Zodiac/inflatable for lake & bass fishing?

Josh

Josh

Dead in the water
Staff member
Admin
As I've mentioned before, I've been on the hunt for a little fishing boat (mostly for bass/lakes). Originally I was set to buy a budget aluminum bass boat, but the fellow's wife talked him out of selling. After that, a great deal on a camping trailer popped up and I blew most of my "boat budget" on it. So recently I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap tin boat with a little 4 horse on the back.

While browsing the classifieds, I've noticed a fair number of Zodiac-style inflatables listed for sale. I'd never really thought of using one of them as a fishing rig. But some googling indicates that at least a few people do it. How well does that work? I suspect they are pretty stable. Could you stand and cast? Gotta think they would get blown around by any wind if you didn't drop an anchor. Nowhere to store anything, but that's not much different than a small aluminum. Wouldn't take much power to push them, but does it take more than you'd expect to get one on plane? Heck, do the soft hull ones actually get on a plane at all? I feel like the soft hulls would be a bumpy and wet ride in anything vaguely rough. But the soft ones wouldn't require a trailer if you didn't want one and could be stored just about anywhere.

Anyway, probably not thinking seriously about one. A 12-14ft basic aluminum with a 10-15 horse is still probably the best bet for me. That said, I could see an inflatable being tempting for someone with limited storage/transport space.

Anyone have any experience?
 
We have a 1995 14ft rigid hull inflatable Caribe w/a 40hp Tohatsu that has been extremely versatile and durable. It started life as a coastal spearfishing rig before being relegated to river and lake duties. Recently we converted the back seat to a casting platform, added a transom mount Minn Kota and upgraded the graph on the console. Storage is minimal, we usually use the cooler as a dry box. Yes it does take a bit longer to get on plane when loaded down however it is a stable, dry and relatively comfortable ride that handles rough water well. The wind does push it around and spot lock would be nice. It will be a great boat for our kids to learn how to drive especially when it comes to docking. Trailer required, lightweight to launch, slides up easily on beaches and gravel bars like a drift boat. Utilitarian!

You mentioned limited storage/transport space, have you seen Porta Bote? We were camping on Orcas and the people next to us were heading out daily for fishing and crabbing in one. I thought the guy had lost his mind when I saw him unfold and set it up. They loaded it in their truck bed and headed out with success. We drive an RV so we have the option to tow. If I was towing a camper, I would be interested in the porta bote. If we had a pontoon and a truck… Always a fan of the thrill of the hunt, thanks for bringing us along @Josh!

184D2B0A-13D8-4D42-BA2C-96B81B49D5F5.jpeg\F6483EF0-BB25-43CD-8C6C-8A02B93A43AA.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Josh said:
As I've mentioned before, I've been on the hunt for a little fishing boat (mostly for bass/lakes). Originally I was set to buy a budget aluminum bass boat, but the fellow's wife talked him out of selling. After that, a great deal on a camping trailer popped up and I blew most of my "boat budget" on it. So recently I've been keeping an eye out for a cheap tin boat with a little 4 horse on the back.

While browsing the classifieds, I've noticed a fair number of Zodiac-style inflatables listed for sale. I'd never really thought of using one of them as a fishing rig. But some googling indicates that at least a few people do it. How well does that work? I suspect they are pretty stable. Could you stand and cast? Gotta think they would get blown around by any wind if you didn't drop an anchor. Nowhere to store anything, but that's not much different than a small aluminum. Wouldn't take much power to push them, but does it take more than you'd expect to get one on plane? Heck, do the soft hull ones actually get on a plane at all? I feel like the soft hulls would be a bumpy and wet ride in anything vaguely rough. But the soft ones wouldn't require a trailer if you didn't want one and could be stored just about anywhere.

Anyway, probably not thinking seriously about one. A 12-14ft basic aluminum with a 10-15 horse is still probably the best bet for me. That said, I could see an inflatable being tempting for someone with limited storage/transport space.

