Inflatables with folding aluminum floor.......... thoughts

[silveragent]

Good to hear. What boat is that?

[tom]

22 years old and no patch.

Tom

[BromBones]

Good to hear. What boat is that?

Saturn Kaboat, XL470 Alaskan is the model. Great little hunting boat. I have the 6hp motor jacked up as high as it can go, and put a fin on it. In pea gravel or sand it will run in 8'' of water and pack a pretty good load.

[silveragent]

Cool I was looking at the Saturns last year. How was Saturn like to deal with / buy from. How long have you had it? Any issues?

[BromBones]

Had it 5 or 6 years now. Just a couple pinholes in it but more from my own carelessness. The bottom is 3 or 4 layer and can take a beating on the rocks.

Saturn is good to deal with, good customer service. Have heard the warranty is good, I voided my warranty though when I put the transom jack on it.

[wildcatter]

22 years old and no patch.

Tom

Like I said it's the best out there, Japanese quality.
Should be good for another 10 years.

[2tins]

Just to throw it out there, check out Solar boats from Russia. They're pretty cool.

[Salty]

Good thread. I've had quite a bit of boating experience but next to nothing with inflatables.

Question- It seems even boats with inflatable floor if they're good quality have good puncture and abrasion protection on the bottom, how about the inside? ie how would they fair with a dog who's about like 70 pounds of dynamite at times

[fuzzybiscuit]

Just to throw it out there, check out Solar boats from Russia. They're pretty cool.

Solar boats are well built but a waste unless you plan on running a jet outboard in the river. If you plan on running a jet the Solar and Alaskan Jet Ranger are the only 2 worth having because they are the only 2 made specifically to run a jet with the built in jet tunnel. I’ve been in a couple and know of many more people who put a jet on the back of a flat bottom inflatable and they all cavitated like a mother... I don’t have any first hand experience with the Jet Ranger but I have a Solar 380 and have 2 buddy’s with the Solar 420’s and they don’t cavitate unless the pump is right out of the water.

Sounds like the OP is just planning on running a small outboard so there are a lot of choices out there with a snap-together aluminum floor that would work fine for him.

[st99]

Good thread. I've had quite a bit of boating experience but next to nothing with inflatables.

Question- It seems even boats with inflatable floor if they're good quality have good puncture and abrasion protection on the bottom, how about the inside? ie how would they fair with a dog who's about like 70 pounds of dynamite at times

I have the same concern, hopefully someone will answer.