Inflatables for fishing and hunting

[silveragent]

Does anyone have any experience or recommendation on sub-$2000 inflatables. I am an apartment dweller and my only vehicle is a hatchback. I would love this season to poke around the coastal waters in a portable boat. While I haven't gotten into fishing yet I am a big duck / goose hunter who normally frequents the public salt marsh in Robert's Bank. My eyes were open to the possibilities around the South Arm Marshes when a friend took me out in his boat end of last season.

I've been eyeing inflatable kayaks or equivalent, especially ones that you can safely stand up in so I would value stability and storage over speed. Having the ability to take two people would be a plus but more so because of storage space for gear. Obviously, I would want one that is hardy since who knows what you may bump into in the marsh or have to drag your boat up onto if you get to a nice place. While shooting out of it would be nice, I would also just use it to get to places I never would have accessed on foot. Bonus also if I could eventually add a small motor. Any recommendations?

[Nero]

You just missed the sale on Intex Mariner 4: https://www.cabelas.ca/product/26610...table-boat-kit
Quite popular unit for modding.

[caddisguy]

You just missed the sale on Intex Mariner 4: https://www.cabelas.ca/product/26610...table-boat-kit
Quite popular unit for modding.

I saw that sale a while back and almost went for it. Watched a bunch of reviews. It seems like a great boat. Maybe a little on the heavy side.

I am been looking for a boat to replace my Sevylor Fish Hunter as the quality on those weren't to absolute garbage some years ago. They used to be good, but on the new ones the vinyl is fragile and they replaced the boston valves with push valves... just garbage and not very safe. The new boat only lasted a couple trips while the original lasted me about 10 years and 100+ trips.

I'm split between the Seahawk and the Mariner. The Mariner does some quite a bit more heavy which might not be ideal for us.... often we have to carry the boat around quite a ways. Decided to put the whole purchase on hold since I won't be lake fishing until spring anyway.

[adriaticum]

Define coastal waters?
If you mean on the ocean, nothing other than hard bottom zodiacs would be good.

If you mean floating down rivers and fishing small lakes. Sea Eagles are good, I had a sea eagle 9. Even these chinese intex boats are fine.
I use a 40lb trolling motor.
But you don't want to go on big water in anything that's not hard bottom and at least 16-18 feet long.

[silveragent]

Define coastal waters? If you mean on the ocean, nothing other than hard bottom zodiacs would be good.

By coastal I mean bays, estuaries and sticking close to the edge of the marsh. I wouldn't go out to big water but I would expect a boat to be able to deal with some choppy water.

If you mean floating down rivers and fishing small lakes. Sea Eagles are good, I had a sea eagle 9. Even these chinese intex boats are fine.
I use a 40lb trolling motor.
But you don't want to go on big water in anything that's not hard bottom and at least 16-18 feet long.

I have been looking at the Sea Eagles, especially they have a couple models that are targeting fishers. That model you quoted looks interesting. I was looking at this 350x kayak or putting more money in and looking at their FSK16 skiff.

I believe both of them feature drop stitch floors.

[tim3500]

Look at the costco inflatables I have had good luck with the one i had put a 10 hp 4 stroke on it on off to enjoy the water had it for 5 years didnt leak 2 people safer than a 12 ft tin in my opinion just a pain in the ass to inflate set up and deflate and put away thats why I sold it

[swantonbomb]

Look at the costco inflatables I have had good luck with the one i had put a 10 hp 4 stroke on it on off to enjoy the water had it for 5 years didnt leak 2 people safer than a 12 ft tin in my opinion just a pain in the ass to inflate set up and deflate and put away thats why I sold it

I second all of this. I have the Costco one. Hydroforce it is called. I think they may have a different one now but same idea. Reasonable price. Aluminum floors, solid transom. I have a 7.5 hp 2 stroke on it. A lot more stable and safe than a 12ft tinny, and nearly triple the weight capacity. You can safely stand in it.

Trouble is that it is a royal pain to set up the floor boards I ended up buying a small trailer for mine later on. It is doable though once you figure it out but it can be a hassle.

[adriaticum]

Also keep in mind that all these boats that "fold" in bags are not going to last a very long time.
My sea eagle lasted about 10 years before it sprung a leak at a seam that wasn't repairable.
It was really due to folding it and bouncing it around.

Sea eagle is pretty heavy duty material but I would go with a runabout like 12SR or 14SR if I did it again.
And deflate it without folding it too much. Figure out a way to store them spread out.

[adriaticum]

I am not a big fan of kayaks for fishing. You always want some gear with you, dog, beer, whatever.
Kayaks are just a pain.
That skiff would be my choice over kayaks.

[Laurp99]

Hey Keith, check out Aquamarine Boats in Richmond.

http://www.aquamarineboat.com/

I had a 10Ft inflatable from Aquamarine with the aluminum floor deck with my Mercury 6HP. The price is in your range, the boats are very stable and a local dealer with a warehouse in Richmond.