Jaime, would trailer coupler safety pin clips work on the motor mount? I've been scouring The Googles for the Atwood brackets, and stumbled on the safety pin clips...
I watched your newer video about moving to a full boat. As a long time Intex boater I was curious if you discussed what pushed you to make the leap? Obviously a full boat is more comfortable and stable but there must be a cost/benefit analysis you went through. Or do you still go inflatable at times?
I must say that the video is very well done. Please continue with any other DIY projects. You would surely help a lot of people with your special talent of making things very simple, practical and affordable. Thanks.
This was a very good video. You are one of the only persons I have watched that recommended laying down a tarp when inflating boats. It only takes a second and really reduces punctures. Thumbs up, happy to subscribe.
Alan Radmall thank you are watching and commenting. it's a nice boat and I am glad your found my tips helpful. if you have and additional tips, please let me know.
I use the inflatable seats and lean against the outside of the boat for back support. Staying low in the boat adds stability in choppy water. I added a fish finder to the motor mount by screwing the fish finder mount into the top bar of the motor mount at a 45 degree angle. I had to take the disc off the mounting pincers of the trolling motor and tighten the screw right into the plastic holes already in the top bar of the motor mount. The trolling motor had to be moved over a little to accommodate the fish finder mounting bracket. We have an actor on the bow to post up at a hole with a 25 foot rope, this boat drifts quickly in wind. We also have a bobber cooler that we can throw out of the boat attached by a string to the outer carrying ropes of the raft. This provides more foot room to stretch out and the water keeps the cooler colder than the hot raft.. Although by weight you could carry probably four adults, this raft is built for no more than two. I use a medium NRS raft bag that holds the floor, raft, paddles, pump, and seats in one contained and sturdy package. It is heavy, a two person lift or one person for less than 50 feet (150 pounds) but I usually get close enough to the boat launch I can do it myself. I have an extra battery I carry with me on trips longer than 5 days. After three days of hard fishing (8+ hrs/day) and charging overnight camping we are lucky to get 4 hours out of our battery by the fourth day. I bought another battery to keep charged at camp always so now power is never in short supply. I use an Interstate 27 deep marine battery and the same box you describe above. I have thought about the sailing options but this boat is very unpredictable in large waves or boat wakes or winds. I think it would be a good way to get wet if that is your goal. We put a light on our boat using a battery powered LED lantern hanging from a fishing pole in the bow mount. I have had mine for two years and used it well over 30 times. We have tactical fishing vests from NRS that have pockets to hold our terminal tackle, snips, and a few lures also saves foot space for tackle boxes. We use a stringer for the fish that ties on and hangs behind the boat (not inside). The less you can put in the floor of the boat the more room you have for stretching out or standing. Latest issue is it deflates some overnight so I have to pump it up a little each morning but aside from a few small patches it has held up well. Happy rafting!
Thank you Brother! I just got one of these boats and you really saved me a lot of learning time. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing information. God bless and godspeed. Love and respect from central Texas
Super video Jaime. I've gone from float tube, to kayak, and now looking at an inflatable as well. Love the floor ideas, seat, and motor mount set up. Thanks for sharing. Grace and peace, Bill
Hi Jaime, just happened to come across this video and I must say very very professional. Great presentation and explanation of equipment.i''m about to begin full time rving and was looking for a inflatable boat to take with me, I will be alone and need something that I can handle myself. Right now I'm looking at an sea eagle SE9 and others. Thank you I learned a lot. Tom PS I'm 71 years young
I'm going to do some sort of wood floor but I will get some marine grade mahogany ply and do the West System.... it's good looking and will last forever.
You could get some bodyboards and replace the wooden boards you have. Then they can be emergency floating devices if someone goes over or the boat leaks and is sinking just throw the whole board underneath. What are the dimensions of the floor they give you? Just the full length and width. I don't need specifics of the curved sections.
Have a similar setup, I ended up going with two collapsible hand trucks with over sized tires. Put the floor planks, battery center, and boat on one, then set the middle box, cooler fishing tackle etc on the second. I usually go with one other person so 30 minutes from car to fully set up at a lazy pace. Great vid.
Bahay Kubo thanks for watching and commenting. I really enjoy my M4 and hate to waste time setting up and breaking down... I hope these tips help you. of you come up with any, let me know.
The main reason I declined buying the M4 is that its not compatible for transom fold away/up transom wheels x2 which helps tremendously to maneuver and launch which is in my opinion very important. Yes are other ways and means to move from A to B but a pair of transom wheels is a win win for me.
Super good video. Just bought the 4 with motor mount and was getting really ticked off with all the nuts, screws and washers getting dropped in the sand. I hope Intex is watching your video for practical solutios.
Good Points shared. I'm constructing a Excursion 5. Have decided to use a 96" long by 48" wide harbor freight trailer that is adapted for the boat. I can deflate it at home, and fold the trailer. With wood treatment I understand that spraying auto Antifreeze with a good soak helps prevent rot of wood once a year. I do this with my rebuilt transom on my 16 ft 1973 seaswirl. 60 Hp Merc which was rebuilt also. Thanks for the Ideas.
