Portable boats

[Blackworm88]

I like to do "Drive by fishing" I keep my rods in my truck like a pistol. My question is do they make a boat that is convenient for "drive by fishing"? A boat that I can put on my truck bed, take off with ease,maybe shoulder straps like a backpack that I can drop in the water get in and get to ripping lips. Maybe I'm just wishful thinking. I don't have the time to nor the money to get a real boat yet.

[jimmyjoe]

   If you're willing to build it yourself, there used to be a pram under seven feet called the "Catspaw". It was designed by a company down in Carolina called B and B yachts. Unless you either want to spend a lot of money, go folding or go 2-piece, it's about the smallest I know of.

   I'm not sure that company is still in business, though.                       jj

[GRiver]

Maybe a kayak or canoe, I’ve seen people make wheels that you can kind of dolly it to the water

[BrianMDTX]

Get a Sea Eagle Packfish7. It’s an inflatable boat. Takes about 5 minutes to inflate with the included foot pump. Comes with a pack you can carry on your back. 
 

This is how it looks as supplied. I purchased the upgraded version that includes the wood floor for stability. It has an inflatable seat that is pretty comfortable, but you sit low. I modified mine. 
 

I added a 7” pedestal with a swivel and and a foldable seat, and used a plank (actually a wood cutting board) and some brackets to install two additional rod holders, so it can hold four rods. With the elevated seat, it’s better to use a yak paddle than the supplied oars. 
 

It’s slower than a yak. And if it’s windy, you will need an anchor (I have a 8 lb mushroom anchor on 12’ of rope). But it’s easily transported and stored and gets me out on the water for $. It was on special for $399.99 when I bought it in 2020. 

[galyonj]

12 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Get a Sea Eagle Packfish7

 

Dude, that looks rad.

[jimmyjoe]

   BTW ................ WELCOME TO BR!         jj

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, galyonj said:

 

Dude, that looks rad.

I can take credit for doing the mod, but got it from someone on YT. So, truth be told, the supplied rod holders are great for holding rods while getting from A to B, but out in front they are in the way when fishing. But I can hold two rods in the rear holders, and can slide two rods along each side of the seat hanging over the stern, so I can actually bring 5 rods if I wish (normally bring 4 but have brought 5 once or twice). The one main pond I fish has one landscaped side that all the bank anglers fish, and an overgrown side that’s maybe 5% accessible through holes between branches. I can’t use a BC there, only spinning tackle. But I can fish 100% of it from that boat, and all those overhanging branches are great bass spots that I can easily skip Senkos and Tricks under. 
 

I have a pickup, so I keep it inflated and just slide it in and out of the bed. Takes me seconds to get from the truck onto the water. The two storage compartments hold two Plano boxes each, plus a scale, hook remover, fish gripper, towels, phones, etc, and the rear pouch holds a bottle of water. It will float in 6” of water so it gets everywhere. I would not take it on huge bodies of water or moving water (unless I launched it and picked it up downstream), but for ponds and small reservoirs or lakes, it’s great. 

[galyonj]

3 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I have a pickup, so I keep it inflated and just slide it in and out of the bed. Takes me seconds to get from the truck onto the water. The two storage compartments hold two Plano boxes each, plus a scale, hook remover, fish gripper, towels, phones, etc, and the rear pouch holds a bottle of water. It will float in 6” of water so it gets everywhere. I would not take it on huge bodies of water or moving water (unless I launched it and picked it up downstream), but for ponds and small reservoirs or lakes, it’s great. 

 

I don't have a pickup, but that would fit real nice into the hatch on the Corvette. Knowing my own physical limitations, I can promise you that you wouldn't see me out in it on big water or moving water (but that's what the big boat's for anyway), but it would be money for a couple places I like to bank fish.

[BrianMDTX]

19 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

I don't have a pickup, but that would fit real nice into the hatch on the Corvette. Knowing my own physical limitations, I can promise you that you wouldn't see me out in it on big water or moving water (but that's what the big boat's for anyway), but it would be money for a couple places I like to bank fish.

As it comes with the inflatable seat it would easily fit. Even the wood floor would likely fit. Not sure about the seat mod. 

[galyonj]

Just now, BrianMDTX said:

As it comes with the inflatable seat it would easily fit. Even the wood floor would likely fit. Not sure about the seat mod. 

 

The whole reason I bought a base model C5 instead of a Z06 is because I wanted a hatch and not a trunk. It's shocking how much junk I can fit in there as long as it'll go far enough forward to clear the window slope.

 

As long as I can break it down off the floorboard for transport, I know for a fact I can fit the seat.

[TnRiver46]

39 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

I don't have a pickup,

You’re lucky the executive board of hillbillies hasn’t excommunicated your hind end 

[galyonj]

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

You’re lucky the executive board of hillbillies hasn’t excommunicated your hind end 

 

I had one! It was even a 4x4!

 

The Corvette's more funner.

 

If I were to find a squarebody Chevy with a manual trans that's in any kind of decent shape I might ****** it up, though.

[WRB]

Look at Boat Safety Inflatable pontoon boats review 2021.

Welcome BR,

Tom

[Nelson Wormefeller]

Tucktec Eco Folding Kayak

[David 7]

I use to have a Sea Hawk (about 15 years ago), really enjoyed it and it was a very convenient and strong little dinghy. Eventually I sold it and bought a small 8ft Emotion Comet kayak. After a few years I sold the kayak in order to upgrade, but never did. Have been bank fishing since.

 

Have been saving up for a kayak again but seriously thinking about getting another Sea Hawk. I always liked it and never had to worry about car topping. I’m honestly surprised they’re not more popular than they are, especially with the price point. 
 

Below is a stock photo.

[JimT]

surprised nobody mentioned Porta-Botes. They make a 10', a 12', and a 14'. Certainly the 10' would be easy to handle by someone alone. We've got a 12' and have enjoyed fishing from it, you can put up to a 6hp motor on it. 

[bulldog1935]

here's an article on Nesting Boats 

Nesting Boats - Small Boats Magazine (smallboatsmonthly.com)

 

 

 

A hull like this is going to be a lot faster (read distance) than any kind of raft - no offense to Brian's nicely rigged inflatable.  

 

 

A nice folding skiff kit from Bedard:  

Ozona X Nesting Pram | Bedard Yacht Design  

 

My buddy Lou built a Bedard fishing kayak from kit

 

 

though he won't rig it, he treats it like Queen Anne furniture - no lift handles, not even a pad eye for a bow line.  

[BrianMDTX]

7 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

A hull like this is going to be a lot faster (read distance) than any kind of raft - no offense to Brian's nicely rigged inflatable.  

Trust me. None taken! It’s great for small ponds but a 1/2 mile one-way trip would destroy me lol.