Hi there, my name is Tom Fontana, welcome to my site.
PumpupBoats.com is a site I created to help people navigate the world of inflatable boats. You’ll find loads of useful how-to articles, reviews on various products, and lengthy guides on everything that involves inflatable watercraft.
What are my credentials for creating such a site?
Well, I’m NOT a boat salesman, that’s for sure :-) Ever since I was 3 years old, water has been a part of my life. I was diagnosed with scoliosis and was forced to swim every day while my body was in growth.
During this time, I fell in love with “water”, which has lasted till this day. I have tried and experienced everything that involves the water:
Boating is one of the most enjoyable water activities I have experienced. It gives you the freedom to reach exhilarating speeds, go to places only a few get to visit, snorkel in remote locations, and have fun with my family and friends.
Traditional boating is an expensive hobby that only the privileged get to enjoy.
Modern inflatable boats offer everybody the chance to get out onto the water. They are accessible, inexpensive compared to traditional boats, compact and easy to move from A to B.
Over the years, I have accumulated a lot of experience with inflatable boats. This is the knowledge that I will share with you on PumpedBoats.com.
Please do leave a comment on the articles or get in touch with me if you like, or read my articles below.
When you’re just lazy paddling on the beach, you don’t need much gear (other than your PFD, of course). But when you go day touring or out on open water, you need to be prepared. Here is a complete list of kayaking gear your should take on day touring trips. You can download a printable version of the essential kayaking …
Essential Kayaking Gear Checklist – 20 Key Items You’ll Need Read More »
Putting “Pro” into the name of a product is a bold and aggressive statement, so I wanted to review the Excursion Pro kayak and see if it deserves the title in its name? I bought the K2 (tandem) version of the kayak as a gift for my nephew, but I asked him to let me use it as well. Call …
Intex Excursion Pro Kayak K1 & K2 Review – Does It Deserve the “Pro” in Its Name? Read More »
The Sevylor Quikpak K5 is a recreational, sit-inside, 1-person kayak, that is ultra-portable thanks to its integrated backpack design. I had a chance to use the kayak for a day, and let me tell you, there were good parts and not so good parts to it. My Sevylor Quikpak K5 review article will detail everything you need to know about the kayak, so …
Sevylor Quikpak K5 Review – How Does it Fare In Real Life Read More »
The Nixy Ventus electric pump (released in 2021) has an active cooling system that promises to inflate ten iSUPs in sequence. All inflatable paddleboard owners should be excited to hear this since we all know inflating our SUPs is a real workout. Especially if you have to pump up several of them in a row. My family has 3 iSUPs (wife, son, myself), …
Nixy Ventus Electric Pump review & test – Can It Pump 10 iSUPs? Read More »
The Sea Eagle’s Razorlite represents the latest evolution of inflatable kayaks. It is the first-ever full dropstitch kayak, meaning every air chamber is built with dropstitch technology. After trying the shorter version of the kayak (393rl), I got to see why this matters. It performs way better than traditional inflatable kayaks, but I’ll talk about this in detail below. My …
Sea Eagle Razorlite Review – The 1st Full Dropstitch Kayak Read More »
A few weeks ago, I got the chance to try an Aquaglide Chinook 120 inflatable kayak for an entire day. I was very much looking forward to it, since the Chinook sits somewhere between the entry-level kayak (Intex Excursion Pro) and the high-end kayak (Sea Eagle 380x). Aquaglide is not a well-known brand. I’ve never sat in one before, which …
Aquaglide Chinook Kayak Review – Middle of the Pack Read More »
The Sea Eagle 370 Pro is a lightweight and portable three-person inflatable kayak. The SE330 and SE370 are part of the series of affordable, lightweight Inflatable Sport Kayaks by Sea Eagle. This is a very popular line of inflatable kayaks, if not the most popular. You see them everywhere. I rented a SE 370 for a test weekend to find …
Sea Eagle 330/370 Inflatable Kayak Real-life Review Read More »
Whether you want to create shade when boating on a hot summer day or you just want to make sure your boat is well protected from the blazing heat of the sun, a bimini top (aka canopy) works wonders. With all the comfort and convenience it offers, a bimini can, without a doubt, give you a better boating experience. In …
How to install an inflatable boat bimini top/canopy [3 methods] Read More »
What is the easiest way to haul your inflatable boat? Put the whole thing on a trailer, of course. If you have the space to store it and the time to drive a bit slower (due to towing), inflatable boat trailers are great. In this detailed guide, you will learn all about how to choose a trailer, what modifications you …
