I have a 4-person Intex Excursion 4 inflatable boat. Which trolling motor should I choose?

[Curious123]

This is a picture of this Intex Excursion 4 boat. I would like to buy a motor for it (I will have to buy the Intex motor mount kit)



I am new to boat motors and I did some research, and I will likely buy a 55lb thrust trolling motor (good choice?). I am considering two options:

Newport Vessels NV-Series 55lb Thrust Saltwater Transom Mounted Trolling Electric Trolling Motor w/ LED Battery Indicator & 30" Shaft
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_dp_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Newport Vessels Kayak Series 55lb Thrust Transom Mounted Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor w/LED Battery Indicator (24" Shaft)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07455NBNL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

I read customer reviews at Amazon about these two motors. It seems that people with Intex Excursion 4 bought both motor for their boats. I am not sure about which one to buy and why. Could some explain to me why I should choose one instead of the other one?

Thanks for any input!

 

[Plum]

This is a picture of this Intex Excursion 4 boat. I would like to buy a motor for it (I will have to buy the Intex motor mount kit)

View attachment 110487

I am new to boat motors and I did some research, and I will likely buy a 55lb thrust trolling motor (good choice?). I am considering two options:

Newport Vessels NV-Series 55lb Thrust Saltwater Transom Mounted Trolling Electric Trolling Motor w/ LED Battery Indicator & 30" Shaft
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_dp_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Newport Vessels Kayak Series 55lb Thrust Transom Mounted Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor w/LED Battery Indicator (24" Shaft)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07455NBNL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

I read customer reviews at Amazon about these two motors. It seems that people with Intex Excursion 4 bought both motor for their boats. I am not sure about which one to buy and why. Could some explain to me why I should choose one instead of the other one?

Thanks for any input!

Hi, where do you plan to use the boat?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Seastoke]

Well first you have to ask yourself many questions plum got the best one , i and the dingy looks more like a kids toy , than a serious boat , i may be wrong.

 

[Curious123]

I use the boat mostly in the local lakes near where I live (the DC area, USA) for family fun. I also do some fishing on the boat. Never used it in Chesapeake Bay, but I am considering that with a motor, I may give it a try in good weather with VERY LOW wind, a little away from the land, but definitely not far into open waters.

 

[Curious123]

@seastoke, you are not wrong. This is a boat mostly for family fun in local lakes. But using oars is too much sometimes. I read customer reviews at Amazon and people find more fun on water by installing a motor on their inflatable boats, made mostly by Intex. So, I am hoping to have better family time this summer. Thanks for your input!

 

[BruceK]

The difference between the two motors is shaft length. Ideally you want the prop and cavitation plate just below the bottom of the boat. Howeverfor the amount of thrust lost to any vector given it's output would not be significant provided the prop is fully submerged.
I would be extremely cautious using this type of boat in open water and never in any wind that is more than very mild and then onshore only. Rowing these things against the wind is almost impossible. I'd seriously consider only using it in small lakes and rivers or find something more suitable for the sea.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Ok here we go i have a bit of a story for this exact boat...

About 6 years ago me and my wife wanted a boat, so as i was pretty broke at the time and nowhere to keep a trailered GRP boat i opted for an inflatable. Being a COMPLETE NOVICE Looking online at RIBS, SIBS and these types of kids toys i didn't have a clue the capabilities of the latter and THOUGHT they where all pretty much the same, well they're all Inflatable aren't they?...

So we scoured ebay and picked up an Intex Excursion 5 and an electric trolling motor seperate mountable transom thing and a battery.

Wasn't too bad in the local river but battery died after 2 miles and had to row back with no currents so was lovely gentle exercise.

Now seen as that went sort of ok-ish we planned a trip to Cleverly's at Blackpool, Water was flat calm and we where so eager to get launched,

We inflated the boat and carried down to waters edge followed by battery, Anchor,water, rods, tackle etc...

We rowed the boat out slightly and switched to trolling motor and to our supprise all other fishing boats where going straight past us to the horizon as the bottom is fairly shallow and sandy so we decided to follow them!

BIGGEST MISTAKE IVE EVER MADE!

the rate of drift was uncontrollable and ran out of battery to get us back, so here's us...my wife crying thinking we are going to get lost and me panicking trying to row this huge lump back roughly 3 miles in blazing sun red hot temperatures and making no head way as the currents are really strong it had ripped off the prop completely!!! We had no propulsion!!

