Sevylor Fish Hunter Inflatable Boat
Sevylor Fish Hunter Inflatable Boat
Sevylor Fish Hunter Inflatable Boat Reviews
Very nice boat. I love it. I took it out on 2 different lakes and had a great time. It has 5 different chambers which make the boat very stable and safe. The boat is smaller than you might think after reading the description. I only used it with 2 people on board with planty of space left. You’ll be able to fit another person in, but 4 people might be a problem. The actual description on the box says that it’s a 4-people boat according to the US standards. I think it’s 6-person capacity according to Chinese regs. It doesn’t come with a motor mount, but you can use certain electic motors without a mount (Sevylor Electric Trolling Motor). I also bught “Coleman Rechargeable Quick Pump” for $20 at Target which was enough to quickly inflate the boat and my air bed, add some extra air during my 4 day vocation on a lake and to deflate both the boat and the air bed. You’ll also need a pair (or 2 pairs if you want) of oars. I bought Aluminum Oars, 59″. Also, keep in mind that the weight of the boat is over 40lb. Overall, it’s a very nice boat for 2 people and a child.
PS Someone wrote a review that it takes 20 minutes to inflate this boat. I can assure you there is no way it would take that long. I used a rechargable pump and the inflation process was very easy and fast. I don’t know what the other person was using to inflate that it took him 20 minutes. Maybe a hand pump.
I’ve had both the 9’2″ and the 12′ Fish Hunter. Got the first one the year my husband passed away as a way of distracting us. It came as a package with battery, oars and electric troller.
My boys were 15 and 9, and we had a miniature shepherd and that boat took us through probably 2 dozen impromptu lake trips the first year. Packed up the boys, (light)fishing gear, a couple of backpacks and a stuff-sack of food, ‘strapped’ the tent onto one side and laid the sleeping bags in the bottom (on top of a good tent liner)for ‘paws’ protection, loaded up the dog and took off (we have even towed a smaller 2-man Sevylor hauling a cooler, camp stove, water and extra ‘dry-bags’ of food, but had to use the oars rather than the troller).
As far as inflating it, 15 minutes the first time, cos I was clueless! Second time, maybe 8 minutes using a rechargeable; 5 minutes with a.c. pump…so what I did a lot of times was inflate it with the electric one, tie it to the roof of my car and take the d.c. one in case of emergency…which I never had. Deflation takes a bit longer but only cos you really should “squeeze” the air out.
We were comfortable enough in that 9′ boat, even with all the gear and the dog. But I was 5’2″ @ 121 lbs., son #1 was 5’8″ @ 181, son #2 was 4’11″ @ 140 and the dog was about 60 lbs and stood 2′ tall and about 2.5′ nose to rump. Although you might have fit 4 adults, I think it would’ve been a bit cramped and a little less stable (not that you’d dump over as long as everybody stayed sat), cos let’s face it, it sits on top of the water with no ballast and no keel.
It’s a toughie though! Even though there were dead trees in the water of one of the lakes (learned about them the hard way!), we managed to get to “our” island and back without a hitch. I was worried there was unseen damage, but when we got home I blew it up tight and checked…nothing.
I did sustain a cat claw puncture when my dog chased a cat that was in it about to use it as a litter box, but the included kit worked fine. A friend suggested investing in a roll of boat repair tape for inflateables, that will stick even when you make the repair under water. I had occasion to use it when I purchased the 12′ and the repair patch is still in place, June 2008!
Incidentally, I purchased the 9′ back in 1999. I bought the 12′ in 2002. My son inherited the 9′…it will soon be one of his emergency dingies on his “real” boat. The 12′ is still going strong…except my younger son wants it.
So I guess I’ll be gettin’ another 12′ for my old, OLD age!
Honestly? I’d rather have a Sevylor Fish Hunter than a standard type of a boat. I don’t like storing things outside or in the shed except for mowers and garden tools (crawly critters and spiders, you know), so I dry it before I deflate it, roll it up (usually with a couple beach towels) and stick it in the back corner of my closet in a storage sack I made from an old tarp.
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