[Opry99er]

Boy wanted a raft for Christmas, so I bought the best one I could afford.

It's the INTEX Seahawk 4. I wanted to get the Sevylor Fish Hunter but was a little more money than I had and it didn't come with oars.

The Intex Seahawk 4 is made of the same 30 gauge PVC vinyl that the Fish Hunter is made of and is also convertible to an electric rig with the inexpensive motor mount (not getting that yet, but soon)

Many modifications can be made to it, including a hard floor, similar to fordo's Fish Hunter Laker boat.

I can get a cheap Minn Kota trolling motor at Wal Mart for under a hundred bucks and a decent 12V marine battery for about the same. The trolling motor and battery can be swapped out from the boat I'm buying in February, so I won't have to spend anything extra.

This raft comes with plenty of room and two oars, though they may be cheap and a bit short.... This will get us on the water and away from the shore for some good fishing opportunities. With my Lowrance fish finder and this new-found mobility, I'm hoping we can hit up some of these small lakes up here on the plateau and get into the perch and smallies that live up here. It'll be about worthless on the Tennessee River and any big reservoirs (unless the wind is light) but that stuff can wait a few months.

Paid $100 for the raft and oars, comes with a stupid hand pump which sucks and will be replaced with a 12v electric pump from Wal Mart before we hit the water for the first time.

Wish us luck.

 

[bobys]

Cool purchase buck should have fun with that, I have a raft I purchased years ago but really haven't used it much. I made plywood cutouts for the bottom and what not but fishing out of a raft is just a pain in the ass. Seems like a lot more room until you get two people sitting in it with a cooler!! Definitely will be cool for you guys on some of those ponds out there though, a big cat would haul you around!

 

[Opry99er]

The big cats don't live up here for some reason. We'll have to go down to the valley for those... But we'll be raft-floating the Caney for trout FOR SURE!!! Some 10 lb browns in there...

 

[Bionic Man]

Have fun! Is this a Christmas present?

 

[Opry99er]

It is. He wanted a boat for Christmas and this is all we had the $$ for. Here in a couple months we will be getting a big 17' boat, but since we've been having 50+ days and nights hovering around 32, waters are rockin on white bass, crappie, walleye, and yellow perch. This will get us out to em.

He will be happy... There are plenty of small waters around here to fish and this will get us out where we can use our Lowrance.

Once we get the motor mount and trolling motor, we will have to put a Hull ID number on the raft... That'll be a fun project for us in the Spring.

 

[andyrm66]

sweet!

 

[Zman]

sweet!

x2

 

[Fordo]

:rockon:

 

[tl1000r]

nice man.

 

[Opry99er]

Thx fellas. It's here and we are doing the best we can to keep it concealed from the boy til Christmas. . Right now I have it at the foot of my bed with a blanket over it and magazines on top of that. He hasn't seen or noticed yet.

 

[Opry99er]

Merry Christmas, all. Enjoy.

 

[hobiecat]

Very nice!

 

[pistoldog]

That's a freaken awesome video!!

 

[Fordo]

effing bad ass, now just go down get you a 4 x 8 of 1/2 inch sheet of ply wood, hopeflly you have a jig saw. once you cut the shape of the floor out, paint it with a good outdoor paint, glue pipe insualtion around the edges of the floor, and Bam you got a floor.
You also may want to consider building a small oar rigger frame withe metal or locks, eventually the plastic ones on the raft will break. I wish you were still in denver, id have a blast spending a few hours helping you inhance that lip rippin vessel.
Also remember to put together a little patch kit just encase.
Let me know if you have questions about building a frame I can send you scetches of how did mine back in the day to help give you some ideas.
Merry Christmas

 

[Zman]

Here is a floor video...

 

[Opry99er]

HEY THANKS ALL!!!!

fordo, I wish I were there too, man. Miss home already. I'd love to see your plans... Wood working tools are no no problem... Dad has all of em, routers, saws of all kinds, drill presses, the works.

I can't wait to start modifying this bad boy.

Thanks for the link, z!

This is turning out to be an awesome day... Buck just got a bunch of camping stuff from my mom and dad.

 

[Zman]

That's a freaken awesome video!!

x2!!!

 

[Opry99er]

Weather permitting, tomorrow will be the maiden voyage of the "F.V. Lip-Ripper"...

I don't think I'll be breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow, but I will try to do a traditional Navy christening, likely using the "prohibition-era" convention of using water from below the bow of the ship.

Ridiculous? Yea... but it's a big day for the boy.... I want to make his first experience as a fishing boat captain something to cherish and remember forever.

Anyway, we'll have fun.

 

[andyrm66]

Sounds awesome and some great memories for the both of you.

 

[Opry99er]

"For thousands of years, we have taken to the sea. We have built boats and have called them by name. In the tradition of the great sailors who came before us, we are here today to name this boat "The Fishing Vessel: Lip Ripper." We send her to sea to be cared for and to care for the Brand family by the will of God and the blessing of the sailors of old. May her keel stay strong!


To the Sea, To the Sailors before us, To the Fishing Vessel LIP RIPPER!!"