JOBE SPORTS CROFT KAYAK - 1 OR 2-PERSON

Buying Advice For Inflatable Kayaks

The Primary Differentiator: Hull Technology

Jobe offers two distinct manufacturing technologies in its inflatable kayak range. This choice is the defining performance threshold of the kayak.

1. Traditional PVC Tube Construction

Performance: Uses the "traditional" inflatable approach: large, low-pressure PVC tubes create the side walls and a separate floor chamber.

Purpose: The standard for leisure, recreation, and family fun. These kayaks are incredibly stable (due to the large, forgiving side tubes), have a very low Safe Working Load (SWL), and are perfect for launching from the swim platform for casual paddling, bird watching, or taking kids on the water.

2. Full Drop-Stitch Construction

Performance: This is the high-performance professional standard. Every panel (floor and both side walls) is made from high-pressure Drop-Stitch material. This technology heat-bonds thousands of internal polyester filaments, allowing the kayak to be inflated to 10+ PSI—creating an almost rigid-shell performance.

Purpose: Engineered for Touring, Exploration, and Distance. A full Drop-Stitch kayak tracks straighter (cuts through chop), achieves higher speeds, and provides vastly superior rigidity, making it suitable for larger guests and challenging coastal expeditions away from the mothership.

How Sizing and Hull Stats Affect Performance

1. Length and Purpose

10.6 ft (Single / 1-Person Kayak):

Performance: High maneuverability and responsiveness. These single kayaks are agile and turn on a dime. They are easy to launch and recover with a smaller crew footprint.

Purpose: Best allocated for guests who want solo exploration, a spirited workout, or a nimble boat for navigating complex cave systems and tight shorelines.

11.6 ft / 12.6 ft (Tandem / 2-Person Kayak):

Performance: Emphasis on tracking (straight-line speed) and stability. A longer hull cuts through chop more efficiently and maintains speed over distance.

Purpose: The optimal tandem touring platform. The standard allocation for 'Yacht Toys' when a couple or adult-and-child pair want to explore further up a coastline.

2. Width (Beam) and Stability

Narrow (approx. 29” - 31”): (Typical of Full Drop-Stitch Touring models)

Performance: Lower primary stability (feels tippy at boarding), but exceptional secondary stability (stable when in motion). Minimal drag and maximum glide.

Purpose: For guests with prior paddling experience who prioritize speed and efficiency on touring trips.

Standard / Wide (approx. 32” - 34”+): (Typical of PVC Tube and All-Rounder models)

Performance: Massive primary stability. The kayak feels rock-solid from the moment the guest steps on. This increased stability comes at the cost of drag, making it a slower boat over distance.

Purpose: This is your mandatory guest all-rounder. Ideal for first-time kayakers, fishing at anchor, or general family use where guest confidence is paramount.

By shipping primarily from our strategic hub in the Netherlands, we utilize optimized routes that reach major yachting centers in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and beyond with maximum efficiency. We handle the complex paperwork and customs formalities so that the price you pay covers not just a delivery, but a professional end-to-end logistics service.

Our goal is to deliver the right gear, to the right place, at the best possible value.

Our Price Match Scheme

Our Global Price Match Guarantee

At Yacht Toys, we don't just match the catalogue price, we match the true landed cost of getting your equipment onto your deck (and that makes a BIG difference)..

We know that in the world of international maritime logistics, a "cheap" price online often hides expensive shipping gaps, surprise customs fees, and administrative headaches.

That’s why our guarantee is built on transparency and total service.

The "Landed & Delivered" Promise

We will match any competitor’s total quote, provided it accounts for the same comprehensive level of service that we provide. Our price match is calculated based on the Total Order Value, which includes:

• The Hardware: The total price of your order.
• Managed Freight Services: Professional packaging, specialised maritime handling, and end-to-end tracking.
• International Shipping: Door-to-port or door-to-marina transit costs to your specific global zone.
• Customs Clearance & Documentation: All export/import filings, "Yacht in Transit" paperwork, and administrative fees required for a legal, hassle-free delivery.

