General Question on STS10 from wife who fishes, husband does’t

[Amyree]

I love my husband but when it comes to fishing…he’s beyond useless so I’m decided to step outside my marriage and look for advice elsewhere.  I just purchased a Sea Eagle Stealth Stalker 10 (STS10) so I can fish at our lake cabin in Northern Wisconsin. The reason I purchased Stealth Stalker inflatable fishing boat is because I thought I’d be able to handle it entirely on my own.  Unfortunately after my first maiden voyage, I realized I can’t. Im perfectly self-sufficient once I’m in the water but my entry and exit is not pretty.  The STS10 weighs 78 lbs and while getting it into the water is manageable, getting it out is not manageable for me.  I’m 5’3, 110 lbs.  

Question #1:  Does anyone have a recommendation for a movable boat launch that is just big enough to to help me launch and pull the STS10 out of the water?

 

Questions #2. The motor is an electric Watersnake Venom 34 dual purpose. I thought it would be sufficient but I’d like to get a new one with a little bit more speed. However, I want stay with an electric (simply because I don’t want to have to rely on my husband to help maintain a gas motor).

 

Question # 3:  Seriously?! Are all lead batteries that heavy?  Are the any lighter weight battery options that would make charging my battery in between excursions a bit easier? When I tie the boat to the pier, the battery is a bit too heavy for me to lift out with one arm which result in a precarious balancing situation using two arms. The battery won, I was wet.

 

I realize that this forum is not intended for novices like me but I’d appreciate any assistance anyone can offer.

 

[Fishes in trees]

Question #1 - Are you sure you want to stay with the inflatable style boat?   A rigid boat more or less the same size might drag easier and make putting in and taking out a little easier.   I'm thinking of a Bass Pro Shops Pond Prowler, one of the smaller Pelican boats, something like that.    I've seen some pretty cool aftermarket wheel systems that make dragging the boat up hill much easier.  I get it that your husband. is useless, but I would enlist his aid in launching and retrieving the boat.

Next the electric motor - I'm not sure what a "dual purpose" electric motor is.  The basic rule of thumb for electric power is to buy as powerful as you can afford and handle.  I'm guessing the 34 stands for pounds of thrust and that will probably power your boat ok.   I have a 55 lb thrust 12 volt Minn Kota that I use every so often when I can't launch my boat at a pond, but there is a boat on the premises.   It isn't that heavy. my guess is that the weight difference between the 55 and the 34 would be negligible.  ON the subject of batteries, Lithium Batteries are lighter than lead acid ones.    They are more expensive - you've got to decide if the lighter weight is worth it.   They also require a specialized charger (also more expensive ). 

Next - that Bimini Top on the inflatable boat - I'd ditch that.   It looks like it would function as a sail out on the water and make boat control problematic.   If you're that worried about the sun (and you should be) get a better hat and wear sun screen.

On a positive note, there are very few issues in fishing & boating that can't be solved by throwing money at them, so there are solutions to all your fishing issues out there.   Good Luck.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Bill dance has done the same thing with a battery so don’t feel bad…….. fast forward to 1:25 mark for the battery instance or watch it all because it’s hilarious 

If the weight of your vessel is too much, I would recommend a sit in kayak around the 10-11 foot range. Lots of them are very light and won’t require a motor or battery, but they are still tricky to get in and out of. 
 

I used to always say “why do batteries have to be so heavy?? We put a man on the moon but can’t make a battery weigh less than 35 lbs??” 
 

to which someone replied “you ain’t making it to the moon with a lightweight battery…….”

 

touche.

[WRB]

Pactrade retractable transom lunch wheels are light weight.

Looking at the STS10 photo it doesn’t have a transom. The boat does have a TM mounting bracket that a board could be attached with the wheels mounted to it.

If you just want to slide the boat onto shore a piece of outdoor carpet would worked to protect the boat bottom.

The pontoon style inflatable boats maybe another choice to consider.

Good luck and welcome to BR.

Tom

[schplurg]

Lithium batteries are lightweight - 100ah is about 25 pounds. A lead acid with the same usable amount of hours is over 100 pounds. Check Amazon, the prices of lithiums are getting low.

 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=100+ah+lithium+deep+cycle+batteries&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

Check out this Youtube channel. The guy tests and tears apart lithium batteries and tells you what is good and what isn't. A lot of the bargain ones pass his inspection and testing.

[@reelChris]

It sounds like you need to either pick up a trailer for your existing boat or transition to fishing in a lightweight kayak.   A trailer would allow you to keep the heaviest items like the trolling motor and battery in the boat all of the time and launch at boat ramps.  A lightweight kayak would enable you to launch without a boat ramp, but you would still have to load and unload the boat and all of its equipment by hand.

[Bankc]

Lithium batteries for lightweight.  Torqueedo for more speed (all trolling motors will basically run at about the same speed, though more powerful ones can push more weight around).  And perhaps look at a plastic fishing kayak to help with the speed.  An inflatable boat of any kind is not going to be very hydrodynamic.  You want something a little more streamlined to help you cut through the water.  Then, get a kayak cart to help you roll the kayak onto shore.  Or better yet, get a small jet-ski style trailer and load the kayak onto that.  Then you can pull the trailer up with a riding lawnmower or automobile.  

[schplurg]

On 9/16/2021 at 7:09 AM, Amyree said:

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I realize that this forum is not intended for novices like me but I’d appreciate any assistance anyone can offer.

 

 

Yes it is you are in the right place and welcome to the forum. I was brand new to fishing when I joined 3 years ago. Still am really!

[Darth-Baiter]

Battery.  Lighter equals more expensive.  Buy a Dakota lithium battery which is much much lighter.  But way more expensive. 
 

I think a smaller more stable boat?  Nucanoe frontier 10?  Your existing motor would suffice.  It’s about 62 lbs empty.  And tiny so it’s less unwieldy. 
 

and congrats to fishing.  Super cool you’re so independent.  Kudos. 

[GaryH]

You’ve gotten plenty of good advice. Welcome aboard…