Inflatable canoe - RV-Dreams Community Forum

jagco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Inflatable canoe

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am not Howard but let me tell you this. I fish from my inflatable boat all the time and have yet to sink it. I guess you could if you were not careful. Have fun and enjoy...I sure have!!!

Terri and John · RV-Dreams Community Member

We just purchased an inflatable pontoon boat which travels well in the bed of the truck. We had kayaks and really enjoyed fishing from them but they got to be too much getting them on and off the truck. Have fun shopping.

hyperslug · RV-Dreams Community Member

The quality inflatibles are designed to go over rocks so puntures are few and far between plus holes can be patched. Quality means several hundred dollars. The cheap vinyle ones are not very durable.

Keep in mind inflatables are not fast paddlers which why most are used on rivers or with motors. Hard canoes will paddle much easier and farther. But if your distances are not ambitious then you will be OK. You might take a look at the Innova Sunny which is an inflatable kayak that does a good job on flat water. There is probably an inflatable canoe that moves well in flat water as well.

Good luck!

Howard · Host

Jeff,

You can certainly fish from an inflatable canoe. The key is "good quality" as you mentioned. Of course, some care is in order with hooks, but the good boats are really durable.

I've fished from our Sea Eagle SE330 & SE370 a couple of times. It's just not my favorite way to fish. You sit low in an inflatable canoe, kind of like in a kayak, and I prefer to be up a little higher.

Ultimately, we got the inflatable Sea Eagle Foldcat pontoon boat for fishing. It is a much better fishing boat as it has real fishing seats, is even more durable, and can be equipped with a motor. You can even stand up to fish after you get used to it and if you have good balance. But, with all the parts and accessories, it takes quite a bit of storage.

As for carrying a hard-sided canoe or kayak, I've seen people mount carrying racks on top of fifth wheels, mount special racks on their pick-ups so the boats hang over the front of the cab, or mount racks on a second vehicle. However, it has been our experience in talking to people, that the higher the boat and the harder it is to get up and down, the less it is used.

In my opinion, if you care more about fishing than paddling, I would choose something other than an inflatable canoe. But, if you care more about paddling and saving storage space and only fish occasionally, then you'll be just fine with an inflatable canoe/kayak.

Of course, you can always give our friend Tim over at InflatableBoats4Less.com a call, and he can help talk you through some options. smile

jagco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everybody for your replies. It's along ways off until we need it, but so much fun to plan for now. I will check out the link you gave too Howard. Thanks everybody.

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many people carry a canoe or kayaks with a fiver. Most that I have seen have a front mounted hitch with some sort of carry bar and a second bar on the roof of the truck or from the bed just behind the cab. If your truck happens to be a full extended cab you may be able to use a roof top rack if you can get the bars far enough apart. Google fifthwheel kayak carrier or something like that and see what comes up.

Flyone

jagco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everybody for your replies. I think we are leaning towards the Sea Eagle 8, with the trolling motor.
http://www.boatownersworld.com/seaeagle/sea_eagle_8.htm
We've got lots of time before we go full-time, but could always use the boat with our present camper.

jagco · RV-Dreams Family Member

also, Howard, when the time comes, I will give your guy a call and see what he can do for me. As it stands on his website, he's a little higher than the link I posted. Thanks for the info.

TerryG · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might take a look at a folding boat or canoe. Just google it. porta-bote.com
We have a 10 footer but wish I had bought the 8' due to storage.

The porta-bote is almost indestructable. I was not to hip on mine to start with and ordered two different inflatable Sea Eagles boats later and ended up shipping both back. The more and more I used the Porta-Bote the more I love it. Once you get used to folding and unfolding, after maybe 6 times, you learn to do it in 8 min. or less.

The problem is storage. I haven't figured this all out yet but I will. I use it strictly with a trolling motor. The good thing is it is almost impossible to turn over. Beats anything I have ever seen. My son-in-law tried to turn it over but instead just fell out of the boat, and he's 6'3" 225 lbs, and I was in the boat with him. I stayed high and dry.

Good luck in your hunt!