Just repeating what others have already said, but a really great informative video! Thanks for taking the time to do that my friend 👍 I’ve just bought the boat and trolling motor ect, looking forward to taking it out.
great tips Jaime - my only advice would be to dump that battery box. while it sounds good and convenient, the circuitry inside the lip actually drains the battery quicker. I used to use, until one day I left it at home so just had the battery and was amazed at how much longer life I got from my battery without the box and circuitry. I tested it at home later and it definitely drains faster with the box lid on. now i just use the bottom part of the box to carry the battery in and dumped the top part with all the additional plugs and stuff and get longer battery life on the water.
You brought such a good point with the carpet info. It is totally better not to have carpet Incase like you said, it can get wet, and if fish bait goes on it with wet water it’ll smell sooo bad.
Great video Jaime. Just got the 4 and will apply your practical mods. Sometimes you wonder if the designers/engineers actually, in real time, use their products.Thanks again and keep on designing.
Outstanding video Jamie, I'm looking to purchase a mariner 3 very inexpensive that I can put in my camper so I can fish small lakes. This is really helpful and it convinced me to go ahead with the purchase and do some of these upgrades to it that you have done. Thanks for the great work keep it up
Jaime, great information. I just ordered an M4 for me and my grandson. The tips you provided will be very useful when preparing the boat for our first adventure. It doesn't matter if we don't catch any fish, but just getting out of the house will be so much fun.
I just purchased this boat. Thanks for the awesome information. We aren't using it for fishing, but for rafting down the american river, hopefully, this boat will work for us. I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet.
Kellie MacLaren It's a nice boat! It should make for an enjoyable boat. I am not sure if you just cruising around the river or white water rafting. I am very confident in this boat. Thanks for watching and commenting
Love your videos. No need in keeping your battery off the concrete. That's a carryover from when lead acid batteries were first made. All new ones are in plastic which insulates and prevents leakage current to earth ground. God bless.
Thanks for watching and for further explaining/correcting my limited research. This is my first deep cycle battery. I did a lot of reading on forums and just grabbed up bits of this and that to be as successful and I could be. I should have researched "why" elevate the battery rather than just doing it. :) God bless you as well -JaimeAstin
Thank you so much, as a new interacts for boat owner these tips are going to make my life much more enjoyable. And I watched the whole thing and I’m gonna go watch Brother video about what you do at the lake. But that tip at the very end about how you get everything from the car to the water that is a great one. Someone else had mentioned getting a hand cart but I like your approach better. Again just a very well done video bravo
Your video is absolutely the most informative I've seen. I just picked up a Mariner 4, Minn Kota Battery box and all the goodies. Can't wait to outfit it and get it on the water. Keep up the videos.
Late to the game but that hair clip/hitch pin idea is brilliant. Have the same boat but different label and no floor. I use a tote with wheels and locking lid. Stows nicely under the 5th wheel with all but the oars.
Thanks for the video Jaime. I will use the segmented floor idea, but probably a few inches wider. Your video reminded me of an old, old joke around the South. Two things you never hear a Southern man say: "Honey, I don't know if I can fix that with duct tape," and "Honey, I was in Walmart today and didn't see anything I could use." (My brother lived in Russellville AR and I have a place down near Ocean Springs MS.) Dave from Alaska
Dave Riley Lol, yeah I was born and raised in Arkansas. Always have duct tape and some jn quick weld handy, lol! Thanks for watching.
5 ปีที่แล้ว +7
The "never put your lead/acid battery on concrete" protocol has been entirely moot since they started putting them in sealed nylon cases, decades ago. .
Enjoyed the video, a friend of mine just bought the Intex 3. FYI the first pins you show with the latch can be bought at any farm supply store and most general hardware stores (Tractor Supply co, Harbor Freight, etc). Some call them safety pins or PTO lock pins. I've had those hitch pins vibrate out on me from time to time, where the others don't come out unless they shear off.
I Want Answers Podcast congrats! its raining here, still thinking of going out, lol. let me know how you like it and please share any tips in the future. happy new year.
Charlie Abrams great. we were in it these past two weekends. we had a fun , caught many fish and just enjoyed ourselves. every thing was packed up before and after quickly. I will post a new video... tonight or tomorrow
Looking forward to it! So glad I came across your channel. A friend of mine is really trying to get into fishing, but every time I take him out we never catch anything. Hoping this year we will have some luck.
Excellent video Jamie.. I got 1 of these boats a cpl of weeks ago but have not used it yet...U have a bunch of great ideas...thank u for posting them.....Todd
What a great job you did with this video. You answered every thing I needed to know and the hitch pin idea is beyond compare for thinking this through.
Thanks! I have a brand new video that will come to show my latest recommendation for the floor... Stay tuned. I will try to remember to send you a link when it is up!
