I used ROK Straps, fastened one end to the interior grab handle, the other to a handle on the boat, through the window. Then I would go from the trailer hitch to a tie down point on the transom. This worked for me up to 55 MPH, I never really tried or needed to go faster. If I wanted to take the boat farther away on faster roads, I'd just set it up/take it down at the water.
@@bradfordfisher Thanks brother! This is going to save me so much time setting up / breaking down... until I finally break down and get a trailer. Much appreciated!
Hello again... The European agent is taking forever to receive & then redispatch the Achilles LSI 330E to me in Switzerland. Anyway.. I wanted to ask if you could through any past experiences tell us the difference between this boat an a similar size RIB. Its a long shot, but maybe. Thank you.
Thank you for the video. I'v watched it so many times. I ordered the same boat and it should be here soon. I'm looking to get a under seat cushion bag. I noticed the Achilles one you have seems a bit thinner than what it should be, but they only have one size. I found an ALEKO one. They have 5 different sizes so I should be able to get something that fits well. Could I trouble you and ask if you could measure the length & width of the aluminium bench please? It will help me out a lot. It would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Have you had many problems with the 9.9? I know you have to get it serviced every 100 hours used but have there been any complications or breakdowns for you? would a 9.9 be enough to power to break through waves and go against a current with 2 or 3 people on board? My boat is also 330
Zero problems with the Yamaha 9.9 HP. I’ve done all the servicing myself according to the maintenance schedule. There’s really no “breaking through waves” with a boat like this, the hull is too flat. You can either ride large waves or go over them if they’re very small. This boat really isn’t meant for anything in between and you’ll get beat up. It can go against currents, but that depends on the current! I’ve been on large rivers during flood and ebb tide without any problem.
www.defender.com/product3.jsp?name=launching-wheels-for-inflatable-boats-up-to-220-lbs&path=-1|294|2345882&id=1650003 Found a bunch on Amazon also: www.amazon.com/s?k=inflatable+lauch+wheels&i=sporting&ref=nb_sb_noss
@@bradfordfisher Thank you for your reply. I don't have an alert so I just noticed it now. I am using an 8 HP Selva 4 stock single piston. Its an Italian brand. I don't know how good it will be, but it only weighs 27 Kg.. that's why I'm getting it.
@@bradfordfisher I guess I should be more forceful in my folding until this new boat is properly trained. As for transom wheels (I have the same 330E), I've discovered that those are the only decent wheels that have a bracket that can fit below that unthoughtfully-placed little hull ID plate. Did you have to buy your own quick-release pins for them? If so, what kind?
@@lordenoch0 Which pins do you mean specifically? Also, while we’re at it, I cut four small sections of hose to slip over the mounting provisions on the transom so that they don’t cut into other parts of the boat one folded. Made the slit in the hose a little bit smaller in order for them to slip and stay on.
nice.. how heavy is that engine ? bit of a hassle to keep taking out if its heavy? im looking to get a 8hp now instead of 6hp so i can get more speed and carry 2 people with fishing gear
About 87 lbs. It goes from the back of the boat to the back of the vehicle, so not too bad. Look up the specs, I don't think the 8 HP weighs less. The 6 HP is almost 30 lbs. lighter.
omgawall222 It has held up very well, over six years old. No loose seams. The one thing I’ve had to pay particular attention to is the air pressure. You can’t just fill it to its required pressure and then allowed to sit in the hot sun. This will cause over pressurization particularly with the high pressure floor. I always fill it to less than what’s required, then top it off depending on the weather.
Is it good for one people ? When you are fishing alone ? I wanna buy an inflatable boat for fishing on sea, but still confused 300 cm or 330 cm, for one person sometimes two people on boat
Thank you for the video. I’ve read that they don’t require much maintenance like the PVC’s. Knowing myself, it is the reason I am looking at Achilles. We are a family of three and was looking to get the 360 model. Can you comment on that size if you know? Will it ride similar despite being longer. I am concern my wife may find the 330 too small the 360 has like 1’5” more interior room if I am not mistaken. Was thinking of pairing with the Tohatsu 9.8 weighing 82lbs. Any thoughts about this setup you would recommend to a first time boat owner/user. Thank you
There's a 22 lb difference between the 330 and the 360. That difference was enough for me to go with the 330, only for greater ease of transport. If the greater weight is acceptable, I'd get the 360. The 9.9 Yamaha I have is about 5 pounds heavier than the Tohatsu 9.9. While I don't know if the 9.9 is well paired with the 360, I do know that my 330 planes easily with myself and two kids (still have to test with the wife included, but I don't anticipate issues). The 15HP I used to have actually made it more difficult to get on plane due to the weight, but it was about 3-4 MPH faster, which I don't care about. Note: Achilles' recommended HP is 9.9 for the 330 and 15 for the 360.
beradthefish I think they bumped it up a bit on the 360 to 20 recommended. But like you said, I have no desire to go fast. Just interested in cruising and venturing on water. Never done it before. Tried for the first time kayak renting with the family last year while camping and it was fun. So this will be a nice upgrade to kayaks already. Like you, I was leaning toward the 330 for the weight but if she feels too cramped I will never hear the end of it. I’d rather manage an extra 22 lb lol. Thank you for sharing your opinion. You helped me validate my selection. Much appreciated.
Danish Fireworks I suppose it depends on the people, but I’d guess that it could. Switching from a 15 to 9.9 HP on this boat was the right move, planes quicker and just as fast, but that’s with just me. Still have to test with passengers.
beradthefish really? Wow...that must be a pricey boat! I just bought a Chinese-made 10.8 inflatable dinghy/tender with Al flooring and seats...$600. Cheap I realize but, seems like pretty high quality. Pricing outboards, however, leads me into the “thousands of dollars”! 🤦🏻♂️
Nice boat, good idea car topping the boat. How did you do the decal and registration?. I just got a similar boat and I need to attached the decal on the hull.
