Though advertised as a 5-person boat, we think 4 is a more reasonable request. Like you’d expect from a boat in this price range, it has some limitations, but for the price paid, you get a serious boat. Inflatable boats, like the Challenger 3, are not advisable for use in the sea or ocean. This type of watercraft doesn’t have the necessary design to handle the waves, so it’s ideal to use it on smaller water bodies. However, it’s worth noting that the materials used for the boat are resistant to salt water, so there’s no issue. The brand’s primary goal is to offer good-quality inflatable products that come well-built, safe, and fun, all within a fair price tag.
Considering the price-performance ratio, the Intex Mariner are still cheap, but they just do not appeal only to beginners. The boats have solid seat cushions, fishing mounts, preparation for mounting an outboard motor, a pocket for the battery, and a solid insert floor so you can stand in the boat as well. The Mariner have a high load capacity, but in return they are really heavy. Transport by car is therefore mandatory here, alternatively a canoe trolley would also be a possibility. Since we have already paddled several Intex boats ourselves, we can judge the quality of the products quite well. Intex primarily uses a PVC film for its boats, which strongly resembles the material of an air mattress.
It can accommodate four adults for fishing or just relaxing on the water. The Marine Pro inflatable raft is constructed of extra-strength, 3-ply reinforced vinyl. It features a high-pressure inflatable floor for stability. This boat is USCG approved and can be registered if you decide to add a motor.
As for the overall dimensions of the Intex Challenger K1, it has a length of 9 ft., and a width of 2.5 ft. The total amount of heft it can bear when fully inflated is around 220 lbs. Such capacity is enough for one adult-sized human, plus some gears. For your storage needs, you can make use of the cargo net on the front end of the kayak.
For users looking for a bit more comfort may choose the Intex Excursion, this boat is available in 4 person, and 5 person versions, and features backrests on each seat. This boat is also compatible with a trolling motor with the addition intex purespa of the Intex Motor Mount for Inflatable Boats. Again, because the soft hulls shape can deform with the power of a Newport Vessels trolling motor, you will want to keep the propeller pointed away from the hull of the boat.
It will give you some of the comforts and utility of a premium boat for a fraction of the cost. The 30-gauge PVC vinyl will resist damage from abrasions, sun, and impacts. I just want to let you know how much this article has helped me with the purchase of an inflatable boat, trolling motor and battery for this xmas for my husband. Newport Vessels manufactures high quality trolling motors that are suitable for both freshwater and saltwater use. These motors come with a 2-year warranty, and replacement parts are readily available. They come with a circuit breaker, so you can’t overload the motor.
The pump that comes with it is a manual pump, but it is easy enough to blow up that my tweens and teens can do it on their own. The Intex Excursion 5 has physical dimensions of 144 x 66 x 17 inches. It has a max weight limit of 1,300 lbs., which is sufficient for 4 people, although it might intex baby float still be possible to add 1 more person onboard. This is made possible with the help of the four Boston valves on the main hull chamber. These ports are not only easy to access, but also pumping and releasing air through them is seamless, resulting to fast inflation and deflation.
You can also find a grab line on both ends of the inflatable kayak, so you can carry it in and out of the water effortlessly. Speaking of carrying, the kayak weighs 24 lbs., which is light enough for one person to lift up and transport with ease. The Challenger K1 is one of Intex’s entry-level inflatable kayaks.