I learned 6 genius ideas for my build out from you and I'm definitely doing the extensions for the motor mount and thinking about a few other things you did. I ordered a lot of my stuff online and you definitely got a deal on the craigslist buys and walmart, harbor freight purchases so I'm a little envious of that. Great video! As a father, I'd just suggest that you hammer or bend down the sharp edges from your L brackets. You never know when some dumb kid will come along and hurt themselves on it. That's the crazy stuff that runs through my head LOL. Your negative terminals should be insulated technically but plywood does the job since it's low voltage so probably fine but that's the only think I noticed on the wiring. The steering reversing set up is definitely cool. Very simple and easy to do. I'll have to check it out again if I get irritated with trolling.
In a car your battery grounds to the body and then everything else also grounds to the body which is why the fuse panel only has a positive wire, the way you wired your battery ground in the “daisy chain “ does the same thing...you nailed it dude!!
You're really good with your hands. I too was thinking about the HF collapsible trailers for my 14' Saturn inflatable and what you did it's perfect. Thanks you for taking the time to show the mods and trailer, I have a better idea of what to do now.
Man. I am so impressed. I'm in the same process with a Mariner 4 and the same Harbor Freight Trailer. You have given me some great ideas. I was thinking Trex instead of carpet for the runners for the boat. Had the boat been difficult to slide up the carpeted runners? Great job.
You did a hell of a job. I just got my Excursion 5 from amazon. Going to start building the floor & box/seats this weekend. I was going to inflate and deflate it every time I go to the lake. But after seeing this I think I might try and get a trailer like yours.
I know this is an older video but by chance do you have a picture/video of the trailer without the raft? I’m thinking of taking on the project of getting a trailer like this and modifying for my raft. I have alot of the same things inside my raft. I don’t want to have to assemble/disassemble and inflate/deflate everytime I take it out. Thank you
This is fantastic. I have a Mariner 4. I have some ideas. The trailer was the main concern. Do you have a little more detail on how you put it together. Maybe step by step. Very creative 👍. Thanks
I’ve just finished making the floor, it’s a snug fit apart from it is a little short on the front like yours, I thought I piped the mid section but it turned out the rubber washer fell out and let the air out slowly 😂
Hi Rob. Fabulous work and idea giving. Can you share a video of the launching process using a boat ramp, both detaching and attaching back up? Would love to see how you do it. My Excursion 4 mod is ready to go. Getting a hitch for my SUV and that 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer next weekend. Any help would be awesome!!
Hey Stephen. Sorry, but I don't have the IE5 together any more. I ended up moving to North Carolina and bought a 24 ft pontoon boat, so the Excursion won't be getting much use. However, I can tell you that the launching and loading process was pretty simple. The trailer doesn't need to go very deep in the water because the IE5 floats in very shallow water. A longer tongue on the trailer would be super helpful. I thought about having an extension welded on to the trailer but never did it. It really is a simple process because the IE5 is so buoyant. I hope that helps.
@@RobShambaugh yes sir. thank you so much for such a quick reply. Best of luck in NC. I've got cousins out there. I'm in Colorado myself. Looking forward to wrappin' this up and hittin' the lakes. You're work is "off the chain" . Got really excited watching your videos. Anyway, best of luck and I'll continue to subscribe. Thanks again.
@@stephenowens1965 Again, a big thanks to you. Put a little video together. Thought you'd get a kick out of it. Plugged your channel while I was at it. th-cam.com/video/w3xm0kxdOjc/w-d-xo.html
It worked fine with the Minn Kota 55lb motor. I think top speed on calm water is around 4mph with the 55. I've seen people use smaller motors but get frustrated with the speed. I don't think sagging is an issue if you have plenty of support for the motor mount (attach it to the floor or a seat somehow).
That looks awesome man! i really like it! that DEKA battey will neve run out of power on you at least lol i was curious about a trailer for my raft, looks like the inexpensive harbor freight trailer works and does the job perfect. thanks for the video. gave me a lot of good ideas and look forward to building my own. Please post a video of the canopy you decide to go with. would love to see outcome. cheers-
have boat and was interested in adding steering. Like video and am interested in adding swivel seats as well as storage. Did a one piece floor but have fold up camping chairs. Really like your video
I think I have a video somewhere. But, I've been spending time lately on an aluminum jon boat and a fiberglass bass boat. You can see the jon boat project here: th-cam.com/video/Ps1rkkulCW4/w-d-xo.html
steering is by the wheel. do you have to turn handle on trolling motor to get power or do you have local switch near the seat so you do not have to turn around.