After what felt like a lifetime we eventually got back to shore (Nowhere near where we originally launched) With NON STOP ROWING from me which was not easy, I honestly think it was adrenaline keeping me going as my back, Arms and shoulders where burned out within the first 3 mins...

We had no Nav, Radio, whistles or anything!!!! Stupid i know but i think its more inexperience that causes mistakes like this.

Since then, I own a 14ft GRP, have Nav, fixed Radio, Licence to use, All appropriate saftey equipment and a powerboat L2 course under my belt.

That experience absolutely petrified me and the missus, Totally ruined our holiday at blackpool and the first thing i did when i got home was pack up and sell the toy! As i wouldn't even trust it in the bathtub.

have a long hard think of its purpose

Lakes and rivers on calm light wind days....Maybe, Go to the gym so you can row back OR carry plenty of spare car batteries with you, Cos they die on you very quickly!

Sea...DEFO NOT, Use kids armbands instead!

Everyone has to learn somewhere BUT not potentially costing your life!

Dont make the same mistake i did...Do it right the first time round.

The boat i got after that was a "Bestway Hydroforce" SIB...Defo worth it and still have it, More than capable of a flat sea and can take upto a 10hp outboard, With 3 wooden pannels for the floor and 3 separate inflatable tubes and seperate inflatable keel.

It is still in my garage and plan to give this to my son when hes old enough. It can roll up in the car and is 100x more ridgid, Better quality and thicker tubes than the excursion!

My intention isn't to put you or your boat down at all as im sure your happy with your set up and it has cost you a fair bit of money! I'm simply talking from my own petrifying experience and telling you the truth of the limitations of this particular type of boat.

If you want to venture in the sea (At some point in the future) i highly recommended a SIB upgrade. Do not attempt it in this for sure.


I will hunt out a pic for you!

 

[ontheplane]

I agree - totally a lake and sheltered river boat - and I mean a UK type lake (a few hundred yards around) not a Lake Tahoe kind of lake!

That boat is a toy it is not for goxing on the sea or exposed lake on - if you do it would be with a line attached to the shore.

It has no stability, no rigidity, and even the smallest wake off another boat could flood it in an instant.

As to motors, you don’t have the room to put a battery large enough to give you a good range, so again it’s a few hundred yards from a safe point at best.

Real answer - upgrade to a “proper” inflatable from a reputable manufacturer with a slatted / solid or air deck floor 3 chambers, built in transom and you have a better chance of coming back alive.

Something like this would go in a truck or large family car when deflated;

Hydro Force Caspian inflatable dinghy - 230

That’s only one example there are thousands of makes - but you want decent size tubes, solid transom and so on.

 

[paradave]

@seastoke, you are not wrong. This is a boat mostly for family fun in local lakes. But using oars is too much sometimes. I read customer reviews at Amazon and people find more fun on water by installing a motor on their inflatable boats, made mostly by Intex. So, I am hoping to have better family time this summer. Thanks for your input!

Looks like fun for a lake. Sounds like you understand its limitations.

 

[Curious123]

BruceK, Dan208, ontheplane, and paradave: Thank you all for the information, story, and advice. Glad to hear these things from you folks before trying something else I haven't done. I will definitely just use the boat in small local lakes, the way I have been doing. In addition to the motor, I plan to buy these things:

Mighty Max Battery 12V 100AH Battery for Solar Wind DEEP Cycle VRLA 12V 24V 48V Brand Product (Customer reviews indicate that it could last a few hours for the boat I have)
Amazon.com: Mighty Max Battery 12V 100AH Battery for Solar Wind DEEP Cycle VRLA 12V 24V 48V Brand Product: Electronics

Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center with USB and DC Ports, Black, Medium
Amazon.com : Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center with USB and DC Ports, Black, Medium : Sports & Outdoors

Bullnose Rudder Clamp On Rudder for 24-55 Thrust Trolling Motors: Pontoons, Kayaks, or Canoes
Amazon.com : Bullnose Rudder Clamp On Rudder for 24-55 Thrust Trolling Motors: Pontoons, Kayaks, or Canoes : Sports & Outdoors

With these things, hopefully, I could have more family fun this summer in local lakes. Based on all the information I have shared, which motor do you recommend if I have four people on this boat in a local lake? Any straight answer? Or another motor? I definitely can't do bigger and real boats this summer for many reasons.

