20 Best Value Fishing Boats (2022 Updated)

Pelican Intruder was a great purchase for us. It is heavy duty but light enough for two people to lift and carry. The construction build is excellent and it is very stable in the water. It is low in the water as a John Boat is, but it maneuvers very well and sturdy, it is not “tippy” at all.

We are using it in lakes for bass and speckled perch, bluegill and catfish in Florida. Academy has the best price and they were very handy and helped me put it on my van cause I did not have a trailer.

The seats are solid, it has 4 pole holders and can handle a 6 hp engine. There is a moter pad on the rear and a smaller one up front for an electric. This is a nice boat we really like it and Pelican is a really good manufacture of all sorts of cases and flashlights, we buy many of their fine products.

We bought this boat for a small flat water boat for fishing in tight places where we cant take our 17ft center console skiff. I love how quiet it is on the water, how stable it is, how well laid out it is, and how much storage space you have.

It’s also much cooler to sit in and touch the inside surfaces than an aluminum jon boat when sitting in the sun. We ran it in a fairly strong current in a small river with a 3hp outboard and it performed as you would expect from a flat bottom boat.

It seems very study and durable too. We hit a stump in the river and surprisingly it didn’t even leave a mark on the hull. The major disadvantage, and what I hate, is the seats are too low for someone my size (6’4” and 215lbs) to sit comfortably and mounting seats is a real challenge.

There isn’t any wood inside the seat tubs so all you have to mount the seat to is the plastic tub top and I’m not sure thats going to be strong enough to hold a guy my size. There’s also the concern of drilling into the flexible tubs.

It’s hard to seal something flexible like plastic so theres the danger of creating a place to funnel water into the hull. If the seat tubs were designed with wood reinforcements to be able to securely mount seats then this would be a 5-star boat all day long.

It moves through the water effortlessly and silently, just not very comfortably.

well the price is good , i had the boat sins a year know. lets see , i will say the good thing first then the things i think need improve. well first of all this boat got some space , woow i love the space it have i can now fit a cooler in the back ouh i can fit all my gear at the back no problems, cooler fishing lures and fishing gear + a small continuer with some things in it like light ad list goos on an on , then the factory fishing rood holder one of the best things about it , the handle is helpful.

the siting positions is not that bad but you need something to set on it if you stay a long time in the boat. good thing that it coms with to motor mount , the material got some advantage and dis advancing.

it’s though but it’s hard to stick something on it or to modify. NOW LITS SEE BAD THINGS , no drain plugs so if you ben to some high waters you will have some hard time , the boat is not stabile as i wanted but some foam in the sides fixed it 50% , the sets had no back support :(.

i would love to have 3 person in it ,, come on it’s a 12 foot , but the thing is when the 3 person set the boat be come front heavy so waves gets in. so i would love to see this thing fixed , amm the max lode you can have in is 190 kg , i had a 8 foot and it got the same max lode !! last ting this thing is heavy so don’t think that you can lode it on a car by your self.

do i recommend it? well yes i do but if you only can live with the dis advantage by the way this boat is a good boat to modify be your own , EXTRA INFO. i use this boat with a 2. 5 mercury and the fastest i got with 2 person on board is 6 or 7 KM/H lights are addable if thy work by batteries ( using bicycles lights green and red) floor is not confortabil to set on so get something to bot behind your back and under you , this way you will stay longer in the sea , good way to add to the confortabil level is to install cop holder.

(not much work ). you may need a jet ski trailer to move it essayer. GO AND HAVE FUN :).

I gave it 5 stars because the value is great. I payed $636. 00 new from academy sports. It’s better than every kayak on the market. It’s strong and water proof, fishes two people with plenty of room for extras.

High weight capacity. Pelican can do better: 1 piece 12 foot boat Forged Ram X four times the thickness, widen the hull, extend and make flush the front water contact areas. include a carpeted floor, lighten the boat using spray in foam for buoyancy.

Include hull protectors, and pelican decals with updated logo. How about calling the boat something that makes sense, Pelican Bass Raider 12X. Storage compartments, coolers, live wells, rails, rod holders, elaborate carbon fiber reinforced hull and motor mount design, integrated remote controlled trolling motor, with options from the factory! Comfortable, adjustable noise free seats.

Your customers like to customize these types of vessels. Give them options to choose from the factory! The 10e is a good boat but it’s not good enough. It’s not near good enough, you pry won’t negotiate wider more efficient pickup beds to keep that luxury without sacrificing the increased size capacities.

