Have you done a review on the Blackfoot, and if not do you plan to? Thanks:)

[@quietjohnoutandabout6578]

Thanks for your review. I enjoyed it. What paddle do you use for that kayak?

[@HarryLewinASR]

Great review. Have you tried the second seat as a foot yet? For the rare 2 person occasion, could facing seats allow for a full size passenger?

[@goraplx22]

Just purchased 380x pro… im so happy

[@theomni]

One additional aspect of these portable kayaks I would like to see reviewed is the take down and storage process. How hard is it to get it dried off and packed back up?

[@NeKrokodilu]

Far easier than deflating an Intex Explorer K2, for one specific reason: all the valves on the SE330 & SE370 are Boston valves. Just open them up, fold the side chambers over the floor, and roll up the hull. (Do take a moment after the kayak is fully deflated to screw the valve bodies back in partway, in order to keep from putting dents in the molded ridge that the rubber O-ring seals against.) The Intex boat has nicely recessed Boston valves on the side chambers, but every other valve, including the one in the floor chamber, is the type you'd see on inflatable toys like arm floaties or beach balls. These take far longer to deflate, and are more hassle because you have to squeeze the valve to let the air out. In the case of the floor valve, unless you have another person to help you, you pretty much have to lie down on the ground and do this with one hand as you roll the boat up with the other. (If anyone knows a better way, I'm all ears.)

[@ItsMangel]

@@NeKrokodilu You can always get a pump that you can reverse for deflation, works great for those little rubber valves.

[@dereknolin5986]

I'm trying to take really good care of my 330, so after every use I've been just partially deflating it to get it in the car, and then partially reinflating it again once I get home and spraying it off with a garden hose, and then drying it with microfiber towels. But honestly I could probably make do just bringing some clean water with me, and wiping it off with a wet towel before drying it and then rolling it up. Like someone else said, once you open up the valves, it deflates really quickly. If you didn't wash it off you could probably roll it up in three minutes. One reason I got the 330 over some other inflateable models is because it doesn't have a cloth cover. Even those may help protect against sharp rocks, I've heard that moisture gets trapped under the cloth, and they're really hard to clean and dry, and so they're prone to mold. I haven't taken it on whitewater yet, but I've dragged it up on to shore and onto concrete boat ramps without a scratch on it. One problem I had was that one skeg was slightly bent, so following Sea Eagle's instructions, it took me about 30 minutes with a hair dryer to bend it back straight. Another minor issue is that the valve attachment rings are a little tricky to attach the very first time you assemble the boat, but then you have have to do it again, and there are some tricks that made it easier, like soaking the rings in hot water first so they stretch easier. It doesn't track in a straight line as well as a hard shell, though. I'm really looking to use it more on moving class I and II rapids, and I think this may be an all-around best value for that purpose, considering I can just deflate the boat and Uber back to my car at the river takeout point!

[@HarryLewinASR]

Based on this review and the size of the members of my family, I purchased the 370 today. This is for quick access on local resovoirs. I expect this will be much faster into the water than my high pressure drop stitch kiyak and trim better given its larger size. As for performance, well having a usable kayak is simply more important.

[@PaddleTV]

Amazing! Let me know what you think.

[@johnmaclachlan6960]

A great little kayak,I took mine 66miles down the river Spey in Scotland,fully loaded with camping gear and it handles it with no problem and was very comfortable as well.I am thinking of getting an explorer 330x but not sure if it would match the speed of the 330.In any case I will not be parting with the 330.

[@jamesdurnil3043]

Ken, this was my first kayak. I had it for almost 10 years before I upgraded to an Old Town Next. I took it on rivers and lakes. It also went on several week long camping trips. It is so durable. I had it in rocky areas and concrete boat landings. It held up against all of it. After all that time and use I only had one small hole in one pontoon, which was repairable. The most difficult part was finding the leak. Otherwise this boat was a rock star. I would recommend this for anyone that does not have the storage space or deal with cartop transport of a hard sided kayak. When I did have gear for camping in it I was able to put somethings in the front and then a bear canister sideways and that was my foot brace, which worked really well.If you or your viewers have any questions about this boat In would be happy to answer. Here is a link to of the video of my trip using this boat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqTIe2uLYqZkiNE

[@PaddleTV]

Great gateway kayak but sounds like it lasted too!

[@escamillajuan96]

Can you compare the sea eagle to the decathlon itiwit 2-3 person

[@kendavis1740]

Which would be a better choice- Sea Eagle 370 or Itiwit 2-3 person kayak. Thank you.

[@contactusece7769]

Ya I would take where the wakes are high or rough waters. If you a super stable class 4 Sea Eagle Explorer 🤙

[@tlgrimmy]

I have a local lead for a used one of these ($150). I also found a local deal on two Tobin Sports tandem kayaks for $220 total. I'll end up needing 2 kayaks, so the Tobin offer is very tempting. Do you think the Sea Eagle SR370 is a notably better kayak, or would you consider the Tobins?

[@turbod15]

Got sea eagle 393rl had defect had to send back for replacement

[@neostephens8980]

Have you reviewed the Sea Eagle 300X?

