Newb needs help picking inflateable

[Jamie79]

Hello everyone, i've been looking into buying an inflateable to use while camping in my pop up. not looking for anything fast just fish and cruise around on with the wife and little boy. i have looked at the sevylor HF 360 with a boat boot, Intex Mariner 4, and redstar navigator ii 500. so far i think im leaning toward the navigator but the sevylor appears to be roomier, and the wife likes the looks of the intex. the boat will be primarily used on lakes and rivers. i also prefer having a 3 horse outboard for range, as i will use for camping trips down rivers with 2 people and gear. I expect this size engine on any of these boats should move me aroun 5 or 6 mph? anyone used these boats for similar thing? any and all help/ideas would greatly be appreciated. also the engine i am considering is a game fisher. Thanks

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

If budget is not an issue, buy a Quicksilver brand sib, could be a 340 with air mat floor for portability and light weigh. Nothing against Sevylor or Redstar brands, but their fabrics are very thin and have 2 piece seams welded together compared to 4 seams much pro standard sibs. Are cheap and very basic entry level boats, more like big toys. Boats with vertical transoms attached with side frames as opposed to glued transom like these 2 mentioned brands, makes the sib/engine rocks heavyly on stern area no matter how well the sib is inflated to.

Water activities have a initial cost, so invest well on the first one. Go for a Quicksilver 340 air mat + Tohatsu 5 HP engine would be my advise.

Happy Sibbing

PD. My firts sib was a Sevlor K-86 model years back, so know what I'm talking about

 

[rmoore8118]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

I don't think you will find the Quicksilver name in the States anymore. It is still marketed overseas as Quicksilver, but here it is under the Mercury name (both made by Mercury Marine in Korea).
I use my boat in the same way as you. rolled up in the travel trailer for camping trips.

I have the Mercury 340 Airdeck. I found a new, in the box 2007 model for $899 in PVC. Yes, hypalon is more resistant to sun, but if you use yours like I do, it won't see more than 30 days of sun in a year. Just dress it with aerospace 303 after cleaning it up and you'll be fine. Weighs 87 - 102 pounds (depending on which publication you believe) I haven't weighed mine, but I think, by lifting it, it's closer to the 87# mark.

I think you would not be happy with anything smaller, based on what you want to use it for and your cargo. I push it with an old 9.5 Johnson and it moves about 15 - 17 mph. Most folks post that a 6 hp will get you on plane with this size boat, but maybe not with 3 - 4 adults.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Yes, you are correct, had a wooden floor pvc 340 Quicksilver/Mercury, well cared for, rinsed and indoors kept sold it inmaculate after 10 years constant use. Excellent entry level sib.

If sib and engine portability is a must, go for a Tohatsu 5 HP engine, for better performance & speed a 9.8 HP, you decide

Happy Boating

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

thanks for the info guys but those boats are a little more than im looking for right now. im mainly looking for something to get out and put around on like you would in a canoe but dont want the hassle of cartopping, anyone have any info on the inflateables i mentioned as far as which is best made and withstand rocks in shallow water / mild rapids. Thanks

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

thanks for the info guys but those boats are a little more than im looking for right now. im mainly looking for something to get out and put around on like you would in a canoe but dont want the hassle of cartopping, anyone have any info on the inflateables i mentioned as far as which is best made and withstand rocks in shallow water / mild rapids. Thanks

The sibs you are looking for range between 3.30 to 3.60 meters long, the 3.40 is totally portable inside a car trunk, anyway, which ever model you pick will need to pump it full once you reach your water location. As said before, all 3 uses extremely thin fabric material compared to a more pro sibs, they are more like big inflatable pool toys, a more pro sib has thicker fabric, will last longer, has a transom for engine, will hold more abrassions in rocky shallow waters. You decide!