Chris, I grew up near and on Lake Erie. The short answer is that I wouldn't recommend this boat for that lake unless you're sticking close to shore when it isn't rough. Erie whips up quickly. I'd look into a rigid deep V hull with a lot more length which may or may not have an inflatable hull. This boat can handle a lot, but it will beat you up in short, sharp chop. In my opinion, 23' is the minimum hull length for that lake.
Thanks Andrew, enjoy! I recently switched out the 15 HP for a 9.9 HP Yamaha which has brought several advantages. Easier to transport the motor, less weight on transom, easier to plane, and just as fast. I haven't had passengers yet, but I don't anticipate issues. 15 HP was overkill for this boat, but was a good find (used) when I purchased the boat.
@@bradfordfisher Yeah I think a 9.9 is much better for these smaller dinghy's. A friend made an Outboard holder from a 2" hitch bike rack, just clamp it on and drive, no need to bring it inside the vehicle, it's a great portable setup..
I'm thinking about getting a similar airdeck boat for fishing, are you able to stand on yours? Would it be rigid/comfortable enough to baitcast for a couple hours?
I was thinking about getting this same boat with a 15 hp motor - thanks so much for the video on it!!! - I just may get one afterall - looks like great fun
beradthefish sorry trying to figure out what you mean. Is the yellow part Hypalon and you painted onto the yellow part and used the adhesive to stick it to your boat? My new boat is pvc and I have to put a license number on it. I’m not sure maybe in the USA the yellow piece is issued from a dmv or something. Thanks for responding to my last question.
Hi Ian, the yellow rectangle is something I ordered from boatnumberplate.com. They make customized number plates. Looks like they have a self adhesive option, but I used the 2 part adhesive. They provide a space for the state issued sticker as well.
Great video. Thank you. What inflatable pump are you using there? Seems to be battery powered? Model name / number and a good place to buy would be very helpful.
Soo I have 9.9 and with 4 guys...all about 175-200 pounds I can never get it to plane out. Was thinking about getting your motor...do you think that would be enough power?
I can't say for sure Frank. I was able to plane with three adults, a kid, and gear, estimate the weight right around 500 lbs. Perhaps see if it's possible to re-jet the carburetor of your engine for increased horsepower then go from there.
Inflatable baddassery. This is how I roll with my Zodiac 310, either rooftop on the Tahoe or in the back of my pickup with a ratchet strap. People give you the craziest looks when you get there and unload it with ease, and are gone within a few min. No waiting for the ramp...no ramp necessary! I'd love to have a RIB, but the portability of the air floor is a no-brainer. Great video. Hoping to move up to an Achilles over the winter!
Thank you for this, very useful. How did you secure the inflatable to the car roof. I saw you clipped something and tightened it. would really appreciate it if you could let me know. Many thanks.
No, nothing bad. I will say that even though the floor is pretty tough, I'm extra careful as to how I put gear on it and I make everyone clean the sand from their shoes before re-entry. I'd probably be less worried about that with an aluminum floor. The air floor makes for a lighter overall package, stows more compactly and is quicker to assemble which was more important to me.
Thank you very much for prompt reply. I am undecided between lsi and spd Achilles series, since I have to break it down every time and pack it inside Nissan Altima's trunk
If I were in your shoes, I'd go with the air floor if you're going to transport in an Altima. I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe the aluminum floor from an SPD330E will fit in the LSI330E, so you could always switch in the future. @achilles boats, is that correct?
I expected faster with a 15hp but thats still very fast for a 10ft inflatable boat. This things are amazing quality. These will last a long time if you take care of them and especially with a hypolon
Cool video of the whole process. You should start combing craigslist for 2stroke 15hp. I drove one state over for mine. Even with a bad arm from a motorcycle crash it's very manageable at 79 pounds. I have an spd310 with both the aluminum and airfloor. You can always buy the aluminum floor for your boat too. There is no difference between the lsi and spd hull other than the floor.
Clark, thank you. Good suggestion on the 2 stroke, it's about ten pounds lighter than the 10 HP four stroke which is probably what I'll end up with. I looked at the SPD-330, it's interesting that the recommended HP is 15 with max of 20 with the aluminum floor. I looked to see if I could find the floor sold separately but didn't see it.
you are right there is not much information on this boat. I too was looking for it. Looks great the set up you have. What size motor do you run? What was your GPS measured speed with it? Does the boat buck in chop? I have found these inflatable keelboats rock up and down if they get into waves, would you agree? Are the strakes on the side curved to deflect the waves? Thanks
It's a 15 HP Yamaha. I've considered swapping it for a 9.9 HP just because it's lighter and would be more manageable. In the video, I measure the speed at 22 MPH. As far as performance in chop, I don't have much to compare it to. It weathers chop just fine as long as I slow down and the flexibility of the hull seems to buffer some of the shock when in rough water. It is a very dry ride in any type of water, the occasional minor splash here and there but that's about it. Take care!
Great to hear from you, sorry I missed those details. I like your 15hp option though its heavier. Faster is mo' better! 22 MPH is a good speed for your rig. I have a Zodiac Futura Mk 2 running an Evinrude ETEC 30hp. It does 25 mph at 5300 ft elev, sea level testing to follow. If I got an Achilles air floor (still might as 2nd boat) I'd go with Honda 20hp (104 lbs) I think. I loved the cruising around you did here in the marshes...such fun.