Anyone have any experience?
Click to expand...
I have used a small (< 10’) zodiac type deal for work and a little play just a little. Paired with a merc 9.9 4 stroke, it will get up on plane with one guy or a guy and someone smallish. Two big guys, it won’t usually get on step unless it is glassy and you get the weight distribution just right. There’s an inflatable “keel” that gives the hull some shape. It’s small, pretty light and nimble, pretty tough too for what it is. Plenty of compromises involved in its attributes but very functional. Yes it blows around in wind. Yes I can stand and cast.
@Squatchin has an RIB of some type, maybe he’ll weigh in.
 
mooseknuckles said:
You mentioned limited storage/transport space, have you seen Porta Bote?
Click to expand...
While I've never been in one, I think they seem pretty damn clever. I have actually been keeping my eye out for one for a while. I've missed a couple at really cheap prices on CL in the past. Mostly the ones I find are either too far away or overpriced. I keep it in the back of my head though.
 
@Josh -
I'm sure you already get this - @mooseknuckles has an RIB inflatable. That's going to be a lot different from a white-water raft or any inflatable without that rigid hull. My friend Glenn used to have an Avon inflatable (non-RIB) - we fished South Sound in it several times, it did okay but was nerve wracking when I dropped a quillback onto the pontoon and could hear "hissing". ;-) Good luck in your boat search!!
Best
Patrick
 
Buzzy said:
has an RIB inflatable. That's going to be a lot different from a white-water raft or any inflatable without that rigid hull.
Click to expand...
Oh absolutely. My initial thoughts were more on a solid floor (but soft hull) zodiac style. I don't think I'd bother with a white water raft in a lake, even if you can put a motor mount on some of them. But the RIBs do seem to have a lot going for them (aside from storage space being the same as a non-inflatable).

For me, if I decided to go this direction, I'd probably get a soft hull style if it seemed feasible for my uses. That way I could store it easily and bring it along while towing the camping trailer. But as I said, I think the most likely thing will be for me to track down someone's beater 12-14ft tin boat with a little kicker.

Still, I admit that the "kids learning" aspect that @mooseknuckles mentions is pretty interesting to think about. That could be a strong justification for an inflatable.
 
I used to have a 9' Zodiac with a 9HP Nissan we used as a tender on a larger cruising boat we had at the time. I had it rigged to ride on the swim step. It did double duty launching off the beach for fishing and crabbing. Even though it was fairly lightweight, I installed a pair of removable swing away wheels with fat tires onto the wood transom to roll it up and down the beach to and from the water. It had a high pressure inflatable stitched floor that made it very stable, and an inflatable "V" shaped hull. It tracked pretty well, and we could even get it up on plane with two adults onboard as long as one of us was up forward near the bow to trim it. It was a fun little boat, not big on space but we caught a lot of Pinks and Dungies out of it in protected waters and it was a blast to use. Definitely a compromise as every boat is, but it served our multi purpose needs really well at the time.

As someone here already mentioned, the research and the looking is half the fun! Keep us posted on what you come up with!
 
Last edited:
I have had and fished out of both a 14' Portabote, and inflatable. Both powered by a 6HP Nissan 4 Stroke.

The Portabote I found to be a hassle to set up/take down and transport. I built an enclosed carrier suspended under our 5th wheel trailer to transport between home and lakes, but moving it from campsite to boat launch was cumbersome even with the transport wheels.

I didn't like sitting down so close to the water with the inflatable, primarily because of the water splash/spray while under power. Set up/take down was a little easier than the Portabote.

There is something out there Josh that will fit your needs. Maybe two? An aluminum drifter and Outcast PAC800 inflatable does it for me.
 
Josh,
I know you mentioned storage is an issue, but since you plan to use it primarily for bass fishing have you considered something similar to the G3 Jon boats?
They offer a lot of different models and you could probably find a used one somewhere.
SF

www.g3boats.com

Gator Tough Loose Jon Series - Compare Boat Models - G3 Boats

Gator Tough Loose Jon Series Boats, durability, dependability, and value - the elements needed in a boat to take avid outdoorsman into every adventure.
www.g3boats.com www.g3boats.com
 
Stonedfish said:
Josh,
I know you mentioned storage is an issue, but since you plan to use it primarily for bass fishing have you considered something similar to the G3 Jon boats?
They offer a lot of different models and you could probably find a used one somewhere.
SF

www.g3boats.com

Gator Tough Loose Jon Series - Compare Boat Models - G3 Boats

Gator Tough Loose Jon Series Boats, durability, dependability, and value - the elements needed in a boat to take avid outdoorsman into every adventure.
www.g3boats.com www.g3boats.com
Click to expand...
I would absolutely consider one of those if I found a used one somewhere I could afford. Though more likely their semi/mod V rather than the totally flat jon boat style.