Don’t even get me started on the waste of space storage crap on the 10e. You are going to stand there designing a boat with the word bass on it and not include these things? Let’s kick it up a notch Pelican, my gosh! Shock the nation.

The star rating for these boats should 5 all across the board. However, there does seem to be issues when these get delivered to your house vice picked up at the store. I got at BPS and it was flawless.

But getting it at the store also gave me a chance to go over it with a fine tooth comb. I also think, when reading reviews about this boat on other sites, that folks have a poor expectation of what a pond boat is, how it’s made, and the materials it’s constructed of.

Yes, there is a non-water tight seem that joins the the top to the bottom. however, if you are getting water through this seam then the operator is taking the boat in conditions it wasn’t designed for.

It’s a pond boat, not a lake boat. It will take on water and hold it inside without draining. However, the hull is foam filled to meet certain federal and state boating safety standards. For most users, it’s design isn’t an issue with the seam, so don’t let that deter you from purchasing.

My recommendation is watch some videos about the boat. I feel it’s a great purchase for small lakes and ponds and well worth the price. I also recommend getting it at BPS or Cabela’s so you can inspect it.

My first boat. Sturdy enough. Problem is mfg. didnt seal seam where top attaches to hull with non ss staples. Leaks through this seam. Spent hours ressearching sealer to fix but all say dont use on polyethlene.

i tried 6 different kinds anyway and none adhere to the P E. The black vinyl banding around seam doesnt keep water out of seam because it is not sealed to boat. Staples are rusting. Hull drains are on bow pontoons rather than stern so you have to stand 140 lb boat up vertically on bow to drain the water that always collects in leaky hull.

Should have put drains in stern. All in all I should have bought a metal jon boat.

Bought this in 2014 but didn’t get round to writing a review until now. Paid a little over 500 euros for the complete set including 75Ah battery and Sevylor motor. In addition, shortly after also bought a foldable “bolderkar” for transportation on the train.

I have made many trips including Breukelen-Utrecht along the Vecht and Bunnik-Utrecht through Amelisweerd along the Kromme Rijn. Contrary to others, I have been very pleased with the range of the motor having typical trips lasting 3-4 hours and longer.

I cannot say how the performance is affected when loaded with four adults but I usually travel with my two boys (10 and 12), a day bag and the (collapsed) bolder car. I also do not run the motor at full power (5) continually but I have been happy to coast along at 2-3.

This means, with stops for drinks and lunch, the set up is more that enough for a day out on the plassen (have done both Vinkeveen and Loosdrecht). The only real thing to bare in mind is that the boat is an inflatable and NOT a rigid inflatable.

This means it doesn’t perform well on choppy water (typically the lakes shared by lots of other boats generating wake) since it is rather long and floppy. However, considering the price and size its a small issue which can be solved by choosing your destinations carefully.

Only used it once so far, but it worked well. Currently using it to get back and forth to my boat on a mooring. Seems to row well — not as well as a dedicated row boat, but still good. A second set of oars so 2 people can row might be nice depending on how far you want to go.

I towed it behind my larger boat last weekend and my son was standing up in it at the time, so that tells you how stable it is. It was no problem to pull it beside the larger boat and step down into it and sit.

Included pump seems to work well. We partially inflated it at home with an air compressor(wouldn’t fit in the vehicle fully inflated) and then finished it at the lake. Only took 5-10 minutes to get it fully pumped up and ready.

Seems pretty solid so far. Quality is like the higher-end inflatable mattresses / beds. It’s larger than I thought it would be. In hind sight the smaller version might have been better for us. Easy carry with 2 people.

Once person can carry it from the vehicle down to the dock and toss it in as long as you’re not going a long way.

The boat is great and Im only giving it a 4 since Ive taken it out once. I do believe its probably going to be a 5 star boat in the end. The quality of the parts are excellent except the seat which will probably be a little uncomfortable after sitting for hours so it will be something I change and also added a swivel.

I can say if you decide to add a trolling motor to this boat please make sure you get a rudder attachment or make your own. It will help tracking a lot better and give you better control. Im still a newbie at rowing so its going to take some practice but if you are on the fence about purchasing the boat I would definitely recommend it.

We are probably going to add another one to collection once my wife decides between this and a kayak. It does take a little effort to assemble before you hit the water and could be a pain for some if you dont have a trailer but 15-20 minutes of assembly time doesnt bother me as much and its even less time to break it down to fit the items in my car.

Overall the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion and I cant wait to get more experience with it. There are also plenty of videos on really cool pvc type modifications you can add and personalize to your liking that are simple and wont damage the boat and kill your warranty.

