Hey Desode,
I agree with you on the versatility of having a smaller and thus portable inflatable to take on trips (God knows I would LOVE to be able to take some sort of watercraft with me when visiting family back in Cuba, and now thanks to your idea, I WILL inquire about the specifics of doing so..)
However like most of us here, I too opted for an M4 because of its great build, semi-rigid floor and attractive price point; and while I would LOVE to get a fasttrack or even one of those hobbies (first time I see an inflatable one with a mirage drive system), as a college student, it is entirely outside of my price range at the moment.
I actually got the M4 about a year or so ago and a few months later decided to get a sea eagle 330 after seeing my buddy's sit-on-top kayak and how well he was able to get into some shallow parts of one of our local rivers here in AZ.
So, I found a great deal on CL and pulled the trigger on one. Now, while the tracking (with original "mini-skeg") is nowhere compared to the fasttrack 385ft, with some simple mods (shown below), mine actually tracks like a dream. Granted you may not be able to stand up unless perhaps you do what mrdrh99 did with his intex-excursion-5 set up and line the tubes with pvc and build yourself a somewhat sturdier platform on which to stand on), but it sure tracks well and you are set up in minutes.
So, I figured I'd humbly share a less expensive alternative to having an inflatable 'yak that one can pack up, fly with, and set up in a fraction of the time (and for a fraction of the cost of a hard top yak or even the 385ft). For a few bucks, you can buy these parts at your local hardware store, put it together, and depending on your portability needs, glue it in two, three, or four piece and/or put pins where desired, for even more versatility in set up.
On a diff note, I would love to see more pictures and details of your dual-motor mount set up for the M4 (when you take it out next time). I personally have been meaning to make a solid plywood floor myself for a while now (actually ever since I saw your dual motor application with it), but have not had the sufficient time to invest in it. When and IF I finally come around to it, I really want to have the dual set up. I like the idea of being able to fish while fully standing and walking around, but I also dread having to set it all up. And it unfortunately seems the more you mod, the less and less you are inclined to take it out, and instead opt for a simpler set up (as an inflatable 'yak).
I actually have owned both an electric TM and a small OB (on separate occasions though), and shortly after taking the lil 3hp Johnson OB out to Rocky Point made the mistake of selling the OB and kept the TM, which I now desperately regret. Needless to say, I am once again looking for a small 3-5hp OB. I was somewhat discouraged to hear that the max speed that can be attained (without the fins) was roughly 7(ish) mph, regardless of whether you use a 3,4,6, or even 9hp OB. I think you are right though, while mounting the OB directly to the hardwood floor will invariably help, the M4's hull is drastically the limiting factor in terms to speed.
Well, cheers to you all, and sorry for the long post, its been a while since I've checked out the forum, and I couldn't believe the sheer size of it (wipe of single tear,
It truly feels like a family, an M4 brotherhood (sorry to any M4 lady enthusiasts out there, we love u too, equally, lol)
Without further due, here are the pics:
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