Saturn Inflatable Boats
- Thread starter stlof
- Start date
I bought one of the Kaboat models made by saturn and was impressed by the materials and features. It was left inflated all winter and never needed more air.
I have it for sale now on Craigslist because we have moved on to a Portland Pudgy.
$385 for a nearly new 12 foot Kaboat if anyone is interested
I have it for sale now on Craigslist because we have moved on to a Portland Pudgy.
$385 for a nearly new 12 foot Kaboat if anyone is interested
Jeff & Mimi
New member
stlof":xzfwd4ca said:
I haven't had any experiance with a saturn but I just wanted to say that we use a 9' Avon Redcrest for our tender and it fit's on the top of our 22FT. angler great. I think it weights 47 pounds. From the cockpit I turn it upside down and can easy get it up on the roof of the pilot house by myself. It has a good tube size, 17" and is a very safe tender. On the down side they are quite spendy, just under $2,000. But on the good side I bought one in 1984 that I am still using and we bought another one 5 YRS. ago to use with the boat when we are traveling so they do last for a long time. The best of luck in finding the right tender that will fit you needs the best .
I too have a Saturn Kaboat, the SK396. I bought it in 2008. The Saturn inflatables are very good quality in my opinion. They are made in Korea. I use to have a 1992 Quicksilver inflatable and that was made in Korea also, held up extremely well. The construction on the Saturn looks very similar to the construction on the Quicksilver, possibly same manufacturer. Not sure where the new Mercury inflatables are made. Definitely go with the inflatable floor if your looking more for easy storage and ease of set up/break down as opposed to wave planning action. I'm also selling mine on Craigslist here's a link with some photos.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/boa/1711804197.html
-Mark
http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/boa/1711804197.html
-Mark
I purchased one of these from E-Bay. PVC made in Korea and it appears well made to me. And I can get it on/off the roof by myself. Depending on your needs, the 7.5 works well for the two of us. We run a Suzuki 2.5 on it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/7-5-BALTIK-INFL...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eac0fda66
http://cgi.ebay.com/7-5-BALTIK-INFL...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eac0fda66
I think I've got it narrowed down to a couple of dinghy contenders for my CD22 with a high radar arch:
--Weighing in at 38 or 50 pounds (depending on whether you count accessories), a partial hinged wood floor and a carrying capacity of 680 pounds (according to the Achilles spec sheet) is the 7'3" Achilles LT-2, for $983.
--At 48 pounds, with a high-pressure air floor and capacity of 500 pounds is the 12' Saturn SK396 KaBoat, at $549.
The KaBoat would obviously hang over the ends of the cabin; the Achilles would not. The KaBoat seems likely to be the faster of the two, and I like the high-pressure floor. But is it stable enough to serve as a proper dinghy?
--Weighing in at 38 or 50 pounds (depending on whether you count accessories), a partial hinged wood floor and a carrying capacity of 680 pounds (according to the Achilles spec sheet) is the 7'3" Achilles LT-2, for $983.
--At 48 pounds, with a high-pressure air floor and capacity of 500 pounds is the 12' Saturn SK396 KaBoat, at $549.
The KaBoat would obviously hang over the ends of the cabin; the Achilles would not. The KaBoat seems likely to be the faster of the two, and I like the high-pressure floor. But is it stable enough to serve as a proper dinghy?
Our Kaboat really was quite stable and it is faster to row or power because of the narrow width and length. The tube diameter of 13 inches is on the small side so you will feel like you are not too distant from the wet stuff. The Achilles you have your eye on has the same size tubes so not advantage there. Faster and cheaper or lighter and slower. If the lifting weight is important to you, go with the lighter option.
Greg
Greg
Stan Major
New member
I had a Saturn inflatable. Put in a plywood floor so I could stand while fishing. Used it with an electric trolling motor as a "fishing boat". Liked it for the price, however I found I always had to inflate before a day of fishing. I also have the Saturn sit on top inflatable kayak. Fun to take to the beach and inflate and get thrown around in the waves. Next is a stand up paddle board.
I have the 14ft kaboat. The big advantage is being able to use the 6 hp kicker as the dinghy motor. I can move the 6 hp from the CD to the Kaboat by hand when I can stand in shallow water, otherwise I use a lifting davit. It is very nice to be able to cruise in the dinghy at 10 mph. Only takes a few minutes to circle Jones Island.