This boat was everything I expected. Very solid and durable and easy to assemble. I like the detachable wheel because it is a little too heavy to carry very far without a wheel. I have used it to fish some pretty big rivers as well as some lakes.

It’s great! I banged on some rocks and the boat held up well. The boat has TONS of storage which can be moved around to your liking. It fits well in the back of my full sized truck with a tonneau cover after I deflate it a bit.

I have not yet attached a motor – I’ve just used the oats and they are solid too. I definitely recommend this boat!.

We love our boat so much that we bought a second one so my husband I can go out together. He is a disabled veteran and a big guy. He is not the best swimmer and was not comfortable in a kayak or canoe.

Colorado pontoon boat is extremely stable went on the water. The oars are heavy duty and lock in place so they will not accidentally fall in the water. We purchased a trolling motor to attach to the included mounting blocks so that when he need the break from rowing the motor is there.

There is plenty of storage space for tackle and it is easily accessible while on the water. One of my favorite features is that the boat breaks down and will fit in our trunk.

I seldom give 5 stars unless I have been using the product long enough to be that enthusiastic. However, I only purchased my boat a month ago and have only assembled and disassembled it. It will be spring before it hits the water.

From what I can tell, it appears to be well made, and the components are of good quality. Pumping the boat up with the foot pump would be brutal. The foot pump really should be considered a backup incase your electric inflator isn’t working.

I found my Milwaukee junior leaf blower works excellent, extremely fast fill, but it won’t deliver full recommended pressure. But sitting in the sun will probably finish the job. Really looking forward to putting it on the water.

I think it will do everything the manufacturer claims it will.

Well. It took longer than the 5 minutes to fully assemble as advertised. About 30 min. But once assembled it worked out very well. Add an electric motor, skegs, and other accessories and this is great boat to use without the need for a boat trailer.

Love my Seaeagle! I particularly enjoy the ability to silently glide across high mountain lakes and watch the various wildlife without scaring them off. It is the perfect platform for all types of fishing whether it be fly or spinning.

Really appreciate that. When the time comes, I will definitely purchase another, and my son and grandson are getting close!.

There are rarely times when I am at a loss of words and this is one of them. I am completely astonished by how big this boat is how comfortable this boat is how stable the floor is, the fabric is extremely thick and durable I have absolutely no worries whatsoever about any punctures at all ever.

This is one of the thickest nicest transoms I have seen on an inflatable boat and I own quite a few. Did somebody say D rings I counted at least 18 on the boat. You will forget that you are in an inflatable boat.

It is definitely a head-turner everyone at the lake we’re inquiring about where I got it and what it was. I like to give honest reviews and really want to find something wrong with this but I can’t. All of the glue and seams we’re very neat, it was very simple to assemble and even with only a 10 horsepower motor in maneuvered extremely well.

Right now I’m so in love with this boat I plan to put it on a trailer add some traditional boat seats and eventually a steering Helm and 40 horsepower motor. With the cost of yearly maintenance on a traditional boat even if it does not break down I will never buy a regular boat again now that I have my 15.

4 ft inflatable outside of the outboard motor I have absolutely no maintenance! This boat will easily seat 9 adults. As a man and an ownerof several different manufactured inflatable boats I will say Bris boat is top quality and probably one of the best companies out there.

Im in LOVE!!.

I have been looking for an inflatable boat for sometime. Found these. Asked supplier questions and they was answered quickly and accurately. I used the boat at the weekend and just love it. Combined weight 2 people and dog 190kg.

I have 3. 5 hp motor and it is just perfect for fishing and the fun activities I need it for. Its easy to inflate and deflate. When its inflated I can comfortably walk and stand on the inflatable floor.

I purchased the seat bags as well and they very comfortable and practical. Thanks for your support.

I was in the market for a Chinese inflatable boat with a rigid aluminum floor and this one seems to be the most popular/had the most information on it available. Also it actually had some YouTube videos of people reviewing it positively so that was good.

So I’ve had this boat out a few times and it’s AWESOME. I have an Evinrude short shaft 15 hp (2 stroke) on it which is the max hp for this boat, and it’s pretty dang fast for this little guy. It seems quicker than it is because you are so close to the water but anyway I used my GPS and I can get going 22 mph on plane! Oh and it planes off no prob if you have the proper amount of HP.

The construction seems good and of quality I foresee it lasting for a long time if you take care of it (just like anything). The PVC is the 1100 denier and once inflated properly it’s like a rock. The material itself has a slight texture to it which was a pleasant surprise as it adds grip for sitting or standing on top of the tubes.