How it Works

If you receive a lower formal quote for the same product delivered to your vessel, simply send it to our logistics team. We won't just look at the product price, we will analyze their shipping and tax breakdown to ensure you are comparing apples to apples.

If their total "Landed Cost" is lower than ours, we will match it.

Why This Matters for You

Shipping 5 paddleboards and 4 towable tubes isn't like shipping a parcel. Many retailers leave the difficult bits, like local tax negotiations in Gibraltar or dockmaster coordination in Antigua, to you.

With YachtToys, the price you see is the price to get it through the marina gates. Our experts handle the bureaucracy so you can focus on the guest experience.

Contact our concierge team with your vessel's location and any competing quote. We’ll verify the logistics and ensure you get the best total value in the industry.

Price Match Terms

• We are not able to price match against a 3rd party marketplace, such as eBay or Amazon.
• The competitor's price must be listed on their website and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer e.g. vouchers, member discounts, promotional discounts, clearance or discontinued items etc.
• The item must be sold by an authorised retailer, not a private seller.
• The price match cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.
• Limit of one price match per customer for each unique item.
• Discount codes cannot be applied retrospectively in relation any price match.

Our Procurement Credits Scheme

Our loyalty ecosystem is engineered specifically for the professional marine sector, offering a flexible financial advantage that standard retail programs cannot match. Whether you are an owner-operator looking to reduce overheads or a professional crew member managing a fleet, our Procurement Credits provide tangible bottom-line value.

How it Works

We value the scale and frequency of professional maritime orders. Our scheme is straightforward and transparent:

Earn as you Equip: Every order placed earns you 1 Procurement Credit for every £1 spent.

Rapid Accumulation: From outfitting a new toy locker to refreshing a guest wetsuit inventory, your credits accumulate automatically on every transaction.

Strategic Redemption Options

We understand that different maritime operations have different financial needs. That is why our Procurement Credits offer dual-utility:

1. Immediate Overhead Reduction (For Owner-Operators)

Procurement Credits can be applied instantly at the checkout to lower your operational costs.

Instant Deduction: Credits can be deducted from any purchase, up to a maximum of 10% of your total basket value.

Conversion Rate: Every 100 Procurement Credits redeemed will deduct £5 from your total bill. This is a "Pro Quality" way to keep your vessel’s maintenance and toy budget under control.

2. Performance Incentives (For Yacht Crews & Captains)

For professional crew, bosuns, and captains responsible for the heavy lifting of vessel procurement, we offer a unique "cash-in" feature.

The Commission Model: Procurement Credits can be cashed in, acting as a professional commission for those managing the vessel's purchasing.

Flexible Payouts: This makes our scheme the preferred choice for yacht management professionals who want their procurement efficiency to be rewarded directly.

The Professional Edge: Whether you choose to lower your invoice or cash in your earnings, the Yacht Toys Procurement Credits scheme ensures that every pound spent on your vessel’s inventory works harder for you.

Returns & Exchanges

Straightforward Support.
You can return any product within 30 days from the delivery date. To be eligible for a return, the product must be in its original condition, including all accessories and original packaging.

Submitting a Return.
Submitting a return at yachttoys.co.uk is easy and involves these simple steps:

• Login to My Account and go to the Orders section.
• Locate the required Order and click the Return button.
• Select the product, the reason for return, and your preference for a refund or replacement.
• You will receive a confirmation email shortly afterward.
• Simply send the original product back to us in its undamaged packaging.

Refunds & Shipping.
If you have requested a refund, this will be processed within 5 working days of the returned product arriving at our facility.

Unless the product was sent in error on our part, you will need to arrange shipping back to us at your own cost; however, our team is always available to assist you with the logistics. If we have sent an item in error, we will of course refund your return shipping costs in full.