Yeah, I still have to turn the handle to set the speed I want (1-5 or reverse). But, I also have a button on the floor that turns the power on and off, so once I set the speed that I want, I just tap the button and it goes.
Good looking boat my man!! Me and my buddy bought one and we realized once on the water there is no standing up in it lol lol!!! The floor you have is what we need !!! Would you please be kind enough to send us the dimensions of the cut of plywood for the floor!! Thank you kindly!!
Yeah, you definitely need a floor. I don't have dimensions because it's not flat edged. The best way to do it is to lay the bottom of the boat on the sheet of plywood and trace the outline. The floor is slightly curved all the way around so you need to make sure to follow that. If you are going to add phone and carpeting like I did, leave a little bit of extra space all the way around so the padding and carpet will fit inside the boat.
Just put two pvc pipes about 1.5m in the rear rod holders so you can see where trailer rear end is when reversing Remove it once you on the boat Bad idea the two screwed to the trailer Love your set up
nice boat...while is on your driveway......My question is: on nice summer day you will put a boat on cold water of the lake.....you are going to loose air pressure in your chambers.....how you going to pump air to outside chamber in middle of the lake?...:-)
The valves are easy to reach. Just take a pump if the colder water temperature causes the air pressure to drop. I've never had a problem with it. Typically, the heat from the sun causes the boat to get increased air pressure.
Nice. But I don't got the storage for this size thing. I have the excursion 5 and trolling motor. Inflate deflate kinda thing. I regret buying it now. And harbor freight doesn't sell those trailers anymore.
I have a question that maybe you can answer...I've been wanting to get one to go fishing but I'm not a hardcore enthusiast fisher, just 2 maybe 3 times a year or when I go camping take it with me... my question is do you have to have it register with the dmv if you don't plan on ever adding a motor!?
I think it depends on where you live. I believe you don't need to register it Virginia unless it has a motor, but I never really asked since I planned on putting a motor on it from the beginning. Your best bet is to call your local Fish & Game to clarify what's required in your area.
Hey man amazing job on the boat! Hey I’m going to purchase the boat on Amazon and I’m going to have someone make a flooring board for me but do you think it would work in two pieces. I’m asking because I’d be using public transportation and Uber‘s to get to the water and that long piece of wood wouldn’t work. I’d appreciate any thoughts you might have on how to make the floorboard transportable.
Love the boat. Bought one last year here in California but with all the fires 🔥 I had to hold off on building. Now ready to do so. Questions : you think a foot pedal Minnekota 45 Edge trolling motor will be too heavy on the front end . And how about standing and fishing at same time ? I bass fish so I need to be standing constantly. Last question - do other boats wakes pose an issue ? A lot of the bigger boats out there will see you in these smaller boats and basically not care and zip by going 50-60.
Thanks. Glad you like it. I've never considered a foot powered trolling motor on the front end, but I think it'd be fine if you came up with a platform that's solid enough to attach it to. The front of the raft has a LOT of plastic to rest it on. However, when you're moving along, you don't want the front of the boat to have TOO much weight because as you're moving, it will push into the water too deep. Ideally, the front should stay out of the water a bit a higher speeds. I bass fish, also, and it's 100% solid enough for standing once you have the floor installed. Wake is definitely a problem with this size boat. I don't worry about it capsizing because it sticks to the water like glue. The problem with that is, it causes the boat to flex like crazy. I've learned that turning the boat into the wake is the best way to stabilize it, but prepare for a rollercoaster ride (which I actually enjoy).
Good shit Rob. Now that I really checked out the front. Definitely a lot of plastic, might actually be in the way. Might make a side mount. But we will see. BTW - subbed and look forward to chatting in the near future.
Hahaha. I really have no idea how I did the wires. I'm far form an electrician and every time I hooked up something new, I was hoping I wouldn't blow a fuse. I don't have the Excursion together right now, but the next time I pull it out, I'll try to put a video together.
