I've been looking at getting a boat for a long time now, everything from the basic kayaks and canoes at walmart to full size boats, but I'm working on a budget and I live in an apartment with my wife and daughter so space is at a premium - I have nowhere to really store an actual full size boat or even the kayaks mentioned. I have a small storage unit and a truck (honda ridgeline) for transportation.
I recently came across the intex seahawk 4 when searching for cheaper boating options, and then after some web digging found the excursion series, and I think I'm interested in getting the excursion 5; it seems roomy enough for my wife and I as well as our daughter, or myself and a buddy when out fishing, and at 125$ or so for the boat itself it's relatively affordable. However, I wasnt sold on an inflatable until i discovered the mods people do for them. I've been skeptical about inflatable boats for a long time now due to the feeling that they'd be a little too flimsy and unstable for the things I like to do (fishing, primarily) - but seeing people building hard floors, biminiys, and seat boxes on these things and making them look good has drawn me to the brand.
So, before I go about buying this thing and starting the likely lengthy project of modifying it to my needs, I have a few questions:
1. The floor. I've seen videos on everything from 1/4" to 1" plywood, what would you suggest? Beyond that, I'm trying to decide if it's better to do a 1 piece floor out of a single plywood sheet (which on the intex excursion 5 leaves the floor a few inches short of the raft bottom, a gap I'd rather not have), or to make it a multi-sectional floor with either 2 or 3 sections. Are there any disadvantages to a sectional floor? Should it be hinged or simply separate pieces held together by the inflation tension of the boat (which might be an issue if deflation happens for any reason)?
Obviously having something smaller than 4x8 plywood sheet floor would be ideal for apartment living, as a 2 or 3 section floor I could break down and put into storage or even a closet.
2. The motor. I have no clue about trolling motors, I didnt even know electric motors for these were a thing until doing a bit of research on the inflatables. I've operated two other boats before - a sailboat (think it was a 20 foot?) and a dual engine speedboat, both in the gulf of mexico, whereas this boat will be operating on lakes and rivers around the san antonio area. What kind of motor should I be gunning for? What's the most cost efficient for performance delivered?
I've seen both gas and electric motors, I've also seen improvised line-trimmer motors, so what should I be going with here?
As far as the motor mount, one video I saw had the motor mounted on metal pipes going directly to the hard plywood floor of the boat, rather than using the motor mounts designed to attach to the boat itself, any preference on which is better?
3. Biminy - I've seen both elaborate piping frame systems used as well as simpler methods that just run PVC between the built-in fishing rod holders. The latter seems far easier to build, but how would that hold up in any kind of wind?
4. Any other tips you guys can provide? I dont like going into a new project like this until I know all I can, any ways to save costs and hassle are greatly appreciated.
I recently came across the intex seahawk 4 when searching for cheaper boating options, and then after some web digging found the excursion series, and I think I'm interested in getting the excursion 5; it seems roomy enough for my wife and I as well as our daughter, or myself and a buddy when out fishing, and at 125$ or so for the boat itself it's relatively affordable. However, I wasnt sold on an inflatable until i discovered the mods people do for them. I've been skeptical about inflatable boats for a long time now due to the feeling that they'd be a little too flimsy and unstable for the things I like to do (fishing, primarily) - but seeing people building hard floors, biminiys, and seat boxes on these things and making them look good has drawn me to the brand.
So, before I go about buying this thing and starting the likely lengthy project of modifying it to my needs, I have a few questions:
1. The floor. I've seen videos on everything from 1/4" to 1" plywood, what would you suggest? Beyond that, I'm trying to decide if it's better to do a 1 piece floor out of a single plywood sheet (which on the intex excursion 5 leaves the floor a few inches short of the raft bottom, a gap I'd rather not have), or to make it a multi-sectional floor with either 2 or 3 sections. Are there any disadvantages to a sectional floor? Should it be hinged or simply separate pieces held together by the inflation tension of the boat (which might be an issue if deflation happens for any reason)?
Obviously having something smaller than 4x8 plywood sheet floor would be ideal for apartment living, as a 2 or 3 section floor I could break down and put into storage or even a closet.
2. The motor. I have no clue about trolling motors, I didnt even know electric motors for these were a thing until doing a bit of research on the inflatables. I've operated two other boats before - a sailboat (think it was a 20 foot?) and a dual engine speedboat, both in the gulf of mexico, whereas this boat will be operating on lakes and rivers around the san antonio area. What kind of motor should I be gunning for? What's the most cost efficient for performance delivered?
I've seen both gas and electric motors, I've also seen improvised line-trimmer motors, so what should I be going with here?
As far as the motor mount, one video I saw had the motor mounted on metal pipes going directly to the hard plywood floor of the boat, rather than using the motor mounts designed to attach to the boat itself, any preference on which is better?
3. Biminy - I've seen both elaborate piping frame systems used as well as simpler methods that just run PVC between the built-in fishing rod holders. The latter seems far easier to build, but how would that hold up in any kind of wind?
4. Any other tips you guys can provide? I dont like going into a new project like this until I know all I can, any ways to save costs and hassle are greatly appreciated.