[@laprock]

I owned this kayak for one season and quickly realized that It’s not the best inflatable kayak to own. Yes, it has many benefits such as the price. However, the biggest concern about this kayak was the air valves as they are known to sit on one other during storage which becomes kinked (creating leaks); this is due to the kayak's design and placement of the air valves. I believe the level of performance of this kayak is low due to its overall design. Drop stitch is the way to go (if you can afford it). I ended up upgrading the Sea Eagle 370 for the Fast Track and have been loving it ever since.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for sharing. No doubt the upgrade to the Fast Track is a great one!

[@quietjohnoutandabout6578]

Why does my sea eagle turn ? I cant keep in straight

[@stephenstarling2578]

I'm getting this 370 version as my second kayak my other other one is deschutes 120 and picking up one for 120.00 for my girl to try

[@jacktyler7599]

Ken, you suggested via another video discussion that we consider the 330 as a small sailboat/powerboat tender. This review was very helpful; thank you! The biggest challenge a 'big' boat's dinghy faces is getting across an anchorage in a stiff wind and opposing wind waves, perhaps with groceries aboard. Do you think this would be up to that task?

[@PaddleTV]

It would handle the rough water reasonably well... two possible downsides - it doesn't have a ton of space 'inside' because the tubes are pretty big. It's also pretty slow, and would be tough going against a headwind. The price is right though!! :) I would think the 370 would be a better size for your purposes... more room for 'stuff', room for a 2nd paddler, and a little faster - especially with a 2nd paddler!

[@jacktyler7599]

@@PaddleTV Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, Ken. You're very generous. Meanwhile, the mulling continues! ;)

[@diosdadomiranda5918]

Im a beginner thanks for the info gonna get 1

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@missmox7196]

I solved the lack of footbrace problem by buying a kids beach ball and inflating it just enough to fit in the boat snuggly

[@marcelomarques7432]

Bom dia, qual o custo para chegar aqui em minha casa . Rio de Janeiro. Brasil. R$ ? Obrigado!! O 330

[@GarethZoeWildcamps]

Looks like a white Intex K2 explorer. I take it Intex stole the design as it looks identical.

[@matthewhoopes4440]

I'm not gonna say life preservers aren't good but I'd say there are times when it's not really necessary. For example, if they were so important why don't surfers ever use them? Think about what they are doing. But you know what, I some times ride a mile to the store on my motorcycle wearing flip flops and no helmet. Sometimes I don't wear my seat belt. But, if I'm grinding metal I always have my eye and hearing protection and gloves on. I don't mess around there.

[@6yjjk]

Nice to see them borrowing that pressure gauge idea from the Intex Challenger :P

[@NeKrokodilu]

I'd bet folding money that Sea Eagle was doing that before Intex. At the very least, they do it better. There are centimeter marks on the ruler and the hull markings, the ruler isn't stretchy(!), and the hull material is much more sturdy. Based on my experiences with Intex Explorer K2-type and Bestway Hydro-Force boats, I thought using a plastic ruler to measure hull stretch was the stupidest thing I'd ever seen. I'd still rather have a proper pressure gauge, but Sea Eagle's implementation of the hull-stretch ruler at least makes it seem like a plausible concept.

[@peterkitchener8787]

I've seen one off shore, they look a little out of place. The down side is the colour: white. Its hard to spot at sea. Didnt the Americans have a great white fleet once? While ok for rivers, its not sea safe. Like all inflatable kayaks there pump up on shore in warm summer sun and once they hit the cold water the air shrinks inside losing pressure and they feel soft. They really should start making these kayaks with a display or gauge telling you if the pressure low.

[@dereknolin5986]

You can easily take the litle comparison gauge with you in a pocket, and compare it to the side while you're in it. If you need more air, the foot pump is light and compact enough to throw in the back of the kayak and top it off if you need to. But I'm not trying to win any speed records in mine. As far as sea safe, I've seen video of someone surfing some 3-4 foot waves in one. If you leave the back floor drain open then it's self draining, although I haven't ever tested what happens if the entire kayak was filled with water while you were in it.

[@billdiver7645]

I find the 330 too small, the seats too Billy and the storage bag too small, a tight fit! It’s basically uncomfortable for two.

[@jwdundon]

I bought a used Sea Eagle, it was left inflated, and at the "recommend" pressure, it's FLAPPY! It needs more air, what is the safe MAX I can pump it up to?

[@PaddleTV]

Something to know about all inflatables is that the pressure inside will change as the temperature changes. For example, if you pump up an inflatable kayak to its recommended pressure during the heat of day, or in the sun, and then you place it into cold water, or the temperature drops, the boat will 'lose pressure'. It's not actually losing air - just pressure because hot air expands. For the same reason, if you pump up an inflatable in the cold, and then leave it in the hot sun, it can pop because of the increased air pressure as the warming air inside expands. As for what pressure you can pump the kayak up to... it totally depends on its construction. The cheapest inflatables can only be pumped up between 1-3 psi, depending on the kayak. The better quality ones are made with drop-stitch construction, and can be pumped up to around 10psi. They are MUCH stiffer and better performing. For more info on inflatables, check out my video "Everything to know about inflatable kayaks'. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIGZlKOoa7eqa7Msi=iaazTIvmMyH_v_Sz

[@Adam-rw4xk]

Bad review. Paid for.

[@JoeFiddle-ls5jh]

Bad comment

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

Thanks for the review, Ken. 👍🙂🛶