Excel Volante 360 or Seago

Hutchy36 · 03 August 2023, 19:20

Looking to buy a brand new setup for 2 people fishing in the sea no further than 1 mile off coast . Should I purchase a mercury 3.5hp or 4hp 4 stroke engine , thanks for any advise

Brinormeg · 03 August 2023, 19:41

Hi. I think it will depend a little on where and when you will be fishing to be honest with my limited knowledge. Also just how much kit and weight you will be carrying.

Nice calm conditions, slack tide and not too strong tidal races you could toddle along fine.

Change of weather, plan to fish in areas with strong tides you might struggle a bit.

A few guys here have your sib and can advise better on what it needs to get it on the plane, which not only gets you out and back quicker if conditions suddenly deteriorate.

But I’ve also found that once up there you can often have a more comfortable journey skimming over the top of the waves, rather than into them. If that makes sense.

Have had a couple of dodgy moments when I've been glad to have the 20hp, but that is partly because of my lack of sea experience I’m sure, and my sib is a heaven lump.

If weight, cost etc isn’t an issue I’ld be looking more at 10hp but others may disagree.

Steve509926 · 03 August 2023, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hutchy36

Looking to buy a brand new setup for 2 people fishing in the sea no further than 1 mile off coast . Should I purchase a mercury 3.5hp or 4hp 4 stroke engine , thanks for any advise

Hi Hutchy and welcome.

Sorry but your title doesn't match your post!

I assume from your title you are thinking of buying a new Excel SD360 Volante or a Seago what? But which and why?

That aside I wouldn't advise either of the OB's you are thinking about if you are fishing upto 1 mile from the shore.

I think you need to give a lot more information about you, your wants / needs, transportation, where? You get the drift, the more you give the better you will get.

Hutchy36 · 03 August 2023, 20:39

Thank you for the replies, You are correct more info needed ,
Would like a inflatable that is capable of holding its own only if the weather changes , looking to fish the firth of clyde from Millport and around the island as I am going to live there permanently soon . I don't want a boat that is too awkward to put in the sea as I once had a dory with cuddy and 35hp evinrude, went anywhere but a nightmare to get back on a trailer , hence the reason for a inflatable , blow it up , put a outboard on it , wheel it into the sea and go , when finished wheel it out the water and launch trolly it home round the corner, thanks again to all

Steve509926 · 03 August 2023, 21:13

Great Cumbrae, how lucky are you?

My take on it. SD360 big, wide, heavy and as compared to other sibs relatively slow. However, great quality, stable, loads of space, solid platform to stand on. Minimum I'd want on my SD360 is a 9.8hp or 15hp I think anything less and you will get frustrated in heavy swell with 2 up and fishing gear, falling off the plane etc. Brinormeg has already said, it's just easier and calmer with that little bit of extra power. If weights a problem, dare I say it 2 stroke is probably the way to go.
You've not mentioned which seago model, but as I know nothing about them I wouldn't be making much of a comment anyway.

Brinormeg · 03 August 2023, 21:27

Steve just bet me to it. What a cracking part of the country to move to from a sib/boating point of view.

To be be able just trolley it around the corner at short notice, and some great trips to be had if feeling a bit more adventurous and conditions are good.

I just know I would want a bigger boat and outboard to feel safer and to explore a bit further in your circumstances……and then regret it later when pulling the bloody thing back home

Hutchy36 · 03 August 2023, 21:47

Fantastic guys bigger engine it is , I will try and buy a 4 stroke 10hp and look at reviews for other inflatables , not looking to go far and wide away from Cumbrae but it can get rough very quickly, think I will buy the boat new and engine secondhand , then fully service it and check it over a mechanic for 40 years and have repaired a few outboards over time thanks again

Steve509926 · 03 August 2023, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hutchy36

Fantastic guys bigger engine it is , I will try and buy a 4 stroke 10hp and look at reviews for other inflatables , not looking to go far and wide away from Cumbrae but it can get rough very quickly, think I will buy the boat new and engine secondhand , then fully service it and check it over a mechanic for 40 years and have repaired a few outboards over time thanks again

Hutchy, don't get me wrong. The Excel SD360 is a very good sib, I have one myself and it is great for what I use it for. Although I'd like it to be a bit faster, the internal size, the space and stability is ideal for me. It is heavier than most of a similar length because it is wider than most and the pvc is thicker. It copes very well in rougher water and has taken me around Arran and Bute in some quite rough seas.

beamishken · 04 August 2023, 23:03

Are you sure a sib is the best option for you? If its going to live on a trailer or trolley then you might as well have a lightweight rib which will perform better & they can be lighter than similar size sibs. We can see milport bay from our house & often spend time around cumbrae. You may also find you can leave the boat in the inner harbour which would be even more convenient. Not sure on what the script is for using the harbour but im sure youd find out soon enough once you actually move onto the island. Derek Hagan who owns the boat yard in milport lays all the moorings & will know the script for using the harbour etc. Maybe worth checking before you spend money as there may be a better option for you. I'm pretty sure you'll want to venture further than a mile once you get out on the water in this area

Steve509926 · 04 August 2023, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Are you sure a sib is the best option for you? If its going to live on a trailer or trolley then you might as well have a lightweight rib which will perform better & they can be lighter than similar size sibs. We can see milport bay from our house & often spend time around cumbrae. You may also find you can leave the boat in the inner harbour which would be even more convenient. Not sure on what the script is for using the harbour but im sure youd find out soon enough once you actually move onto the island. Derek Hagan who owns the boat yard in milport lays all the moorings & will know the script for using the harbour etc. Maybe worth checking before you spend money as there may be a better option for you. I'm pretty sure you'll want to venture further than a mile once you get out on the water in this area

Can't disagree with what beamishken says, especially - "I'm pretty sure you'll want to venture further than a mile once you get out on the water in this area"

beamishken · 06 August 2023, 22:05

Following on from my earlier post re the stone harbour, talking to someone today & it turns out no one collects any dues from harbour users, its basically left up to the islanders to look after themselves. Which may be good for you as it could open up the choice of boat you go for if you don't need to drag it home every day