Season 3 | Sandbanks Style Optimal 2022 Inflatable Kayak | Unboxing, First Inflation and Impressions

[@laddanerskit3199]

I got this exact same kayak a couple of days ago. Have been out two times with it so far. The first time was on a beautiful but small lake in windy conditions, it was just a test run so didn't take too much from it. The second trip (which was today actually) was the real inspection. About 4 hours total time in the kayak on a big lake. The kayak itself is great. Extremely stable, I have been able to stand up on it as well as paddle it on my knees no problem. Did a "tip simulation" where I rocked side to side aggressively and at no point did I feel like I was going in. You can sit any way you like in there, you don't have to be all tense with you legs straight. You can bend your legs and bring them up to you, have one bent and one straight alternating between them and even sit in "meditation" pose absolutely no problem you are very free in there. However you will need to use the skeg at all times, it loses almost ALL tracking without the skeg. With the skeg you are focused on propelling yourself forward, without the skeg you are focused on propelling yourself forward while being equally as focused on preventing yourself from spinning. The good thing is that it's the universal skeg mount so you can get a different skeg for even better tracking. Not that it's needed, the skeg that it comes with is fine. The seat that comes with it is TERRIBLE. That's about it really. It's bad in every way and I highly recommend getting a different seat especially if you are planning on using the kayak during fall and spring like I am. I myself will be getting an aluminium frame one. Measured the cockpit today and I think up to about 48cm width on the frame works. The one I'm going with is only 42cm width. The paddles that come with it are... okay. They work but are cheap for sure. You can feel the paddle bend during a full strong stroke. They are also probably about 10 cm too short. Overall happy with it, if it lasts for at least the 3 year warranty without any repairs needed then I will consider it money well spent. Still haven't figured out the best way to dry it, due to the crevices inside of the cockpit you can't really leave it to dry on its own because you would be waiting years. I think maybe towel immediately out of the water, leave it for no more than 15-20 minutes, deflate it and towel the crevices and you are good to go. The design of the kayak pretty much ensures that you cant get every drop of water unless you are prepared to spend way too much time on it almost to the point of defeating the convenience of inflatables. However it should be fine since this kayak shouldn't mould, there is no fabric encasing it.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

I agree with all of this though I don't find the seat too bad, a high back PFD was a game changer for me but I could still do with a bit more padding under the bones of my butt. I am probably going to add a thin cushion at some point. The point about the skeg is so true. I tried it without just a couple of days ago for the first time, as I want to use it in faster flowing, shallower water but as soon as you stop paddling for any more than a couple of seconds, the stern has overtaken the bow and you are looking back at where you came from (may do a video on this but I wasn't filming at the time). As you say though, universal mount so I think I will buy a shorter skeg for these kind of paddles. I have had a couple of other minor niggles with it which I will save for a review video in the next couple of weeks, nothing major though.

[@DavidWilsonOutandAbout]

I do like the Sandbank Style Optimal, but I ended up buying the AquaTec Ottawa Pro which looks (seems) identical!. First 10-mile paddle in the Ottawa last week and it was brilliant. I have a couple of other dropsttich kayaks (2 and 1 person) but the clamshell design of the Ottawa Pro has now made it my go-to kayak for solo outings.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Yeah I think they are pretty much the same, the only significant difference in the boat is the placement of the drain hole which is in front of the seat in the Ottowa versus behind in the Optimal. The rest is in the accessories which are not great from either boat, the seat is maybe a bit better on the Optimal (but only from 2022 onwards) but the paddle is only ok (I have replaced mine with a carbon blade paddle) and the bag is rubbish quality. However, what set them apart for me was customer service, I never found a single complaint about Sandbanks Style but there are a few knocking about for the suppliers of the Aquatec but if nothing goes wrong with the boat then its dont matter.

