by "awmaster10" (awmaster10)
Published 05/30/2017 at 14:08
by "awmaster10" (awmaster10)
Published 05/30/2017 at 14:08
Tags: boat
; inflatable
; dinghy
; zodiac
STARS: 3
Its a 14ft inflatable PVC boat that can fit in the trunk of my pathfinder and be inflated in ~15 minutes. The past 3 summers I have had to purchase a car (two 3rd gen 4runners and my current r50 pathfinder) and therefore havent had much money for toys. This summer, the pathfinder is running well, and I have some time to kill, so I decided its time for something new.
Itll be getting an outboard motor soon, and can support up to 6hp which will move it pretty well. The weather has been kinda shit all week so I wont have a chance to take it out for another couple days, but I will update with my thoughts.
For $600 im not sure theres much that could make me regret the purchase.
Any other inflatable boat owners, or just boat owners in general? This is not my first boat but it is my first inflatable and im excited to see what it can do.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
05/30/2017 at 14:13, STARS: 2
Niiiice! I ’ ma call you the Zodiac Killa, I hope that ’ s okay.
I can ’ t claim the same street cred, but we did pick up a decent inflatable 10 - footer last fall on the off - season discount ($67, normally $125+ on Amazon). It can take up to a 2hp trolling motor, but I ’ m planning to just row it in lakes, rivers, and when the beach is calm. Heavy - duty oarlocks and it can hold 4 people and a cooler (albeit tightly). Looking forward to swimming with some dolphins next month on the FL Gulf Coast.
All those other people in their overpriced, impulse-bought Intex Walmart rafts are gonna be totes jelly.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 14:18, STARS: 1
I wish this thing was a zodiac killa, I will eventually own a nice rigid hull inflatable, but they are damn expensive.
My buddy has an intex excursion 5 which is very similar to what you have, and ive taken it out with him many times. It is very fun and proves that you dont have to spent a ton to have fun on the water.
It was extremely stable for 4 people and a cooler on Norris Lake, TN. It was very easy and stable on the Brandywine River in PA, and we even took it down some pretty rough rapids on the New River in VA and it held up really well. Throw a little trolling motor or outboard on that thing and itll be a lot of fun
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
05/30/2017 at 14:21, STARS: 1
Excellent, I looked at the Excursion but had some bad luck with Intex in the past, so I wanted to try a competitor/underdog. Bestway is Italian, but predictably the products are all from China. I still need to get this thing out on our local lakes to be sure it hasn’t sprung any leaks in storage. But I love the fact that this will take up only about 10% of our minivan’s storage space. It (almost) folds up into the box it was shipped in, about 36" x 12" x 15" and maybe 25# with everything.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 1
Looked at a bestway inflatable boat but didnt want the hassle of an aluminum 3 piece floor. Good quality from what ive heard.
Im jealous of that weight. This thing weighs in at a light for its class 80lbs. Key is FOR ITS CLASS. Still a pain to move around solo, but would be a breeze with one other person. Not like ill be taking it out alone much.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
05/30/2017 at 14:33, STARS: 1
Yeah, I’ve heard of some people modding their own floor for mine from a 4x8 sheet of marine plywood. You can do it from a single piece, smooth out the edges (or add some Styrofoam padding) and just drop it in. I probably won’t need that much rigidity...or hassle. I’ll find out once I get it out in the waves, though...
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/30/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 1
I’m slightly jealous of a boat that can deflate to fit inside an SUV. We keep this old girl in a slip at Elephant Butte Lake from mid March to late October/early November.
And a few pictures from back in the day before it was kept wet and bottom painted. The beach picture features Pandora (former roommates pit/boxer mix, who is one of the greatest dogs I’ve ever known), and was taken a few hours and beers before the Great Bikini incident of 2011.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
See, my boat can fit in my SUV, but your boat is large enough that it could require a tender as large as my boat if moored off coast. Beautiful boat, about that size is my goal for somewhat affordable water toys in the future.
How many hp? Inboard, outboard, I/O? tow anything with it? fresh water only?
For now its just a big rowboat but once its got an outboard on it these things can actually move. Just about the most fun boat you can fit in 1/4 of an SUV trunk (And I find aluminum floor inflatables to be a pain)
"vicali" (vicali)
05/30/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 2
There are a few of the Costco Zodiacs in our family, Whenever we are out in them I imagine we look like this;
But in reality it’s probably more like;
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
05/30/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 1
I have tried so sell the idea of an inflatable to my family as an easy way to paddle around the lake right down the road. No one seems that interested. I think it’d be a blast, and for the price, it’s a no-risk thing to try.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 0
Yeah people mod those and the intex boats like crazy.
Almost 2000 responses on mods for a similar intex raft, and im sure almost all the ideas would work for yours as well.
