Best Inflatable for me

[lncoop]

Okay, I've been bitten by the inflatable bug. I bought a little Intex Seahawk earlier this summer to test the waters (pun intended). It's a great little raft given the low price point, but now that I know I'll enjoy an inflatable I'm starting to think about getting something a little bigger and beefier. I want one that will comfortably hold two men and their gear (fishing and/or camping) and can handle some mild rapids. I have no desire to paddle whitewater, but I'd like to be able to pass comfortably through class II maybe borderline III on my way to the campsite, and I'll want to fish out of it of course; fly and spin fishing. I don't want to spend a fortune and am not opposed to buying used if it makes sense, and I understand there's no such thing as the perfect setup. However, I'm betting you guys can get me close. Please give me your thoughts and feel free to suggest vendors, other boards, etc. if you think that will be helpful. Thanks everyone.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

You want something with a motor or without? You want it to plane or no? What kind of abrasion resistant properties must it have? Primary activity is floating rivers, camping and fishing?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

You want something with a motor or without? You want it to plane or no? What kind of abrasion resistant properties must it have? Primary activity is floating rivers, camping and fishing?

Don't need a motor. Ability to add motor mount for occasional TM or outboard usage would be nice, but not critical. Does not have to plane. Abrasion resistance is a high priority. Primary usage would be as you stated.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Ok, well with those requirements, I recommend

THIS>>> http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=11709&pdeptid=2232

Fully prepped and ready to get wet.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

That's awesome, but a little more (okay, a lot more) than I want to spend. Also, I don't think I mentioned I'd like something that can be deflated and stored/packed. I was thinking more in terms of something like this. What do you think? http://www.redstarmarine.com/rst_marine/rec/navigator_2.html
Be honest. I can take it. But, keep in mind we're talking honestly probably fewer than ten outings a year in it, so I can't really justify spending a whole lot. Plus, I already have a party barge, john boat and the little raft, so I have to tread carefully or the admiral will get me!

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Ok, Good>> http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_river_rafts.asp

Better>> http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1168&pdeptid=1694

Best>> http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1162&pdeptid=1131

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Yeah, that Redstar boat will puncture very easily. It's a sloppy floppy toy honestly. The ad says it can handle class III? No way I would take that in any whitewater. All 3 of the boats I suggested are self-bailing which is critical for any kind of rapid running.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Okay, I appreciate the candor. Is there nothing under a grand that would work?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Well, nothing that would work well and be safe in the conditions you're describing. But you could always find a used boat.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

I gotta tell you though, that Saturn is a lot of boat for $1,300. Keep an eye on that site, they sometimes have sales.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Okay, one more. What about this if I could find one?
http://www.inflatableboatssale.com/inflatable-rafts/12-rafts-rd365/12-inflatable-raft.html

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Well, it's not suited for what you want to use it for. Did you notice the inside width? 10 inches! There's barely enough room to sit, much less store anything. Also, it doesn't have near the abrasion resistance that the other Saturn boat I pointed out has. The PVC is 0.9mm all around on the one you found, and it's 3.9mm on the bottom (rubrail and down) of the other one. That boat is more of a Kayak, canoe, raft hybrid but it doesn't work well as any one of the 3.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Guess that's why they're being closed out. Sigh. Looks like I've got some thinking to do. Thanks again RR.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Good luck on your search!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Don't know if it matters, but it appears I exaggerated the characteristics of any "whitewater" I might encounter. We're talking level I-II, mostly level I. We do have a couple of pretty gnarly streams here, but I'm not interested in them.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

There's something to be said about what you're willing to deal with. The cheaper boats, more punctures, possible too many, wet feet all the time and sloshing water in the boat, difficulty walking on the flimsy deck, but? CHEAP! The better boats will give you a MUCH better experience. Most, not all, most people who buy the cheaper type boat you're looking at use them once and then sell them and buy something better.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Noted. I appreciate you sticking with me on this. I'm repeating NO CHEAP RAFTS to myself as I type. Now, is there anything you like in the $1500 range that will take a motor? It might be worth it to me to part with my john boat if I could acquire something I could more or less use in its place. I realize we're not talking complete interchangeability, but I think I could do a lot of what I do now with the right raft. The admiral will not stand for another toy unless I sell one first.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Sure, For something you can motorize >> http://www.BoatsToGo.com/inflatable_boat_sd365.asp

This is a 12 footer and the largest boat this company sells with the high pressure inflatable floor. I thought you might be interested in the inflatable floor since these boats stow very quickly and to a compact size. It's rated for a 30hp short shaft, but would do wonderfully with as little as 15hp. I'm not sure what size motor you have for your Jon.

If you don't mind having a hard floor, I would recommend going with the 14 foot model. The down side is setup and take down takes a bit more time and the boards require more room to store.

These boats are fun, versatile and well made for their price. They can be customized in any number of ways. I have the 14 foot version with an 18hp Tohatsu and I'm going on 5 year with it and love it. It handles whitewater very well. Here's a pic of mine as an example of what you can do with these boats>>>

Good luck with your search!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Nice DR. I believe that would be perfect for my needs. The pic appears to be on a river, so I assume it's suitable for the applications I specified. On the 14' do you have the option of using it without the floor kit? I only ask because I've heard that in swift water type situtations you want a floor that flexes some, but it may not be that important. I don't really know. Thoughts?

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Best Inflatable for me

Thanks,

You would not want to use this kind of boat without the floor installed. It has an inflatable keel to give the hull a deep V design. It would be in the way without the boards installed. I've had this boat in large waves and the floor is not a problem, although I'll tell you that I've only run deeper water rapids so I never hit bottom. I suppose if you were going to be brushing over the tops of river cobble it would make sense to have the keel deflated to give yourself as low a profile as possible. If you think that will be a problem I would go with the inflatable floor model, as that floor would do fine left in place with or without the keel being inflated and, since it's an inflatable floor, it flexes seamlessly with the boat.