Intex Mariner 4 Custom Bass Boat Solo Fishing - mistakes were made! 

Thank you!

Great tip!

Did you put the hinge on the top or bottom of the floor? Like facing up or down?

@@Jon-Hamersky-Shooting up

@@Jon-Hamersky-Shooting go watch my video

@@Jon-Hamersky-Shooting ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EAGVdzhr0bs.html&lc=z234fvupylm5dxtob04t1aokg2a0d1p2igilq2eseiq2bk0h00410.1624683710321695&ab_channel=TrevorDFrancisTrevorDFrancis

@@TrevorsCrabs Will do!

How did you mount your fish finder and transducer?

Sounds great!

See my video titled "Intex Mariner 4 Bass Boat Modifications"

That's the plan! They're disassembled in a bag in the front of the boat.

Did you put the hinges facing the bottom of the boat or facing up?

@@Jon-Hamersky-Shooting up.

Do You use the original floor also at the same time or only plywood floor? I ask couse many videos user use them at the same time.

Thanks! It was certainly a learning moment. I got frustrated and didn't think clearly.

Los portacañas de PVC qué medida son los los tubos de PVC qué medida son

Los tubos de PVC arriba está el riel para accesorios el tornillo que trae abajo de los portacañas para deslizarse donde los consigo

That was done on purpose, when I used the TM with my inflatable pontoon boat. I prefer it backwards when used on that boat. Forgot to switch it back around for this trip, and didn't have a screwdriver to fix it in the field.

Smart! It would make assembly a lot easier if the h channel was already attached to one side. Thanks!

No, I made the plywood floor to use instead of the included floor.

Watch out for the catfish's spines.... they have been known to puncture inflatables.

www.amazon.com/Outwater-Plastic-Channel-Material-Moulding/dp/B07N4FY1PX

Explanation is in the video.

My trolling motor is a Minn Kota 30lb thrust 30" shaft Endura C2. My battery is a 40ah AGM normally used in the mobile audio industry. It was included with the motor when I bought them used, about 5 years ago.

No, I find it is not needed, and it would be waaaaay too heavy.

I attached square tubing to the motor mount, and drilled holes for an axle through the tubing.

No. I added this glue-on pad, and then did DIY components from there. www.amazon.com/Scotty-341-BK-Glue-Inflatable-Boats/dp/B004O0FRGO

I made the rod holders from PVC pipe fittings. Hope that helps.

I use the 30" shaft without any issues, it pushes the boat fine. I have this trolling motor first for use in my inflatable pontoon boat (see my other videos), so I tried it with the Mariner and it worked. Longer might be better, but I can't confirm.

That's a DIY battery pack made from a dry box. I used a 12 volt deer feeder battery, 7 amp hours I think, and added the outlet ports and switch inside the box. I also use this battery pack for my Garmin fish finder, and to power/charge my action cameras.

I personally don't fish standing. Most of my fishing is done in my one-man pontoon boat, so I have gotten used to fishing while seated. I'm sure you could stand in this boat if you add the wood floor. I'm a DIYer who likes to gather parts and make my own solutions, so the accessories you see here are not off-the-shelf ready to be installed, sorry.

You can definitely stand on this boat even with just the stock plastic board. The wood will only make it more stable!

The wood floor is in two pieces, and those pieces fit in the back seat of my sedan, standing on edge while resting on the back seat floor. The deflated boat is rolled up and transported in the trunk of my sedan. When I had a one-piece floor (before I cut it in half), I could not transport this boat after my minivan was totaled.

Yes, I cover this at the @3:00 mark of the video.

@@ndettwiler I must be dense...thank you so much that is a life saver. Seen a couple of your videos, particularly found the mistakes were made video amusing. I would do something like that myself with the trolling motor.

amzn.to/3mT0PsN

Mine is a VMax CT-1000 AGM deep cycle battery. It is a 40ah 12-volt battery. Duration depends on usage, but I use a pulse-width modulator to maximize its efficiency.

My only experience is on small lakes, sorry.

Thompson's WaterSeal TH.024101-16 Multi-Surface Waterproofer, Clear, 1 Gallon a.co/d/0I3IwMV

@@ndettwiler Thanks a lot

If you look at my other videos, you'll see my red inflatable pontoon boat - the 30lb Endura is ideal for that boat, so I just re-use it for this raft. It won't win any races, but I'm only using it to slowly meander around the shoreline of a 65 acre lake. I never have a need to get somewhere quickly, so no need for a larger motor. I have had this rig out a few times with two people, and the 30lb motor had enough power to move us about. My battery is a 40ah AGM battery meant for use in the mobile audio world. It came with the motor (I bought them used) and it worked well enough that I just keep using it. I do use a pulse-width modulator between the battery and motor to maximize battery life. A 55lb motor would be nice, as long as the back end of the boat can handle the weight. The nice thing about small motors is they use less power. However, if you were full with two people and lots of gear, trying to get back to the boat ramp against a strong headwind, having that extra power might be nice. I haven't run into that condition myself. I wish I didn't have to cut my one-piece floor in half, but my minivan was totaled and I didn't use this rig for 1.5 years due to no way to transport it. By cutting the floor in half, I can get everything into my Toyota sedan, so I'm back in business, and the H-channel idea does provide good stability at the butt joint where the two wood floor pieces meet, but I just wish I didn't have to cut it. I haven't used this rig since making this video. It hangs from the ceiling in my garage, getting no love. I usually fish by myself and just really prefer my one-man pontoon. And I just bought a float tube for smaller lakes. I do have one other video about my Mariner setup - it is approaching 300,000 views - if you want to see how much room there is. By keeping the battery, small tackle box and small cooler below the sliding tray in the middle of the boat, I feel like both passengers have ample foot room. The drink holder tray that I have mounted to the side of the seat does interfere with the rod storage if the front passenger tries to spin around and face the back. But that passenger can carefully move things around to make it work. Good luck with your build!