Yamaha makes good stuff.
 
I had a 10' Achilles for a number of years. It worked great for its intended purpose. I could slide it on its side inside my camper fully inflated! It went everywhere I went; from NoCal to OR, WA MT and BC. It fit my needs but a lot of sacrifices were made. When I sold the camper I could not get rid of the Achilles fast enough.

It had a 4 piece 'somewhat rigid' wood floor and 5hp Mariner engine. It was a flat bottom and not a semi-rigid V hull. I could never get it on plane. It was uncomfortable and lacked room. I actually ended up installing 2 pedestal seats (removeable) in it. Finally I was comfortable. Also the boat was well balanced too. A 5' wide boat only had ~3' of space between the toons and 10' long was actually ~7'+ inside length. Think about the inside space of a 5' x 10' inflatable as the size of a large single air mattress. It held 2 people just fine. It was very stable and wind affected it like any small boat without a keel.
 
Last edited:
I had a 14' Zodiac that I used on Big Lake. I used a Minicota to push it around a lake. It had 3 floating chambers a wood floor. I got it from a dude in Marysville. About 25 years ago. It worked very good in lakes. If I was rich I'd get another one. I don't think they are as cheap now vs. 25 years ago.
 
RCF said:
It was uncomfortable and lacked room. I actually ended up installing 2 pedestal seats (removeable) in it. Finally I was comfortable. Also the boat was well balanced too. A 5' wide boat only had ~3' of space between the toons and 10' long was actually ~7'+ inside length. Think about the inside space of a 5' x 10' inflatable as the size of a large single air mattress. It held 2 people just fine.
Click to expand...
So you felt like you could fish two adults out of it? Got any photos of the seats installed?
 
Josh said:
So you felt like you could fish two adults out of it? Got any photos of the seats installed?
Click to expand...
My dad and I both fit in it fine. We are both over 6'2".

I do not have any pics. But very similar to this. It put three pieces of plywood rounds so that the receiver could be above floor level. Then screwed the plywood to the wood floor from underneath/bottom-side the floor. The seat post and seat detached easily from the receiver. Add a seat of your choice and off you go... When not installed the wood rounds bump up a bit from the floor. But comfort was more important...


Hope this helps...
 
I've had 2 inflatable "zodiac style" boats. The big plus to them fir me is the stability and your ability to stand and cast. I had an 11' aquamarine with aluminum floor, myself and my then 2 small kids could easily go and fish from it all day, a couoke times we brought their friends along, and though cramped for interior space it never had issues for stability.

I now have a 7'6" aquamarine with aluminum floor, and I use it in a nice bay in the ocean on calm days, can easily stand and cast, net fish etc with no stability issues. But again, interior space is an issue. I try to limit my gear to a boat bag and a couple rods. I have a Garmin Stryker 4 for it eats into my foot real estate real quick.

I think the inflatables are great, I find them quieter than an aluminum, and a bit warmer, buy be prepared to go a little more minimalist on the gear

Jon
 
Anyone have any experience with aluminum/wood floor vs drop-stitch air floor? Any differences as far as stability or ability to stand?
 
Josh said:
Anyone have any experience with aluminum/wood floor vs drop-stitch air floor? Any differences as far as stability or ability to stand?
Click to expand...

I have an outcast power drifter with a air floor and it's ok to stand on if a put a piece if plywood down.

I think the high pressure air floor on the inflatables is considerably more sturdy. The aluminum floor is ridged and doesn't move independently of the boat at all.

But if you are looking for a larger inflatable, I doubt there will be any issue with stability on the floor. I also like the aluminum because it will be more durable

Jon
 
Have a 15' Saturn KABoat and had a custom rowing frame with forward trolling motor mount. I can transport it in my truckbed fully inflated, add trolling motor and 9hp Tohatsu when I reach the launch. I also added launching wheels, so I can get everything prepped (trolling motor, fish finder, etc) away from the launch before walking it to the water's edge. It's worked well and is very portable. The inflatable floor makes standing easy. I'll dig up a pic to post. Nice to not have to mess with a boat trailer or storage. The boat was about $1000 new and the frame cost about 400, so price is within reason.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top