Bro you are a straight up genius. I wanna make a video of my intex 4 mods soon! Got a 4hp mariner, as well as an electric motor. Custom galv frame built into the motor mount, with drift boat Oars. I put it on its own flatbed trailer. It's not perfect but a fun budget build. Lucky I have the room for it. I wish I could focus like you, dad life got me running crazy (no excuses) 😂
i like your tips, i personally just leave the engine mount on the boat when i deflate and roll it up, those hitch pins are a great tip, i left my boat in the sun and the plastic planks melted and bent in the sun
Thanks for watching and leaving the comment. I have a wooden plank that I might switch to instead of the plastic plank... That would not be cool to be fishing all that and it warps and something crazy happens. Good luck out there and if you have any tips, please pass them on.JaimeAstin
I thought I was the only one using wire whips instead of those blasted screws for the motor mount! You can find them at OSH, HD Lowes etc in the bin shelves were all of the specialty hardware and fasteners are As always, thanks for another video
Thank you for naming places to find the tools. The screws were just a painfully inefficient way to secure the mount to the boat. I can have the mount on or off in seconds compared to the minute or two using the short, cumbersome, screw and bolt. Thank you for watching. More to come jaime
Useful information Jaime. I am in the process of research for a boat right now and runed into you by chance. I am George and for your info I am in Greece. Looking forward to be in touch with you soon and after I conclude with purchasing a boat. It's not an easy decision as I live near the sea, so my fishing will be in the sea which is not the easiest thing ever as you probably know. Looking forward to our next '' session " nice to have " met " you Jaime !!!
Pure Catch Outdoors I am just happy you and others enjoyed it. I love my Mariner 4 and we use it the same. I have had mine almost a year. if you have any tips, please pass them on. enjoy and take care.
Jaime--you are the King. Fantastic video! I'm going be picking up one of these in a few weeks, and you gave me me some ideas. Here's my deal: 1) I'm in South Florida, gonna use it in freshwater preserves/ the Everglades. However, I have a modified Harbor Freight trailer for boat use, parked in my backyard, so I'm planning on keeping her "almost" fully inflated and ready to go at any time. So for the floor, a solid full size isn't a problem for me, but it seems to make more sense to just screw some long slats crosswise the entire length of the existing floor. I assume I would use wood for this, but any other ideas? Also, the supplied floor has aluminum slats, right? So I would have to use sheet metal screws? 2) Any reason you used those weird contraptions for the top of the motor mount, but hitch pins for the bottom connections? Would the pins on the top scrape the boat? 3) As far as electronics, I'm an idiot. What are the model #s of the MinnKotta power center and Stanley charger, and what kind of bucks? That's it for NOW, and thanks again for the informative video!
Hey Jamie: I wanted to ask if you still have and use the mariner 4. Since the video is two years old I would Like to ask for your detailed review. I am thinking about getting one over the winter and prepare it for April. Thanks a lot for the videos. Iwill take a couple of your tips with me. The pins for the motor mount is the best one so far. Love your enthusiasm for fishing. we really are big kids.
Hitch pin is awesome, you may consider a lanyard attaching to the mount, of course I imagine you have extras, great ideas on your setup bud! Good fishing!!
Hey man nice video so i had a question and tips. I'm going to Big Bear on July on an inflatable boat for the first time with my Wife, i might be doing the floors you did & just adding some chairs, is it hard to get it to the side of the dock? or they want you sailing off from the Doc? I also wanted to know if its really hard with that weight to just paddle around the lake, I'm not to sure about the motor and battery yet since i would need to buy a battery box protector and a battery charger right, i cant find any on amazon.??
GREAT video! Thanks so much for taking the time to make and post this. I'm looking into the Intex Mariner 4 myself and you have some really useful information in here!
Mike Bromelow thanks Mike. I really appreciate the feedback. I am sure you will enjoy your M4. if you have any tips in the future, let know. have fun and stay safe. JaimeAstin
Jamie. Our first day on our intex, the first thing that happened was the prop started to go under the boat at the highest speed. It deformed the rubber a bit, we got scared and came back in. Now we don’t know what to do.
I don't think you have enough air in the boat. The boat should not deform even with weight in it. So it sounds like it's under pressure. What size prop are you using? A lot of people have used five horsepower or more outboards with these boats and they still don't have an issue. So put some more air in it. The hand pump will actually put more air in it than using those electric pumps. I use electric pump take all the work out of it, but I top it off with the hand pump. Try that
Joseph Laine that's great! I hope they do. you will enjoy it. I wanted to take mine out today, but just didn't have the time. congrats and thanks for commenting.
Could have cut the floor into 4s. That would make them smaller and still fit the entire bottom, and they could easily tie together. How did the boat hold up over time? Im thinking of getting some inflatable to get out on the water, really want a pontoon but with this i can bring another person with me and this is pretty affordable.
I also have the same battery box as you. I’m not real confident in the strap that holds it together. I do use the strap but I use an old belt as a secondary support just in case. 60 pounds is a lot to drop on your foot!😂
@@dougrichardson1980 I hear you. The strap never broke on me. You'll be surprised how many components use a nylon strap with a plastic buckle to carry a lot of weight.... With that being said I wouldn't test breaking my foot. get you a ratcheting strap or a cam locking nylon strap. You can always cut it and melt the ends so it won't fray anymore.
