Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

[kandil]

Hello every one as you can see this is my first post.I am very new to the boating seen and I am about to buy an inflatable boat I have been reading in this forum about it and I can't make up my mind on what to buy but I narrowed my choices to these 2 11' boats the 11' TUNNEL X-CAT by Saturn and the MODEL # AA270EH4M by Mercury I think the mercury is a haypalon and the Saturn is PVC and I was hopping that I get some feedback from the expert out there.
and do you know where the Saturn boats are made?I know that the Mercury is made in China and I am not very thrilled about it! thanks in advance for your help

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Welcome to iboats ..... the mercury is hypalon and the saturn is PVC, the saturn boats are also made in china ..... if you want a quality thundercat, then you need to find one built in South Africa .... what hp motor you plan on running on it?

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Thanks for your input.I think the SATURN Inflatables are made in South Korea not China. I was going to use a Mercury 110 9.8 horsepower Outboard Motor if it fits the x cat!! but now I am leaning toward getting the mercury boat because it is a haypalon.and from my reading here it seems that the Haypalon well out last the PVC is this true?Or it is OK to buy a PVC? Where can I get a South African made boat? I am located in the USA thank you

 

[jnewtonsem]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hard to find a SA boat in the US. Special order I think. Also take a look at AMI boats. Made in China, sold by West Marine and a few other dealers in the US. More expensive than the Saturn but they offer both a Zapcat model and a tamer cat model. They seem to be about the best quality available in the US. I saw one on the NC coast earlier this summer, looked pretty solid.
Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hypalon does outlast PVC yes, but there is nothing wrong with PVC ..... 9.8hp is way too little for a cat you need at least 30hp - 50hp .... you can contact: Evan Goldberg +91 203-395-0391, he is in Florida USA, he sells Aquarius inflatables from SA called the "aqua cat"

or For a ceasar cat ...... 091 248 682 7673

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi deejaycee_2000 thanks for your responds see what I did not say that I have a Small budget about $ 1500 So I can not buy a new cat I am looking at some used cats.and I am going to use the boat for fishing in the Potomac river and some times in the bay in the summer time so I need a sturdy floor and some what stable boat. and I think 30 to 50 HP will make the 11' cat fly and I think that the max HP for the Saturn is 25 HP and the recommended is 15 hp.again thanks for your responds and have a nice day

 

[bayman]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

If you are just fishing on the Potomac (which is slow river) and the Chesapeake bay then you shouldn't need much horsepower, but more HP is sure fun when you want to punch it.

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Will my $1500 is not going too far I found a Saturn x 13 this is a 12.5' and I paid $1400 for it it is 4 month old and the seller said that it was too heavy to handle with his wife and he wants some thing smaller any way I have 100 left from my budget I Guss I well get me a used trolling motor for now!! and save some money for the outboard later this one take up to max 40 hp wohoo thanks for your inputs I well post a photo when she comes

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

I got it today and put it together and inflated it so far it looks very good and no hissing sound and her are some photos it is not as nice as deejaycee_2000 rockets but it is a starter Cat for me.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Congrats man, from here onwards you will be hooked on cats .......

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

I got it today and put it together and inflated it so far it looks very good and no hissing sound and her are some photos it is not as nice as deejaycee_2000 rockets but it is a starter Cat for me.

Great looking Boat!

It looks fast just sitting in the yard.

Have fun!

 

[jnewtonsem]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Anyone know the story on Saturn Cats. Didnt know they made these and have never seen one until now. How much, will they hold up, what HP can they handle?

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

I hope it last 5 years at least this one can take max 40HP but for now I used over the weekend on the Potomac with a trolling motor and it was very smooth and I also picked up a Yamaha 92 2 stroke 8hp that need some carb cleaning I need to save some money for a bigger outboard 30hp to 25hp is all I can Handl for next summer I know that deejaycee_2000 is laughing at me!!!

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hahahaha, I have a cat with a 70hp yamaha CES on, runs like hell ....

I hope it last 5 years at least this one can take max 40HP but for now I used over the weekend on the Potomac with a trolling motor and it was very smooth and I also picked up a Yamaha 92 2 stroke 8hp that need some crab cleaning I need to save some money for a bigger outboard 30hp to 25hp is all I can Handl for next summer I know that deejaycee_2000 is laughing at me!!!

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

70HP !!! F**k what is the length off this cat?and do you have seats or you are all over the place?oh and do you wear seatbelt or do you have an ejection seat type? thanks

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

it is a normal 13,5 ft cat with the 70hp on, it is tiller steer and i have no seats on there but the normal padded cushion that is glued onto the floorboard .... I must say it works your arms quite a bit, at WOT it is hard to hold on .... I get speeds of over 80 mph so you have to wear goggles or sunglasses otherwise you can't look into the wind hahaha .....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

No comment!!!80 MPH I am speechless. I went to the Potomac yesterday with the wife and my 8HP Yamaha and as soon as i stepped on the gas the cat went up and my wife got scared and said that she thinks that is water is too high in the rear about 1'' from the top off the transom then I backed off the throttle and the motor backfired and did not want to start again thank God for my Minn kota trolling motor got me back

 

[jnewtonsem]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Were you able to get it on plane? What you describe is the transition from diplacement to plane. once on place, bow will settle down and speed will increase considerably. If you can't get it on plane, move weight/passengers to the front until bow comes down. Your 8hp may not be enough.

Good Luck.

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

it only ran for about 20 second on full throttle when I backed down it shutoff and it did not want to start again so I ordered a carb rebuild kit and waiting to see if this yamaha 2 strok 8hp going to be enough or it is going to ebay.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

once it is over plane it would run fine, as you open throttle weight must be to the front so it can get on plane easy, after plane you must move to the back .... haha your wife would have freaked if you had a cat like mine cause I have a open transom hahahahaha