Intex Inflatables or Real Dinghy?

[CruisingJacksonRose]

Im a rookie and I'm looking at dinghy options for my 98 Chaparral 300. The budget is tight and my research shows that I'm looking at about $3,000-$6,000+ for a 4-5 person dinghy, gas outboard and dinghy davitts. Am I crazy to consider Intex's line of inflatables? With a 5 person boat rated for 1300 pounds, 55lb electric trolling motor, battery, battery box and a solar charger, I'm in at about $800! These things have a cult following on YouTube with people totally customizing these things. Keep in mind this boat would be used in small calm water not ocean or big water. I have used their cottage toys and they are very durable. Am I nuts?

Thanks

 

[JimS123]

We have several Intex tubes, plus a 4-person "boat". The tubes seem to hold up well, while the boat has seen better days.

Look at the web site for the boats. They provide you with a patch kit and instructions. What does that tell you? Ours must have 20 patches on it now, but to put it in context it is 20 years old.

What I see is using them with a REAL small outboard with a self contained tank. I can't imagine putting a gas tank or battery on the floor.

Your best bet would be to talk to someone that has experience using one the same way your would.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My issue with the intex inflatables is as they sit in the sun, they get over-pressured from thermal expansion. a few days with that thing hanging in the sun and you may have an issue.

under-inflating them simply means that when you drop it into the water, they are squishy.

I would find a good quality used dinghy.

 

[CruisingJacksonRose]

Thanks. I never considered the sun affecting it. Hmmm. If you have one that's 20 years old, that's impressive. I was figuring even if I went through a few boats over a 10 year span, it would still be cheaper. Just the inconvenience i guess. I think i will do some more research.

 

[JimS123]

Thanks. I never considered the sun affecting it. Hmmm. If you have one that's 20 years old, that's impressive. I was figuring even if I went through a few boats over a 10 year span, it would still be cheaper. Just the inconvenience i guess. I think i will do some more research.

I probably mis-stated my respond. It was stored in the garage all those years, and even with that gingerly treatment it looked like swiss cheese with all the patches.

 

[eric102]

Get a real dingy and davits, life will be a lot easier and safer. My Achilles is nearly 30 years old and still holds air, no patches, no seams coming apart. Its only in the sun a month or so per year and deflated the rest of the time which helps tremendously with longevity.

 

[CruisingJacksonRose]

Just an update, our Intex Excursion 5 was complete garbage! Used twice and had 2 different holes! Intex support was absolutely brutal!

I did decide to give them a second chance only because real dingys are too expensive for our application and an inflatable fits us perfectly. We ordered Intex's Mariner 4 which is completely awesome! Built way better, much more durable and we have had zero issues. A Trolling motor works well but not in weeds but we can be out for hours with no issues.

I would say that for the money and for small water uses, this set up is perfect. Total cost might have been $1200, takes up no space.

However, if you have the money, a real dingy would be best overall. I have seen some used ones available for around $2,000 so cheaper than I originally thought but the davitts would still be another $1500-$2000.

 

[Sea Rider]

Those cheapo inflatables made with thin unsupported shower curtain material are pool toys. You get what you pay for. Don't buy second hand dinghys could result in being costly to repair Pandora Dinghies. Can buy real dinghies for less than 2 K, check Saturn inflatables. Find funny to spend big cash on main boats and spend peanuts cost to rely on a cheap dinghy in the event the main sinks into the deep blue...

Happy Boating

 

[SDSeville]

Get the intex until you feel like buying a more expensive one. It's better than nothing and will work fine for tooling around the harbor. And is better than a life preserver ring if needed. They have multiple air chambers so it should not sink. Just be sure to replace it if it starts losing air or looking bad.

 

[shrew]

Real Dinghy, not a pool toy. Look for them used. Plenty for sale

 

[matt167]

I have 3 'real' boats and an intex Seahawk 3.. My Starcraft needed the bellows assembled all spring and summer but I never got the time. My 8' pram never got finished due to time and my 16' cabin cruiser is a ways off... The inflatable was purchased JUST to get me on the water a couple times before winter. The Intex is pretty cool and I enjoy it's use, but launching and rubbing rocks is nerve racking and I've only launched it twice.. I actually named it " Pool Toy ".

 

[Fishcall1570]

BLUF: Intex boats are affordable but lack quality control. Subtract 1 person from the advertised capacity. Invest in flexible epoxy for patches.

I agree that Intex boats are not always the "right" answer. However, they can get you safely on and across the water in little to no time and money. I bought an Intex Seahawk 3 to fill the gaps of time between dreaming of building my own wood strip canoe and actually splashing it. I love the 800lbs. capacity, but the floor space only fits two "adults" (6ft 250lbs) comfortably.

After thoroughly reading many reviews, I new getting a quality intex boat was a gamble. For $80, I delt myself in and raised the patch kit to a tube of E6000. Mine came complete with a pin-hole in the outer air chamber. The epoxy is not a speedy repair but now its one of the strongest parts of the boat.