This is a great idea and will bring many new adventures.
Family took a large 4 person inflatable boat, no motor, to fish.
Current down river will provide the required power.
Stationed a pickup vehicle downstream to retrieve boat and people at end of day where expected to end trip.
Used a bike to get 2nd vehicle driver back to put-in site.
Had one trip with a guide to see how this all works first.
This resulted in many successful fishing trips.
By the way - this people were near 70 years old!
Be careful, have fun, get local advise.
Meant to add earlier in my reply on taking Sea Eagle to Alaska that we now haul a Porta-Bote on the side of our 5ver.. Fished the Snake, Owyee and places in Co. with it this summer and had a blast. It's now off to Alaska with us!
hopefulbob wrote: For example, check out the Campbell Hwy in the Yukon in your Milepost. (340 miles, half gravel, a tenth of the AK Hwy traffic/people, access to mountain lakes and streams, no-hookup, lakeside government campgrounds) You can really enjoy a boat there, and may even catch a fish!
I agree it's a great place to have a boat ... lots of great lakes. However, wouldn't recommend folk travel that route for a couple of years as many portions of the highway are under construction.
In 2008 the stretch between Watson Lake and Frances Lake was horrid, and that's from someone who enjoys travelling goat trails. At one construction zone, we were in 4x4 and mud up to the hubs; fortunately the fiver followed us easily. Didn't get a picture of that spot as I was too busy directing DH .
My brother and I bought inflatable Sevylor canoes last spring before our trip to Florida. The salesman guaranteed us we could not tip / flop / roll these units.
He was right. The first time using it, we went on the gulf - near destin - and were in 3'waves and swells. I tried to tip it, but it wouldn't. BTW, I'm 260# and carry about another 40# of stuff with me.
As for durability, it has stood up to every condition I've out it through. Lakes, ivers, streams, ocean, dragging it on grass and sand when I got lazy.
The best part:
boat itself is around $350.00
Paddle (i got the kayak style) $100.00
PFD $40.00 (walmart)
Fun - Priceless
And it all fits in a bag 2' in diammeter by about 3' long
We take an 11 ft Achilles inflatable with us in the summer. Very well made and has a roll up aluminum floor that doesn't have to be removed. The bag it goes in sits nicely between the hitch and tailgate of my SB truck. Weighs 100 lbs though. We have a 8hp Yamaha 2 cycle motor that weighs only 70 lbs and goes in the 5er basement. Very stable and great fun when you come across a lake.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
I'm thinking of an inflatable in the 8-9' range, but not sure if an 8hp or a 55# thrust electric is the way to go. It would be for only DW and I and mostly for sightseeing. I'm taking this in a Class A pusher towing a VW bug diesel so I would probably end up having to put it in the bay. Weight would be a factor on type of motor and range of travel. I'm also trying to get a feel from your comments whether or not the initial cost and transport will be outweighed by our own "sense of adventure" and the experience. Appreciate all your comments so far.
Back again with an opinion. I'm sure you will get many, probably contradictory.
I think your proposed boat is too small, and the proposed motor's too big. The incremental weight/cost increase of a somewhat larger boat is small. The interior space increase, seaworthiness, and increased carrying capacity are large. Suggest 10'-11' for 2 people. (a foot of length makes a big difference in inflatables)
Tube diameter and, particularly, the fabric used are most important. A 15" tube diameter in this size boat is OK.... 16" is better, and 17" would be better yet. Fabric is paramount. (also alluded to by several knowlegable posters above) You can save 50% on cost by buying unreinforced film or light weight fabric, but you're likely to get only 10-20% service. Get a boat constructed of 1000 denier (or more) coated fabric. Quality is not cheap.
My boat is now 18 years old. Bought it in 1991 along with a 15 Hp, 2-stroke Evinrude motor. Boat is 11', 1000 denier coated fabric, aluminum floorboards, fiberglass transom, air keel, rated 20 Hp and 1150 lb capacity, weight 128 lb in two packages. It'll go 25 mph with one person....exhilarating. but often airborne. Has been transported in my airplane, in various Beavers and Otters for fly-in fishing, in compartment of DP, in cars, minivan and Jeep. Has run whitewater in Tonsina and Copper Rivers (and elsewhere) salmon fishing in AK, has been used extensively in Long Island Sound, and has been towed behind rental houseboats. It's as servicable today as the day I bought it.
IMO, an 8 Hp motor is a poor choice. It's heavy, and not powerful enough to reliably plane the boat. If it did so, would be squirrely on an 8-9 footer. Get a 3 Hp 4-stroke motor. (got one a year ago...now have 2 motors) It's quiet, light weight, will push your boat along at 7-8 mph, and will run all day on a gal. of gas. Forget the electric. You don't need the hassle of a 50 lb battery and recharging.
Don't purchase a rigid-floor sportboat like mine. Employ new technology. Get a boat with a high-pressure air floor. (not roll-up floor) The rigid-floor boats have excellent performance, but are quite difficult to assemble, even if you're facile.
Guess I've disagreed with much of what you propose...sorry!
One other thing about inflatables that a lot of folks don't think about...
Once you put your boat in the water, give it a few minutes and then add some air - the cold water will cause the air inside to contract and your boat may feel a bit "mushy". The water temps up here are usually not that far above freezing even in summer and inflatables get "soft" sitting in that cold water for long periods.
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
Retired firefighter (30 years fighting the dragon!) Our Website
Van Helden wrote: Hopefulbob,
That's what I'm looking for is straight talk and good advice.
to disagree a little bit, I used a 8 hp yamaha electric start on mine because it was the smallest/lightest electric start I could find. (6 also available but same size). a 15 would have been much better but weight ended looking at anything bigger. I agree if you just want to putter around a 4 hp or less would be better than an electric.
Mine had an air deck as recommended. I hated it. my automatic pump kicked off at 4 lbs.(IIRC) for the tubes, but floor needed 10 lbs. had to do that by hand, way too much work for an old man.
and that 8 hp did just fine with one in the boat, with two the second person had to lean forward and it took a while to get up on plane.
bumpy
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