@@dougrichardson1980 It's a good battery box. You can also use it when you go camping and things like that. You can have a power source so when you're not using your boat, you can still use it. I'll even use mine for a little things like blackouts.
Awesome video and great ideas Jaime! I've got the smaller cousin, the Seahawk II, unfortunately doesn't come with the same flooring as yours so I've just been accepting the inflatable floor as is. Definitely giving your hitch pin idea a go, I hate all the little pieces that come with the transom.
Hi Jamie great tips I definitely used a good percentage of them. I wondered what type of wood you used you mentioned that it was “treated wood” and I’m not sure what that meant. Thanks for the great videos.
I used to work in the lumber department at Lowe’s. Treated wood refers to wood that has been treated with chemicals. Treated wood is great for building things like furniture, but you can’t burn it and it is heavier.
Hello Jaime. This is George the Geek ha ha ha. Guess what mate I just bought the mariner 4 today, so I am repeatedly looking at your video as to start implying most of your ideas. I guess I have a lot to do my friend and unfortunately we don't have cosco and all the great places that exist in the states, so one at a time but surely I will get there. Will be getting back to you whenever I will need advice. The summer is around the corner so hopefully I will apply the most essential things on my " raft " one of the major issues that I am faced with is the type of motor I will be buying. Not quite sure on this issue I will appreciate your help on this ( pluses and minuses ) between the electric and the gasoline one. Looking forward to your recommendations on this issue. Wishing you a good day here is night !!
The hitch pin idea is genius. You were so informative. Great job.
thank you!
Jaime, would trailer coupler safety pin clips work on the motor mount? I've been scouring The Googles for the Atwood brackets, and stumbled on the safety pin clips...
4 years later - i saw this and purchased the pins straight away. this is the most measured new inflatable owner videos on youtube.
Man, your voice is so pleasant and your script is well thought out. Lots of great points, thanks for taking the time!
Thank you. I just wantesbto share some tips that helped me. I appreciate all feedback. Thank you for watching
I watched your newer video about moving to a full boat. As a long time Intex boater I was curious if you discussed what pushed you to make the leap? Obviously a full boat is more comfortable and stable but there must be a cost/benefit analysis you went through. Or do you still go inflatable at times?
I must say that the video is very well done. Please continue with any other DIY projects. You would surely help a lot of people with your special talent of making things very simple, practical and affordable. Thanks.
This was a very good video. You are one of the only persons I have watched that recommended laying down a tarp when inflating boats. It only takes a second and really reduces punctures. Thumbs up, happy to subscribe.
As a new owner I really appreciate your tips. I am going to do all of your suggestions. Thanks for the post.
Alan Radmall
thank you are watching and commenting. it's a nice boat and I am glad your found my tips helpful. if you have and additional tips, please let me know.
I use the inflatable seats and lean against the outside of the boat for back support. Staying low in the boat adds stability in choppy water. I added a fish finder to the motor mount by screwing the fish finder mount into the top bar of the motor mount at a 45 degree angle. I had to take the disc off the mounting pincers of the trolling motor and tighten the screw right into the plastic holes already in the top bar of the motor mount. The trolling motor had to be moved over a little to accommodate the fish finder mounting bracket. We have an actor on the bow to post up at a hole with a 25 foot rope, this boat drifts quickly in wind. We also have a bobber cooler that we can throw out of the boat attached by a string to the outer carrying ropes of the raft. This provides more foot room to stretch out and the water keeps the cooler colder than the hot raft.. Although by weight you could carry probably four adults, this raft is built for no more than two. I use a medium NRS raft bag that holds the floor, raft, paddles, pump, and seats in one contained and sturdy package. It is heavy, a two person lift or one person for less than 50 feet (150 pounds) but I usually get close enough to the boat launch I can do it myself. I have an extra battery I carry with me on trips longer than 5 days. After three days of hard fishing (8+ hrs/day) and charging overnight camping we are lucky to get 4 hours out of our battery by the fourth day. I bought another battery to keep charged at camp always so now power is never in short supply. I use an Interstate 27 deep marine battery and the same box you describe above. I have thought about the sailing options but this boat is very unpredictable in large waves or boat wakes or winds. I think it would be a good way to get wet if that is your goal. We put a light on our boat using a battery powered LED lantern hanging from a fishing pole in the bow mount. I have had mine for two years and used it well over 30 times. We have tactical fishing vests from NRS that have pockets to hold our terminal tackle, snips, and a few lures also saves foot space for tackle boxes. We use a stringer for the fish that ties on and hangs behind the boat (not inside). The less you can put in the floor of the boat the more room you have for stretching out or standing. Latest issue is it deflates some overnight so I have to pump it up a little each morning but aside from a few small patches it has held up well. Happy rafting!
