Any experience with the Spearfish 450 inflatable kayak?

[MauiBen]

I'm looking for a portable boat to go spearfishing with. Coincidentally, there's a boat named the Spearfish that looks like it would be great for me. Anyone have any experience with it?



https://www.spearfishboats.com/spearfish-450-15


I live in an apartment and have a compact sedan, so I need something that packs up small, is light enough to launch from a beach, can do 12-14 knots with no more than a 6hp motor, and handle a little wind chop. The Spearfish's slight V in the hull seems like it would help smooth the ride when running into the wind, and they claim it can do 15kts with two people on board.



I'm also considering the TrueKit Discovery inflatable catamaran.



https://truekit.nz/collections/home-...-kit-discovery


It looks easy to get back into when diving, with that unique front section. I'm not sure it would handle the chop as well as the Spearfish though.

[Poly]

Truekit looks like Takacat (also from that part of the world I think). Possibly the same or a copy? You should find mention of takacat on the forum. Reports I have read have been positive. I’d certainly feel a lot more comfortable boarding over the bow than the “narrow” spearfish.

I know nothing of the spearfish, it’s an odd design - too broad to be a kayak, too narrow for a traditional boat. Of course perhaps it is the innovation in inflatable design the market has been waiting for.

[Fenlander]

Celticfox has just bought a Spearfish. Discussed here...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f64/hello-f...les-80627.html

I think the Truekit would be OK in a chop, everyone who has bought that hull type recently seems pleased with it.

Welcome to the forum.

[DiabloLoco]

Looks like a Kaboat, only this Spearfish has a canopy.

https://www.boatstogo.com/kaboat.asp

[MauiBen]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Celticfox has just bought a Spearfish. Discussed here...

http://www.rib.net/forum/f64/hello-f...les-80627.html

I think the Truekit would be OK in a chop, everyone who has bought that hull type recently seems pleased with it.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the link, Fenlander! Glad to find a Spearfish owner.


Diabloloco, the Spearfish has a V hull, while the Kaboat is flat bottomed.

[DiabloLoco]

Originally Posted by MauiBen

Thanks for the link, Fenlander! Glad to find a Spearfish owner.


Diabloloco, the Spearfish has a V hull, while the Kaboat is flat bottomed.

Couldn't see that on the pictures. Makes the Spearfish a nicer boat to me over the Kaboat

[Celticfox]

Originally Posted by MauiBen

Thanks for the link, Fenlander! Glad to find a Spearfish owner.


Diabloloco, the Spearfish has a V hull, while the Kaboat is flat bottomed.

Hi MauiBen,

As others have pointed out, I've recently purchased a Spearfish, though the 550 - the bigger brother to the 450 (largely at the request of the other half, who wanted a bit more space!).

To date, the first few trips have been on the flat calm of the canal 20 mins from us (choppier waters beckon later in the season!), so I cannot yet make any hard claims on its performance in such chop, but initial experience is extremely good.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the boat - everything about it has been well thought through and works just as it should. Stability is excellent (even with teenage son using one of the tubes as a sun-bed as we pottered!), and the canopy became my daughter's spacious "girl cave".

From parking about 100m from the canal to being on the water and underway was less than 40 mins, even at the first attempt - and getting quicker! Getting off the water even quicker - less than 30 mins til everything stowed away in the back of the car.

At the moment, we are using with the ePropulsion 1kw electric outboard, which is more than adequate for inland water pottering - doing a pleasant couple of knots at less than 25% power was showing 8 hrs+ of range. When I picked up the boat from Ian Thomson at Nestaway, had a good long chat about Spearfish and engine choices, and the 6hp on the 450 seems a "sweet spot", though a light 9.8hp 2 stroke probably best on 550.

Like I say, I hesitate to upload a more thorough review until I've had more experience with the Spearfish in a range of conditions, but I have to say I'm already a convert - while the narrower hull may not suit everyone, I personally feel it a much more sensible, seaworthy configuration for a small, portable SIB, and the overall quality of constructions would inspire confidence. Handling (even in the confines of a narrow canal) was good, and manoeuvring off the water was also dead easy, particularly with the C-TUG cart & sand-wheels - even my wife was quite happy single handedly pulling it up and over little humpback-bridges on her own! Lugging the 550 in & out the back of the car was more comfortable as a 2 person carry, though the lighter weight of the 450 should make it doable for 1 person. Strongly recommend getting a 2-stage battery pump (we opted for the Bravo and have used it both from the car 12V point and a portable SUAOKI 600A Car Jump Starter Battery 18000mAh from Amazon) for ease of inflation.

Will post a couple of pics in due course and a longer review once I've spent more time with the SF, but overall I would certainly be happy to recommend. Would also encourage you to speak to Ian Thomson at Nestaway - the unique design and getting it into manufacture is down to him, and he is very knowledgeable and generous with his experience!

Let us know what you decide...

[Celticfox]

A couple of pics of the Spearfish on a first outing back in Feb - 20+ degrees, we could scarcely believe it!

[Gary S]

Hi Celticfox, new to the forum and saw your postings re the Spearfish 550. Are there any more updates/views as I am seriously considering this or the 450.

Gary S.

[Celticfox]

Originally Posted by Gary S

Hi Celticfox, new to the forum and saw your postings re the Spearfish 550. Are there any more updates/views as I am seriously considering this or the 450.

Gary S.

Hi Gary,

Yes, we've been using the Spearfish quite a bit since the last update, though more on inland waterways than coastal, given how our summer panned out. Still extremely pleased with it, and had quite a few conversations with folk asking about it and impressed with what they see! Did you have any particular questions, in which case I can do my best to answer?

If I have one minor "gripe" about the 550, it is the sizing - while it suits our family better than the 450 (which was just a little too "cosy", while still being very portable in the back of our S-Max (with all kids & dog in tow), it does take 2 people to man-handle, where the 450 could be done with one (with a bit of effort!). I'm kind of wishing they had a 500, which would be the best of both worlds. For insurances, too, it is easier to get lower cost insurances for 5m and under, and for various inland waterways (especially in Europe), 5m as a max length makes it easier to get on the water without copious certificates.

But overall, very pleased with our set up. Just contemplating getting a fuller length bimini/tent arrangement cobbled together, as this would make for a nice "overnight camping" creek exploring boat...

Anyway, feel free to ask any specifics and I'll do my best to answer them.

Best regards,

Celticfox

[Celticfox]

Gary,

Just noticing you are Portsmouth based - given that you're not a million miles away from Nestaway in Christchurch, I'd encourage you to get in touch with Ian Thomson at Nestaway and pop over to have a look. If you ask nicely, you might well be able to get out on the water in one - I know he has a couple that are kept to "get wet"! He is extremely helpful, and I found him to be very open on the pros & cons of the boat - he'll tell you it "like it is" rather than just being some pushy salesman.

[Gary S]

Hi Celticfox, I’m not convinced my reply to your message below went so if not, apologies! Essentially thank you for your comments and advice. I have been in touch with Ian at Nestaway and am hoping to get over and see him soon. Being Solent based he will also be able to answer my queries re sea handling should I get caught out: never plan to go out in anything above a F3 but the Solent being the Solent...!

If a Spearfish turns out to be my choice, you never know but might even get over to your area at some point in which case I would let you know.

Best regards.

Gary.