The bottom of the boat is smooth however. Yes you can stand on the tubes no problem once in the water it is extremely stable and solid feeling. I was diving off the tubes into the river and the boat is very stable it does not roll around at all.

Also standing up on the aluminum deck feels great. Again it’s extremely stable. Putting the boat together is a little tricky as expected. It is VERY tight but it’s designed to be that way so don’t get discouraged as you will develope a technique.

It is possible to do by yourself but I’ve had two people every time so far. Once you get the technique down you can expect 15-20 min setting it up. Once setup it is very heavy with the floor installed so even with two people it’s extremely difficult to lift and carry to the water.

So if you’re alone expect to be dragging it through the dirt or asphalt to the water which I wouldn’t recommend doing everytime as it would wear the bottom down prematurely. It does have a rub strake down the middle on the bottom to protect the keel when coming onto a beach but it’s just not meant for dragging through the dirt.

The aluminum floor is awesome as I like the feel of a hard deck and I also have dogs so it’s good for dogs vs a high pressure air deck. The bow section is marine grade plywood however which is not mentioned anywhere but it’s of very high quality finish just like the transom.

The bow and transom are finished in epoxy and a nice coat of marine paint so it’s very smooth/solid and durable to the feel with no rough edges at all. Everything lines up perfect as long as you take your time putting it together and followthe directions.

The valves work perfect and so does the supplied foot pump which you can use on the aluminum deck once out on the water if you need a little more pressure after the tubes cool down after being in the water for awhile.

The only thing that I don’t like and is already failing is the horribly cheap “carry” bag it comes in. It is single stitched and already ripped at the seams when I grabbed a handle to pick it up. This boat is heavy so the bag should be made a little better.

At least double stitched. A better bag can be bought or just have somebody double stitch the supplied bag so just be cautious with carrying it around while in the bag. Using the oars works great and is actually pretty nice sometimes if you want to just float around and paddle with some peace and quiet instead of listening to a screaming 2 stroke motor in your ear haha.

The seats are awesome as well. They are aluminum so they are very sturdy and you can actually slide them fore/aft to adjust how close you sit to the tiller handle for your motor or rowing position. If you are going to register this boat or any inflatable boat really, the hardest thing about it is putting the registration numbers and sticker on the boat.

Inflatables have a plaque kit you can get and hang it off the front on either side but it flaps around in the wind and might be viewed by some officials as not legal/visible at all times so just be advised its a little tricky to find a good setup for the registration numbers as here in NV on Lake Mead they are VERY picky about sticker placement.

Anyway sorry for the long review but there is not very many reviews on this awesome boat so I wanted to share my thoughts. It’s a great deal and seems very durable. I see no glaring issues at all except the crappy carry bag but that can be addressed separately so it’s not a big deal to me.

I love not needing a boat trailer and love not needing to go to a busy marina. Just find a beach/kayak launch area and go. As long as you don’t mind setting it up everytime it’s great. So overall I do recommend this boat I’m sure there are better ones out there but this does the job perfectly and the price can’t be beat.

I didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars so this is perfect.

Pros: – Very stable with 18in tubes. I can fish while standing on the boat with another friend in the boat and we all feel very safe. – The boat is made very well. I can see a lot of attention went into the details and construction of the boat.

– Boat looks really nice. – Great vessel for fishing, camping, runabouts, and river floating trips! – 20-25 minute set up time (Same or less time compared to putting a kayak or canoe in my car) – packable – Bag is a foldover system that makes packing the boat up really easy.

Simply lay the boat on the middle of the boat bag. The bag looks like a + sign when laid out. Simply fold two flaps over and tighten the straps. Then repeat. Cleaning – Unfortunately, this is a little more cleaning than my canoe as I store this inside my apartment.

Of course, you will have to clean any dinghy from any company. The positive side to this is the boat will last for many years if I continue to take care of it this way. Storage – Fits in a 6ft long closet that is about 3.

5-4ft deep. Able to place all accessories in the closet as well. The downside (for any inflatable boat) – It is annoying to clean after use. I store this in my house. More maintenance than a canoe. Overall – Great option for boaters that live in apartments, RVers, van lifers, traditional use at a marina, or as a safety boat on a larger vessel.

I would recommend it to a friend.

I’ve owned the 10ft Santa Cruz for a year now and have had 2 different motors, combination of passengers and cargo, and tried it out in lakes, bay, delta. Its stable and bouyant. The build quality is decent – the PVC material itself is thick enough and never punctured.