Never thought about finding a better raft bag. I will look for one.
floorboard design and hitchpin ideas are BRILLIANT man. will 100% be doing the same.
Thank you Brother!
I just got one of these boats and you really saved me a lot of learning time. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing information.
God bless and godspeed.
Love and respect from central Texas
Thank you so much. I seen other videos showing off their mods but no one wants to share how they did it. Much appreciated. You take care.
Super video Jaime. I've gone from float tube, to kayak, and now looking at an inflatable as well. Love the floor ideas, seat, and motor mount set up. Thanks for sharing. Grace and peace, Bill
Hi Jaime, just happened to come across this video and I must say very very professional. Great presentation and explanation of equipment.i''m about to begin full time rving and was looking for a inflatable boat to take with me, I will be alone and need something that I can handle myself. Right now I'm looking at an sea eagle SE9 and others. Thank you I learned a lot. Tom PS I'm 71 years young
I'm going to do some sort of wood floor but I will get some marine grade mahogany ply and do the West System.... it's good looking and will last forever.
Going with a lithium battery to save weight and life is a great idea. It's worth the cost in time and usage
You could get some bodyboards and replace the wooden boards you have. Then they can be emergency floating devices if someone goes over or the boat leaks and is sinking just throw the whole board underneath. What are the dimensions of the floor they give you? Just the full length and width. I don't need specifics of the curved sections.
Have a similar setup, I ended up going with two collapsible hand trucks with over sized tires. Put the floor planks, battery center, and boat on one, then set the middle box, cooler fishing tackle etc on the second. I usually go with one other person so 30 minutes from car to fully set up at a lazy pace. Great vid.
Always better with to people. Nice boat to have though.
I love how informative you are and still asking for improvement suggestions. So sweet 🤗
Annie Shahid
Best comment ever, you said I was sweet!
I learn so much from others and love to share what I can.
I'm about to buy the mariner 4 and I'm glad I saw your video. I will definitely mirror what your doing Jaime, just genius.
Bahay Kubo
thanks for watching and commenting. I really enjoy my M4 and hate to waste time setting up and breaking down... I hope these tips help you. of you come up with any, let me know.
The main reason I declined buying the M4 is that its not compatible for transom fold away/up transom wheels x2 which helps tremendously to maneuver and launch which is in my opinion very important.
Yes are other ways and means to move from A to B but a pair of transom wheels is a win win for me.
Bought the tow pins as soon as I saw the video. You saved me a bunch of time and effort attaching the motor mount. Thank you!
Super good video. Just bought the 4 with motor mount and was getting really ticked off with all the nuts, screws and washers getting dropped in the sand. I hope Intex is watching your video for practical solutios.
I just bought one of these boats. Thank you for these valuable tips! Have a great day and be safe on the water 😊
You're welcome. These are very good boats. Much better than expected and accessible for people in the city. I wish I had tried it sooner
@jaimeastin I agree, why did I wait this long? Going to try it out this weekend if the weather cooperates.
Love your hints. I already lost one of this motor mount screws. Will definitely but the R clips. Very useful. Thanks
Good Points shared. I'm constructing a Excursion 5. Have decided to use a 96" long by 48" wide harbor freight trailer that is adapted for the boat. I can deflate it at home, and fold the trailer. With wood treatment I understand that spraying auto Antifreeze with a good soak helps prevent rot of wood once a year. I do this with my rebuilt transom on my 16 ft 1973 seaswirl. 60 Hp Merc which was rebuilt also. Thanks for the Ideas.
Just repeating what others have already said, but a really great informative video!
Thanks for taking the time to do that my friend 👍
I’ve just bought the boat and trolling motor ect, looking forward to taking it out.
great tips Jaime - my only advice would be to dump that battery box. while it sounds good and convenient, the circuitry inside the lip actually drains the battery quicker. I used to use, until one day I left it at home so just had the battery and was amazed at how much longer life I got from my battery without the box and circuitry. I tested it at home later and it definitely drains faster with the box lid on. now i just use the bottom part of the box to carry the battery in and dumped the top part with all the additional plugs and stuff and get longer battery life on the water.
You brought such a good point with the carpet info. It is totally better not to have carpet Incase like you said, it can get wet, and if fish bait goes on it with wet water it’ll smell sooo bad.
I really didn't think I was gonna watch all 24 min of this video, but I did. Very informative , thx bro and happy fishing.
Great video Jaime. Just got the 4 and will apply your practical mods. Sometimes you wonder if the designers/engineers actually, in real time, use their products.Thanks again and keep on designing.
Great information!! Thanks 100%. The tarp is something that I hadn't thought of yet... Thanks for saving me lots of time.
Thanks Jaime. Just bought the Mariner 4 so your video continues to be really helpful!
Outstanding video Jamie, I'm looking to purchase a mariner 3 very inexpensive that I can put in my camper so I can fish small lakes. This is really helpful and it convinced me to go ahead with the purchase and do some of these upgrades to it that you have done. Thanks for the great work keep it up
Very practical approach to sitting, storage, attaching, and transport. Great presentation. 5 stars!