Mine will get simple mods such as
-Swivel seat bolted onto rearmost bench seat
-rod holders
-outboard motor
- marine carpet over air floor
and then ill probably be good to go.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/30/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 1
95 Larson 220 Escapade that we bought new when I was kid. Mercruiser 7.4L sterndrive with a bravo 3, twin-prop, outdrive for 300hp. Between the big block and the twin prop outdrive, it will pop a slalmon skier out of the water like many boats do a kneeboarder, which is to say that it accelerates to 50mph quicker than some cars I’ve owned. Pulling anyone up on anything other than a slalmon ski requires careful throttle application to not pull the rope out of their hands. It has never seen salt water. Through me turning wrenches on it for about the last 15 years and helping to fund the engine rebuild when it was time, I got my named added to the title on it with my parents.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 0
Yep, pretty much. At the gas lake I will be on there are all sorts of big fast boats that will make me look silly, but itll still be qutie stable as its an inflatable.
Funny enough the river (bordering on creek) that I will be taking it out on before I get the motor is mostly occupied by kayaks and canoes, so I will be looking out of place in the opposite way with my big wide raft.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0
Sounds like a beast of a craft, and would be a joy to ski behind. Growing up nowhere near gas lakes or the ocean my parents never have a boat but I imagine growing up with such a nice one and eventually getting to have your name on the title is immensely satisfying.
"vicali" (vicali)
05/30/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 3
We carry a Clipper around in the summer;
Goal is to get the kids comfortable enough to do a paddle trip.. Murtle Lake is one of the biggest no motor lakes around; One day...
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:33, STARS: 1
From what ive heard about new PVC boats the quality has really improved. Inflatables all have a lifetime, and you should never buy one to keep a lifetime like you would a whaler or jon boat, but for $600 if I even get 3 seasons of good use out of it ill be very very happy.
Id say go for it and try to keep it under $1000. There are a lot of good options in that range if you just want to be able to take 4-5 people out on a lake and be able to store it easily. If you are close to the water it seems like a no brainer as rentals are usually about $60-100 for a nice day on the water and after less than a season you will have paid for the inflatable, not to mention the convenience and satisfaction of owning it yourself.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
I frequent a small electric only lake and itll be great for this inflatable with no motor, but that lake looks incredibly large for a no motor lake. Would be a lot of fun to paddle and not worry about large boats.
When I started looking at these inflatables I was seriously considering a large freighter canoe instead, but decided it would be a hassle as I frequently drive 6hrs and would want the boat with me.
If you cant all fit in the canoe and the kids need something cheap to learn in, consider an inflatable, theyre great nowadays. Expose them to the water enough and theyll be the ones asking to take trips to the lake eventually.
Also nice tacoma.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/30/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 1
It is. Whenever I ski behind other boats, it usually reminds me of how spoiled I was learning to ski behind a boat that instantly pulls you up out the water.
It is a really nice size. With the half cabin, it leaves it being wide, deep, tall and heavy for its size. It is big enough to never really be concerned about the wind coming up or an afternoon thunderstorm rolling in on big inland lakes, while still being able to be towed by a not unreasonably large tow vehicle. With gear, water and 50 gallons of fuel, the boat and trailer roll down the road a bit over 6000lbs and about 700lbs on tongue weight. A properly equipped half ton truck will tow it nicely.
We had a couple of smaller boats before it in a 1974 15-foot Arrowglass tri-hull with a 100hp Johnson outboard, and then later on an 1989 19-foot Bayliner with a 125hp Force outboard. The Arrowglass was bought cheap and sold after a few years. The Bayliner was only a few years old when we got it, but it was used up by the time it was seven years old (despite being taken care of). We learned with this boat that if you buy a well built boat in the first place and take care of it, they’ll still be nice 20 years down the road.
My parents would probably say this boat was the best family investment they ever made, because it was and still is something that we all did together. Even now that my sister and I are in our early 30's,we still end up spending a few days a month hanging out with them on the boat.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 16:02, STARS: 1
Lucky for me I plan on owning a light duty full sized truck for most of my life if possible, so towing wont be a problem. Currently with the pathfinder I could tow a jon boat or skiff but wouldnt be able to move a boat in that size range.
I understand the appeal of cheaper boats but when you consider all that can go wrong it really shows that you should buy quality the first time around. I do however understand buying a relatively cheap hull as long as its quality material and rigging outboard and all accessories and outfitting yourself as you can end up with a very cheap boat that is not all that shabby in terms of quality. The tradeoff is time of course.
Its funny browing the internet for reviews on this boat as my primary fishing vessel and all the reviewers are remarking at how well it does as a tender for 60+ ft boats. I guess if it can handle open ocean trips to mooring, its good enough for me lol.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
05/30/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 1
Our lake is actually a big reservoir enclosed by a park and has multiple launch points. And yes, there are rentals. My needs are very basic. I’m just looking for something like this for under $100 to just paddle around. At that price, it’s almost disposable. I can’t lose. Well, okay, I need to get life jackets too, but still.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/30/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
If I were to be in the market for a boat today, I would be looking long and hard at the various outboard powered dual-console boats in the 22ft-26ft range from the various fishing boat manufactures like Pursuit and Robalo. Tough, heavy hulls, but with layouts that work for more than just fishing and having the option of a four bolt tune up down the road. I totally get the appeal of finding a cheap, but still sound, old hull and building what you want from there. Being able to get the entire engine out of the water would be nice for wet storage, too. Whenever I drive a boat with a newer four-stroke outboard, they make me think that the sterndrive is a technical problem that has been solved.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/30/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
Well in that case its even more of a no brainer. Any way you can find to get yourself out on the water is better than being on the shore.