Sorry, I really don't have plans for how I put the trailer together. I think I mentioned the basics in the video, but don't really go into details. I bought the trailer at Harbor Freight, measured the boat's bottom surface, then cut some 2x8 treated lumber to make some rails for it to rest on (carpeted with the same carpet as the boat's floor). I know that's not a lot of info, so maybe I'll be able to put together a How To Build the Trailer video later this Spring. No promises though since I'm in the middle of rebuilding a fiberglass bass boat.
Menards is cheap, local hardware store. Marine carpet is what they call it on Amazon but it's ridiculously priced. Menards had 4 x 12 feet for 16 dollars. You just have them ship it to the store. Search for the cheapest carpet. It's all you need. And I would use carpet glue to help waterproof the wood if you're not using ground contact plywood. I am because it's only about 10 bucks more and it'll fall apart before it rots!
I've been watching a lot of these boat mods and yours is awesome. Mine will be much simpler. I did the plywood floor and it looks great but it's so heavy ! not for the boat but for my back! I'm a woman in my sixties and my fishing buddy is on disability. We would love the rigid floor but need something light weight. I've been looking at 1 inch foam insulation board or maybe two boards. Would they be sturdy enough? Any suggestions?
How about the foam sheet with lightweight poplar plywood glued to it? You could cut it into a few pieces for easier lifting and storage. Poplar is a bit more expensive, but much lighter weight.
Rob Shambaugh great suggestion thank you. Weight is an issue for me as well. Trying to figure out how to do a floor but make it transportable and storable.
The weight limit is 1,000 pounds, so it's never been an issue for me. I weigh around 190, so another person my size would be less than 400 pounds of people weight, allowing another 600 pounds of "stuff".
@@RobShambaugh thanks didn't realise that it could take such a payload but after looking at the specs it can carry alot more than other inflatable boats. Thinking of doing this myself now.
Is that plastic strong enough? Those seams on the boat remind me of like a cheap beachball. I'm afraid a slight prick of a fish hook will puncture. Awesome job on the build man... looks so professional.
"Strong enough" is a relative term. If you're just floating around a lake without rocks and sticks, you're in good shape. If you think it will survive going over sharp objects, you're mistaken. But, I have taken it to my local river and ran over some pretty scary rock ledges without issue. But every once in a while, I'll find a random leak that needs patched and I have no idea where it came from. Overall, the plastic is thicker and more durable than I expected. Remember, it only costs $150 or less. It's replaceable if you bust it.
only if you are going to add a trolling motor to it, and yes, you will want to add a trolling motor. This boat is quite big, and to enjoy it, a trolling motor is a must
Hey Rob, built the boxes like you said ant their perfect. Another question though, I bought a similar trailer (craigslist) and wanted to know how you waterproofed your wiring for the trailer.
I just used wire nuts and filled them with silicone caulking. I also disassembled the lights and put silicone caulk everywhere I could find. They also sell waterproof light kits, but this is a budget project. Caulking worked fine for me.
I'm not really sure of the measurements. The best way that I found (I've made a couple floors now) is to trace the shape of the bottom of the raft onto a sheet of plywood and use that as your cut line. The floor is actually a little longer than 8 feet. The first floor I made was a little short in the front of the boat, but it's no big deal. I also made a two-piece floor out of a 9 ft. piece of plywood and it fills the entire floor, obviously. Keep in mind that when you cut it, you need to allow space for the foam edging and the carpet (about an inch total). Good luck! Thanks for checking out my video.
Great job on your boat. How's the seams of the boat floor holding up to the plywood? I was worried about weight on the seams between the floor and side.
Hi I’m looking to buy this boat, just wanted to ask if you ever had any problem with it, I seen some reviews about this boat saying it develops holes easily. Thanks in advance
It's definitely not thick plastic, but it's pretty durable. I wouldn't plan on taking it over rocks. I use it in a nearby lake and river and haven't had any problems. I've also see folks who do pop some holes, but they're easily patched. Thankfully, I haven't had to patch mine yet.
