Aquaglide Navarro 110 Review

The Aquaglide Navarro 110 is a single-person inflatable boat with a 250-pound capacity. It weighs 32 pounds and is made of 600D hex ripstop polyester with a PVC tarpaulin bottom. It features an adjustable backrest and foot brace, quick-release fin, drainage hole, paddle keepers, storage access, bungee cords, and carry handles.

Performance Comparison

Gliding and Tracking

Riding on top of the water, the Navarro doesn't have much skin in the game (or, in this case, the water) to keep it heading straight ahead. A single fin on the bottom helps a little, but most of the work of paddling in a straight line has to be done by the paddler — made more difficult by this boat's width of 2'11", one of the widest we tested, tandems included. The smooth underside helps it to glide more effectively through the water, but it tracks poorly, and much of the energy put into paddling this boat results in side-to-side waggle.

Maneuverability

Because the Navarro rides on top of the water, it's not a great option for windy days and is easily caught up in a stiff breeze. It's easy to turn on a dime, though, and the covered top does a solid job of keeping water out of the cockpit. A velcro adjustable foot brace helps you find your base a little more easily and adds a touch of hip control for experienced paddlers. The underside of this boat is plasticky, which helps add some confidence when going over submerged objects. However, it's not the sturdiest option we tested, and we didn't feel great about paddling in between and over drowned bushes on the edge of a flooded lake.

Stability

As an exceptionally wide boat, the Navarro has extra stability on the water. It's reasonably easy to get in and out of, though it does involve threading your legs through the mid-sized cockpit opening. Riding high in the water can be slightly destabilizing, but the large sides full of air help to prevent capsizing. Novice paddlers agree that this boat is a solid choice for those seeking something sturdy to outlast choppy lake days.

Ease of Transport and Set Up

Weighing 32 pounds, this is one of the heavier single-person kayaks we tested. The carry bag has duffel-style handles that are long enough to loop over one shoulder on your way to the beach, but they lack any additional padding to make them more pleasant on bare skin. Aside from the high weight, the only minor struggle we had with this bag is that it opens on the end via a drawstring. The toggle holding the drawstring is fairly weak and readily lets the string slide through it when you pick up the bag, causing it to slide open.

Like many others we tested, the Navarro employs the simple left side, right side, floor inflation method. The Boston valves on the sides of the boat aren't our favorite, but they are effective. They use a two-cap strategy; the first cap opens to a one-way valve for inflating the boat. The second cap removes the whole valve, leaving a big hole for quick air drainage. These double-valve leashes often get in the way of replacing the valve when you want to fill up your boat again, and the gaping hole allows sand to get inside your kayak's hull. The floor has a different valve — a quick-release version with no leashes and no removable components. It twists open or shut for inflation or deflation. We prefer this valve to the clumsy Boston valve but would most like all three valves just to be the same. As it is, they require different pump attachments, one of which we lost in the sand and had to repurchase. The tear-down process is very easy. The floor drain can be opened, and the floor itself comes out easily to let the wind dry it quicker (or you can bring a towel). Packing it up and rolling it to fit into its bag is no problem.

Comfort

We appreciate that the Navarro comes with a real cushion for a seat rather than an inflatable one. With velcro on the bottom to securely attach it to your perfect spot and an adjustable backrest, this kayak is good for relaxing paddles and enjoying the view. The cockpit is roomy enough for most people, though especially tall folks may run out of legroom or have to ditch the foot brace to make it work. You could feasibly bring a medium-sized dog with you or perhaps a small child in your lap. Extra storage space can be found under the front cover and by unzipping the back hatch, allowing easy access to the area behind the seat. With a limited 250-pound capacity, this isn't meant for hauling a ton of gear, but it's got plenty of space to bring what you need for a nice day out.

Construction Quality

This boat is built of tough, durable materials. The bottom is waterproof PVC-like material that's thick and strong, and the top fabric portion is 600D hex ripstop polyester. It comes with a mini repair kit that we never had a reason to use. Though we never had an issue with the boat popping — or even the worry that it might do so — the Navarro is another one of so many boats that would be unusable if popped, leaving you stranded in the water in a half-inflated boat. If the left side gets a hole, the right side might not be enough to get you back to shore. In contrast, other boats use a very smart strategy, filling an inner chamber and an outer chamber, both of which encircle the entire boat. That way, if the outer chamber pops, the inner one still gives the boat enough structure to paddle you to safety. The Navarro doesn't employ this design feature.

Should You Buy the Aquaglide Navarro 110?

As the market for inflatable and packable kayaks continues to grow, it's possible to get very impressive boats for increasingly reasonable prices. The cost of the Navarro hasn't quite kept up with this rate of change, making this boat cost more than models that outperform it in every metric. However, it's easy to use and enjoyable even for beginner paddlers, making it a great find at a sale price.

What Other Inflatable Kayaks Should You Consider?