@@ndettwiler Thanks for the details! I'm encouraged by your results. It sounds like a 30 lbs. trolling motor is adequate, so I'd imagine a 55 lbs. model should be more than sufficient. I already own a (relatively cheap) fold-up Haul Master trailer from Harbor Freight (~$300), and plan to use it for transporting the M4 already inflated with the proposed custom flooring and other decking/chairs inside, so that it merely needs to be lifted off the trailer and set in the water at the lake-I'm fortunate that way in that I can keep the floorboard as a single, solid piece. I've found the Haul Master trailer to be especially useful; hauling furniture, leaves and other yard debris, and now, potentially hauling the boat. :) Might be something worth looking into yourself! Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

@@JustinShidell You're welcome. I really need to buy myself a truck. Someday!

@@ndettwiler I've got a small sedan, like yourself-a Hyundai Elantra. The small trailers from Harbor Freight are easily towable with a small car, and a hitch kit for yours would run maybe $125. You might want to look into it, it's a great solution for those of us who occasionally want or need a trailer or truck, but otherwise get by with a car!

Tengo un bote marinero 4 con motor 55 lbs que velocidad alcanza en número 5 con 2 personas

Action camera. I mount a camera (like a GoPro) on a selfie stick and jam the handle into the pipe. Gets a cool up-high shot down the length of the boat.

1/2 inch

Mine had a small pinhole right up against the red & black rock guard that runs around the perimeter of the boat. It caused one of the four chambers to slowly lose air. It came that way, out of the box, so I filed a warranty claim.

amzn.to/3sFqsRX

Hi Mark - I did lift only by the built-in handle. I'll see if I can share a photo of the transport wheel.

imgur.com/a/LyC8aYu

@@ndettwiler Hello Neil, thanks for your reply. Ok & yes please I look forward to you sharing it 😊

@@ndettwilerThank you Neil 😊 🙏

@@ndettwiler What size are the wheels please, diameter etc? Thank you.

It's my DIY solution. I used an Intex motor mount, a couple of wheels from Harbor Freight, and a steel rod for an axle.

Thanks for the idea, Trevor.

30 pounds

@@ndettwiler how fast is it? i just got a mariner 4 with a 40lb but i'm thinking of gettimg the 55 instead for more speed

@@jaaebeeee I haven't measured its speed. I would guess 2mph tops. I just use it to go around the shoreline of the lake, or maybe do some trolling. Not trying to get anywhere fast.

@@jaaebeeee 40 is good enough. Pushes the m4 well.

I covered that in the video. I mainly use my inflatable pontoon with a hands-free steering solution, so I'm able to turn the head of the TM around, which helps keep it out of the way. But I forgot to change it back before this trip, and didn't have a screwdriver to do it once I realized during launch. Dumb mistake.

Inflating the keel in this boat is a must. It helps provide the necessary structure for the hard floor, and helps the boat track straight. I once initially forgot to inflate it, and wondered why the boat was so sluggish in the water. Instantly cured that problem by remembering to inflate it.

@@ndettwilerOk thanks for your reply. Has it got a V shape type keel at the front. What I mean by that is its not a flat bottom inflatable like some Intex boats are?

@@markweatherall7437 images.app.goo.gl/2hJZGEKSWfAUirKj7

10'9" Yes, I made a plywood floor, which you see me install in this video.

I detached the front bracket (to which the wheels are attached) and left it on shore.

I used 1" Schedule 40 PVC for the long horizontal white pipe, terminated on each end with a 1" Schedule 40 PVC 4-way tee. Flat bungee cords run through each tee and are secured to the boat. I cut up a 48" piece of Scotty Slide Track and attached with screws to the top of the horizontal white pipe.

I made them out of PVC plumbing pieces.

@@ndettwiler thanks

I bought the Mariner 4 for ~$180 shipped. It normally drops to this price a few times per year from various sources, although there is currently a shortage and the prices have skyrocketed. The seats were ~$25 each from Academy Sports. The swivels for each seat were ~$7 each. The seat posts were probably around $20 each (can't remember exactly). I think my plywood for the floor (and the sliding shelf) was ~$35. All of that PVC was probably ~$40. The Intex motor mount was around $20. The Scotty glue-on pad which holds the tranducer was ~$10. There's probably another $20 in hardware for the seat posts and the transducer mount. Hope that helps!

Thanks! I really want to build one of these!

I showed my wife your videos of your boat and now she doesn't think I'm crazy for wanting to turn an inflatable boat into my dream boat.

30lb

Yep! Mistakes were made! I had modified the motor to reverse the handle direction because it works better that way with another boat of mine, and I forgot to switch it back for this outing, and I didn't have a screwdriver.

I feel very comfortable and safe in it, on small lakes. Haven't taken it on anything more. And I prefer to sit while I fish, so I haven't tested the stability of standing in it much.

keep us posting when you test it the h channel with standing on the boat? i could not buy it in canada so i was thinking probably i just cut small playwood and stick in on one end and make another one on the other, so when put together it will perform like h channel but stronger and permanent, what do you think?

Hi Mom! 😄

😅