Inflatable Boat and 5th wheel

[otrfun]

We have plans to purchase a 10-11 ft. inflatable boat (80-100 lbs.; most fold down to 50x24x14) and a 8-10 HP outboard motor (80-85 lbs.) to take with us on on our travels with our 33 ft. 5th wheel.

Curious how others deal with inflating, deflating, storage (especially the motor), and launching---while on the road?

Certainly looks like a pair of launch wheels are a definite must for launching and flushing the motor after use (in saltwater). Other tips, suggestions? Thanks!

[wilber1]

It only needs all 8 hp to get it up on plane, once there it will stay at half throttle with one OB, a little more with two. The roll up aluminum floor on the Achilles is very convenient because it doesn't have to be removed except for cleaning underneath, it just rolls up with the boat. Downside is the extra weight.

[otrfun]

ICamel wrote:
Some people with 5th wheels and inflatable boats build an enclosure under the RV for the boat. I did that when we had a 5'r. Made the exterior skin out of poly-carbonate roofing panels. Frame was made with aluminum L-bar. I carried the outboard motor attached to a wood T-piece that fit into the stake holder in the pickup bed rail just behind the drivers side of the cab so it traveled upright.

Storing underneath is a great idea. Unfortunately, we already used up that space to store our portable black tank and floor jack. Thanks for the tip though. I think we're leaning toward storing it on its side in the basement area. The Tohatsu motors we're looking at can be stored on their side with the tiller down. Not ideal, but theft and clearance (5r & shortbed) become a concern if we try to store it in the bed upright.

[otrfun]

Durb wrote:
My back is good but I wouldn't want to lift 85 pounds of awkward outboard into my basement storage especially if coming in from under the overhang. I would consider one of the storage drawers to enable a more natural lifting position.

Wish we could get by with a lighter 6 hp motor (55 lbs.). However, the inflatables we're looking at may not get on a plane with 6 hp with passengers and gear. Agree, a storage drawer, especially one that slides, would be nice. Thanks.

[otrfun]

wilber1 wrote:
We carry a 10' Achilles inflatable with a roll up aluminum floor. The bag just fits between the hitch and tailgate of our RAM short bed. I carry an 8HP Yamaha 2 stroke in the basement. I went with the 2 stroke Yamaha because it was a 2 cylinder, had the best power to weight ratio at the time I bought it (70 lbs), was light enough for me to get in out of the basement and is powerful enough for the boat to plane with two on board. Ours has never seen salt water I would definitely flush it after use if it had.

The Achilles is a great little boat but not the cheapest. Japanese built, Hypalon fabric, very sturdy and well built. While the roll up aluminum floor works well is very convenient, as I get older I am starting to wish I had gone with the inflatable floor which makes the bag about 20 lbs lighter.

I use a 110V Coleman inflator to get most of the air in and then pump it up as hard as I can with the foot pump. If we have no shore power, I use my generator or inverter to power the inflator.

Deflating is easy as the entire valves unscrew leaving large holes for the air to exit.

For launching I installed a set of these
Dinghy Wheels

For shorter distances you can wheel it around like a wheel barrow. If we have to go farther, I sit on the back of the truck holding the bow handle on the boat and the wife tows me. Very slowly.

Thanks for all the helpful info, wilber1! Glad to hear 8 hp will get your 10 footer on a plane with two onboard. Really don't want to get anything larger than an 8-9.8 hp motor---just too cumbersome. Yup, the Achilles, with Hypalon, is a very well-made boat. I think for our occasional use we'll be fine with a less expensive PVC model. There's a lot of debate about the hard vs. air floors. We're leaning toward the air floors for the convenience. The dingy wheels you linked are the same ones we were looking at. Good to hear they worked well for you. Thanks again for your reply!

[ICamel]

Some people with 5th wheels and inflatable boats build an enclosure under the RV for the boat. I did that when we had a 5'r. Made the exterior skin out of poly-carbonate roofing panels. Frame was made with aluminum L-bar. I carried the outboard motor attached to a wood T-piece that fit into the stake holder in the pickup bed rail just behind the drivers side of the cab so it traveled upright.

[Durb]

My back is good but I wouldn't want to lift 85 pounds of awkward outboard into my basement storage especially if coming in from under the overhang. I would consider one of the storage drawers to enable a more natural lifting position.

[wilber1]

We carry a 10' Achilles inflatable with a roll up aluminum floor. The bag just fits between the hitch and tailgate of our RAM short bed. I carry an 8HP Yamaha 2 stroke in the basement. I went with the 2 stroke Yamaha because it was a 2 cylinder, had the best power to weight ratio at the time I bought it (70 lbs), was light enough for me to get in out of the basement and is powerful enough for the boat to plane with two on board. Ours has never seen salt water I would definitely flush it after use if it had.

The Achilles is a great little boat but not the cheapest. Japanese built, Hypalon fabric, very sturdy and well built. While the roll up aluminum floor works well is very convenient, as I get older I am starting to wish I had gone with the inflatable floor which makes the bag about 20 lbs lighter.

I use a 110V Coleman inflator to get most of the air in and then pump it up as hard as I can with the foot pump. If we have no shore power, I use my generator or inverter to power the inflator.

Deflating is easy as the entire valves unscrew leaving large holes for the air to exit.

For launching I installed a set of these
Dinghy Wheels

For shorter distances you can wheel it around like a wheel barrow. If we have to go farther, I sit on the back of the truck holding the bow handle on the boat and the wife tows me. Very slowly.