Please contact us if you need any further assistance or information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Inflatables have a reputation for being 'soft' and sluggish. How does Jobe construction ensure a rigid, high-performance experience that won't disappoint the owner or guests?
A: This is the critical threshold. We utilize Full Drop-Stitch Technology across our performance range (like the Yukon). Every panel—floor and side walls—is constructed from high-pressure Drop-Stitch material, allowing inflation to 10+ PSI. This creates an almost rigid, hard-shell hull performance. When combined with our specified 6” thickness, the result is exceptional torsional stiffness, efficient tracking, and a massive 140 kg (308 lbs) SWL per user, making it suitable for larger guests or expeditions far from the mothership.

Q: Lazarette and tender garage space is at a premium. What is the actual storage footprint of a 2-person Jobe kayak?
A: This is the primary logistical win for inflatables. When deflated and rolled into its dedicated heavy-duty transport bag, a standard 12.6ft 2-person kayak (like the Tasman) occupies a footprint of just 95cm x 50cm x 40cm. Multiple units can be stacked neatly on a single shelf in the lazarette or tucked into a small void in the tender garage, freeing up critical real estate that a rigid kayak would permanently occupy.

Q: Yacht operations are harsh on gear. How do Jobe inflatable kayaks handle salt crystallization, UV exposure, and launching from a abrasive swim platform?
A: Our commercial-grade PVC and Drop-Stitch materials are treated with an integrated anti-UV coating to prevent material degradation in intense Caribbean or Mediterranean sun. The critical design feature for a yacht is a tough, reinforced PVC bottom panel that adds a sacrificial layer of abrasion resistance where the hull makes contact with the teak decking or a hydraulic platform during launch and recovery.

Q: How does this inventory impact crew workload? What are the actual launch/recovery and maintenance times?
A: Minimum crew footprint. Using the provided high-volume triple-action pump, a 2-person kayak can be fully inflated and ready for deployment in less than 7 minutes by a single deckhand. Recovery is even faster: simply open the valve, and the high-volume nature of a kayak means a full deflate and stow (including the mandatory fresh-water rinse of the valve and fin box) takes approx. 5 minutes. It is a logistically efficient toy to manage in a busy anchorage.

Q: Salt water and inflation valves are a catastrophic mix. How do you prevent internal salt crystallization that causes catastrophic 'micro-leaks'?
A: We utilize premium High-Pressure Boston Valves. The definitive maintenance task is a thorough fresh-water rinse of the valve area after every single use. If salt crystallizes, it prevents the double-seal system from closing perfectly, making the board impossible to fully pressurize, which destroys stability and guest confidence. Regular rinsing ensures the valves remain airtight and reliable for the life of the product.

Q: We have guests of all abilities. Are these kayaks suitable for first-time paddlers or families, or are they too specialized?
A: Safety and immediate success are paramount. Our baseline 'Guest General' allocation uses PVC Tube Construction ( Tasman Series). These are exceptionally stable due to the massive, buoyant side tubes, providing a rock-solid platform that feels reassuringly stable from the second the guest steps in from the swim platform. They are a "success-on-launch" toy, guaranteeing effortless fun for casual paddlers, families with children, or guests who just want to explore a calm cove at anchor without any prior experience.

Q: Is it safe for guests to operate these kayaks without direct supervision from the mothership?
A: Operational procedure and safety equipment matter. Our kayaks are single-user platforms. We strongly advocate that every guest must wear a properly fitted whenever paddling. For guest confidence on solo expeditions, you can also equip each unit with a basic safety whistle or VHF. A well-equipped guest on a stable Tasman kayak is a confident, safe explorer.

Expert Tip: To maximize guest success during boarding, always have the crew launch the kayak completely submerged from the hydraulic platform. This lowers the kayak's center of gravity and allows the guest to simply slide into the cockpit rather than attempting a high, unstable step down, which is the leading cause of guest capsize.