Inflatable boat

1

Hi guys. I’m an occasional surfcaster, though I can’t cast for squat, I think my max cast is about 120m if I’m lucky, and bigger fish simply laughs at it from their comfortable deeper zone [:I]

So, I’ve had enough with small mrs puff and gelama, time to take the fight to them. I’m thinking of getting a setup of a good inflatable boat, motor mount and an electric outboard motor. I don’t intend to go far and deep, just enough move out of shallow beach area.

I’ve looked around the net, seems that this can be had for less than RM2k, but of course those are all from outside Malaysia and I can’t find any shops around with these.

So, need your help for recommendation of a good boat and motor. I need inflatable for mobility, and cannot go with cartopper aluminium/fiber. Any recommendation for brand and places to buy are very much appreciated. Thanks.

BTW, I’m in seberang prai area.

2

Try Explorer Marine at Seri Kembangan, Selangor. They sell a variety of boats from inflatable to rigid body types.
You can check them out here:

http://www.explorermarine.com.my/main.htm

Please bear in mind the dangers and disadvantages an inflatable has as compared to a rigid body boat especially in surf!

RainbowRunner

Tightlines and screaming reels

3

pulsar13, rainbowrunner is right.. he does have a point.. inflatable is indeed easy to carry.. but come to think of it.. its kinda dangerous.. [xx(] i think u can get a 2nd hand boat for RM2k? or maybe a little more then that? well bro if u plan to go to Explorer Marine Centre at sri kembangan pls do let me know [:D] actually i do plan of getting 1 too [8D]

4

If indeed you are wanting to buy a boat, do consider an aluminium craft. They are pretty hardy; when you hit a rock in the river, it merely dents and few hard knocks with a piece of wood or mallet from the inside should take care of it.
Fibreglass boats on the other hand cracks when it hits anything with with an impact. Would not want to be that situation when you are in the middle of a fast water river. Another point to consider is maintenance. You have to keep a fibreglass boat out of the sun as it tends to flake and crack through a period of solar exposure.

Check out the aluminium boats available in Malaysia here:
http://www.etamax.com.my/gal.htm

Presently, there is a model called BUJUK. It s a flat bottom punt and have proven to be quite popular for still water recreation i.e. lakes, dams, etc. It comes in 10’, 12’ and 16’.

RainbowRunner

Tightlines and screaming reels

5

bro rainbowrunner, thx alot for your information provided.. i will look forward into information you have provided. hope to fish with you if we do have a chance [:)] so does pulsar13 [:D]

6
quote:
Originally posted by DaveSteez
bro rainbowrunner, thx alot for your information provided.. i will look forward into information you have provided. hope to fish with you if we do have a chance [:)] so does pulsar13 [:D]

Heheh you don’t really want to fish with me, I’m sort of kumpau master [:D] [:D] Really even on my good days, most of my catch would be ikan duri only…

But that’s why I’m going after 'em fish… with a brand spanking new boat!

7
quote:
Originally posted by rainbowrunner
Try Explorer Marine at Seri Kembangan, Selangor. They sell a variety of boats from inflatable to rigid body types. You can check them out here:

http://www.explorermarine.com.my/main.htm

Please bear in mind the dangers and disadvantages an inflatable has as compared to a rigid body boat especially in surf!

RainbowRunner

Tightlines and screaming reels

Hey, thank you very much for the info. I’ve been googling for inflatable in malaysia but could NOT find this site. This is cool… now I can get some quotes / budget to prepare.

Yeah I’ve considered the disadvantage on inflatables. But this is going to be my choice for this time, of course I’ll only move around rockless beach and stay near shore, plus wearing life jacket all the time. That’s also why I’m choosing a low power electric thruster to go with the boat, to go slow, quiet and steady.

Well, in its own defense, inflatables HAD gone a long way from the original. Modern ones are really quite tough with this multiple thick ply walls, and with care, it will still last many years of use.

I do have plans for a future aluminium boat (yeah who doesn’t want his own boat?), but not for a while.

Thanks again.

8

pulsar13 bro.. i am also noob to fishing [xx(] i always cought small fish only [:(] by the way.. i saw coleman inflateable boats max pax of 4 at price of RM350-400 i think at midvalley jusco.. [:)] i am not too sure if it can mount an electric truster..