Great question. I ended up adding a few more electronic parts and a couple other random things that came to mind. I imagine I ended up spending around $1,000 on everything, including the trailer. I ended up rebuilding a 12 ft Jon Boat (th-cam.com/video/Ps1rkkulCW4/w-d-xo.html), but the Excursion is much more stable. But, I fish around a lot of shallow water with rocks that make me a bit nervous (don't wanna pop the Exursion).
Hi Rob. First class work and planning ‘ looks great …on stern plywood shortage, maybe expanding foam, would stop water running under between the ribs, if water does get in there a cant figure how to get out, Anyway, have just liked and subscribe d. 🏴 From Scotland 🏴
Thanks for watching and for the comments. I've never had an issue with water getting under the platform, but I can see how that could happen. Foam sounds like a good solution.
5 years ago but very useful now. I am an engineer and so are you! Well done.
LOL, fellow Engineer here! I love that you spent about $500 in materials and made a $2K fishing boat!
I learned 6 genius ideas for my build out from you and I'm definitely doing the extensions for the motor mount and thinking about a few other things you did. I ordered a lot of my stuff online and you definitely got a deal on the craigslist buys and walmart, harbor freight purchases so I'm a little envious of that. Great video! As a father, I'd just suggest that you hammer or bend down the sharp edges from your L brackets. You never know when some dumb kid will come along and hurt themselves on it. That's the crazy stuff that runs through my head LOL. Your negative terminals should be insulated technically but plywood does the job since it's low voltage so probably fine but that's the only think I noticed on the wiring. The steering reversing set up is definitely cool. Very simple and easy to do. I'll have to check it out again if I get irritated with trolling.
In a car your battery grounds to the body and then everything else also grounds to the body which is why the fuse panel only has a positive wire, the way you wired your battery ground in the “daisy chain “ does the same thing...you nailed it dude!!
Thanks Terry. I sort of made sense while I was doing it. I only blew one fuse along the way, so I guess I lucked out. Thanks for confirming!
That's awesome man! You knew what you wanted and engineered it to your liking. Very cool!
love the mods! the steering mech is brilliant!
You're really good with your hands. I too was thinking about the HF collapsible trailers for my 14' Saturn inflatable and what you did it's perfect. Thanks you for taking the time to show the mods and trailer, I have a better idea of what to do now.
Man. I am so impressed. I'm in the same process with a Mariner 4 and the same Harbor Freight Trailer. You have given me some great ideas. I was thinking Trex instead of carpet for the runners for the boat. Had the boat been difficult to slide up the carpeted runners? Great job.
Awesome job - you thought of everything - very impressive! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you like it. But there's always more to do :)
Wow! I'm amazed at the results and the quality of your work. Hats off to you! 👍👌 I'm gonna pick one up to replace my sevylor 3 pass one
Thanks! It was a fun project.
why dont you make a video in the sea with this invintion
I was hoping to find something on YT for this boat...awesome job! I will be doing something like this for mine, thanks for the ideas!!
Nice! Have fun. The possibilities are endless!
I'm taking your advice on alot of this so thank you for putting it out there!
I love your American ingenuity, sir.
Have you thought of solar panels on the canopy?
Thanks for the inspiration and keep on trucking.
Dude, that steering system is off the hook! Thank you!
Thanks. It definitely makes things easier on the water.
Rob Shambaugh this is why I'm still watching these vids, for the out of the box ideas
I updated the steering wheel setup. It's much better now th-cam.com/video/MJLqfB4imdc/w-d-xo.html
How much does the floor and boxes weigh? It looks like it starts to max putbthe weight limit when you add everything up.
weight limit is 1200 lbs
This fella is a freaking genious!!!! He definitely deserves the skipper hat!!!
Would love to see a 4-year update on all the mods and durability of the boat.
i would love to see some on water action! Thank you for sharing
I'm impressed by the amount of work you put into that little thing! well done!
Thanks. It's been a fun project
Nice job! Appreciate the video for our upcoming project!
You did a hell of a job. I just got my Excursion 5 from amazon. Going to start building the floor & box/seats this weekend. I was going to inflate and deflate it every time I go to the lake. But after seeing this I think I might try and get a trailer like yours.
Matthew Swanson
haw mach it this in amazon
$125
Where is the video on taking car if the motor buckle
Where can I get some wiring to extend the power wires?