However the rubber strakes crack with frequent folding – its not a flotation hazard by any means, but just annoying that a foldable inflatable hull cannot be folded without the rubber strake cracking along every fold point.

Another annoying ****** is the placement of the carry handles in the rear is so wide apart that unless you have a wing span of Micheal Phelps, you are not able to lift the boat from the rear. The handles should have been placed on the inside of the tubes.

Careless design. The biggest disappointment with the Sant Cruz is that it does not do its job of planing. Not at all. I started with a 6HP motor and was startled that anything past displacement speeds, the nose just went high and dragged the rear through the water.

Took a loong time to settle down to a plane, and that only with engine screaming at max throttle. Even with 1 other person or kid in the very nose of the bow, the nose would not settle. Was very disappointed.

Changed props, no difference. So i next got a 9. 9HP motor and mounted it. I had to laugh, the 100LB weight of the boat made the stern sit low, it looked funny. With 1 person, the 9. 9 had plenty of power to get the boat going but the handling was really bad and downright scary with all the weight in the back.

Yes, i made sure the gas tank was in the bow and i was using a tiller extension to place myself as far forward as possible. It was not until i installed Lifters (or Tabs) in the transom that this boat settles down and performs as it should with getting on plane smoothly.

I wish i’d known that earlier. Newport customer support was very responsive, but could not advise anything other than ‘move forward’ ‘ check air pressure’ etc. Finally, i sold the boat and got a longer, wider and, better proven one and am enjoying what i should have enjoyed on the Santa Cruz.

So if you are buying this boat, better have the additional budget and fortitude to install lifters. I used maximarine lifters. Else, chill out at displacement speeds with whatever motor you have got.

Its not a bad boat, but i suspect that given the curvature upwards of the bow, and the short hull length, there just is not enough surface area to plane effectively. Finally think hard about the 10ft length.

The inside of the boat is about the size of a bath tub. 2 adults are cozy with no gear. Any more and it better be very short distance.

Great customer service and they told me to sign up for email to get free shipping. Amazon was jerking me around putting me on a waiting list and after talking with the Newport sales team, they were able to get a boat shipped the next day and for less than what Amazon was charging! The boat is super stable and I have had it in Lake Ontario with 3 ft waves and in the St Lawrence Seaway shipping channel with some big wakes.

I had a trolling motor on it at first, but decided to get a 9. 9 Mercury for more power and hoped to get on plane. After being disappointed not getting on plane I called the customer service and they advised me to get a hydrofoil after going over everything else.

I also put a 1 inch block on the top of the transom to get the bottom of the boat closer to the anti-ventilation plate and prop. It hopped right up on plane and stayed at a little over half throttle.

I bought the SE sport 200 hydrofoil from West Marine and it fit my motor perfect. Other tips I learned is that rounding the corners of the registration sticker and using E6000 glue helped it stick to the rubber and we put our registration numbers on with a sharpie and stencils.

Finally, the wheels are a game changer. Newport was out of stock because of covid so I ended up with Seamax 14” wheels and they are amazing. I take the boat out of our SUV when camping and it stays inflated for the duration, towing it around the campgrounds at 20 mph with the front tied into the hatchback.

If you get this boat and put a gas motor on it it is a 2 person boat because the tiller comes so far into the boat that no back seat is possible. I put a board across to hold a drink, my fishing pole and net.

Thanks!.

I purchased this pontoon thinking a few years ago. It was awesome. First problem I had was it doesn’t stir well at all with my trolling motor. But I used it for the first season anyway. If your on the river or lake and the wind picks up without out the bag full of rocks I had to provide you will drift all over the place.

My MAIN problem when I put it away for the winter in the compartment bags above the garage. And took them out again to use. I was very disappointed and angry to find the couplings attached the the bladders were cracked and neither would hold air.

I can’t believe anyone else has had this problem and a recall was inplace. Of course mine was out of warranty. Figures! Not a happy customer.

Classic Accessories does not know that an inflatable boat must stay inflated to float. They really know how to pack a boat. Now, they have to learn how to build a boat. Two out of two pontoons leak quickly.

Two out of two valves do not function properly. I will return the boat. I am very disappointed that Walmart would deal with a company like Classic Accessories subjecting Walmart customers to such a huge hassle! I am “sure” that Walmart will stand behind their return policy.

We’ll see.

Waited a long time to find this boat new or used. Bought the 10e NXT online BassProShop while hunting the internet for one over a year and lucked out. Worth the wait , extremely stable , I’m 220 lbs , and my son 160lbs , battery 70lbs ,trolling motor , all our gear and this boat never wavered.