9

Hi Pulsar13,
An alternative you should consider is a fishing kayak. I recently got a fully designed Fishing Kayak out of the FeelFree kayak factory. It is well designed with in built rod holders, fish holds, rod storage, nice folding chairs and place to mount a fish finder and another for a mounted GPS.

Type “FEELFREE MOKEN FISHING KAYAK” in any search engines, you will see it.

The Bujuk 12 ft punt is also good, but you will need a decent car to carry it around. A Kancil with racks can carry the kayak. I can lift it alone.

Having a 10 ft a and 12 ft Avons and Zodiac and 18ft HiTECH centre console RIBs, I do not recommend inflatables to anyone. They are a pain in the butt.
Buy a cheap model, you will regret it as soon as you pump it up. Buy an expensive one, you will regret it even more. A Zodiac will cost you at least 3 to 5 times more than a normal Alloy or fibre boat.

Biggest problem for me are leakages and every model I have, the glue on stern motor mount keep coming apart. The wood or fibre motor mount is joined to the inflatable rubber tube by glue only, and the glue do not last long in our tropical heat and sun.

Regards

10

Pulsar13 bro..

You can consider SeaEagle inflatable kayaks and boats. Based in the USA and shipped to Malaysia via UPS.

Check it out —> www.seaeagle.com



Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

11
quote:
Originally posted by Tembaring
Pulsar13 bro..

You can consider SeaEagle inflatable kayaks and boats. Based in the USA and shipped to Malaysia via UPS.

Check it out —> www.seaeagle.com

Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

I’ve been to the site before. Shipping price = one boat price in Malaysia already! Cannot tahan… heheh.[:)]

12
quote:
Originally posted by DaveSteez
pulsar13 bro.. i am also noob to fishing [xx(] i always cought small fish only [:(] by the way.. i saw coleman inflateable boats max pax of 4 at price of RM350-400 i think at midvalley jusco.. [:)] i am not too sure if it can mount an electric truster..

Tembaring, Tenggiri, thanks for your suggestions. But the kayak and imported raft are quite expensive and defeat my purpose of cheap “occasional fishing”. A lot of inflatables are pretty overpriced IMO. Just as Tenggiri mentioned - buy really expensive one doesn’t give you similar return in quality. Feels like rip-off.

Hi DaveSteez, in case you are around midvalley jusco again can you confirm if the brand was Coleman Colossus? Coleman has 2 models, Navigator and Colossus, but I don’t like the navigator looks. Colossus is pricier, but better looking, but anyhow both are pretty good with thick 23gauge PVC wall. Only the cheap plastic oars has bad reviews though.

It doesn’t have motor mount but can DIY one yourself. Of course DIY means using low power thruster only la… not for use with any gas engine.

Anyhow, this is getting interesting. Based on forummers feedback, one can get the coleman boat for ~RM400 + neraus marine outboard for RM620. About 1k only! Can get earlier than I thought [:D] [:D]

13

pulsar13, oi bro.. when u gonna buy eh? if ur buying give me a call at 016 337 6093.. lets buy together maybe can get cheaper.. and of course.. we fish together.. muahahahha [:D] hmm lets see.. about that coleman inflateable.. i am not too sure.. ill try to drop down there tomorrow to have a peek.. [:D] by the way when u plan to buy? and where do u stay? [:D] and also where do u normally fish? [:D]

14
quote:
Originally posted by DaveSteez
pulsar13, oi bro.. when u gonna buy eh? if ur buying give me a call at 016 337 6093.. lets buy together maybe can get cheaper.. and of course.. we fish together.. muahahahha [:D] hmm lets see.. about that coleman inflateable.. i am not too sure.. ill try to drop down there tomorrow to have a peek.. [:D] by the way when u plan to buy? and where do u stay? [:D] and also where do u normally fish? [:D]

U never read my post aah dave… I’m from BM, Penang. Will not be in KL within this few months… so no confirm date when I can drop around. You go ahead and buy if you got budget, then when I go there can ride free in your boat hehehe [:D]

Still looking around here as well. Can’t find any. The explorermarine sell cheapest inflatable price is RM4300+, already price of a good 12’ aluminium boat!! Wow… what ridiculuous price… I might swing vote to aluminium already.