Randy Banta
Thank you Randy! I hope it helps you. If you ever have any tips, let me know.
Fantastic video. Wife and I are buying one of these tomorrow.
Jaime, great information. I just ordered an M4 for me and my grandson. The tips you provided will be very useful when preparing the boat for our first adventure. It doesn't matter if we don't catch any fish, but just getting out of the house will be so much fun.
This is a super informative video, thank you very much Jaime. Also, you have a great calming voice!
Your ideas are great. The hitch pin idea is something I'll totally try. Thanks for sharing.
valentine3380 thanks for watching and for the feedback. The hitch pins work exceptionally well. You can find them at Lowe's/home Depot.
Mine arrives Sept 2nd . Looks like fun portable boat .
I just purchased this boat. Thanks for the awesome information. We aren't using it for fishing, but for rafting down the american river, hopefully, this boat will work for us. I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet.
Kellie MacLaren
It's a nice boat! It should make for an enjoyable boat. I am not sure if you just cruising around the river or white water rafting. I am very confident in this boat.
Thanks for watching and commenting
👍the cotter pins are genius, im gonna use all 4
Love your videos. No need in keeping your battery off the concrete. That's a carryover from when lead acid batteries were first made. All new ones are in plastic which insulates and prevents leakage current to earth ground. God bless.
Thanks for watching and for further explaining/correcting my limited research. This is my first deep cycle battery. I did a lot of reading on forums and just grabbed up bits of this and that to be as successful and I could be. I should have researched "why" elevate the battery rather than just doing it. :)
God bless you as well
-JaimeAstin
Thank you so much, as a new interacts for boat owner these tips are going to make my life much more enjoyable. And I watched the whole thing and I’m gonna go watch Brother video about what you do at the lake. But that tip at the very end about how you get everything from the car to the water that is a great one. Someone else had mentioned getting a hand cart but I like your approach better.
Again just a very well done video bravo
Great ideas and great explanation of reasoning for how and why you do it Thanks
Your video is absolutely the most informative I've seen. I just picked up a Mariner 4, Minn Kota Battery box and all the goodies. Can't wait to outfit it and get it on the water. Keep up the videos.
Jamie AWESOME video. I’m getting a Mariner 4. Been researching all winter. Watching videos now time to get moving. Thanks again Darlene
Darlene Ward
Thanks Darlene. I hope you enjoy yours.
Great Job...I will buy myself a Mariner 4. The hitch pin is excellent. I will built it for sailing. Thank You..
Late to the game but that hair clip/hitch pin idea is brilliant. Have the same boat but different label and no floor. I use a tote with wheels and locking lid. Stows nicely under the 5th wheel with all but the oars.
Thanks for the video Jaime. I will use the segmented floor idea, but probably a few inches wider. Your video reminded me of an old, old joke around the South. Two things you never hear a Southern man say: "Honey, I don't know if I can fix that with duct tape," and "Honey, I was in Walmart today and didn't see anything I could use." (My brother lived in Russellville AR and I have a place down near Ocean Springs MS.) Dave from Alaska
Dave Riley
Lol, yeah I was born and raised in Arkansas. Always have duct tape and some jn quick weld handy, lol!
Thanks for watching.
The "never put your lead/acid battery on concrete" protocol has been entirely moot since they started putting them in sealed nylon cases, decades ago.
.
This is a great video. My wife and I really appreciate your information and insights.
Enjoyed the video, a friend of mine just bought the Intex 3. FYI the first pins you show with the latch can be bought at any farm supply store and most general hardware stores (Tractor Supply co, Harbor Freight, etc). Some call them safety pins or PTO lock pins. I've had those hitch pins vibrate out on me from time to time, where the others don't come out unless they shear off.
our Intex is on the way and your ideas are excellent. Thank you!
Nice video. Can you make more videos with the boat fully setup. Maybe some footage with it in the water. Great Job
thanks for watching. I have more videos with it in... I have just taken a break from making videos. I will have a new set of videos next week.
Just the tips and instructions I was looking for my new Sea hawk 4 boat. THANK YOU !!
Just got a Minn Kota 30Lb, a nice Battery and charger and I can not wait
until the weather warms up a bit to test it out. So stoked
I Want Answers Podcast
congrats! its raining here, still thinking of going out, lol. let me know how you like it and please share any tips in the future.
happy new year.
I can't wait to try some of your suggestions. I just bought the mariner 4, and trying to make it more useful for fishing! Thanks so much!
Charlie Abrams great. we were in it these past two weekends. we had a fun , caught many fish and just enjoyed ourselves. every thing was packed up before and after quickly. I will post a new video... tonight or tomorrow
Looking forward to it! So glad I came across your channel. A friend of mine is really trying to get into fishing, but every time I take him out we never catch anything. Hoping this year we will have some luck.
Great video! Most detailed video on inflatable boats I’ve seen!