Lots of fun , felt safe at all times. Built very sturdy , pontoon style ,and the RamX plastic body , rubber bumper around the two parts of the boat is not an issue as you might have read or heard online.

I own a 8e also which is 6 yrs old and the RamX body , the rubber bumper and the two halves of our 8e six year old boat is solid. I highly recommend the Pelican Bass Raider 10e NXT and the 8e also. Fun to modify , and the 10e is safe for 2 fishermen and the 8e great for a solo fisherman.

I have had the Sun Dolphin Sportsman 10 for a few weeks. I have had it out on a small pond twice. I have made a few customizations to it so far. This review is based on having two people throughout. I was between purchasing the 8′ and the 10′ but I am very glad I went with the 10′.

The space is perfectly adequate, and I can imagine having less being a bit uncomfortable. Size and Weight: The boat is listed as weighing 138 lbs, I am guessing that doesn’t include the seats. 138lbs is actually pretty manageable when there are two people trying to move it.

So far I have loaded it into two different truck beds without a problem. However, moving it by oneself would probably prove quite difficult, especially because it’s over 10′ long. My battery weighs probably another 60 lbs, and my motor around 20.

I find it easier to take as much out as possible when trying to load it. Having a trailer would make it all a lot easier, but with the hassle of buying and maintaining a trailer and registration. Boating: On the lake, I have a 40lb thrust Minn Kota electric motor to power it.

The motor is probably perfectly sized, however, one could probably enjoy a 45lb, and get away with a 35lb. We’re able to reach probably 3-5 mphs without wind. An anchor is highly recommended; one with the right style for the lake bed one is over, and of the right weight.

I use a 3. 5lb grapnel anchor, which I think is a little insufficient. If it catches rocks, it will usually keep us from drifting, but for the most part, the wind will cause us to drift. On the water, the boat carries probably about 400 lbs and there is no sign of stress or the boat wanting to capsize, it was very stable.

Accessories: The boat comes prewired to have a trolling motor mounted on the bow, which is awesome. Sun Dolphin provides the connectors necessary to plug in. Also, the swiveling seats on the 10′ model are an upgrade compared to the 8′ model.

They are extremely comfortable to my surprise. They allow a good posture, and the cushions reduce any fatigue; I’ve spent 3 hours at a time with no sore butt afterward. Personally, I was able to buy this at a discounted price because a promotion, however, I had already been hoping to purchase the boat.

I am incredibly blessed to have gotten what I wanted for cheaper. It is worth every bit that I paid for it, and if you have the money to pay full price, I would say it’s a great bet.

I use this mostly by my self so this worked great as I added a back deck and then tried a front deck but didn’t seem to even out the weight. I will work on it to get it to work but if you just use the boat as it ships then pick your self up a motor and get it titled because ores will get you no where unless they are the 6 foot ores.

this boat is great over all as I used it camping beside a lake and I have never caught more fish in my life. Really recommend this to anyone with a kid or someone wanting to get into fishing or boating.

I have found that the capacity plate says it can take a 3. 5 engine and I have a 40lb motor on it but it probably needs a 45 to 55 lb. Anything in between as well I recommend buying from somewhere else because the buying and shiping process was terrible they shipped it and took 1 week which was ok but when it arrived e drove to Morgantown wv to pick up and they didn’t notarize it correctly and sign the certificate of origin correctly.

the whole process of buying it online to finally at my house and titled was maybe a month. BUY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Got one of these a few years back thinking it would be a fun toy for the kids at the lake. Turns out we use it all the time for areas we can’t take the bigger boat. Last year our neighborhood flooded and all the kids on the street were taking turns paddling around in this.

It was a blast. It’s is much more durable than I would have imagined.

They advertise this as a 3 person boat. There is no way 3 people can fit in it. My husband is 5′ 10″ 165 pounds and he can’t even fit in it let alone with me being 5′ 6″ 155 pounds. The oars are very flimsy as well.

The manual pumping method would have taken forever, so we just used an air mattress pump. After we bought it I realized they sell it for $80 in other stores. We returned it as soon as it shipped. Definetly not worth $120 with taxes.

We found something else for $90, 4 feet longer with storage and aluminum metal oars. Shop around, if you’re traveling with more then one person it isn’t worth it.

I liked the safety of the design. The molded oar lock is rectangular instead of round and just barely fits my small aluminum oars. My plastic oars would not have fitted. I have other Sevylor boats so I know they know better.

I taken it out twice now and it rows nice and easy. I found the inside depth of the boat to be a little shallow. Unless you are sitting on the floor, the oars hits your legs. I only use a 4 inch seat and I hit my knee (I am only 5′ 4″ tall).