It can feel a little unstable with the motor and sitting up on the seat but I have turned it in tight turns at speed and it does fine. Just make sure everyone is holding on.
Steve
It can feel a little unstable with the motor and sitting up on the seat but I have turned it in tight turns at speed and it does fine. Just make sure everyone is holding on.
Steve
I am leaning toward the KaBoat:
http://www.boatstogo.com/kayaks_sk396.asp
Hard to tell for sure from the online materials which of the two boats is the heaviest, but it seems as though--with accessories added in--the Achilles is 2 pounds heavier. 37 pounds plus 13 pounds of accessories. I'm assuming that includes oarlocks and the motor bracket.
Here's the link to the Achilles LT-2:
http://bit.ly/1cOIaqS
I put the question of stability to the folks at Boatstogo (which sells Saturn boats in the U.S.) and they sent me this video clip of a KaBoat going upstream through rapids in a Finnish river.
https://www.youtube.com/user/HannuYK
I need to ask Boatstogo if 48 pounds is the total weight of the KaBoat.
http://www.boatstogo.com/kayaks_sk396.asp
Hard to tell for sure from the online materials which of the two boats is the heaviest, but it seems as though--with accessories added in--the Achilles is 2 pounds heavier. 37 pounds plus 13 pounds of accessories. I'm assuming that includes oarlocks and the motor bracket.
Here's the link to the Achilles LT-2:
http://bit.ly/1cOIaqS
I put the question of stability to the folks at Boatstogo (which sells Saturn boats in the U.S.) and they sent me this video clip of a KaBoat going upstream through rapids in a Finnish river.
https://www.youtube.com/user/HannuYK
I need to ask Boatstogo if 48 pounds is the total weight of the KaBoat.
I do carry the Kaboat on the cabin top of my 22. I have several pictures but have forgotten how to add them and too late tonight. There is a picture of the 2009 Bellingham gathering with my boat and the Kaboat on top I have seen several times on the site, not sure who took it.
I get the Kaboat on top from the bow of the 22. After removing everything from the Kaboat (motor, oars, ect) I lift the bow with a bow line. I then balance the Kaboat on it's stern with the topside facing me. From this position I can grab the seats, handles, or grab line and pull it up. I can slide the bow onto the carry rack and the stern onto the bow railing. Then I can get under the up-turned Kaboat and slide it fully on to the racks and tie it down.
Steve
I get the Kaboat on top from the bow of the 22. After removing everything from the Kaboat (motor, oars, ect) I lift the bow with a bow line. I then balance the Kaboat on it's stern with the topside facing me. From this position I can grab the seats, handles, or grab line and pull it up. I can slide the bow onto the carry rack and the stern onto the bow railing. Then I can get under the up-turned Kaboat and slide it fully on to the racks and tie it down.
Steve
A few weeks ago my wife and I took a slow trip in our RV down to western Florida and then down to Key West. We stayed in state parks most of the time. While in Collier Seminole state park we went out for a evening walk to look at the birds. The park had a small dock on the water among the mangroves with a channel out through the swamp to a bay and while standing there we heard the sound of a small outboard and could see a small boat with a couple in it approaching the docks. Since I am interested in all things boat like we waited until they landed .
They were in a gray 12 ft long Kaboat equipped with an old small 2 cycle Johnson outboard. They had added comfortable seats with backs and were carrying a small cooler and both had bird watching binocs harnesses on.
I struck up a conversation with them. They were retired, originally from New Zealand and touring North America in a RV. The man told me that he had purchased the Kaboat several years ago and they used it regularly and hard. No reported problems and he said that they really liked it. . He said that they been on lakes and rivers all over. They had not used it in the open ocean but in all kinds of sheltered bays for "critter watching". They had been out that evening bird watching and seen dolfins. They were going out the next morning and he left his rig cabled and locked to a tree.
With that practical endorsement I have since purchased a 14 ft Kaboat and put a Walmart boat seat on the front for my wife and rigged a shelf in the back storage compartment of the RV so that I can slide the deflated boat in and out without picking it up. I purchased a 12 volt high pressure pump from Defender so that the 3 compartments can be easily inflated. The hand pump takes a long long time. I also bought a wheeled dolly from Boats To Go and altered it so that I can put the 2.5 Suzuki on the boat and easily pull the loaded boat around for hand launching. I have a bail out kit in a cooler with had held GPS and marine radio. All I need now is a kayakers compass and we will be ready for small trips on small waters.