That's so cool. Next you can link two of them and turn it into a house boat.
Could you please send me the specs of the motor mount and the engine so I can order them.
What's the weight capacity..
very cool, i got an excursion 5 a week ago, you have given me a lot great ideas. Thanks
Glad you liked it. Good luck with your Excursion 5
how do you recharge the deep cycle battery?
I use a deep cell battery charger. The one I have is a Schumacker SC7500A (it's old, but works great).
Love what you did here! I bet it's fun!
I know this is an older video but by chance do you have a picture/video of the trailer without the raft? I’m thinking of taking on the project of getting a trailer like this and modifying for my raft. I have alot of the same things inside my raft. I don’t want to have to assemble/disassemble and inflate/deflate everytime I take it out. Thank you
I’m in the “same boat” 😂 and I too would like to just see the trailer.
Hello I have a excursion 5. Am looking for a good trailer. What type of trailer do you have if you don’t mind telling me.
What is weight rating on that raft it looks a little on the heavy side
This is fantastic. I have a Mariner 4. I have some ideas. The trailer was the main concern. Do you have a little more detail on how you put it together. Maybe step by step. Very creative 👍. Thanks
I GOT MINE NOT KNOWING PEOPLE WERE DOING THIS AND PUT A FLOOR AND MOTOR ON IT BUT NOW I SEE YOURS AND AM THINKING TO GO FURTHUR
The possibilities are endless. It's a fun project, for sure.
How far does your 1x6's stick out the back of your trailer
Only thing I wish you had a step by step video on everything you did, but I'm planning on doing something like this
Ordered my "BOAT" today ! Thanks for all the trailer ideas
I’ve just finished making the floor, it’s a snug fit apart from it is a little short on the front like yours, I thought I piped the mid section but it turned out the rubber washer fell out and let the air out slowly 😂
Hi Rob. Fabulous work and idea giving. Can you share a video of the launching process using a boat ramp, both detaching and attaching back up? Would love to see how you do it. My Excursion 4 mod is ready to go. Getting a hitch for my SUV and that 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer next weekend. Any help would be awesome!!
Hey Stephen. Sorry, but I don't have the IE5 together any more. I ended up moving to North Carolina and bought a 24 ft pontoon boat, so the Excursion won't be getting much use. However, I can tell you that the launching and loading process was pretty simple. The trailer doesn't need to go very deep in the water because the IE5 floats in very shallow water. A longer tongue on the trailer would be super helpful. I thought about having an extension welded on to the trailer but never did it. It really is a simple process because the IE5 is so buoyant. I hope that helps.
@@RobShambaugh yes sir. thank you so much for such a quick reply. Best of luck in NC. I've got cousins out there. I'm in Colorado myself. Looking forward to wrappin' this up and hittin' the lakes. You're work is "off the chain" . Got really excited watching your videos. Anyway, best of luck and I'll continue to subscribe. Thanks again.
@@stephenowens1965 Again, a big thanks to you. Put a little video together. Thought you'd get a kick out of it. Plugged your channel while I was at it. th-cam.com/video/w3xm0kxdOjc/w-d-xo.html
Ey tengo una duda, esos botes tienen matrícula.
Good video love the ideas you done to boat .roof video coming soon i hope .and are you doing one on the water .cheers for now
Good job on the mods man. I wish I could do stuff like this
Anyone tried the Minn Kota 45 lbs on this boat with the standard mount? Will it need the extra long aluminum posts to prevent sagging of the motor?
It worked fine with the Minn Kota 55lb motor. I think top speed on calm water is around 4mph with the 55. I've seen people use smaller motors but get frustrated with the speed. I don't think sagging is an issue if you have plenty of support for the motor mount (attach it to the floor or a seat somehow).
That looks awesome man! i really like it! that DEKA battey will neve run out of power on you at least lol i was curious about a trailer for my raft, looks like the inexpensive harbor freight trailer works and does the job perfect. thanks for the video. gave me a lot of good ideas and look forward to building my own. Please post a video of the canopy you decide to go with. would love to see outcome. cheers-
I ended up making my own canopy / bimini top. I posted a video here: th-cam.com/video/uEk_2AFpbIw/w-d-xo.html
Amazing build. How much does it weigh???????
have boat and was interested in adding steering. Like video and am interested in adding swivel seats as well as storage. Did a one piece floor but have fold up camping chairs. Really like your video
I think I would use a ratchet belt loop for the loader at the front of the boat instead of the wire loop.