Oh not having oar holders is a little inconvenient as now I have to carry the oars to the lake along with my other gears. Overall I am still happy with the purchase for the price.

an aluminum, having had my share of bent and dented seats after dropping weight belts, etc. The wood is bullet proof. Shipping was super fast, and communication with the seller was 5 star also. Like I said, this isn’t my first inflatable rodeo, so I have a pretty good idea of what works for us.

It’s has to be tough, easy to install aluminum floor, easy to assemble and disassemble, and hold together in the worst ocean conditions. For the price, it’s the best value on this size and spec inflatable, with a large company with a whole lot of accessories for this boat, from trolling motors, to under-seat storage, to complete canopy for winter use.

Consider using a low cost, light trolling motor instead of feeling you need an expensive, heavy and messy outboard. The trollers are the bomb these days. Highly recommend for fishing, diving, family fun in small, affordable package from known manufacturer.

Kevin T.

I bought this boat few month back, it is so good. It has thick PVC. It also has pre-installed rod holders that are very useful. That is the best price on market, I dream for that type of boat for a long time and only now when I found ALEKO I was able to buy it.

That boat is incredible stable, I can walk in it with no problem. Now I can go fishing with my family and have fun on it with a gas motor.

Very good quality and very affordable boat. Takes about 15 min to inflate and lots of hours of fun. I’m using mine with gas and trolling motor and it can go so fast. Usually I install both motors. It also has rod holders that is very useful.

Using this boat for a long time already and has no issue. Super boat, I love it.

The boat itself is great value to have. As a family of 5, we have had some fun on the water with this boat. The first two times we used oars only, and to be honest, that was not as fun as we imagined, because most of the time we were fighting the current and got to basically nowhere.

Adding a 55 pound Minn Kota Endura Max made a day and night difference. Finally we can virtually go anywhere in a lake without much effort, and spent time enjoying fishing or just skimming on water instead of padding and fighting the wave.

Yes I am aware of the manufacturer recommendation of a max of 33 pound motor, but I found 55 pound is also workable. The boat can handle this motor well and I have the option to use this motor on a bigger boat in future when I upgrade.

Because I added a motor, registration is needed in California. Intex’s customer service is helpful, but getting the boat actually registered in a CA DMV could be a bit tricky depends on which DMV you go.

Not all DMV employees know how to handle the registration of an inflatable boat and they may not take the Certificate of Origin that Intex provided as a valid certificate. I had to call Intex to request an ‘original’ Certificate of Origin, which is essentially the same as the one can be downloaded on their website but with an original signature.

I went back and forth three times to two DMV to finally find someone that knows how to handle it and got it registered, and the time I got it registered, they only took the Certificate of Origin that I downloaded from Intex website, not the one that has the ‘original’ signature.

Besides the registration, in California, you also need to pay a $16 mussel fee and get the mussel sticker, unless the boat will be exclusively used in salt water. The mussel fee is not required to register the boat, but it is a good idea to pay it and get the sticker when registering the boat, so that your boat is ‘water ready’ instantly.

Otherwise, the mussel sticker can be purchased on CA DMV website and they will mail it to you in a few days. ********Update after two months of ownership********So after two months of owning this boat and three times putting it in the water, I’m disappointed.

After the third time deflating the boat, the inner chamber’s 10 cm mark did not shrink back to less than 10 cm, which means I will not be able to measure the pressure next time. Besides of that, there are couple areas of the boat that are showing a hump, though the boat had never hit anything.

I called Intex customer service and the lady picked up the phone seems to have a hard time understanding English. But in the end, they said will offer a replacement and asked to mail in the cutouts. Now, the problem is, since the replacement boat will have a different HIN, I will need to register it again with DMV if I want it to be legal with the motor.

What a hassle and waste of money and I really don’t want to go through again. Considering the extra cost of buying the motor mount, electric pump and time of making the wood floor, I’d say if you want a boat, get a real one and don’t waste your money and time.

We received our Intex Excursion 5 the other day and it had its first voyage today on a state park lake. It was so much fun! We also own a 17 ft. canoe but that is becoming difficult to transport now that we have smaller cars.

This boat really meets our needs! Fits in the trunk, inflates quickly, has room for 3 to 4 adults and is a lot of fun in the sun! The vinyl is heavyweight and sturdy and the oars worked well. The oarlocks rotate so that you can put up the oars when you are not paddling.

