Fishing Boats Review: Intex Excursion 5 Boat Set

Product Details

Shipping Weight: 58.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
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ASIN: B00177J4UC
Item model number: 68325EP

By : Intex
Price : $134.87

Product Description

Amazon.com

Excursion 5 Boat Set for up to 5 people includes boat, pump and oars. Made from SUPER-TOUGH vinyl construction for durability. Inflatable seats and floor for comfort. US Coast Guard approved.

Need a Boat Certificate of Origin? Write down the HIN (Hull Identification Number) and go to www.intexcorp.com. On the first screen that pops up, select your location. Click on the "Need a Boat Certificate of Origin?" option under Consumer Information. Choose your boat model. Enter the required information and print your certificate.

Excursion 5 Boat Set for up to 5 people includes boat, pump and oars. Made from SUPER-TOUGH vinyl construction for durability. Inflatable seats and floor for comfort. US Coast Guard approved.

Intex Excursion 5 Boat Set

Product Features

3 air chambers including an auxiliary air chamber in hull for extra buoyancy
Boston valve on two main hull chambers for quick-fill ; fast-deflate
All around grab line
Inflatable I-Beam floor for comfort and rigidity
Has 2 welded oar locks on each side

Costumer Reviews

Obviously the designers did not build this for whitewater, but if it can hold up to that - for the price, it is outstanding. We had it loaded with camping gear, food, and three people for 4 days, and it didn't even loose air. It will sit three comfortably. 5 is a stretch unless you are VERY comfortable with each other. Weight is no issue. This boat was filled to the brim with water several times and still skidded through shallow water. A pit stop to let the water out and we were cruising again. At one point, the raft was lashed against a rock and turned into the shape of a taco by the raging waters. I was sure it would break, but it didn't!
pros:
The oars come in 4 parts that snap and screw together. Assembly is easy. The oar locks work well and allow one person to use two oars.
The seats are comfy. They inflate and latch into the raft.
It comes with a patch kit, but I doubt you will need it.
Three air chambers make it sturdy. We could pump it up in less than an hour.
cons:
No quick release on the bottom air chamber.
1/4 inch rope is a tad too thin. Buy some 3/8 inch if you want to secure it.
Only two oars.

I debated long and hard between getting the Excursion 5 and the Seahawk II. I wanted a boat that I could immediately take out and go rowing, but one that is durable (sometimes there are branches sticking up in the shallow river here) and comfortable. I also wanted to get a boat that I could eventually mount a motor on in the future.
After reading tons of reviews -- and going to the Intex website and other forums -- I bought the Excursion 5 because some forums said the Seahawk II doesn't have motor mount points (this is not true) and some people on here commented that the Excursion 5 is made out of the same "Super-Tough" material as the Seahawk II (this is also not true, but it's very confusing and even the Intex website doesn't make it clear. The Seahawk II is more rigid, can be inflated to higher pressure, and is more puncture-resistant because it is actually a 3-ply system including Super-Tough PVC OVER a nylon fabric layer)
As soon as the Excursion 5 arrived, I realized I had bought the wrong boat for rowing my girlfriend and I around. The boat is too wide and oars too short to really reach into the water well, and the oar locks are fixed in place -- not rotational like the Seahawk II. These two factors make the boat nearly impossible to row.
I immediately ordered the Seahawk II and have taken it out and it is great to row around in (comfy for 2 people, I don't see how you could fit 3.) I thought about what to do with the Excursion 5, and I've decided to keep it because it is a bigger boat and seems like it could be fun to take a larger group (up to 4) people out on it, once I get a motor and mount.
So I want to set the record straight if you are debating between these boats like I was:
1) The Seahawk II is more rigid and durable than any other Intex boats except the Mariner. The Excursion 5 vinyl is nice and thick, but it's still soft and I am still concerned it could rupture if I hit a branch or rock the wrong way.
2) Many of the Intex boats have motor mount setup, including the Seahawk II -- the Excursion 5 can only support up to 1.5 hp because it is not as rigid (the Seahawk II is rated up to 2 hp and Mariner up to 3 hp)
3) The Excursion 5 is a bit bigger, so if you need to fit 3 or more people, it might be the boat for you.
4) Don't expect to go rowing in the Excursion 5. Get a narrower boat, preferably with rotational/swivel oar locks. Maybe if you had 4 people paddling (with an extra set of oars) the Excursion might work okay.