Went to try out my new inflatable boat, the Intex Seahawk 2.
The camera adds 50 pounds. =p
My brother with his kiddie life vest bought in Thailand probably in the year 2000.
Saw a massive Toman, probably 20lbs here. Smashed my underwater camera into my brother while I looked for my rod. Casted out a sasuke 105 silently (lure was already on the line) but the fella ran away!
The next day tryout on a solo mission. This time round, baiting/trolling.
Sitting cross legged is best here. Otherwise, you’ll get massive back pain from the rowing. No pins and needles probably because of the soft floor. Another seating position is to sit open legged (kang kang) but does not give you enough leverage to paddle swiftly and only works if you’re alone.
The boat glides effortlessly over the water but does not track like a kayak.
Total set up time is less than 10 minutes (including double checking everything) if there are 2 people. If you are alone, you’ll probably take about 15 minutes… or also under 10 minutes if someone is watching you (trust me).
This is a pretty damn cool boat and is cheap. Definitely an excellent “first inflatable boat”.
However because the floor is soft, I’d recommend against taking this out to sea. The seams and everything will definitely hold up against the salt water but unless you’re paddling out into calm water and have some kind of anchor or rope, you may be blown out to sea.
For safe excursions into the ocean, I’d recommend that your vessel have these 2 “basic” features.
1) Tracking as it keeps your vessel moving in the direction you’re paddling – i.e. not like a raft – and saves your energy by expending all your paddling power to moving the boat forward. Imagine a hovercraft that has 2 fans on the left and right instead of 1 at the middle. If you alternate turning each fan on (like one person paddling on alternate sides of the boat), a lot of energy will be wasted by the boat swinging left and right.
If you use the oarlocks to row and are a newbie like me, you’ll find it difficult to sync your arms and you’ll still end up spinning (till you get used to it).
Because it is difficult to accurately add a tracking fin at the bottom of a soft floored boat (if you sit on it wrongly the fin could turn you left or right instead of straight and also because it will be nigh on impossible to safely fold up the boat once you’re done), you’ll be hard pressed to find an inflatable boat with such a feature. However, you could easily DIY one. But I would suggest that you add the fin by hanging it out over the stern. It will allow you to adjust your tracking while also minimising the chances of you accidentally adjusting it.
2) It should also have a rigid floor***. This is typically known as a Rigid Inflatable Boat** or RIB***. However those labelled as such typically have the hard floors built in. You could also purchase floor boards (or make them yourself) and place it atop the floor. A rigid floor will give YOU (not the boat), the ability to move around the boat easily. This is very important in case you need to jump to push the boat away from a navigational hazard, or if you need to embark on to or disembark from the boat. The lack of a rigid floor is not a deal breaker as a rule of thumb, I’d recommend this for any ocean expedition. Sans a rigid floor on an ocean expedition, I recommend you stay where you are and position yourself so that you are in reach of the most important things.
—
Kayaks are really expensive and take up a lot of storage space. Most of them also do not have the deck space to allow you to bring many things. More importantly, kayaks are potentially very unstable. There are a lot of benefits sure but weighing the pros and cons and taking the cost of an inflatable boat into account, I’d take the inflatable any day. Only the Hobie’s with their MirageDrive system (you can “paddle” the boat with foot pedals) has got me drooling.
If you don’t trust inflatables, get a portabote.
*** Editor’s note (27/02/2013):
A Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) or Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) is a boat with a hard hull like a normal boat but with inflatable collars on the gunwale. This type of boat is used by militaries around the world as well as search and rescue units. This is due to it’s immense stability and speed. The point made about a rigid floor is still valid though. Some of the ways to get a rigid floor include the following:
- Using wooden planks are floorboards
- Drop Stitch Inflatable Flooring – An inflatable floor that becomes rigid under high pressure.
Hey,
How much and where did you buy it from?
cheers.
I bought it from one of the online shops in the states. I don’t remember which one.
It costed me about SGD180-200 all in. I can’t recall the exact amount.
Hey Shawn! Seeing that you have such a vast knowledge in this hobby I would like to ask you, since i’ve just gotten into this… Are there any laws that restrict the launch of such inflatable boats in singapore? Must such inflatable crafts be launched from dedicated jetties or saf yatch club/marina piers etc. What are the restrictions of it’s usage, is there a license required? or can one simply kick it off to sea off at a beachhead? Thanks Shawn!
Hi Joshua.
I wouldn’t say that I have a vast knowledge on the subject but I did do my homework to clear common misconceptions as well as to get a clearer understanding of the situation.
As I understand it, as long as you don’t motorise your craft (or electrify it heh heh) there is no license requirements. If you do, you will need a Powered Pleasure Craft Driving License and you will also need to register your craft with the MPA and go through all sorts of things to get it sea legal. This includes a not insignificant financial investment to purchase safety equipment and other items required by law to be in your boat at all times (regardless of how small your boat is). There was a rumour going around not too long ago that there were loopholes involving kayaks and motors but I have confirmed this to not be true.
If all you have is a boat without an engine, then it gets a little easier. There is some talk that any boat (inflatable, kayak, etc) without a motor that goes out to sea will also require an inspection but I cannot confirm that rumour at this time. Other than that, a boat without an engine is legal in private ponds or non-reservoirs. This is as I understand it. Our rivers are now part of the reservoir system and thus boating (again, as I understand it) is not allowed. Just like fishing in our rivers are no longer allowed.