It inflated quickly for us- power inflator was an added expense but well worth it to get this specific Kobalt inflator. ***. com It takes about 7 minutes to inflate with this, cordless, and the Kobalt is the best inflator ever (said after many years of blowing up camping beds.

) Some people find this boat more comfortable after adding a hard floor- search Excursion 5 floor and you will see how. There are also many YouTube videos about fun and interesting modifications you can make to this boat, which has inspired us for the future! Great purchase!.

My wife and like to fish, however fishing from shore is so limiting. We bought the pond prowler as we did not want another item to tow let alone the mortgage prices you pay for an item that will have limited use.

So far it exceeds expectations. There are drawbacks such as needing to carry it to the water and then load it up. Minor inconvenience in our eyes. If you just glance at the seats you may assume they would not be comfortable.

We found that to be untrue. We are both in our 50’s and have spent up to four hours fishing with no discomfort. Your experience may vary. We put a small trolling motor on for power. FYI, once you do that, you must register it with fish and game in TX.

We have found that after only two trips the letters and registration sticker are not designed for the rough surface of the boat. We will secure in another manner to ensure they are present. Thanks to this boat, we scored 10 catch today split evenly between my wife and I.

Might not have had that luck from shore. I would recommend this boat or one similar for a two person excursion.

Bought this little 10′ pond prowler 2 months ago 2021, this thing is a peice. When i first purchased, the next day after vetting it home when the sun hit the boat i could see little pin holes all in the plastic(it’s really thin plastic).

So because of the pin holes obviously it takes on water slowly. So my first time taking the boat out a come back let the water out of the inside of the boat and peices of wood started coming out. I Identified this wood as pieces of OSB, i guess the transom thats built-in on the inside of the boat(that holds water) is made out of OSB.

Wow just wow. Now folks the fun doesn’t stop there. I’ve taken the boat out about 5 times and the plastic is now warped horribly on the sides, it looks as if the side of the boat is caving in. I weigh 150Lbs so im sure its not because of weight in the boat.

Aslo ive tried to Contact the KL outdoors company (makers of the boat) through phone and email and get no replies, even after weeks no replies. Dont do it.

My Buddy and I have taken this out on the lakes a few times now, and it went very well. The boat was very stable with two in it, and there was enough room for both of us to fish. He bait fished and I fly fished, and we had a blast.

I see where others have stated that water can get into the boat, I believe through the pole holders, and fill the inside. Yes I do keep mine covered with a tarp. Mine came with two plugged holes in the front of the lower section for draining out water.

I would expect that some moisture will get in the bottom as condensation. Mine seems to be put together with a very sticky adhesive and heavy duty staples, with the rubber trim over the top. Haven’t had any issues yet.

We have had it out several times now, and even in some large lakes, with no issues. I have a 36 lb. Minkota pushing it, and we are happy with it.

I have not had it on the water yet, but it came in perfect condition, wheels and seats went together with just a few screws/bolts in about 15 minutes (with my 2 yo “helping”). It is comfy to stand on and seems like it will be stable.

Seat upgrades might be needed and I wish the weight limit was higher, but I rolled it up hill on my steep driveway and it was easy as pie. I am able to move it around easily by myself and those 2 thibgs alone are well worth it.

I owned a bass hunter years ago and loved it, this new incarnation has much more room, wider better use of space. The wheels make it easy to move around. Fits my Tahoe like it was tailor made. Slid it off the back of the truck into my SUV in one smooth move.

Love it!.

Compared to other brands and models, I like the idea of the wheels, so you can handle it alone. I think it’s a little expensive for plastic (polyethylene), but it seems very durable, which may make it worth the cost in the long run.

#1 the seat sets high and doesn’t fasten to the boat. I flipped over trying to reach for the trolling motor. Just took it out. #2 my Minn Kota 5 speed pushes slow, but steady if you’re not in too big a hurry.

#3 With the seat out and sitting low, The little boat is extremely stable. #4 I really do like this boat. Much better than a canoe or kayak. I use it on a small local lake for catfishing and couldn’t be more pleased with it.

With a marine battery and trolling motor, it will do everything I need it to do. Money well spent.

Extremely happy with the Prowler. One thing not mentioned in the literature is the foam which is in the pontoons and floor. We have attached the fishing necessities such as Humminbird, rod holders and sonar mount.

Secured with 1/4×20 Stainless using well neoprene well nuts. Even added nav lights. We will grow old together.

I bought this to fish small streams, rivers and lakes. I believe it is going to work out. Light but sturdy. Fits in the back of my truck and very easy to handle for 1 person. The Lexington, KY Cabela’s store was great to work with and were friendly.