Hello! I've spent a lot of time reading through the forums and appreciate everyone's help as I've gone through my journey of owning an inflatable.
I have a 12.6 Newport Vessels Catalina, a 15hp Mercury 4-stroke and a 45lb trolling motor. An SUV is the main mode of conveyance, especially for longer trips but I do use a beater pickup truck for short trips to the local lake. I do not have launch wheels.
I have some general questions that I may not have found the answers to searching here and maybe a couple that get a little more specific to my situation.
First off, how do you all approach transporting the boat and motor. Specifically for those of you using a SUV or anyone who is deflating and packing the boat and motor up for transport. Do you lay the motor in the back? Have a motor mount that fits and keeps it vertical?
How do you mount the motor on the boat once you have it inflated? Boat half in the water on the ramp? Mount at the car and carry it all to the water?
Did you drill holes in your transom to bolt the motor? This is the big question as I see differing opinions on the approach to take here.
Do you bring a backup motor? I have the trolling motor that I'd probably just lay in the boat as a backup for a larger trip I'm planning on taking. Any creative ways you all handle that?
Any advice for boating with a SIB in the keys backcountry? I have a long drive to get there so getting the packing and transportation part down is important and obviously I want a working motor when I get there, thank you for all of your help!
I have a 12.6 Newport Vessels Catalina, a 15hp Mercury 4-stroke and a 45lb trolling motor. An SUV is the main mode of conveyance, especially for longer trips but I do use a beater pickup truck for short trips to the local lake. I do not have launch wheels.
I have some general questions that I may not have found the answers to searching here and maybe a couple that get a little more specific to my situation.
First off, how do you all approach transporting the boat and motor. Specifically for those of you using a SUV or anyone who is deflating and packing the boat and motor up for transport. Do you lay the motor in the back? Have a motor mount that fits and keeps it vertical?
How do you mount the motor on the boat once you have it inflated? Boat half in the water on the ramp? Mount at the car and carry it all to the water?
Did you drill holes in your transom to bolt the motor? This is the big question as I see differing opinions on the approach to take here.
Do you bring a backup motor? I have the trolling motor that I'd probably just lay in the boat as a backup for a larger trip I'm planning on taking. Any creative ways you all handle that?
Any advice for boating with a SIB in the keys backcountry? I have a long drive to get there so getting the packing and transportation part down is important and obviously I want a working motor when I get there, thank you for all of your help!
