Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Thanks! Yeah, I saw your furniture dolly and it would work for 1 of the places I go, but not the other 2 ( they are almost a "hiking trail" ).
I honestly think I am approaching this wrong, I should be thinking of the best way to transport this thing via the boat launch area instead of the swim / beach area. Now that I know that I can get out of the way in a timely fashion I would be comfortable launching with the "big boys" instead of reduced to hiking down with the swimmers. I am learning as I go.
On a sad, and funny note, I popped the yellow boat on the way back. I wasnt about to haul everything back up to where I was parked, so I drove my car down and parked in a no parking zone...as I hurriedly tried to load the boat, battery, etc, I snagged the challenger 300 on a convertable top hook.
The sad part is, I had it sold to someone on craigslist if I would have made it back in one piece. Oh well. It was a good boat and Im just glad that it got me back to the shore every time. MARINER 4 arrives on Monday!

 

[RVman]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

What have you guys done for rod holders on your mariner 4's ?

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

I have added 4 extra holders with a milk crate....rigged for storage also...and plan to add two trolling holders also attached to the crate. Cheap and easy!

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Well still waiting for the Mariner to arrive, but I did buy a battery and a motor and a mount ( as I mentioned earlier ). That was a huge success I've been out on the water all day. I'm still there now actually in my challenger 300. The PVC Dolly was an utter disaster. Its failed miserably, and I had to drag the boat with one hand and carry the group 29 battery with the other. I'm not exactly Arnold Schwarzenegger, it was quite a trip from the car down to the water... about a quarter of a mile. I am NOT looking forward to the trip back to the car. However for my first time out on an inflatable raft with a trolling motor ( mine is a minnkota 17 pound thrust that looks to be as old as I am ) and this is even better than I had expected.

What failed on the PVC cart? I'm building one now with inflatable wheels???. I plan on drilling drilling holes and every time I go out zip tie the frame

 

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

I used 1/2 pvc. If I was going to attempt it again ( and I am not ) I would go for the big fat pvc that I see... the kind used for drainage I think. My boat arrived today ( will post another video bout it ) and it is HEAVY. That boat, plus my group 29dc battery... and the motor? I am at 150 lbs I bet. No way that 1/2 pvc ( not to mention the lawn mower wheels ) will hold it.
I saw someone else on here had made a pvc cart, maybe check theirs out, mine was a failure. Also MrDr has a dolly too... good luck tho, and welcome on.

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

I used 1/2 pvc. If I was going to attempt it again ( and I am not ) I would go for the big fat pvc that I see... the kind used for drainage I think. My boat arrived today ( will post another video bout it ) and it is HEAVY. That boat, plus my group 29dc battery... and the motor? I am at 150 lbs I bet. No way that 1/2 pvc ( not to mention the lawn mower wheels ) will hold it.
I saw someone else on here had made a pvc cart, maybe check theirs out, mine was a failure. Also MrDr has a dolly too... good luck tho, and welcome on.

Thank you, my cart is made of 1 1/2 PVC, my boat is a zodiac with plywood floor, boat weights about 250lb with 15hp 2stroke and a 3.2g gas tank. I have not tried the dolly yet. As soon as I do I will post results. Ronaldj from my other thread has a whole recipe for the cart. I followed his with my own mods to it

 

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

oh, I would be very interested to see if it works, please keep us updated, I am alone some of the time, and some kind of cart or dolly will be a must for me!

 

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

I used 1/2 pvc. If I was going to attempt it again ( and I am not ) I would go for the big fat pvc that I see... the kind used for drainage I think. My boat arrived today ( will post another video bout it ) and it is HEAVY. That boat, plus my group 29dc battery... and the motor? I am at 150 lbs I bet. No way that 1/2 pvc ( not to mention the lawn mower wheels ) will hold it.
I saw someone else on here had made a pvc cart, maybe check theirs out, mine was a failure. Also MrDr has a dolly too... good luck tho, and welcome on.

Here is the video. Chris Out and About Ep 2 - YouTube

Skip to 3 minutes ahead to bypass the boring stuff.

