Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Inflatable Pontoon Boats

Not lookin' for speed, got fast boats. No interest in the motor options either.
Actually the slower one of these would drift on a moving river the better for my intentions.

I've owner larger whitewater rafts for years, kinda trying to compare the materials to those because I know a little about them and their durability.

https://www.nwrafting.com/river-equipment/types-of-rafts

Ok, no motor. If you're rowing, the boats with a higher seat are easier to row, like the Sea Eagle 285 with the folding seat option. Sitting down in the bottom and trying to row will get old fast. The same goes for a kayak. Sea Eagle's 385fta fishing kayak comes standard with a low seat. They have a seat that sits at the top of the sides and raises you maybe 8". It's far more comfortable for a day of fishing and paddling.

I was looking at their seat options (Sea Eagle 285) and thinking I might want to buy my own seat and pedestal.
I have the exact seats they are offering in another little fishing boat I've got, they are nuttin' special and neither is the base they have. I might want a padded more comfy seat for my ol' azz.

I didn't want the motor mount but have changed my mind, thinking it's be good to alter and make into my oar lock for a steering rudder.
Maybe just get a base boat and the storage bags they offer and do the rest myself....

Sea Eagle's add-on seats are very expensive. You can buy just the seat for about $50, maybe $10 for a swivel, and set it up any way you want to. The fishing kayak uses 2 aluminum square tubes that fit across the sides. I can make the seat setup plus a motor mount for about $100. They want $300. Their pedestal seat for the 285 is $160. You can make one easily using plywood for no more than half that.

Only problem with Sea Eagles 285 right now that I am seeing is they are back logged with orders.
Mid August is earliest possible delivery date...Great sale going right now that ends in a couple days...

Gotta make up my mind or pass on the 285... August could work..but damn......

I’ve used a few small pontoon boats. Either friends or rentals. Actually own a much larger Aire Ocelot 14’er.

My thoughts: Lake only, 8’ is fine. Going to do some easy whitewater; I’d go a bit bigger - 9-10’.

The frameless 8-9’ers look interesting though. A way to keep the weight down for extended schlepping.

With your time on Alaskan rivers, I’m sure you’ve been exposed to Aire, their inflatables, and their reputation. Outcast is their upper end line, Fish Cat their lower end. Likely you’d find something to your liking in one of those catalogs.