IS THE INFLATABLE KAYAK AS STABLE AS A HARD SHELL?

I am looking for an inflatable for fishing inshore in South FL. for I live in a condo with no storage. Is the inflatable kayak as stable as a hard shell kayak (or for that matter, as an inflatable dinghi,)for a large guy?
The reason I ask is, in the picture the Hobie inflatable kayak looks flat like a paddle board unlike a sit on top kayak & to me it looks like it can swamp very easy??

If you're comparing inflatable kayak to rigid hull kayak, stability of the inflatable is comparable if not better. The advantage to rigid hull kayaks is that they cut through wind chop and swell more efficiently.

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Howie Strech
Parts & Accessories Product Manager
Hobie Cat USA

I have 5 Kayaks, and Always use my inflatable when I have to travel light! They are by far way more stable then Hard Sided! You can't go wrong! One down side is they have a lot more drag, but it makes you appreciate a Hard Sided one!

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2005 AI Blue hull (yep, only one ever made!) Prototype!
2014 TI Red hull
2002 MacGregor 26X PowerSailor 50 HP on the transom!!!

You're reference is to the i11s new inflatable and no way does it swamp easily. I've owned every type of kayak and the i11s is more stable than most hard shells I've paddled. It rides up and over wave actions rather than slicing through like conventional kayaks. And should you take a swim it is a whole lot easier to reboard than the high sided plastic boats.

Daniel

x2. I can walk all around the front of mine, sit on the edge, fight/harpoon/net fish from a kneeling position and never even consider that the boat might swamp, even in some waves/chop....

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2019 Outback360 'Fish Retriever'
2016 i11s 'Go Cougs!'
2012 Oasis and 2012 PA12 (moved on but not forgotten...)

More stable, but a wetter ride if there is any wind or wave slap. There are sculplers but if you plug the holes then you are sitting in water all the time. Where as left unplugged then it will drain out for a while.

x3... I used an inflatable for a few years before getting an AI. They are more stable than rigid hulls. Downside is they are more susceptible to winds and current.

I suppose they're more susceptible to fish hooks, too!

Thanks for the update... Yes you are right. I have one of the first one out on the market.. I love it.