Sea Eagle 370 Pro Review

The Sea Eagle 370 Pro is a tandem boat that can convert for solo paddles and has a capacity of 650 pounds. It's made of 38 mil PVC and comes with two paddles, a foot pump, and a repair kit. It features seatback pockets, bow and stern grab lines, two small tracking fins, and a drainage port.

Performance Comparison

Handling

Often, what slows you down when paddling an inflatable kayak is heavy fabric that traps water and sitting low in the water in a partially inflated boat. The Sea Eagle 370 Pro combats both. The PVC hull doesn't soak up water, allowing you to glide more smoothly. A drainage hole in the back also helps keep you from collecting too much water in your cockpit. Though the PVC sides aren't as beefy as some of the burlier (and more expensive models) we tested, they hold more pressure than many other low-budget models. This helps the boat maintain its shape better, keeping you sitting on top of the water rather than sinking into it as if you were paddling a partially deflated pool toy.

The 370 Pro is 12.5 feet long, long enough to help you track better as you paddle. With carefully curated seat placement, we found it relatively simple to avoid crashing paddles with our partner. The seats can also be inflated to be quite thick, vaulting you higher above the water with a better angle for steering. However, this thickly-filled boat does ride rather tall above the water compared to most other kayaks we tested, meaning it is harder to navigate on a windy, wavy day. But on calm, flat waters, it does well.

Comfort

The challenge with most tandems is finding enough leg space for all your passengers. The 370 Pro seats are stand-alone pieces that squeeze into the kayak wherever you want them to go. While at first we were skeptical that they would stay in place and be firm enough for paddling, we're happy to report that they work wonderfully. Not only did we have no issues with the seats maintaining their positions while we were out on the lake, but they're also exceptionally easy to move around while you're already on the water if you need to make adjustments. Other similar models we tested are more challenging to change mid-float, forcing you to get out of the boat and adjust the velcro under your seat. That, or they simply don't have long enough attachment straps to let you put the seat where you really need it. The free-floating seats also make it possible to easily convert this tandem into a solo boat.

The paddles that come with your purchase are fully functional, though not particularly impressive — they fit together rather loosely, leaving an awkward wobble in them during use. And, while the 370 Pro is a great size for casual paddling, it doesn't have a ton of extra space for additional gear or accessories — whatever you bring will be sharing space with your feet. It does have small seatback pockets though, which double-close with a zipper and snaps.

Ease of Set Up

The first time setting up the Sea Eagle is a little rough. It has a whopping nine chambers to inflate (though six are small), but it's installing the valves that is a headache. They come in a bag, not attached to the kayak in any way. You have to go through and manually stretch the not-very-stretchy plastic rings around all the openings to install the valves to the boat. We found this to be strenuous on the fingertips and generally frustrating. Once the valves are installed, however, setup becomes simpler. A small foot pump is included with the boat, which we greatly appreciate, though it takes a very long time to inflate everything. We ended up using a different, larger pump most of the time, allowing us to cut down our setup time by almost half. In better news, while so many other kayaks combine many different types of valves on their boats, requiring an accompanying multitude of valve adapters, the 370 Pro keeps it simple — all nine chambers have identical valves.

Inflating the sides and bottom take the longest, though lining up the included clear plastic "pressure gauge" makes it easy to see when you've achieved the appropriate pressure — just make sure not to lose that little piece of plastic! The other six chambers take very little time, as they inflate the seats (two chambers in each) and small splash guards across the bow and stern. Deflation is also very simple, as the valves all unscrew from their ports, letting air rush out quickly. Just be careful you don't end up getting a bunch of debris inside those gaping holes. The worst part about packing up the 370 Pro is getting it back in its poorly designed bag. Rather than opening across a long side of the bag, like nearly every one of its competitors, Sea Eagle has created a bag that is long, narrow, and has a too-small opening. We consistently spent several minutes (and a few choice words) trying to get the folded boat back in its bag.

Portability

Here again, the awkward shape of the bag lowered the score for the 370 Pro. The 3-foot-long bag has to haul a 42-pound kayak (not including the paddles) over a single shoulder. It's heavy and bashes against the knees and/or ankles of everyone who carried it. The shoulder strap is adjustable and has padding, but it's simply a poor design.

On the other hand, having a giant bag means you can fit all the necessary components inside the bag — including the paddles that break down into small sections. While it's cumbersome to carry, it's also simpler to pack in the car or store in the garage knowing that all the pieces are in one place. We appreciate not needing a checklist before heading out for a day on the water. The only extra pieces you need to remember are the life jacket!

Durability

Compared to the many other models we tested with heavy tarpaulin or hard plastic, the 370 Pro doesn't seem all that durable. However, next to the boats we tested with similar PVC material, this one holds up. It didn't become deformed when fully inflated (yes, that happened with some) and had no problems over shallow lake bottoms and minor submerged obstacles during our testing. Sea Eagle claims this boat can even handle Class III rapids. We're not convinced hitting rocks at high speeds would be a good idea in this boat, but we didn't test it in conditions that intense.

In case you do manage to get a minor rip or puncture, the 370 Pro comes with a small repair kit and clear instructions on how to use it. While there are a handful of reports of rocks getting the better of this boat, most of the complaints we found onlline were from folks struggling to paddle in the wind.

Should You Buy the Sea Eagle 370 Pro?

There are cheaper all-inclusive tandem kayaking packages out there, several of which we have tested. However, when it comes to handling (on flat water), comfort, and overall durability, the 370 Pro is the one we like best. This budget-friendly tandem conversion boat is versatile, adaptable, and was downright pleasant to paddle for all the members of our testing crew. And knowing that the only additional expense is a pair of life jackets makes it all the sweeter.

What Other Inflatable Kayaks Should You Consider?

The Sea Eagle 370 Pro is a great value purchase not only because of its price and included components but also because it consistently performed better than other similar tandem packages we've tested. We also enjoyed the Intex Excursion Pro K2 though the quality of the materials isn't quite as robust. If you can extend your budget, our favorite tandem is the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Tandem. It handles like a dream and is much more durable.