Larger size inflatable boat

[Vojak]

Hi all,

I'm new to this site but from what I have seen on the forums alone its a gold mine! I do have a question - I've been looking into getting a boat in the 14-16ft range (fishing bigger lakes and maybe some rivers). Storage space is a big concern and therefore I'm going to need to go with an inflatable. Some other requirements are: safety (as safe as inflatables can be), outboard 30-40hp, available accessories (I want to get a fish finder hooked up and maybe a downrigger), easy to setup. There may be other questions to be answered before an answer can be given so if something is missing ask away. The Seaeagle has a 14ft but its too narrow for my taste (3.4). I also saw a 16ft Saturn but I havent heard much about those boats and also too narrow.

Thanks alot in advance for any and all advice.

Vojak

[Gringo Pescador]

Welcome to the site Vojak. I don't know much about rafts/boats. I am sure others on this site will be contributing soon. Another great site for raft information is a whitwater forum out of Colorado called mountainbuzz.com. Not a fishing site at all, the people on the site are pretty hard core in that they are running multiple days in class 4+ water but I've been getting some great info from it for my cataraft.

[natetreat]

http://www.seaeagle.com/sportrunabouts.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Vojak]

Thanks. I saw the sea eagle earlier but I would like it to be a little wider (only about 3.4 or so).

[The Quadfather]

Can you say any more about how many people you plan on having in it, or what kind of fishing you want to do from the boat? Is price any consideration? Why do you need a particular beam? You said something about the Eagle..? being too narrow.
You said something about 30-40 hp motors. I would feel a little nervous in an inflatable with 30-40 hp.... then I took a closer look at the Zodiac website below. I doubt 30-40 hp would be a problem in some of those zodiacs.

http://www.zodiacmarineusa.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But they can be cheaper had here....http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/spo/2959059862.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Vojak]

Thanks for the info and further questions!

In regards to how many people - myself, wife and my daughter (3 1/2). Also, two dogs but they are pretty small (30 pound range, miniature huskeys). I primarily do lake fishing (so far smaller lakes due to current boat size constraints) but would like to get out on the bigger ones safely. Periodically, for example when the Salmon runs arrive, I would like to also be able to take it on the river (nothing crazy though). The Seaeagle is pretty narrow. I guess it seems to me that when having a youngster on board, a wider beam would be preferable. Price of course is a consideration but I would also like to get the right boat for our needs and if that means paying some more I can work up to that.

Thanks for the link! I checked it out and they seem to have quite a few models that would be interesting. I wonder with some of them how "portable" they really are in the sense that periodically inflating/deflating them would be a pretty big job. Having said that, I don't mind having it inflated and sitting in the garage during the season and then taking it down once or twice a year.

Thanks again for the input. Much appreciated!

Vojak