Very nice. Can you tell me what the total weight with trailer is? Thanks
Vidio test on the water?
I think I have a video somewhere. But, I've been spending time lately on an aluminum jon boat and a fiberglass bass boat. You can see the jon boat project here: th-cam.com/video/Ps1rkkulCW4/w-d-xo.html
steering is by the wheel. do you have to turn handle on trolling motor to get power or do you have local switch near the seat so you do not have to turn around.
Yeah, I still have to turn the handle to set the speed I want (1-5 or reverse). But, I also have a button on the floor that turns the power on and off, so once I set the speed that I want, I just tap the button and it goes.
Good looking boat my man!! Me and my buddy bought one and we realized once on the water there is no standing up in it lol lol!!! The floor you have is what we need !!! Would you please be kind enough to send us the dimensions of the cut of plywood for the floor!! Thank you kindly!!
Yeah, you definitely need a floor. I don't have dimensions because it's not flat edged. The best way to do it is to lay the bottom of the boat on the sheet of plywood and trace the outline. The floor is slightly curved all the way around so you need to make sure to follow that. If you are going to add phone and carpeting like I did, leave a little bit of extra space all the way around so the padding and carpet will fit inside the boat.
Cool. Think I might do something like this. Gotta buy the raft first. Been watching videos to make up my mind on a good raft. Thanks
Go for it!
What is the typr of the trailer i dont know if you mentioned it
It's a 4x8 folding trailer from harbor freight
Nice video. Well done do you have any up dates ?
I got same trailer. Ya 2x4’s don’t fit. I’m guessing it’s metric size. You did good job with the carpeting.
This was so inspiring! Great job man!
Could you use a Honda Eu2000 Generator instead of the battery ?
Sorry, I don't know anything about that generator to give you any advice on it.
Just put two pvc pipes about 1.5m in the rear rod holders so you can see where trailer rear end is when reversing Remove it once you on the boat Bad idea the two screwed to the trailer Love your set up
nice boat...while is on your driveway......My question is: on nice summer day you will put a boat on cold water of the lake.....you are going to loose air pressure in your chambers.....how you going to pump air to outside chamber in middle of the lake?...:-)
The valves are easy to reach. Just take a pump if the colder water temperature causes the air pressure to drop. I've never had a problem with it. Typically, the heat from the sun causes the boat to get increased air pressure.
Nice. But I don't got the storage for this size thing. I have the excursion 5 and trolling motor. Inflate deflate kinda thing. I regret buying it now. And harbor freight doesn't sell those trailers anymore.
I have a question that maybe you can answer...I've been wanting to get one to go fishing but I'm not a hardcore enthusiast fisher, just 2 maybe 3 times a year or when I go camping take it with me... my question is do you have to have it register with the dmv if you don't plan on ever adding a motor!?
I think it depends on where you live. I believe you don't need to register it Virginia unless it has a motor, but I never really asked since I planned on putting a motor on it from the beginning. Your best bet is to call your local Fish & Game to clarify what's required in your area.
@@RobShambaugh local fish and game!?... where would I find them!?... would it be at the ranger station!?
@@epenaloza52 No idea. Where do you live?
Hey man amazing job on the boat!
Hey I’m going to purchase the boat on Amazon and I’m going to have someone make a flooring board for me but do you think it would work in two pieces. I’m asking because I’d be using public transportation and Uber‘s to get to the water and that long piece of wood wouldn’t work. I’d appreciate any thoughts you might have on how to make the floorboard transportable.
What size of conduit is used for the motor mount extensions?
I used 1" O.D.
Does it float?
Absolutely buddy thanks picked me up One today
Isn’t that too much weight?
What kind of battery did you use ? How many amps, and is it sealed??
What year did you buy that boat
Love the boat. Bought one last year here in California but with all the fires 🔥 I had to hold off on building. Now ready to do so. Questions : you think a foot pedal Minnekota 45 Edge trolling motor will be too heavy on the front end . And how about standing and fishing at same time ? I bass fish so I need to be standing constantly. Last question - do other boats wakes pose an issue ? A lot of the bigger boats out there will see you in these smaller boats and basically not care and zip by going 50-60.