When I was taking my PPCDL, we were taught that entering any river system with a boat is not allowed so that rules out the islands as well. Whether this applied to motorised boats or all boats I cannot recall.
Now, assuming your boat is legal, there are no laws restricting the launching of inflatable boats per se. There are however, laws that prohibit beaching your boat. Now obviously, as an inflatable boat, this might possibly be exempted but do expect to be stopped by the coast guard if you beach your motorised boat. If you’re just rowing, I suspect that they will take out their binoculars, laugh, then leave you alone.
If you’d like to know more information and get information in greater detail, you can contact the MPA via email. Most of the information here was received via that method. Be prepared for a very friendly “agent” (no sarcasm here) who will unfortunately tell explain to you just how restrictive it could be.
Cheers.
Thank you so much for answering my burning question in such detail and depth Shawn! You don’t know how much this information helps!!
Hi Shawn,
There are many ranges of good quality inflatables boat and kayaks these days provided you are prepared to pay for the quality. With the advance of new materials and technology in building inflatable boats and kayaks, inflatable is a class of it own comparable to hard shell kayak and boats.
For the price you paid from the US online store, you could get a better quality inflatable (fishing kayak) with another few of hundred (S$) dollar put in. In Singapore where spaces are always a premum, hard shell kayak is a challenge to own and store unless they are shorter than 8 to 9 feet to go into the lift (assuming most of us lvie in HDB flat or highrise). So inflatable is a sensible alternative. Cheap inflatable is however both dangerous and unreliable. Good quality inflatable will last about 8 to 10 years – that is enough to payback the cost of the kayak/boats.
Check out good quality inflatable like Advance Elements (I believe Action Sports in SIngapore carry this brand) Walker bay (Airis), and many others.
Cheers.
Cheng Hock
Hi Cheng Hock.
First of all, I do agree with you that there should be a minimum quality of boat (and thus minimum price) if more than just a cursory paddle is required in the ocean. For freshwater lakes, cheap ones will usually suffice.
However I think you understate the price difference between a good quality but cheap (and cheapo) inflatable boat. An extra few hundred dollars would mean more than double the price of the cheapo inflatable.
There are also a number of good quality inflatable boats from other brands such as Saturn and the tens of clones of the Saturns.
I have already purchased a 14ft inflatable and there will be a write up soon.
Hie,, can you still recall which website did you buy this inflatable from.. 😀
Sorry bro. I can’t remember where! I think the shop no longer sells them though. I remember it was from one of the first few results on google. I have 2 seahawk 2s brand new in box and can let go one if you are interested. I upgraded to a 14ft almost immediately after I bought it >.<
I’m interested in getting one. If u wish to let go, can contact me?
How much for your seahawk 2 since you ve got a spare… can fit 2 people?
Hi Shawn,
Do you have any pictures/website where you posted of the inflatables which you are looking to offload?
My friend and I are exploring the option of fishing on inflatables. Your wealth of experience in it really astounds us!
Warmest Regards,
Zong Han
Hi Zong Han.
It is this exact model shown in this post.
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately my friends and I are looking at doing saltwater fishing instead of freshwater on the boat hence I’m afraid we won’t be taking up your offer.
However, may i ask how much did you get your kairos kaboat for? that looks to fit the bill for our intended use.
Thanks in advance!
I purchased it for either 1100 or 1200 SGD. I am also interested in selling my kaboat complete with motor, modifications and engine also if you are interested.
Hi man.. u r the best man wit lots of details n knowledge u shared.. may i know how much u letting go ur inflatable boat?? Coz im looking to purchase one.. coz im a newbie too.. but im used to kayaking.. 🙂 hope to hear from u soon.. u can email me too…
Regards..
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Hi Shawn,
Found this page after searching for boating area around Singapore. I’m a newbie, interested to try out this new hobby but i’m still green about the restriction.
I intent to get the Seahawk 4 (same as your inflatable but for 4 person) without engine. So I was wondering if it is possible to paddle to Ubin, Sister and Hantu? Any permit needed?
Thanks for spending some time answering my question.
-Alan-
Hi Alan.
No license is needed to operate a non motorised boat. However, the coast guard may stop you from travelling to Ubin because of the dangers of crossing a shipping lane as busy as that. Not to mention that you may have difficulties paddling across the rough waters and strong winds and current.
Someone did paddle solo, in a boat similar but shorter than mine (the rigid white one, not the Seahawk), from Pasir Ris to Ubin, at night when the traffic slows down. However I really don’t recommend it, at least until you have become experienced with the boat.
I do not recommend heading to Sister or Hantu in the Seahawk 4.
Thanks Shawn! Appreciated your advice! ^^
Btw do you happen to have a list of places that I can use the boat? Is using the boat at east coast safe since it is connected to the sea?
For a start, I would recommend only anything west of ubin to the causeway. The more west you go, the calmer the winds and waters.
Always bring a lifevest for each person on board, and bring an anchor (such as a heavy stone)
Hi Shawn,
Do you still have any cheapo inflatables to let go? My friend and I are interested!
Please feel free to Contact me at my email!
Thanks!
Unfortunately, none at this time.
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