Guys, anyone with aluminium cartoppers? How hard to load/unload on a car? Or is a trailer necessary? How about JPJ permit? Also, how do you go through toll booth, any extra charge?

15

Wow RM4300++!! expensive leh… [:)]
Anyway i bought this inflatable kayak from Sea Eagle website, cost about RM1500++ including shipping cost! [:)]


1st time in water

Lure casting with the inflatable kayak

Hope this help… [:)]



Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

16
quote:
Originally posted by Tembaring
Wow RM4300++!! expensive leh... [:)] Anyway i bought this inflatable kayak from Sea Eagle website, cost about RM1500++ including shipping cost! [:)]

Hope this help… [:)]

Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh… very nice! Congrats on owning that fine piece of fishing equipment [:)] [:)]

17
quote:
Originally posted by pulsar13
quote:
Originally posted by Tembaring
Wow RM4300++!! expensive leh... [:)] Anyway i bought this inflatable kayak from Sea Eagle website, cost about RM1500++ including shipping cost! [:)]

Hope this help… [:)]

Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh… very nice! Congrats on owning that fine piece of fishing equipment [:)] [:)]

Hahaha Thanks mate, don’t waaahhh me leh malu…[:I] Anyway the kayak weights about 12kg when deflated,
Advantages,
this kayak is very portable,
very steady when in the water,
very hard to flip it over,
Fast setup and fast packing
Durable Material. (i purposly went over some sharp corals and it went thru with ease)

Disadvantages
Too light when in the water,
Catches wind very easily,
When fighting a fish, you will be pulling towards the fish rather than the fish towards you
Will need to anchor the kayak 1st before doing lure casting or else the kayak will slowly go towards the lure…



Eat,Sleep,Fish! & Fish! & Fish!

18
quote:

Hahaha Thanks mate, don’t waaahhh me leh malu…[:I] Anyway the kayak weights about 12kg when deflated,
Advantages,
this kayak is very portable,
very steady when in the water,
very hard to flip it over,
Fast setup and fast packing
Durable Material. (i purposly went over some sharp corals and it went thru with ease)

Disadvantages
Too light when in the water,
Catches wind very easily,
When fighting a fish, you will be pulling towards the fish rather than the fish towards you
Will need to anchor the kayak 1st before doing lure casting or else the kayak will slowly go towards the lure…

I really think that was a very nice kayak… good stuff. 12kg is very light, easy to pack. But running through coral with that RM1.5k investment… hmmm… isn’t that kind of… crazy? But glad you made it without a scratch.

Yeah I’ve had experience with inflatables. I recently made a DIY raft using an air mattress, heavy duty rigid mat, a square backet, all wrapped together with strong soft nylon. Total cost <RM80 for everything. It’s a head turner [:D] inclusive of smiles/chuckles.

Never went on it without lifejacket, of course. Surprisingly though, the RM35 mattress holds pretty well, considering the beach I went to was full of the sharp prehistoric-looking siput (dunno the name). No puncture yet.

Totally agree on the lightness… I didn’t have any anchor with me and was swept easily with the wind. Requires constant oaring to keep in one place. Trying to shift body means the boat turns and you still looking at the same direction… heheh. Very difficult. I’m thinking of adding a fin and an anchor.

I’ll be using this for a while until I’ve got a proper, reasonably-priced boat. Wonder if I can DIY a motor mount on this… hmmm [^]

Anyway, have fun with your ride!

19

hi bros, i was thinking of getting the coleman inflatable for fishing around small swampy lakes for haruan n bujuks. Is it durable enough to withstand rubbing through some branches and other minor stuffs?

Thanks

20
quote:
Originally posted by geno
hi bros, i was thinking of getting the coleman inflatable for fishing around small swampy lakes for haruan n bujuks. Is it durable enough to withstand rubbing through some branches and other minor stuffs?

Thanks

If your swamp is anything similar to the swamp I frequent - no way.

I have nothing against coleman. It’s pretty good boat and a good deal overall, really, but I wouldn’t put it face to face against those sharp and invisible branches.

Additionally, the boat wall is single ply, not reinforced, therefore a branch poke can easily produce large hole which deflates the boat quickly. Yes, on the plus side, the boat has two chamber so you’d still be afloat, though on the minus side, you’d be half soaked and those swamps have some BIG leeches! [:D]

So, my take is no. Any other opinions guys?