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/intex-mariner-4-inflatable-boat-kit
Quite popular unit for modding.

[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.

[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

[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 (https://www.seaeagle.com/FishingKayaks/350fx) or putting more money in and looking at their FSK16 skiff (https://www.seaeagle.com/InflatableFishingSkiffs/FSK16).

I believe both of them feature drop stitch floors.

[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.

[silveragent]

Thanks checking it out...

[northernguy]

Saturn Inflatable Boats are a pretty good value and reasonably priced. I have a kayak of theirs and it's been great. The quality of the material and build is very good. All their boats come with decent quality air pumps, a repair kit that includes a spare valve, and most come with paddles (although they are not great and you will likely want something better) The seams are glued...not welded but a rafting guide buddy of mine says that's ok as long as I keep out of big rapids...which I do anyhow.

As mentioned above...any inflatable that is folded up to store will crack at the fold over time. Liberal use of 303 protectant in these areas (and on the whole boat for that matter) will help extend the life of the material.

[REMINGTON JIM]

http://www.aquamarineboat.com/

I have a AQUA boat and i Really like it ! :) I use a New 6 hp Yamaha 4 stroke and a 29 lb thrust electric motor ! RJ

[Surrey Boy]

Stryker is the best inflatable going IMO.

The Sea Eagle SE 370 looks like a viable ocean kayak, but since few paddlers can generate even 1/2 horsepower, it limits options.

[silveragent]

Saturn Inflatable Boats are a pretty good value and reasonably priced. I have a kayak of theirs and it's been great. ...

As mentioned above...any inflatable that is folded up to store will crack at the fold over time. Liberal use of 303 protectant in these areas (and on the whole boat for that matter) will help extend the life of the material.

Northernguy thanks. I'd come across the Saturns before and glad to hear of your opinion. Their Kaboats look interesting and their kayaks look affordable. Which model do you have?

[Everett]

canoe boat.ca we have a Baraka very cool inflatable

[canishunter22-250]

Stryker is the best inflatable going IMO.

The Sea Eagle SE 370 looks like a viable ocean kayak, but since few paddlers can generate even 1/2 horsepower, it limits options.

I would have to agree about the Stryker boats.

I've got three Zodiac Grand Raids and am generally a pretty devout Hypalon snob, but my friend bought a 14 foot Stryker last year and I can honestly say I'm very impressed with it. Time will tell how long it lasts, but for reasonably light duty it should be just fine. I would say great value - especially at a third of the price of a comparable Hypalon boat.

[Sharpish]

Stryker comes apart within a few years. Seams split and hardware breaks.

[adriaticum]

Stryker comes apart within a few years. Seams split and hardware breaks.
i dont think this can be avoided, sun, rubber and folding dont mix

[stan]

Achilles doesn’t fail if looked after

[silveragent]

canoe boat.ca we have a Baraka very cool inflatable

Everett thanks for the recommendation. It looks like a viable option (https://canoeboat.ca/products/043954?_pos=1&_sid=f9791c1d8&_ss=r).

[wildcatter]

Stryker comes apart within a few years. Seams split and hardware breaks.

Yeah and a bunch of other chinese specials.
Buy an Achilles, or an AB and you will have no worries.

[wildcatter]

i dont think this can be avoided, sun, rubber and folding dont mix

If you are careful how you fold it and use Polyguard on the tubes your boat will last longer.

[Sharpish]

I've heard that the Alaskan Inflatables are the best ...

[fuzzybiscuit]

The last 3 inflatables have been PVC but I’ve had no issues with them.

My latest is a 380 Solar out of Russia. So far I’ve been super impressed. I’ve hit dozens of rocks in the river and the heavy duty bottom shows no sign of wear. It’s PVC too so some will snub their noses at it but the Solar and the Alaskan Jet Ranger are the only 2 units with a built in jet tunnel so not much choice if you want a jet which I did.

https://i.postimg.cc/hGjWV8XP/121-E3-CDC-F419-4726-9-A77-87-C82-BEDE683.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qN95T3c9)

[canishunter22-250]

Yeah and a bunch of other chinese specials.
Buy an Achilles, or an AB and you will have no worries.

I'm a Buy Once - Cry Once kind of guy and I would personally hold out for an Achilles or Zodiac from the MilPro line. No personal experience AB but they are the real deal too it seems. My oldest hypalon Zodiac was made in '76 and it is still holding its own. It has hauled 4 moose out of very remote country in the last 2 years. Probably won't get that kind of longevity out of any Chinese boats.

[adriaticum]

The last 3 inflatables have been PVC but I’ve had no issues with them.

My latest is a 380 Solar out of Russia. So far I’ve been super impressed. I’ve hit dozens of rocks in the river and the heavy duty bottom shows no sign of wear. It’s PVC too so some will snub their noses at it but the Solar and the Alaskan Jet Ranger are the only 2 units with a built in jet tunnel so not much choice if you want a jet which I did.




That boat looks pretty sweet

[ElectricDyck]

I ran my inmar jp marine 15 foot fold up inflatable everywhere, cost about 3k. Put a 40hp jet tiller for 7k with a UHMW intake for $600. It wasn't great at anything but it was ok at everything, unsinkable and incredibly stable. With some ingenuity and trial and error I mounted some down riggers and a trap puller. It's seen northern bc skinny rivers, upper pitt river, west coast queen charlotte open water, pulled tubes in osoyoos, caught prawns, crabs, salmon and hauled 2 moose and 3 guys and camp 40 kms a few times. After a number of years of that abuse it was stretched, the floor boards were bent and the transom broken lol. Lots of people have had problems with their overseas inflatable and the glued seams, mine has been tough as nails, probably because I store it inside and inflated...

The tubes are in good shape so I had an aluminum tunnel hull made for it sold the 40hp and got an 80hp, still finishing it up, should be fun lol

[boxhitch]

Anyone try the Bestway Hydroforce From CT?
Looks econo, but just looking for something to pack along on a quad trip

[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.

[swantonbomb]

Anyone try the Bestway Hydroforce From CT?
Looks econo, but just looking for something to pack along on a quad trip

I have this one. It's no zodiac or any of those nice ones but I'm happy with it. Seems to be built well enough. Got a small leak 4 years in, patched it up in 10 min and was good go again.

[caddisguy]

You just missed the sale on Intex Mariner 4: https://www.cabelas.ca/product/26610/intex-mariner-4-inflatable-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.

[boxhitch]

Mariner 3 on sale at Cabelas