Excellent video Jamie.. I got 1 of these boats a cpl of weeks ago but have not used it yet...U have a bunch of great ideas...thank u for posting them.....Todd
What a great job you did with this video. You answered every thing I needed to know and the hitch pin idea is beyond compare for thinking this through.
Thanks! I have a brand new video that will come to show my latest recommendation for the floor... Stay tuned. I will try to remember to send you a link when it is up!
Excellent video. Thank you for all the tips. The ingenuity and use of time was executed with great mastery.
Hey man, great video. Thanks for all the tips, definitely beats spending 4K on the Flycraft inflatable
Fantastic--practical and concise.
Thanks!
Brilliant Tips all round ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏴 I have the Mariner 3 and Electric Motor
Bro you are a straight up genius. I wanna make a video of my intex 4 mods soon! Got a 4hp mariner, as well as an electric motor. Custom galv frame built into the motor mount, with drift boat Oars. I put it on its own flatbed trailer. It's not perfect but a fun budget build. Lucky I have the room for it. I wish I could focus like you, dad life got me running crazy (no excuses) 😂
Take your time. Dad life is good... I want to get there one day
@@jaimeastin Aye, you would be a dialed Dad, no doubt.
i like your tips, i personally just leave the engine mount on the boat when i deflate and roll it up, those hitch pins are a great tip, i left my boat in the sun and the plastic planks melted and bent in the sun
Thanks for watching and leaving the comment. I have a wooden plank that I might switch to instead of the plastic plank... That would not be cool to be fishing all that and it warps and something crazy happens. Good luck out there and if you have any tips, please pass them on.JaimeAstin
You are very good at reeling what to do with the boat. Think you
I thought I was the only one using wire whips instead of those blasted screws for the motor mount! You can find them at OSH, HD Lowes etc in the bin shelves were all of the specialty hardware and fasteners are
As always, thanks for another video
Thank you for naming places to find the tools. The screws were just a painfully inefficient way to secure the mount to the boat. I can have the mount on or off in seconds compared to the minute or two using the short, cumbersome, screw and bolt.
Thank you for watching. More to come
jaime
Great tips. We recently purchased a Mariner 4 and will use some of your ideas. Thank you
Thanks for all of this valuable info! By the way, you should be doing voiceover work my guy.
those r-clips are a great idea. I'm going to get some of those.
What are the measurements of the 2 floor pieces including the slant? (so top length and side lengths)? I would have to ask someone to cut it for me..
Useful information Jaime. I am in the process of research for a boat right now and runed into you by chance. I am George and for your info I am in Greece. Looking forward to be in touch with you soon and after I conclude with purchasing a boat. It's not an easy decision as I live near the sea, so my fishing will be in the sea which is not the easiest thing ever as you probably know. Looking forward to our next '' session " nice to have " met " you Jaime !!!
I will be happy to help anywhere I can. Thanks for watching the video
@@jaimeastin Thank you a lot !!
Great video! I have an Intex Seahawk 2 and the K2 explorer kayak. I’m been considering the Mariner 4. Great tips.
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this awesome video. It's going to help me out a lot with my new mariner 4
Pure Catch Outdoors
I am just happy you and others enjoyed it. I love my Mariner 4 and we use it the same. I have had mine almost a year. if you have any tips, please pass them on.
enjoy and take care.
Jaime--you are the King. Fantastic video!
I'm going be picking up one of these in a few weeks, and you gave me me some ideas. Here's my deal:
1) I'm in South Florida, gonna use it in freshwater preserves/ the Everglades. However, I have a modified Harbor Freight trailer for boat use, parked in my backyard, so I'm planning on keeping her "almost" fully inflated and ready to go at any time.
So for the floor, a solid full size isn't a problem for me, but it seems to make more sense to just screw some long slats crosswise the entire length of the existing floor. I assume I would use wood for this, but any other ideas? Also, the supplied floor has aluminum slats, right? So I would have to use sheet metal screws?
2) Any reason you used those weird contraptions for the top of the motor mount, but hitch pins for the bottom connections? Would the pins on the top scrape the boat?
3) As far as electronics, I'm an idiot. What are the model #s of the MinnKotta power center and Stanley charger, and what kind of bucks?
That's it for NOW, and thanks again for the informative video!
I love the pin Idea thanks🙏🏽🙌🏽, Yesterday I almost die carrying everything so today I bought a wagon lije that one 150lb Today I So happyyyy
Hey Jamie:
I wanted to ask if you still have and use the mariner 4. Since the video is two years old I would Like to ask for your detailed review. I am thinking about getting one over the winter and prepare it for April. Thanks a lot for the videos. Iwill take a couple of your tips with me. The pins for the motor mount is the best one so far. Love your enthusiasm for fishing. we really are big kids.
Thanks for the tips. Great video and time saver . I will be using all of your ideas
Thank you Jamie....great video😊awesome info for me to use for my boat.....Respectfully; daniel
Hitch pin is awesome, you may consider a lanyard attaching to the mount, of course I imagine you have extras, great ideas on your setup bud! Good fishing!!
Hey, great video, how many pounds can this boat withstand for passengers? (just using what it comes with and the motor and mount) Thanks so much.