Happy Boating

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

size really isnt the issue as much as price however the more i look at the higher end models the more they make sense. any info on the Baltik brands they seem to be more affordable but i have heard mixed reviews on them. i have also read that an 11 foot model is capable of speeds of 10mph with a 3.5hp with 4 adults? is this accurate? what would be a good idea of a cruising speed with a 10 or 15 hp on a boat this size? thanks again for the help.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

size really isnt the issue as much as price however the more i look at the higher end models the more they make sense. any info on the Baltik brands they seem to be more affordable but i have heard mixed reviews on them. i have also read that an 11 foot model is capable of speeds of 10mph with a 3.5hp with 4 adults? is this accurate? what would be a good idea of a cruising speed with a 10 or 15 hp on a boat this size? thanks again for the help.

So what size would you like ? There are 2 very alike brands: Baltik and Baltic, check both. 3.5 HP is a very basic engine, you'll need at least a 15 HP to plane a 11" size sib with 4 adults.

Happy Boating

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

So what size would you like ? There are 2 very alike brands: Baltik and Baltic, check both. 3.5 HP is a very basic engine, you'll need at least a 15 HP to plane a 11" size sib with 4 adults.

Happy Boating

loking at probably a 9.5 or 11 not too much difference in price on the baltik brands. i would definately go bigger than a 3.5, i was just wandering if 10 mph with 4 adults in a 9.5 was probable sounds unlikely to me. are the baltik's any good?

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

loking at probably a 9.5 or 11 not too much difference in price on the baltik brands. i would definately go bigger than a 3.5, i was just wandering if 10 mph with 4 adults in a 9.5 was probable sounds unlikely to me. are the baltik's any good?

Invest larger and roomier, go for the 11 airdeck model, the price difference to the 9.5 model is small. A Tohatsu 9.8 2/4 strokes will work well. Will have boat and engine portability compared to wooden or aluminum floorboards same models and heavier 10/15 engines. Baltik's fabric is pvc 0.9 mm, the standard now a days with 4 overlapped seams, has Coast Guard Certification. Buy a pressure gauge and a high pressure air pump and inflate to it's factory recommended chamber pressures for optimum boat/engine performance.

Happy Boating

 

[jspringator]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Have you considered Portabote? Great for tooling around. Very roomy. Not fast.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

Have you considered Portabote? Great for tooling around. Very roomy. Not fast.

Portabote is a real clumsy origami toy, rocks like a nut, has nothing to do with sib's stability, had the oportunity to test a 12" with 5 HP engine, won't plane at all, although the design is clever, the look is horrible and takes it's time to assemble, and are not cheap. Stay away, will repent forever. Won't go wrong with a 11 sib, far superior portability, quicker assembly and performance.

Happy Boating

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

While I prefer an inflatable, the Porte-Bote is a popular choice. I've used them with a variety of different engines and they are fine if you know what you are getting into....IE They do rock like a normal boat would and they usually take a size larger engine than you would think to get on plane. One actual advantage to them is that they really do stand behind their product warranty and if you have a problem you just ask for the comany president and he makes the problem go away...It's like magic only no one gets sawed in half

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

While I prefer an inflatable, the Porte-Bote is a popular choice. I've used them with a variety of different engines and they are fine if you know what you are getting into....IE They do rock like a normal boat would and they usually take a size larger engine than you would think to get on plane. One actual advantage to them is that they really do stand behind their product warranty and if you have a problem you just ask for the comany president and he makes the problem go away...It's like magic only no one gets sawed in half

Hi TG,

Portabote is quite popular, probably good choice as firts boat purchase, but not after having used a sib properly, according to their web page have sold more than 1 millon, would like to know were they are ? Being so used to sibs forgot that by the hull shape rocks as a normal boat would, but once cruising, not necessarily on plane, if the bottom tends to bend/rock upwards with a 5 HP engine, imagine with a larger 10/15 HP, probably nice for calm rivers, lakes, ponds, take the dog out, not for open sea.

