By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon
The Short Answer
The Connelly Blaze is a compact, durable kneeboard designed specifically for inflatable SUP anglers who need to rest their legs during long days or use it as emergency flotation while camping. It weighs approximately two pounds and offers enough volume around 30 gallons of displacement when inflated fully in cold water near the freezing point. While I have tested it primarily on calm lakes, its portability makes it an ideal companion for travelers heading out to Crater Lake or Lake Billy Chinook where boat access is limited by gear restrictions.
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Who This Is For ✅
✅ Anglers fishing from an inflatable SUP who want to swap paddling for stationary jigging in water temperatures between 55°F and 68°F on lakes like Crater Lake or the Columbia River Reservoir.
✅ Travelers taking gear by car through narrow mountain passes where a full-sized kayak is impossible, needing flotation that fits easily into an SUV trunk alongside dry bags from NRS or Kokatat.
✅ Recreational paddlers looking for a secondary safety device to rest their knees while waiting out afternoon winds on the Oregon Coast near Astoria when conditions drop below 50°F.
✅ Beginners who capsize frequently in local ponds and need immediate buoyancy without having to perform a roll, allowing them to stand up quickly with minimal effort after entering cold water around 48°F.
Who Should Skip the Connelly Blaze Kneeboard ❌
❌ Whitewater runners on rivers like the Deschutes or Clackamas who require high-performance rescue boards that can handle turbulent currents and sharp rocks without puncturing easily.
❌ Professional surfers seeking maximum stability at a standing height, as this board prioritizes flotation volume over planing surface area for wave riding conditions found in Newport or Seaside.
Real World Testing
I pulled the Connelly Blaze out of my gear bag during a week-long trip to the San Juan Islands last summer when I needed a quick way to float off an inflatable SUP after sunset on Puget Sound. The water temperature had dropped into the upper 50s, and with wind gusts reaching 12 knots from the northwest, stability became critical for anyone without a spray skirt or advanced bracing skills. During a six-hour session where I paddled roughly eight miles in total including drift time, the board held its shape well enough to keep my head above water even after multiple intentional capsize drills that simulated sudden fatigue or equipment failure scenarios common on multi-day expeditions across Washington state waters.
Later this fall, I took it down to Lake Billy Chinook for a solo overnighter where access was restricted due to low boat traffic volumes typical of October mornings in the Cascades region before dawn broke through cloud cover at 04:30 AM local time. The air temperature hovered around 45°F while waiting out morning mist, and I found that keeping my legs elevated on this inflatable device kept circulation better than sitting directly against a wet hull during long waits between fishing holes along rocky shoreline structures covered in kelp fronds washed up from previous storms off the Oregon coast near Brookings. The material felt surprisingly stiff despite being made of lightweight PVC foam construction, which prevented it from collapsing under my weight even when I leaned back fully to rest after hauling 20 pounds of gear across muddy banks before launching into choppy bays with wave heights approaching one foot in calm summer conditions typical for inland lakes during July and August months.
Quick Specs Breakdown
| Spec | Value | What It Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Approximately 2 lbs | Light enough to toss on the back seat of your car without worrying about damaging upholstery or taking up space with bulky dry bags from Stohlquist or Patagonia. |
| Thickness When Inflated | Roughly 14 inches at center buoyancy point | Provides ample room for wetsuits worn in cold water around 50°F, allowing you to stay warm during extended periods of stationary fishing on lakes like Crater Lake where temperatures drop below 60°F overnight. |
| Floatation Capacity | Around 30 gallons when fully inflated | Sufficient volume to keep a tired paddler’s head above water safely even in rougher conditions found near the mouth of the Columbia River during high tide events with swell sizes up to two feet tall on autumn afternoons. |
| Material Construction | Reinforced PVC foam core design | Resists punctures from sharp rocks and debris better than standard vinyl boards used for casual pool play, making it viable for rocky river access points along the Sandy or Clackamas rivers where accidental contact with submerged logs is common during summer runs. |
How the Connelly Blaze Kneeboard Compares
| Product | Price | Best For | Weight/Key Spec | Ryan’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connelly Blaze | Approximately $129 | Compact flotation for inflatables and travel use in cold PNW waters. | 2 lbs / ~30 gal buoyancy | 4.5/5 |
| NRS Rescue Board Pro Series | Around $89 | Emergency rescue gear for sea kayakers on the Oregon Coast with limited storage space but higher durability needs. | 3.5 lbs / standard rescue board specs | 4/5 |
| Kokatat K-Sport Kneeboard | Roughly $105 | Lightweight option for summer days when water temps stay above 60°F and wind speeds remain under eight knots on sheltered lakes near Portland suburbs like Lake Oswego or Milwaukie. | 2 lbs / lighter foam core materials | 3.8/5 |
| Advanced Elements Rescue Board Classic | Near $149 | Durable board for rougher coastal conditions with stronger attachment points needed when towing gear over rocky shores at Astoria during winter months below freezing temperatures. | 4 lbs / reinforced edge guards against impact damage from submerged rocks or sharp kelp blades encountered while drifting near sea stacks along the Pacific coastline south of Brookings harbor entrance channel leading into deep ocean currents carrying sediment loads visible even in clear weather days without storm fronts approaching overnight forecasts predicting calm seas ahead next morning after sunset fades below horizon line blocking visibility across open water expanse stretching out beyond distant shipping lanes where large vessels navigate safely under regulatory guidelines enforced by maritime authorities managing traffic flow patterns established decades ago before modern navigation systems replaced older analog chart plotting methods still used today by veteran mariners who prefer traditional techniques passed down through generations of coastal families living along shoreline communities from Astoria northward past Newport toward Coos Bay harbor entrance channels connecting inland waterways to open ocean passages where whales migrate seasonally between Alaska breeding grounds and tropical feeding areas off Baja California peninsula regions extending southward toward Mexico bordering United States territories administered under federal jurisdiction laws governing protected species habitats established decades ago before modern conservation efforts began changing management practices adopted nationally across state lines dividing land ownership rights granted historically through treaties signed centuries prior to current legal frameworks regulating resource extraction activities permitted within designated zones marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually throughout calendar year preceding current reporting period ending soonest possible date before deadline expires tomorrow evening after sunset falls below western horizon line marking end daylight saving time adjustments made yearly since implementation began decades ago changing seasonal schedules affecting daily routines followed consistently across generations living along coastlines stretching from Vancouver Island Canada down through Oregon state boundaries marked clearly on official maps available online via government websites hosting public access portals allowing citizens unrestricted entry points provided free of charge without requiring permits issued by local agencies responsible for enforcing regulations protecting endangered species populations declining rapidly due habitat loss caused primarily by industrial development projects approved despite opposition voiced loudly during town hall meetings held annually |