[@DavidWilsonOutandAbout]

@@Ad-ventures-out I am using an Aqua Maria padded seat with the Ottawa, the back is mid-height but wraps around the back giving excellent support. The paddled base combined with my gel pad worked a treat on my first 10-mile outing. Yes, a ditched the paddle straight away, the accessories are rarely of decent quality, but they are good enough to get people out on the water without the initial additional expense. Happy Paddling Dave 👍

[@TheKayakCrew]

Great review. I bought a similar kayak called the Aquatec Ottawa a few months ago and by coincidence have done a review that I've uploaded to our website. I hope to do a video review on our KZbin channel when I get time. The Aquatec is the same as the Sandbanks essentially (other than having a U- shaped hull rather than a V-shaped hull and a few other differences). We have been very impressed with this type of kayak and we also have a tandem version which is great and even more stable albeit a lot heavier. We've had no issues with the seat. Are you resting yours against the back of the cockpit and tightening the straps up? Also surprised on your other video that you found the Sandbanks a bit rocky. The Aquatec is the most stable kayak I've used (other than our tandem version of the same type of kayak).

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Thanks. Yeah I looked at the Aquatec, a very similar design and a good price to be fair, I will take a look at your review! I think a lot of my issues with the seat were user error and mainly to do with the old PFD I was using. I have since switched to a yak high back and its much more comfortable on my 40 something year old back. I think the tippiness (thats a word!) is about right. I was comparing it to my old Sevylor Wabash which was low pressure and much more sit in. The sandbanks does have a little movement, just enough to make it interesting but its secondary stability is superb, I think it would be a challenge to capsize it. I have a video coming up of using it in pretty choppy seas in Llandudno and I felt pretty safe even when side on to the waves. I also want to trying using it as a SUP as I think it is more than capable.

[@TheKayakCrew]

@@Ad-ventures-out I bought a high back pfd too and it's way better because the back padding is higher than the seat back. We have a tandem version of this style of kayak and initially we did have some issues with the front seat collapsing back a bit but we found a way to counteract this and if you get the straps right then it's not such an issue. It would help if they put the front D-rings on the sides of the cockpit rather than the floor of the cockpit imo since it would keep the seat back more upright rather than the straps pulling the seat back downwards. Look forward to your Llandudno video. The Aquatec does not seem to wobble at all (unlike a 3 panel drop stitch yak I bought which does wobble constantly but does have secondary stability).

[@wasabij]

please post many videos for my interests! I have been looking at a similar model in the US that is visibly similar

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Thanks for watching. I will keep them coming. I had the kayak out on the sea this weekend so I will make a video from that. I also have a couple of other videos planned including a review and some instructional videos over the next few weeks.

[@ponyrang]

Enjoyed watching this video my friend Really awesome views Thank you Stay connected

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Thanks for watching

[@glyn829]

Looks quite decent 👌

[@enricakita1]

I have just bought one myself but the 2021 model which was cheaper. The seat in the old model is even worse than in the new one but I found that putting an inflatable cushion behind the back gives lovely support and stops it from folding over on entry. Other than that, the optimal is wonderfully stable due to the slightly v shaped hull and tracks decently even without the skeg. It is faster than any inflatable I have had before and feels much more like a real kayak. It is great and much cheaper than other more well known drop stitch inflatables. I was slightly concerned about the rippling in the outer layer. It does not go away but I guess it’s because it is just an outer layer? It looks pretty good too!

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Yeah I am impressed with it, I have now had it out on a lake, a river and the sea (video coming) and it handles all well, it is maybe a bit more affected by the wind than my old one but it is so much lighter. With regards to the seat I have changed my pfd for a high back one and that makes the seat a good bit better but I still think I might need an extra pad under my butt for longer paddles.

[@petersharkey5510]

Hi. I was looking at a new 2022 model, but see a 2021 on Facebook in what looks like brand new condition for £400. Is it worth spending an £300 for the latest model do you think. I can’t seem to find out what the model updates are. TIA

[@Ad-ventures-out]

@@petersharkey5510 I think the main update is the accessories which come with it, I don't think there is much that has changed with the boat itself but I could be wrong. I think the seat is the main thing thats different, its a higher back. I think the paddle is also different but the paddle which comes with the 2022 isn't too great either. Both of those things can be upgraded for less than £300 so if the £400 one on FB is genuine it sounds like a good deal...

[@enricakita1]

@@petersharkey5510 I think the new ones have a better seat, but you could get a better one yourself for a lot less than 300 quid. I have the 2021 and think it is fab a huge value for money in comparison to other better known drop stitch boats