Thanks. Glad you like it.
I've never considered a foot powered trolling motor on the front end, but I think it'd be fine if you came up with a platform that's solid enough to attach it to. The front of the raft has a LOT of plastic to rest it on. However, when you're moving along, you don't want the front of the boat to have TOO much weight because as you're moving, it will push into the water too deep. Ideally, the front should stay out of the water a bit a higher speeds.
I bass fish, also, and it's 100% solid enough for standing once you have the floor installed.
Wake is definitely a problem with this size boat. I don't worry about it capsizing because it sticks to the water like glue. The problem with that is, it causes the boat to flex like crazy. I've learned that turning the boat into the wake is the best way to stabilize it, but prepare for a rollercoaster ride (which I actually enjoy).
Good shit Rob. Now that I really checked out the front. Definitely a lot of plastic, might actually be in the way. Might make a side mount. But we will see. BTW - subbed and look forward to chatting in the near future.
Hi there , first of all great job it looks great
Can you do a video on the wiring system?
Hahaha. I really have no idea how I did the wires. I'm far form an electrician and every time I hooked up something new, I was hoping I wouldn't blow a fuse. I don't have the Excursion together right now, but the next time I pull it out, I'll try to put a video together.
I just bought the same boat last night.you did a great job on yours.i just sub 👍
Thanks!
What if it pops...
Just wondering what the Yamaha motorbike behind is? Thanks
It's a 1988 Yamaha Virago. My son's project bike.
Next video tell how you transport how you built the trailer or did you buy it?
Sorry, I really don't have plans for how I put the trailer together. I think I mentioned the basics in the video, but don't really go into details. I bought the trailer at Harbor Freight, measured the boat's bottom surface, then cut some 2x8 treated lumber to make some rails for it to rest on (carpeted with the same carpet as the boat's floor). I know that's not a lot of info, so maybe I'll be able to put together a How To Build the Trailer video later this Spring. No promises though since I'm in the middle of rebuilding a fiberglass bass boat.
job well done there..excellent work
Thanks!
Awesome build!
A really informative video. , what exactly called that outdoor carpet... where we can buy those. couldn't find that in amazon
Menards is cheap, local hardware store. Marine carpet is what they call it on Amazon but it's ridiculously priced. Menards had 4 x 12 feet for 16 dollars. You just have them ship it to the store. Search for the cheapest carpet. It's all you need. And I would use carpet glue to help waterproof the wood if you're not using ground contact plywood. I am because it's only about 10 bucks more and it'll fall apart before it rots!
I've been watching a lot of these boat mods and yours is awesome. Mine will be much simpler. I did the plywood floor and it looks great but it's so heavy ! not for the boat but for my back! I'm a woman in my sixties and my fishing buddy is on disability. We would love the rigid floor but need something light weight. I've been looking at 1 inch foam insulation board or maybe two boards. Would they be sturdy enough? Any suggestions?
How about the foam sheet with lightweight poplar plywood glued to it? You could cut it into a few pieces for easier lifting and storage. Poplar is a bit more expensive, but much lighter weight.
Rob Shambaugh great suggestion thank you. Weight is an issue for me as well. Trying to figure out how to do a floor but make it transportable and storable.
Great Mod on this boat but how close do the mods make it too the max weight? Considering a couple of adults weighing it down must put it close.
The weight limit is 1,000 pounds, so it's never been an issue for me. I weigh around 190, so another person my size would be less than 400 pounds of people weight, allowing another 600 pounds of "stuff".
@@RobShambaugh thanks didn't realise that it could take such a payload but after looking at the specs it can carry alot more than other inflatable boats.
Thinking of doing this myself now.
Is that plastic strong enough? Those seams on the boat remind me of like a cheap beachball. I'm afraid a slight prick of a fish hook will puncture. Awesome job on the build man... looks so professional.