Thanks, again, to all you folks!

 

[MystyBlue2]

BruceK, Dan208, ontheplane, and paradave: Thank you all for the information, story, and advice. Glad to hear these things from you folks before trying something else I haven't done. I will definitely just use the boat in small local lakes, the way I have been doing. In addition to the motor, I plan to buy these things:

Mighty Max Battery 12V 100AH Battery for Solar Wind DEEP Cycle VRLA 12V 24V 48V Brand Product (Customer reviews indicate that it could last a few hours for the boat I have)
Amazon.com: Mighty Max Battery 12V 100AH Battery for Solar Wind DEEP Cycle VRLA 12V 24V 48V Brand Product: Electronics

Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center with USB and DC Ports, Black, Medium
Amazon.com : Newport Vessels Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center with USB and DC Ports, Black, Medium : Sports & Outdoors

Bullnose Rudder Clamp On Rudder for 24-55 Thrust Trolling Motors: Pontoons, Kayaks, or Canoes
Amazon.com : Bullnose Rudder Clamp On Rudder for 24-55 Thrust Trolling Motors: Pontoons, Kayaks, or Canoes : Sports & Outdoors

With these things, hopefully, I could have more family fun this summer in local lakes. Based on all the information I have shared, which motor do you recommend if I have four people on this boat in a local lake? Any straight answer? Or another motor? I definitely can't do bigger and real boats this summer for many reasons.

Thanks, again, to all you folks!

Trouble is with this set up is...you cant mount a proper outboard and battery setup so your trolling motor will not be recharging the battery whilst in use like a outbord motor would do...all it does is drain the battery.

Slowly test and trial your "range" with the battery you have and stick within your limits. Lovely little boats in the right circumstances. Good luck and enjoy ?

 

[MystyBlue2]

Higher the trust of the trolling motor the quicker it will drain the battery power, also too much thrust will twist and deform the stern as its not a fixed solid transom. What i found was the " additional transom" i fitted started to contought the tube as the thrust was increased where the motor was fitted.

Also bear in mind the bigger the battery the more weight...some 100Ah batterys can weigh upto and onward of 24kg! And with it being on a soft floor or on a blow up seat id be cautious of it digging in and causing a puncture. Maybe mount it in a box of some sort to spread the weight out a bit with no sharp edges.

 

[Curious123]

@Dan208, thanks for the information.

>>Also bear in mind the bigger the battery the more weight...some 100Ah batterys can weigh upto and onward of 24kg! And with it being on a soft floor or on a blow up seat id be cautious of it digging in and causing a puncture. Maybe mount it in a box of some sort to spread the weight out a bit with no sharp edges.

You are right. Just saw a video on Youtube, and a person used a much wider box to hold the battery to spread the weight.

>>Lovely little boats in the right circumstances.

Thanks for saying so! I know you were there before Hopefully, someday, I can have a big real boat like yours.

Best.

 

[MystyBlue2]

@Dan208, thanks for the information.

>>Also bear in mind the bigger the battery the more weight...some 100Ah batterys can weigh upto and onward of 24kg! And with it being on a soft floor or on a blow up seat id be cautious of it digging in and causing a puncture. Maybe mount it in a box of some sort to spread the weight out a bit with no sharp edges.

You are right. Just saw a video on Youtube, and a person used a much wider box to hold the battery to spread the weight.

>>Lovely little boats in the right circumstances.

Thanks for saying so! I know you were there before Hopefully, someday, I can have a big real boat like yours.

Best.

Believe me mate theres no such thing as the perfect boat!, Ive had and trialed...

1-The Excursion 5 with electric trolling motor,

2-Bestway Hydroforce 2.8m SIB with 10hp honda 4stroke outboard,

3-Seapro HDD 3.4m Ally deck SIB with 20hp honda outboard,

4-Seahog 14ft GRP i currently have with a 40hp mercury (upgrade from a 25hp mariner)

If i keep going i will have a sailing yacht by I'm 65 haha

They all have there own pros and cons, Its all down to personal preference and dedicated usage.

I was in the unfortunate position of lack of funds and space to own anything of any size or expense but over time and patience ive finally got the right set up for me.

Hope you get a good chance to use the boat this year ?