ProView – Spinera Molveno 430 Review

There is so much water out here in Alaska, and I had been discouraged because I didn’t have a vessel to take out for casual paddles or trips out of town to nearby lakes. I was really excited to try out the Spinera Molveno because it seemed durable enough to handle rough Alaskan waters, but also convenient enough to take out by myself, both of which I found to be true. 

Upon receiving the packaged-up Spinera Molveno boat, I was overwhelmed by its size and was worried it was going to be too much for me to handle taking out by myself. But once out of the package and put together, I was stoked! This is a real boat! This isn’t some thin inflatable boat for sunny skies and relaxing, this boat can actually handle some wind and waves and get you places. Taking it out for the first time on Resurrection Bay (the Ocean!!) I felt stable, calm, and secure. I was stoked to take it out again in the Bay and also for several trips on Kenai Lake and other neighboring lakes. This boat is a blast to be out on the water with. It was so versatile for one or two kayakers and even my dog who isn’t a big water fan. After a few trips out, I can confidently say we were all fans on this hardy and convenient boat and are scheming where we will take it next. 

Look/Style

Although not a huge factor for myself, I think the turquoise color and slight pattern is very attractive for this boat! The color beautifully matches the glacial waters here in Alaska. When I took it out on Kenai Lake I remember thinking this boat was made to be here.

Features

The Spinera Molveno has some impressive features. First of all, this boat inflates so easily and only took me about 10 minutes by myself to get it fully set up, which I thought was a huge win. I like that the boat comes with fins to make it more stable and maneuverable. The boat was larger than I had expected once fully inflated, but that was an advantage once out on the water. I liked the kayak seats that are adjustable and found them to be pretty comfy.

When using the kayak as a single paddler I enjoyed using the attachable footrest, but found it not to be needed when having two paddlers in the boat. I like that the position of the seats can be adjusted for one or two people. I also loved that my dog could either be in front or behind me in the boat and could comfortably lay down! The boat is fairly roomy, with space for several dry bags. It would be tight with two people and gear, but has more than enough room if going as a single paddler. I thought the decklines and handles were nice additions to easily move the boat as well.  

Weight/Packability

The Spinera Molveno was less packable than I had hoped. I was disappointed with the bag it came with. I wish it came with a bag that had backpack straps, which would make it much easier to transport. The bag comes with awkwardly long carrying straps and it was not convenient or easy to carry the bag around, especially loaded down with gear. I do like how easy it is to inflate and deflate the boat to take it places. It was easy to fold up into my truck or truckbed to take it out of town and it was easy to do so as a single person, which I really appreciate. This boat was easy to move, maneuver, and handle as one person and I think that is an important factor. I could either carry it at my side or on my head canoe style. Both worked well and I found no trouble with getting it in and out of the truck fully inflated. I did have visions of taking this boat into the backcountry, maybe one to three miles, but it is a bit heavy for that. I think if I had a good pack with comfortable backpack style straps it could be done, but not as far as I had originally envisioned.

Function/Performance

This boat stands out to me in how it performed during use. I took the Spinera Molveno out on the ocean (Resurrection Bay) multiple times, some of which were a bit windy and choppy. The boat handled very well and I never felt worried about capsizing. I also took it out on one of the huge lakes we have here in Alaska, Kenai Lake. Some afternoon wind came in and on my paddle back I was faced with challenging conditions. The boat handled beautifully and my dog slept through the whole ordeal. My husband and I also took the boat out again on Kenai Lake and encountered some really intense wind and waves for our final crossing of the day.

Truthfully, I wouldn’t have liked to be out in that weather in any kind of craft, but the Spinera Molveno acted just like a hardsided kayak and we were able to focus on paddling and made it through just fine. The tall sides of the boat helped keep a lot of water out of our laps which was great. I really like that you sit deep into the boat when it is in kayak mode. Even though it isn’t enclosed you can stay decently dry and it is comfortable. The fact that it isn’t enclosed is something to factor in; this boat isn’t as enjoyable in the rain as a traditional kayak. The boat also has a canoe mode with bench seats, but I was not provided the seats for this, so I cannot say how it handles in that way.

Durability/Construction

The Spinera Molveno was both durable and stable. Inevitably, in Alaskan waters I have ground up against some rocks and haven’t noticed any issues. I was worried about how the fins would hold up because they grind up against rocks and the bottom quite a bit, but I haven’t found that to be an issue yet. I was pleased with how stable the boat was, even having my dog in the boat with me!

My dog was walking around the front and put his paws up on the side and the boat was still flat and happy. My husband and his father tested the boat on occasion as well, and it held both of them very well, which is notable because they are both over six feet tall and have a combined weight of over 400 lb. They were able to get in and out without too much issue and paddled around together just fine. Overall, the boat is more stable than I expected and I am very happy with how the boat handles weight and waves and unpredictable dogs.

What sets this product apart?

What set this product apart for me was how stable and secure the boat was, despite being an inflatable kayak/canoe. I was expecting to feel much less capable in this boat than in my sea kayak, but really I think I would take it on similar adventures. I also was really blown away by how easy it was to transport and assemble this boat as a single person. I felt confident and comfortable taking it out by myself and that was a huge plus for me. 

Who is this product for?

This product is great for someone who dabbles in water activities and doesn’t have enough space to store a full-on sea kayak or boat. As a partial nomad myself, I find the Spinera Molveno to be a great option to get out on the water. It packs down small enough to transport around with me, but inflates into a strong steady boat that can handle some wind and waves. This product is a great option if you have a dog and/or want to do some paddling to camp trips, as it has space for gear and extras.

The Final Word 

The Spinera Molveno is a quality boat for those with limited space, but no limits on adventure. This is a secure and sturdy craft that is both versatile and user friendly. The Spinear Molveno excels as both a single and tandem vessel, with enough space for an overnight adventure, and enough heft to cut through choppy waves. This kayak/canoe hybrid has served me well on my Alaskan water adventures and I am excited to see where it will take me next!e. 

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