Hey man nice video so i had a question and tips. I'm going to Big Bear on July on an inflatable boat for the first time with my Wife, i might be doing the floors you did & just adding some chairs, is it hard to get it to the side of the dock? or they want you sailing off from the Doc? I also wanted to know if its really hard with that weight to just paddle around the lake, I'm not to sure about the motor and battery yet since i would need to buy a battery box protector and a battery charger right, i cant find any on amazon.??
I like your way of thinking im probably going to do that to mine.. makes it still portable ;)
thanks. so far, so good for me. I take it out, set it up, fish... break it down. I have set it up under 15 mins when I really want to get going.
Very informative, thanks for sharing!
GREAT video! Thanks so much for taking the time to make and post this. I'm looking into the Intex Mariner 4 myself and you have some really useful information in here!
Mike Bromelow
thanks Mike. I really appreciate the feedback. I am sure you will enjoy your M4. if you have any tips in the future, let know.
have fun and stay safe.
JaimeAstin
Jamie. Our first day on our intex, the first thing that happened was the prop started to go under the boat at the highest speed. It deformed the rubber a bit, we got scared and came back in. Now we don’t know what to do.
I don't think you have enough air in the boat. The boat should not deform even with weight in it. So it sounds like it's under pressure. What size prop are you using? A lot of people have used five horsepower or more outboards with these boats and they still don't have an issue. So put some more air in it. The hand pump will actually put more air in it than using those electric pumps. I use electric pump take all the work out of it, but I top it off with the hand pump. Try that
Love the hitch pins. I'm totally getting some now. Thanks for the video!
Great Video! Very helpful. May i ask how long you've had and how often you use the boat?
Just got my Mariner 4 and your hints will be very helpful.
Joseph Laine
that's great! I hope they do. you will enjoy it. I wanted to take mine out today, but just didn't have the time. congrats and thanks for commenting.
Mate that was a brilliant video, answering every question i had about this boat. 👌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
love this vid. Been looking for a good, cheap boat but my lakes have a lot of structure so I'm worried about punctures
Nice video dude. I'm considering one of these boats. Not sure what I'll do about the floor situation but I like your idea.
Could have cut the floor into 4s. That would make them smaller and still fit the entire bottom, and they could easily tie together. How did the boat hold up over time? Im thinking of getting some inflatable to get out on the water, really want a pontoon but with this i can bring another person with me and this is pretty affordable.
I have been using your hitch pin idea... Luv it!
Yeah... Irs a time saver for sure. Not sure why intex hasn't changed it yet!
Thanks for the feedback!
I also have the same battery box as you. I’m not real confident in the strap that holds it together. I do use the strap but I use an old belt as a secondary support just in case. 60 pounds is a lot to drop on your foot!😂
@@dougrichardson1980 I hear you. The strap never broke on me. You'll be surprised how many components use a nylon strap with a plastic buckle to carry a lot of weight.... With that being said I wouldn't test breaking my foot. get you a ratcheting strap or a cam locking nylon strap. You can always cut it and melt the ends so it won't fray anymore.
@@dougrichardson1980 It's a good battery box. You can also use it when you go camping and things like that. You can have a power source so when you're not using your boat, you can still use it. I'll even use mine for a little things like blackouts.
Awesome video and great ideas Jaime! I've got the smaller cousin, the Seahawk II, unfortunately doesn't come with the same flooring as yours so I've just been accepting the inflatable floor as is. Definitely giving your hitch pin idea a go, I hate all the little pieces that come with the transom.
Ian L.
cool. the Seahawk is really cool. I looked s it as well.
Great video, Jamie with lots of useful tips. Going to buy a Mariner 4 in a few weeks.
Those first pins you can find at Home Depot or pretty much anywhere like that just look up scaffolding pins
Really great video! I appreciate the information. I plan on getting an Intex in the next couple of weeks.
Hi Jamie great tips I definitely used a good percentage of them. I wondered what type of wood you used you mentioned that it was “treated wood” and I’m not sure what that meant. Thanks for the great videos.
I used to work in the lumber department at Lowe’s. Treated wood refers to wood that has been treated with chemicals. Treated wood is great for building things like furniture, but you can’t burn it and it is heavier.
I did the exact same floor setup in boat it was an awesome idea thank you!
Hello Jaime. This is George the Geek ha ha ha. Guess what mate I just bought the mariner 4 today, so I am repeatedly looking at your video as to start implying most of your ideas. I guess I have a lot to do my friend and unfortunately we don't have cosco and all the great places that exist in the states, so one at a time but surely I will get there. Will be getting back to you whenever I will need advice. The summer is around the corner so hopefully I will apply the most essential things on my " raft " one of the major issues that I am faced with is the type of motor I will be buying. Not quite sure on this issue I will appreciate your help on this ( pluses and minuses ) between the electric and the gasoline one. Looking forward to your recommendations on this issue. Wishing you a good day here is night !!
Finally I decide to get mariner 4 lol thanks for the tips!