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Hey copper, how is that 50# motor working out for ya? Haven't heard any updates lately! I'm still wondering if its worth stepping up to a larger motor or if I'll benefit for from the foot control for my 30#!

 

[RVman]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

I have a 40lb Minnkota ordered which should be plenty. I'm looking for a good balance between battery life and speed. I was told by Minnkota the 40lb should be perfect.

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

so this setup I finally finished 1 1/2 pvc. feels a little flimsy might get tie downs and tighten up both sides. soon as it stops raining I will test it and post result

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Nice, if this works, I may copy you design. I keep my battery up front so I would be going "backwards" with it but no biggie, I'll just use the motor mount to lift/push/pull. Is it glued anywhere or just slips together?

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Nice, if this works, I may copy you design. I keep my battery up front so I would be going "backwards" with it but no biggie, I'll just use the motor mount to lift/push/pull. Is it glued anywhere or just slips together?

as of right now its just together and I do not like how flimsy it feels. After I try it if it falls apart I will find ways to mod it. The trick is being able to take apart and put together with ease for those of us with no trunk space and my plan is it to carry my zodiac with about 150 lb in it right to the water were talking a total of about 250-300lb

 

[mrdrh99]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

as of right now its just together and I do not like how flimsy it feels. After I try it if it falls apart I will find ways to mod it. The trick is being able to take apart and put together with ease for those of us with no trunk space and my plan is it to carry my zodiac with about 150 lb in it right to the water were talking a total of about 250-300lb

If you don't like it, try drilling some holes and using clevis pins to hold the iffy parts together. Maybe glue all the T's and Elbows.....I'm really curious on what you did with the axle and wheels, if you get time could you pull that area apart and give us some pics broken down? thanks! I'm thinking of putting one together using 2" pvc because of the weight of the battery but making one that is based off your design but has an extension running the length of the boat with a handle at the end for steering. However I'm more absorbed at the moment with getting my ProControll device to steer and run my trolling motor with.

 

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

so this setup I finally finished 1 1/2 pvc. feels a little flimsy might get tie downs and tighten up both sides. soon as it stops raining I will test it and post resultView attachment 202729View attachment 202730View attachment 202731

Oh man that is a big boy version of the same one I built that fell apart.
After seeing yours, I stopped by harbor freight & home depot on the way to work. I bought those same wheels, and some 1 1/2 inch PVC. Im gonna try again. I seriously cant get this boat + motor + battery from the car to the water without something ( or another person, which I do not have; maybe I should change deodorant... )
I will be building tonight & testing tomorrow.

 

[RVman]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

What area of Nor Cal are you from ? I grew up in the East Bay and moved to the Central Valley in 99. I fished the ocean and Bay all the time back then.

Oh man, tha

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

the metal bar aka axel is solid steel 3/8 size fit perfect inside the tire. I drilled a hole at the tip to put holes and put in the pins. I cant remember the length of the steel bar but it was over 3'. drilled holes in end caps and found a washer to tighty fit inside the end cap to relieve some pressure off the plastic, the metal bar sells in home depot, i got mine from a construction store.

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

the metal bar aka axel is solid steel 3/8 size fit perfect inside the tire. I drilled a hole at the tip to put holes and put in the pins. I cant remember the length of the steel bar but it was over 3'. drilled holes in end caps and found a washer to tighty fit inside the end cap to relieve some pressure off the plastic, the metal bar sells in home depot, i got mine from a construction store.

don't mind the first pic

 

[Guest]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

questions? concerns? comments???

 

[ChristianMariner]

Re: Intex Mariner 4 modifications and Tips

Originally Posted by RVman
"What area of Nor Cal are you from ? I grew up in the East Bay and moved to the Central Valley in 99. I fished the ocean and Bay all the time back then. "



That partial post was done by my stinkin' smart phone, LOL.
I live very near Sacramento, I plan to frequent these lakes:
Clementine
Folsom
Rollins
Sugar Pine

I don't know if you can take one of these boats out on the ocean though...