Opinions requested about inflatable dinghies....

N

nowakezone

New Member
Jul 2, 2012
311
Naples, Florida
Boat Info
2004 340 Sundancer
Engines
8.1 Horizons
I tried putting this in the Dinghy section but received no comments so now I'll try the General section:

We opted for the Sea Eagle SE9 over more traditional inflatable tenders because of the interior space and the overall utility of the SE9 versus other setups. It has excellent reviews, is easy to stow, and with a rechargeable or electric pump is inflated in about 5 minutes. I didn't buy the wooden seats or the motor mount, however the motor mount is more likely along with a 30-40 lb thrust electric motor....both also easy to stow.

Please share your positive and negative opinions and/or experiences with the SE9 (or SE8). I'm sure I can learn something from all of them. Thanks.
 
NWZ,

I saw your previous post. I usually click on "New Posts" when I log on as most here do. I saw at the time you had something like 30-40 views. I think the problem lies in the fact maybe folks here have limited experience with the specific model that you are requesting information on. So if one doesn't now, or never did, own a Sea Eagle they can't comment on your thread. I took a different route when I was looking and asked "What inflatable do you recommend and why?". I got a very good amount of responses and found it helpful. I hope this helps. At least it's a response!! :grin:
 
Ditto, don't know zip about Sea Eagle. Have owned several Zodiacs of various size and configuration over the past 15 years and can say its a heck of a product and darn near teenager proof.

Henry
 
The Sea Eagle line of inflatable boats are not a high quility product, you may get some short life if used in maybe a lake or pool but it is not sutable for a sun and salt water envirenments.
 
I've owned a Sea Eagle Yacht Tender with an inflatable floor for 3 years now. Had it on my davits for a two month trip to Florida on the ICW and I use it on the brackish Nuese River in NC. Mine is kept in the garage unless I'm using it and with a 6 HP 2 stroke it will run 19 mph with one up. I like it because it is light weight, easy on my swim platform and with two aluminum bench seats it is very comfortable for use in running ashore when we are on-the-hook. About a year after I bought it I had an adhesive issue with the transom. A small section let loose. I contacted Sea Eagle and they replaced the entire boat. I like it alot and would by another one. Hope this helps.
 
Same here on the brand and model in question. I only have seeing these once or twice being used as a tender. I understand that you're looking for least expensive and portable approach, but there are number of options out there. You don't have to go for expensive Zodiacs as there are number of good quality competitive brands out there. I started with my first dinghy on 240DA, so I oped for Baltik BA65. It's a good quality for the money.

In regards to the Sea Eagle, I see few things that I don't like already:
1. the motor mounting setup.
2. no middle seat where besides utilizing it as a seat I have a underseat storage.
3. The looks.
4. I bet the quality is not the same as what we used to see on most tenders.
 
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check out item number 140796118091 on Ebay someone is really not happy with a baltik
Item nu​
 
Time To Relax said:
check out item number 140796118091 on Ebay someone is really not happy with a baltik
Item nu​
Click to expand...

That's pretty funny!! The guy is selling it damaged for close to $300 more than he paid for it new. I feel like there is more to this story than he is sharing.
 
What i get out of it is he's not happy with the dealer for lack of service so he's putting it to him. I bet it is affecting there internet sales.
 
While we're on the subject I brought this up a few months ago . The New York Boat show is coming up and I have been waiting to purchase a new dinghy. I'm still considering the Mercury w/ Mercury 4stroke 6hp . Before I jump into this is anyone unhappy with this set up (besides Alex) ?? Oh I'm looking at an Airdek
 
Havana Shamrock said:
While we're on the subject I brought this up a few months ago . The New York Boat show is coming up and I have been waiting to purchase a new dinghy. I'm still considering the Mercury w/ Mercury 4stroke 6hp . Before I jump into this is anyone unhappy with this set up (besides Alex) ?? Oh I'm looking at an Airdek
Click to expand...

I had a Mercury Airdeck with a Nissan 5hp motor for 10 years. I really liked the boat, but decided to sell the entire setup earlier this year. Kids are growing up and are now more interested in standup paddle boards and jet skis than the dinghy. So, one of these will likely be our next purchase.

No complaints with the Mercury boat, though.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Bryan, I hear its very easy to inflate, deflate, and pull aboard? My current dinghy is a WM Zodiac the thing weighs a ton. So we're looking for something to pull up over the bow rail and store on the foredeck, or deflate.
 