"Strong enough" is a relative term. If you're just floating around a lake without rocks and sticks, you're in good shape. If you think it will survive going over sharp objects, you're mistaken. But, I have taken it to my local river and ran over some pretty scary rock ledges without issue. But every once in a while, I'll find a random leak that needs patched and I have no idea where it came from. Overall, the plastic is thicker and more durable than I expected. Remember, it only costs $150 or less. It's replaceable if you bust it.
Does that boat have to be registered?
only if you are going to add a trolling motor to it, and yes, you will want to add a trolling motor. This boat is quite big, and to enjoy it, a trolling motor is a must
Thanks for the information
Put you a radio on it and you're ready lol looks good man I like it
I like the radio idea!
Great, Damm Great, well made and explained - thank you
Thanks!
Hey Rob, built the boxes like you said ant their perfect. Another question though, I bought a similar trailer (craigslist) and wanted to know how you waterproofed your wiring for the trailer.
I just used wire nuts and filled them with silicone caulking. I also disassembled the lights and put silicone caulk everywhere I could find. They also sell waterproof light kits, but this is a budget project. Caulking worked fine for me.
Anyone: Would it be crazy to try to fill the chambers of this boat with floating foam?
awesome job🖒🖒. Greatings from the Netherlands.
Thanks. It's been a fun project, which I keep changing :)
Really nice bro..very inspiring. Thx for sharing
Thanks Nate. Glad you like it.
Nice job bud! What were your measurements for the floor if you don't mind me asking?
I'm not really sure of the measurements. The best way that I found (I've made a couple floors now) is to trace the shape of the bottom of the raft onto a sheet of plywood and use that as your cut line. The floor is actually a little longer than 8 feet. The first floor I made was a little short in the front of the boat, but it's no big deal. I also made a two-piece floor out of a 9 ft. piece of plywood and it fills the entire floor, obviously. Keep in mind that when you cut it, you need to allow space for the foam edging and the carpet (about an inch total). Good luck! Thanks for checking out my video.
Did you switch to a two part floor for any reason other than to make it more collapsible?
Awesome setup but what happens if it's pops?
Buy another one. It's only $100
Rob Shambaugh true, but I mean what if you lose all the stuff in the raft/boat when it pops?
Great job on your boat. How's the seams of the boat floor holding up to the plywood? I was worried about weight on the seams between the floor and side.
Onnie C everything is still in great shape
Are you still using it and how long have you been using it
When you ran your negative wire to your negative connection you need to use a wire that can handle the TOTAL current
Hi I’m looking to buy this boat, just wanted to ask if you ever had any problem with it, I seen some reviews about this boat saying it develops holes easily. Thanks in advance
It's definitely not thick plastic, but it's pretty durable. I wouldn't plan on taking it over rocks. I use it in a nearby lake and river and haven't had any problems. I've also see folks who do pop some holes, but they're easily patched. Thankfully, I haven't had to patch mine yet.
mind giving us a grand total for this set up boat and all?
Great question. I ended up adding a few more electronic parts and a couple other random things that came to mind. I imagine I ended up spending around $1,000 on everything, including the trailer. I ended up rebuilding a 12 ft Jon Boat (th-cam.com/video/Ps1rkkulCW4/w-d-xo.html), but the Excursion is much more stable. But, I fish around a lot of shallow water with rocks that make me a bit nervous (don't wanna pop the Exursion).
*OUTSTANDING*
Thanks 😊
Does it float tho
Haha. It's more stable than my jon boat.
Hi Rob. First class work and planning ‘ looks great …on stern plywood shortage, maybe expanding foam, would stop water running under between the ribs, if water does get in there a cant figure how to get out,
Anyway, have just liked and subscribe d.
🏴 From Scotland 🏴
Thanks for watching and for the comments. I've never had an issue with water getting under the platform, but I can see how that could happen. Foam sounds like a good solution.
Buying a trailer for a inflatable boat plus spending a shit ton of money on it is the way to go haha.
I noticed you didnt frame your boxes. Dont you have stability problems with them that way, especially the ones with seats?
Not at all. Since they're velcroe'd to the floor, they don't twist at all. They're glued and nailed all the way around with 2" air nails. Very solid.
Rob Shambaugh what kind/strength velcro you use?
www.lowes.com/pd/Scotch-1-in-Clear-Roll-Fastener/50246037
Did you have to top off the air before each outing? Or did the air stay in pretty good?