Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

[zapblam]

I have a post in the general for ideas on a boat to fill my requirements.

Family 2 adults and 2 small kids (3yr & baby growing fast). Baby wont be involved till at least 2.

95% fishing on large often windy choppy lakes.

Durable in very rocky shorelines when we beach for lunches and other required stops.

Must be portable as we cannot tow a trailer behind our popup tent trailer and the Chev Venture minivan.

Would a 16ft - 18ft inflatable work in this primarily LUND aluminum V utility environment.

Used every long weekend and vacation weeks. Setup and takedown required each trip. Will stay setup at the lake till ready to go home.

Am I dreaming too much and should just continue renting a 16ft Lund utility @100 per day.

Saw this near my location....is this leading me in the right direction. Looks adaptable enough. strap in a few cooler/seats and go.

http://saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...-16-ft-excellent-condition-W0QQAdIdZ112850326

 

[zapblam]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

oh yea there is only a Zodiak dealer that I can find. So new would be sight unseen. Once in a while larger inflatables are in the classifieds. and the achillies wont be viewable till at least end of April (still frozen here right now).

Oh ya, hoping for 20ish motor to keep that carrying weight down as much as I can.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

I love inflatables, but in your case I'd stick with the Lund. Set up and take down every trip of a boat the size suited for your needs would be no fun at all.

 

[arks]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

I'm gonna think "outside the box" for a minute.....
You have a pop-up, so would it be possible to attach a cradle to the folded top?
Only reason I'm asking is because waaaay back in my youth, my dad made this tiltable carrier to transport our Sunfish sailboat. I remember he built it out of regular steel pipe and threaded fittings, and it worked pretty well. It looked almost like a trailer without the axles. As I remember, the biggest hassle was taking the cradle on and off the camper when setting up (it took 2 men). I'd think a simplified bunk or roller setup could be lighter and easier to fabricate.
If you can do something like that, then you could consider a small aluminium or RIB- which would be more appropriate for your uses.

 

[fishinhardwater]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

or you can get a 'doubles/triples trailer' endosement on your drivers license.

i have seen it in NY, guys driving pickups towing a fifthwheel camper, towing a boat behind the camper. im not sure if its legal or not.

inflatables arent too heavy, so u can do what arks said and put the boat on top of the pop-up already inflated.. but you probably cant do it by yourself you need help lifting it on there.

 

[kandil]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

I have a saturn Xcat tunnel hull it is 13' and it is OK for 2 adults and 1 kid and some gears I think the x14 would be OK with 2 kids however I don't see this model at the dealer maybe you can find a used one on eBay or call boatstogo and ask if they can get you one other Weiss this one may do the trick for you check it out http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_boat_sd487.asp or http://inflatableboats.iboats.com/

 

[zapblam]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

ok, wife put a big X on the inflatable route. So did the fater-in-law....mr lund.

Back to the utility hunt

Thanks for the help here in the inflatable forum

 

[sebago_kid]

Re: Inflatable the solution to impossible boat hunt?

or you can get a 'doubles/triples trailer' endosement on your drivers license.

i have seen it in NY, guys driving pickups towing a fifthwheel camper, towing a boat behind the camper. im not sure if its legal or not.

I'd like to watch my wife back that thing into the driveway