Need advice on cost and what to get

[Mike2020]

Hey everyone!

I'm thinking of getting an inflatable to get me on the water. So far I have found two boats that I'm thinking about buying.

Intex Seahawk II (with motor mount, oars, pump and the usual stuff) for $155 on Amazon with free shipping.

Sevylor Fish Hunter 4 person (boat itself for $150) + Oars and pump: roughly $180
BUT If I decided to get the sevylor motor, a motor mount wouldn't be required.

I'll definitely be getting a trolling motor for whatever one I choose. I'm leaning toward a Minn Kota 30# thrust (roughly $110) but if I decide on the fish hunter, I'll probably just get the slower Sevylor 12# motor for $110 so I don't need the motor mount.

What do you guys think is the better buy? What one do you think is more reliable? I'll be using the boat by myself most of the time but occasionally I'll have a friend with me. I figured on the 4 person size of both the boats because I hear the 4 person rating is a stretch and I don't want to be overly cramped.

Another thing I'll have to get is a deep cycle battery and charger. I have no idea how much these cost so help would be nice.

Please help me make a decision!
Thanks!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Six of one half dozen of the other. Either will be fine on small lakes and lazy rivers. Neither will be acceptable on any other kind of water. The oars are junk, so don't count on getting much use out of them, but considering the way you plan to use it that shouldn't be a problem for you. Two average men and their fishing gear will fill either of those completely; not to an unsafe point, but it will be cozy. 30 lb Minn Kota will be fine. Adequate deep cycle battery and charger will cost you anything from a c note to $250 depending on what your power needs will be. You ask which one is more reliable; not sure how to answer that except to say you get what you pay for. As I said before, either will be fine for fishing easy waters, but I'd go with the Seahawk since shipping is gratis and it comes with the motor mount. Tight lines.

 

[Mike2020]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Six of one half dozen of the other. Either will be fine on small lakes and lazy rivers. Neither will be acceptable on any other kind of water. The oars are junk, so don't count on getting much use out of them, but considering the way you plan to use it that shouldn't be a problem for you. Two average men and their fishing gear will fill either of those completely; not to an unsafe point, but it will be cozy. 30 lb Minn Kota will be fine. Adequate deep cycle battery and charger will cost you anything from a c note to $250 depending on what your power needs will be. You ask which one is more reliable; not sure how to answer that except to say you get what you pay for. As I said before, either will be fine for fishing easy waters, but I'd go with the Seahawk since shipping is gratis and it comes with the motor mount. Tight lines.

Great answer, thanks.

One more question.. Is it possible to fish from either of these while standing up? Or would I need to make a hard floor to stand on?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

You'll need to make a floor. A google search should yield all sorts of examples. I believe there are even a couple of iboats threads on the subject.

 

[acampane]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Im not sure if you want an inflatable like a sea hawk for it's weight, but you might be better off with a john boat (car topper) or something of that nature if you want to stand up and what not. The sea hawk and other small inflatables will fill up very fast. Wouldnt catch me standing up on one of those! GOod luck

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Im not sure if you want an inflatable like a sea hawk for it's weight, but you might be better off with a john boat (car topper) or something of that nature if you want to stand up and what not. The sea hawk and other small inflatables will fill up very fast. Wouldnt catch me standing up on one of those! GOod luck

Actually, those things are unbelievably stable. Last summer my buddy, his fifteen year old son and I were floating down a lazy little river in a Seahawk. We got tired of feeling like sardines, so I sat up on one of the tubes and that little thing didn't even know I was up there. I told the kid to sit on the other side while I stood up on the tube on my side. Again, no problemo. Now, please understand I'm not recommending any such foolishness. I'm merely illustrating the point that with a rigid floor you'll be fine standing up in that little thing. Also, if you don't want to use wood for your floor there are other options.

 

[Mike2020]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

What are some other options that you'd recommend?

Thanks for all the great input, everyone.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

What are some other options that you'd recommend?

Thanks for all the great input, everyone.

Need a little elaboration Mikester. Do other options need to be restricted to inflatables? How much do you want to spend? What kind of water? et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. We'll get 'er dialed in for ya.

 

[Mike2020]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

I'm just wondering what other matreials I can make a hard wood floor out of. I'd like to spend as little as possible but still have a sturdy, reliable floor to stand on.

I would only use the floor on the Seahawk II. It would also need to be foldable (with or without a hinge) so that I can fit it in my car.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Oh, floor options. Sorry bout that. Yeah, plywood will probably be your best bet. Go to your local lumber yard and scout it out, but anything other than that will likely be pretty spendy, and if you wanted to get spendy you'd buy a high dollar boat, right? You'll need to adhere something soft to the edges so you don't tear up the rubber. The interior dimensions of that little boat should be fairly small, so unless you drive a Smart Car I'd think you'd have no problem transporting a one piece floor. However, if a rigid one piece floor is a problem you can easily cut it into sections and attach hinges so it will fold up, or you can simply leave it in individual sections. Hinged would be sturdier of course.

 

[Mike2020]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Thanks for the reply.

I drive a Camaro, so I don't have very much room. The hatchback allows for nearly no trunk room (especially with my subwoofers back there). So I'm very limited on space. I literally can't fit anything larger than a 6'6 fishing rod in there. So considering the boat is about 9 feet long, I don't think an 8 or 9 foot, one piece floor is an option.

What material do you suggest to put on the sides of the wood floor to make sure it won't put a hole in the boat?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Anything soft. Sliced open garden hose, Armorflex insulation (like they put on the liquid line for ac condensers), thick rope, sliced yoga mats......... Sky's the limit. You probably have something suitable laying around the hacienda. You know Mike, you might consider acquiring a little utility trailer. They can be had used for a couple of C notes. You could just keep all your raft stuff in there and pronounce it good. Just a thought.

 

[dobbs571]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

look at my post on here .I have a Fish Hunter 360 look on ebay you can get on cheap Same with a motor mount and I have some pics and templet for the floor. I have used mine with a 47# Min Kota motor love it Ihave used it over some ruff stuff no problems yet.last flot trip on the Mermec river near Steelville,MO towed two other small rafts behind me because they got tired of paddleing. You will need longer oars if you are going to paddel any of these raft about 60IN ones aleast. with a 30# motor will befine about 5mph top speed you can go upstream if not to swift a water.When I deflate mine and vac it down its about 3ft x3 ft and 1ft thick.The Fish Hunter brand is a fine raft for weekend floatting or fishing not white water.

 

[bobberii]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

I had an SE 8 from Sea Eagle. Great little boat. With the MinnKota 30 it got me and my wife up and down the St Joseph river in Michigan no problem. Hard wood floors so you can stand up. Whole thing fit in my Toyota Corolla no prob. Picked up a deep cell marine batt from Walmart. Make sure you get a jump pack. $20-$30 Menards. Ran out of juice one day and the jump pack helped me get back to my slipped cruiser. Otherwise you row. And I'm too Da#$ old for that.

 

[Mike2020]

Re: Need advice on cost and what to get

Thanks for all the great advice!

I decided on the Intex Seahawk II. Does anyone know where I can get a floor plan? and also a wood seat that I can mount a swivle seat on to if I want?

Thanks again,
Mike