The biggest problem I have run into has been trying to find a 2 gal gas can that will pour out gas without leaking it everywhere. The new government approved designs are unusable. I had to order a special spout on line but now I have a container I can use.
Too cold now to launch. Will let you know how this works when the weather breaks or we go south again.
I suppose that you could use the Kaboat design as a dingy. But it is narrow and will not have the same side to side stability as the typically wider dingy design. But it may be just fine for that role. Others,who have already had that comparative practical experience may want to weigh in.
If the boat holds together for, say 5 years, it would still be a bargain.
Slowtrot
They were in a gray 12 ft long Kaboat equipped with an old small 2 cycle Johnson outboard. They had added comfortable seats with backs and were carrying a small cooler and both had bird watching binocs harnesses on.
I struck up a conversation with them. They were retired, originally from New Zealand and touring North America in a RV. The man told me that he had purchased the Kaboat several years ago and they used it regularly and hard. No reported problems and he said that they really liked it. . He said that they been on lakes and rivers all over. They had not used it in the open ocean but in all kinds of sheltered bays for "critter watching". They had been out that evening bird watching and seen dolfins. They were going out the next morning and he left his rig cabled and locked to a tree.
With that practical endorsement I have since purchased a 14 ft Kaboat and put a Walmart boat seat on the front for my wife and rigged a shelf in the back storage compartment of the RV so that I can slide the deflated boat in and out without picking it up. I purchased a 12 volt high pressure pump from Defender so that the 3 compartments can be easily inflated. The hand pump takes a long long time. I also bought a wheeled dolly from Boats To Go and altered it so that I can put the 2.5 Suzuki on the boat and easily pull the loaded boat around for hand launching. I have a bail out kit in a cooler with had held GPS and marine radio. All I need now is a kayakers compass and we will be ready for small trips on small waters.
The biggest problem I have run into has been trying to find a 2 gal gas can that will pour out gas without leaking it everywhere. The new government approved designs are unusable. I had to order a special spout on line but now I have a container I can use.
Too cold now to launch. Will let you know how this works when the weather breaks or we go south again.
I suppose that you could use the Kaboat design as a dingy. But it is narrow and will not have the same side to side stability as the typically wider dingy design. But it may be just fine for that role. Others,who have already had that comparative practical experience may want to weigh in.
If the boat holds together for, say 5 years, it would still be a bargain.
Slowtrot
Stan Major
New member
Gary
Does this mean you have given up on the idea of fitting into a 16? There is a lot to be said for a boat that is easy to use and can get you into places bigger boats cannot go. When we first moved to Florida I bought 3 kayaks, one of which was only 9 feet long and weighed 35 lbs. It was easy to handle by oneself and though it did not track well, it could slide across inches of water. I had rigged a small anchor to a pulley up front and installed some locks to hold the paddle. With exception of very windy days it was a fun little boat.
Does this mean you have given up on the idea of fitting into a 16? There is a lot to be said for a boat that is easy to use and can get you into places bigger boats cannot go. When we first moved to Florida I bought 3 kayaks, one of which was only 9 feet long and weighed 35 lbs. It was easy to handle by oneself and though it did not track well, it could slide across inches of water. I had rigged a small anchor to a pulley up front and installed some locks to hold the paddle. With exception of very windy days it was a fun little boat.
Do any of you have experience with the 2.5 hp Florida Outboard 2-cycle engine? It weighs 18 pounds, costs $410, and allegedly is quieter than the 2 hp Honda (which may not be saying much).
http://www.ioutboardmotors.com/25hp-2-cycle.html
I'm thinking this might be a good power option for the 12-foot KaBoat I'm close to buying. (Thanks Steve and Slowtrot for helping to inform this decision.)
http://www.ioutboardmotors.com/25hp-2-cycle.html
I'm thinking this might be a good power option for the 12-foot KaBoat I'm close to buying. (Thanks Steve and Slowtrot for helping to inform this decision.)
Pandion":ui7qnqrz said:
pandion-
Don't have any experience with it, but it looks like an adaptation of a weed eater garden appliance to me:
Might be OK for a light motor for a dinghy or canoe, but I'll bet it's pretty noisy.
Also, if it is what I suggest, it might not like extended low rpm operation, like when used for trolling. Note: "RPM Range: 2700 - 6000" -from spec sheet.
Can you find a video on You Tube of it's operation?
Joe. :teeth :thup