Inflatables. Any users here????

[32251]

Anyone on the forum know about these. I need a small inflatable to carry from the parking lot to the small lake I live close to. Please post any info or experience with these. Thanks

Any info on inflatables in the $100-150 range would be appreciated.

[cr22shep]

i wouldnt fish in one of those unless you dont mind patching every time you accedentally catch the boat

[Stoneyman]

I would save up a little more and get this:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewse8.html

i just ordered one, should have by next week

I'll let you know how i like it

[Davis]

For me I don't need much to get out on the water since everything around here is a small lake or pond. So I picked up a Coleman Colossus for 60 bucks and it has been great to me this year on the small lakes. I even have taken it rafting down the Cattaraugus Creek with no problems at all. Hit some rocks and it never leaked or popped. I also have rubbed my hook up against it a couple of times with no issues.

So in short if your looking for something to just chill out in that does the trick but you don't need to cover a lot of water, than a coleman raft is perfect IMO.

For the amount of use that I have put mine through it has been extremely durable and easy to use. Not to mention it blows up in under a minute and deflates in under a minute with the coleman rechargeable pump.

I would like a jon boat at some point but right now this does me just fine.

[Davis]

I would save up a little more and get this:

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewse8.html

i just ordered one, should have by next week

I'll let you know how i like it

Nice looking raft. But for that price I would rather purchase a canoe.

I do like the looks of the floor boards on it though.

[deerhuneter02]

You could probably get a jon boat wich are easier to fish out off for a couple hundred more

[Guest whittler]

You might want to consider a pontoon, although most are just a little higher than your price range. They are easy to carry or transport and great to fish from.

[32251]

The Sea Eagle boats look VERY nice and the fisherman packages on the net are nicely priced.  I will have to revise my budget if I got  one.  The package for the Sea Eagle 6 was $399 and the Seaeagle 8 was $499.  

15 mins to inflate is not bad and the ability to just deflate and put in the car is nice.  That is why I am looking at the inflatables.  Smaller lakes, no trailer etc.

Any info on other boats would be appreciated.

[32251]

Take a look here,

http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=6&Cat=3

it is $50 more than you wanted to spend but the ODC is a good boat and they have free shipping right now. This it a similar boat to my own and I really enjoy fishing from the pontoon.

Thanks for the link.  I actually saw a fellow fishing in one of these a few weeks ago.  I liked it a lot.  It was a windy day and he was having to compensate for that.

I am really liking the Sea Eagle 8 Fishermans dream package.  Going to have to save some more money or look for a used one. I need to be able to carry another person also.

[Long Mike]

Here's my Sea Eagle 9. I made the floor boards and rear bench seat myself.

[baboosicbass08]

My friend has a Sea Hawk 400 which are cheaper than the sea eagles and i think its just fine for fishing smaller lakes/ponds very affordable too. Takes maybe 10 mins to inflate and i think you'd have to actually stab it to pop it i doubt it'll pop just by barely scratching witha  hook. I would recommend this.

[Stoneyman]

No doubt pontoon boats are nice, i own two.

Every type of watercraft has their pluses & minus.

There are numorious reasons i went with a seaeagle SE9.

One of them is i needed something with higher weight capacity and stablity for my family.

two i can use this in the lakes and ocean bays

i can also stand up in it and fish and not have to worry about pesky waders and fins.

and last but not least it has minmal of fuss to setup.

For $499. ($50. gets you the SE9) it's on pair with a quality pontoon boat.

I looked at buying a jon boat first but over here in Japan they want almost $2000. for one.

not to mention i would have had to buy a roof rack etc..etc..

bottom line get what works for you.

[Stoneyman]

Here's my Sea Eagle 9. I made the floor boards and rear bench seat myself.

Wow! that is outstanding there long mike!

now i really can't wait to get mine!

i like your seat! i have the same pedstal, I'll have to give it a try.

very nice!

[Long Mike]

Thanks Stonyman.  That box located in the center of the boat is a plastic milk carton that I use for my "console."  Just to give you a few ideas, a close-up of the box is shown below.

[32251]

Cool box....er CONSOLE!  

I see some beverage holders there and storage in the box for other items.  Very resourceful and very lightweight also.

What part of the boat do you clip your stringer to?

Is the boat easily paddled one handed after you get close to where you want to be via the motor? I am not talking about using the two oars. I am talking about sitting in the back or the front and using the left arm to slowly paddle and the right to fish.  Some situations the trolling motor wound not be needed.  Can you sit in a position that will let you easily reach over past the inflated edge of the boat and work a paddle.

[Long Mike]

If you are referring to a fish stringer, I do not own one and never will.  However, the raft has a 3/8" rope the runs around the "circumference" of the boat.  You can attach it anywhere you want.  The oars are long enough to be used off either side, one handed, with no problem.

[32251]

If you are referring to a fish stringer, I do not own one and never will. .

If you catch fish that you do not release what do you do with them?

[David P]

If you are referring to a fish stringer, I do not own one and never will.  .

If you catch fish that you do not release what do you do with them?

Just release all fish, and you won't have a problem.

[32251]

If you are referring to a fish stringer, I do not own one and never will. .

If you catch fish that you do not release what do you do with them?

Just release all fish, and you won't have a problem.

There are times when you go fishing to catch fish to enjoy on the dinner table and there are times when you go fishing just to enjoy catching and releasing.  I was just inquiring as to what was done when keeping fish.  I have no problem with you releasing all your fish.  I am sure you have no problem with a fisherman keeping some of them.  The lake I fish at has a 15 fish limit on bream and a 6 fish limit on bass with size regulations. It is regulated by the state Dept of Nat. Resources.  If keeping some was not OK for the fish population then there would probably be a catch/release rule.  The water and the fish are tested for quality and deemed safe for human consumption.

[32251]

Found nice looking used a couple of times Sea Eagle 8 Fishermans Dream package on Ebay with a MinKota 28 motor for $255.  Decent price. My budget for a boat started out at $150, but I did not factor in the cost of an electric trolling motor so I had to up it a bit.    It will take a few weeks to transfer payment and get the boat sent from Pensacola to Atlanta and test it. I will post what I find on the forum.  Wish me luck.

[hotspringsbass]

Pontoons are great.  I fish lots of small lakes and slow running rivers/streams with them.  I got my off name brand pontoon for $99.00 at a truck load tool sale at the fairgrounds.  Kind of hard to use in windy conditions though due to the height off the water.  Some of these boats you can rig for a 12v trolling motor.  As far as taking someone with you, you can get a 2 person craft but you are going to be looking at lots more money.  Bass Pro Shop sells these starting about $200 upwards to over $2,000.  Set up is a snap about 15 minutes and takedown even faster.  You might try e-bay.com for great deals on these.  Good Luck and Great Fishing.

[Del from philly]

I got a little 50$ Challeneger series 3 person by intex

THIS IS THE BEST 50 DOLLARS IV EVER SPENT

anyone who doesnt have the room for a trailer, BUY AN INFLATABLE!

its great....and it is in the back of my truck at ALL TIMES......

anyone that has any specific questions can get at me anytime.....

[rbrick]

I have a poontoon and it works great.Weighs 20lbs.I don't use the oars I use swim fins.You can run it hands free like a trolling motor.I've been in winds up to 30mph with no problem.I live in Fla the only problem I've had is fighting off the alligators.

Rick Wells

Tallahassee