Without a motor, you should be able to pull it up. I never put it over my bow rail but had no problem carrying it on my own when I would launch it. Inflation/deflation is a piece of cake with an electric pump.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Havana Shamrock said:
Bryan, I hear its very easy to inflate, deflate, and pull aboard? My current dinghy is a WM Zodiac the thing weighs a ton. So we're looking for something to pull up over the bow rail and store on the foredeck, or deflate.
Click to expand...

Joe,

Before you pull the trigger let me give you my opinion on your approach. It looks like you're still trying to stick with the old routine on pulling a dink up on the bow deck. The issue of finding good size (9' or so) dinghy, I don't think you'll have a lot of choices. There's no "magic" most dinks of similar size and shape will weigh almost the same (going from memory here we're looking at about 65-70LBs). The issue of course is not the weight but the bulky shape. This is why you always need a helping hand or two.

As I suggested earlier, start thinking about davits for your swim platform. This doesn't have to be anything crazily expensive, but it WILL make your life a lot easier and for a change the huge PITA will become more enjoyable. Bring up the subject at our winter rendezvous. I can tell you that between you, myself and Dale we can come up with a nice and functional design for your boat. Then, you'll be able to get any dink/motor combo you want and not worry about extra 20lbs.
 
I have a Mercury 310 (10' 2") Hardfloor Inflatable with inflatable keel. It has a 6HP Tohatsu Motor I am pretty happy with it. It runs on plane fine with me in it.
 
I was planning to buy a Baltik. In the past two years I've read a lot of good reviews from other Club SeaRay members.
Now after seeing the Baltik ebay item 140796118091, I'm asking other club members with Baltiks if they have held up over the past few years.
 
Ahhhhh.....conversation. Heck I don't care that it isn't about the SE9, at least it's something.

Point taken on the lack of comments regarding the specific model in the Dinghy section; and, that's why I changed the title of this thread to opinions requested about inflatable dinghies.

The Sea Eagle SE9 is class III river rafting rated which means it will handle a lot of abuse safely. I've seen the live demonstration of hitting one with the claw end of a claw hammer over and over....no damage. It has 15" tubes which aren't huge but they're sufficient, especially given the higher attitude of the bow. I'd prefer 17"-19" tubes but oh well. With 38mil thick polykrylar material it's definitely not a pool or pond limited inflatable. Ours is rolled and stowed in the bag and kept in the cabin most of the time, yet even so it gets a regular coat of 303 Protectant..."sunscreen for your stuff." The idea of mounting a tender to the swim platform of a 340 has never appealed to me so with this inflatable I'm not worried about the sun.

Regarding seating, there is an optional marine plywood seat, I like that and can see it's utility. One thing I've noticed when I see ads of people in the traditional tenders is one or more people are sitting on the tubes instead of the seat(s). I don't know why that is but my first thought is it makes the interior look more capacious. Traditional yacht tenders, especially ones that fit on the transom of a 340-sized boat don't have much interior space to speak of. We like to dinghy in to remote beaches and have enough stuff with us to spend the day comfortably.

The motor mount....I have a Sevylor 360 Fishhunter with a similar motor mount. It works okay with a smaller 30# thrust trolling motor so I'd expect 'okay' function from the Sea Eagle motor mount...which is why I didn't get one yet. :) There are plenty of videos with gas and electric motors on the SE9, all look to perform just fine. We haven't decided on a motor yet, rowing has worked well although next summer when we're in the Keys I'm sure we'll have a motor by then.

I'm not crazy about the looks, I do like the look of the traditional tenders better. But, I got mine brand new for $249 including tax and shipped. Given that price along with the outstanding reviews, the stow-ability, the utility, and our needs, I was able to accept the look of it.
 
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giff1 said:
I was planning to buy a Baltik. In the past two years I've read a lot of good reviews from other Club SeaRay members.
Now after seeing the Baltik ebay item 140796118091, I'm asking other club members with Baltiks if they have held up over the past few years.
Click to expand...

We bought one about six years ago which was okay while we used it by carrying it on board in it's bag and by blowing it up every time we wanted to use it (which is a hassle). However, when we bought a larger boat and could carry it on the swim platform things changed! We had a cover on it at all times, when not being used, but even with that because of the extreme sun and heat in Florida the transom seams fell apart! It was a wonder we didn't lose our outboard overboard (which is not big..only 2.5 HP). Apparently, if you use a dinghy in the tropics made of PVC they can't stand the heat. We found this out from a professional repair guy, who advised us it was not worth repairing. However, he did say if you use a dinghy made from PVC in the northern states, which are often cooler, they can be okay. Now we are on the lookout for a good 9' RIB dinghy made from Hypalon which is a much better material to withstand the Florida sun and heat. Hope that helps:)
 
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