If not mistaken has life warranty, definitely the owner must stand for his out of this world origami boat. Was thinking in ordering one blindly, but had the opportunity to test a real one for half a day, thank heaven didn't order one, will stick to my actual sib, as PB does not satisfy my boating needs

Happy Boating

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

They sell most of them to people in RV's or campers who think inflatables are brittle. There has always been a mindset in the U.S. that inflatable boats are just "overpriced toys". I saw a 32' today...Used...And the guy wants $300,000.00 for it That is one expensive pool toy! Porte-Bote has been in business for a long time hence the large number sold and they do a lot of international business. I've had some customers that have gone from an inflatable to a Porta-boat and like the boat better. Those are usually people who had knuckle buster board boats and were too old and tired to put them together. For the average dinghy user I think an inflatable is a wiser choice overall, but the Porte-Bote has a niche that it fits very well. Even the Insta-Boat up in Canada has a role to play.

 

[Jamie79]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

I really like the idea of the porta bote, but just doesn't seem as portable as a sib, also in the next 5 yrs i plan to buy a sailboat probably a Macgregor 26x and a sib would be ideal as a dinghy. I am still wondering about size 9.5 or 11 as i would like to be able to store it on deck inflated instead of towing not sure if either sizes would work for this, oh well thats years down the road anyway but is a small factor in my decision. Thanks for the input

 

[jspringator]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

The hull of an 8 foot PB would strap on the top of the popup. It only has 2 seats. Takes a 6hp motor. The advantage of a PB is no electric pump to pump up the floor. No worrying the boat will overinflate if left in the sun, and no worry about pinhole leaks. It will be much larger inside than a comparably equipped inflatable. It is easy for one person to handle, but so would an inflatabel of that size. The advantages of an inflatable are stability and speed.

They both involve compromises. I know; I've owned both!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

The hull of an 8 foot PB would strap on the top of the popup. It only has 2 seats. Takes a 6hp motor.

Seems the 8 foot PB will be too short as Jamie79 is looking for a 9.5 / 11 ft sib. The difference between a 9.5/11 ft sibs is 45 cm long, as both models have same width, if possible get the sailboat available deck space and see, if roomy enough, go for the 11 size, more boat than 9.5 model including bit larger engine use.

Happy Boating

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

I have had a Baltik for over 5 years now. It sits upside down on the bow of my sailboat all year long in the Florida weather. I do have a canvas sunbrella cover for it.

It is the 8.5 model with the air floor, we push it extremely well with a 3.5 Nissan. It won't plane though with three people in it with the 3.5. But it will with one adult onboard

After 5 years out in the weather the floor finally came unglued from the hull. Not the air floor, rather the bottom of the boat. I purchased the one part glue from West Marine, brought the boat home so I could the repair in low humidty, reglued the floor and seems to be holding up after 9 months back out in the weather.

I belive 5 years ago, with shipping I think I paid somewhere around 550.00 for the Baltik. While she really does not get that much use through the years, she has held up well for sitting out in the weather.

Hope this helps

JSB

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Newb needs help picking inflateable

I have had a Baltik for over 5 years now. It sits upside down on the bow of my sailboat all year long in the Florida weather. I do have a canvas sunbrella cover for it.

It is the 8.5 model with the air floor, we push it extremely well with a 3.5 Nissan. It won't plane though with three people in it with the 3.5. But it will with one adult onboard

After 5 years out in the weather the floor finally came unglued from the hull. Not the air floor, rather the bottom of the boat. I purchased the one part glue from West Marine, brought the boat home so I could the repair in low humidty, reglued the floor and seems to be holding up after 9 months back out in the weather.

I belive 5 years ago, with shipping I think I paid somewhere around 550.00 for the Baltik. While she really does not get that much use through the years, she has held up well for sitting out in the weather.

Hope this helps

JSB

Oh....PS If I had to do it again, I would buy the wood floor. THe air floor is okay, easier on your knees, but the performance of the boat is better with the wood floor, and the air floor while not real sensitive, does get holes in it.
I have had to patch mine twice. I think from urchin thorns we tracked into the boat.

Anyway my experience