Yachting Knowledge | All About Sea Fishing and Sea Fishing Boats

Boat fishing has always been a popular activity, even affectionately called "blue heroin."

The journey from initial casual exposure to boat fishing to a complete, addictive obsession is like inhaling "heroin," making it impossible to resist.

Naturally, the ability to access deeper waters and catch larger fish via boat has led to increased interest in sea fishing vessels.

For boat fishing, inflatable boats and assault boats are often considered ideal due to their deflatable and foldable nature, making them easier to transport than traditional rigid boats.

So, which is better for fishing: an inflatable boat or a rubber dinghy? And what precautions should be taken when sea fishing with a rubber dinghy? Here's a detailed explanation:

Assault boats come in primarily three forms: fiberglass, inflatable rubber dinghy, and Hypalon material.

Modern inflatable assault boats are often used by government agencies for maritime tasks due to their easy transport and simple installation.

Hypalon assault boats are mainly used by armed police, military, etc. for important tasks.

Today, our focus is on inflatable assault boats.

PART 1 / Advantages of Inflatable Assault Boats

1. Professional sea fishing assault boats are made entirely of imported, specialized inflatable boat fabric: 1.2T 1100D/PVC. They have excellent airtightness, abrasion resistance, and a long service life.

2. Easy to carry: Rubber dinghy assault boats weigh around 60-120 jin (approximately 66-132 lbs). When deflated and folded, they can be carried in the trunk of a car.

3. Affordable: An approximately 3-meter inflatable assault boat can meet the boat fishing needs of 2-3 people. A complete set costs around 5,000-10,000 RMB (boat + outboard motor). Furthermore, the outboard motor fuel consumption for an assault boat on a sea trip is only about 2-10 liters, costing only a few tens of RMB to cover the boat costs for 2-4 people for a day. Sharing or chartering a boat costs 400-800 RMB per day for 2-4 people.

4. Imported valves ensure convenience, safety, and reliability.
   Compared to wooden boats and speedboats, assault boats offer advantages like being lightweight, fast, and having quick change-of-location speed. Generally, outboard motors of 9.9 horsepower or higher can achieve speeds of up to 30 knots, allowing for quick transitions between fishing spots around islands and reefs without wasting valuable fishing time. Current rubber dinghy assault boats have at least a 3+1 air chamber structure. As long as one air chamber doesn't leak, the boat is guaranteed not to sink. The aluminum alloy floor allows you to stand and fish when the waves are small. They are not as easily overturned, leaked, or sunk as commonly perceived.

5. All bonded areas use imported glue, providing superior peel strength, high temperature resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and UV resistance. Even under intense sunlight, the firmness of the boat's connections is fully guaranteed.

6. The imported materials have high colorfastness, keeping the fabric color like new for a long time. Imported, specialized, wear-resistant two-tone fenders ensure the durability of the hull.

7. Easy to maintain: After landing, simply wash it clean with water, fold it, and store it.

PART 2 / Choosing a Rubber Dinghy Based on the Environment

1. Inflatable Rubber Dinghies for Sea Fishing:
   The ocean is the most dangerous water area, with strong winds and high waves, so the safety performance of the boat is extremely important.
   Large waves can capsize the boat, so the boat must have a certain ability to withstand wind and waves.
   It is recommended to use inflatable assault boats for sea fishing. Assault boats have thick pontoons and V-shaped inflatable keels, which will make the boat more stable and less prone to rocking and capsizing.
   Furthermore, the material thickness of assault boats is between 0.9-1.2 mm, with reinforced polyester fiber fabric added internally to prevent damage and air leakage from reef contact.
   Assault boats can also be equipped with larger horsepower propellers to quickly move in case of emergency.

2. Fishing in Complex Waters such as Large Rivers:
   Assault boats are still recommended. Although large rivers do not have the strong winds and high waves of the ocean, large ships can still generate huge waves, so boat stability is also important.
   (Complex waters refer to areas with many rocks, thorns, and wooden stakes).

3. Fishing in Reservoirs and Lakes:
   These waters are calm with no big winds or waves, so boat stability is not as critical. You can choose a drop stitch inflatable boat.
   The material thickness of drop stitch boats is generally around 0.7 mm. They are medium-sized recreational boats that are comfortable to ride in and weigh just over ten kilograms, making them ideal for long-distance trips.

4. Economical Options:
   Many people cannot afford more expensive inflatable rubber dinghies for economic reasons. For example, a drop stitch inflatable boat may cost more than 500 RMB, while an assault boat costs at least a thousand.
   If you can only choose a boat under 300 RMB for some reason, this type of boat can be used, but only in non-hazardous waters.
   Because this type of boat has thin material, it is easily punctured and leaks air, and is very unstable.

PART 3 / Precautions for Sea Fishing with a Rubber Dinghy

1. Basic Requirements:
   The rubber dinghy plus the engine weighs about 100 jin (110 lbs), and the separated parts and engine weigh about 50 jin (55 lbs). Having a certain amount of strength is the most basic requirement.
   You also need to have good mental fortitude. You may encounter various emergencies and difficult problems at sea, requiring calm and patience.
   The biggest advantage of a rubber dinghy is its flexibility and maneuverability. You are in charge of your own fishing spots, without having to follow the boatman's instructions. In Xiamen, you can go out to play for a few hours after work and then come back.

2. Reasonable Configuration:
   It is best to buy an imported engine, which has a much lower failure rate and is safer at sea.
   I chose a Suzuki 6 hp 4-stroke (24KG, more than 8,000 RMB). This configuration is just right for one person, and the speed is about 3 times that of a wooden boat. The speed of two people is about the same as a wooden boat.
   Some friends use a Tohatsu 9.8 hp 2-stroke (26KG, 10,000 RMB). It has much stronger power and faster speed, but I feel it is a bit dangerous to drive too fast. Fishing friends who like speed can choose this configuration.
   An external fuel tank is essential, 12 liters is enough. Support wheels and an electric inflator are also necessary.
   In short, consider whether one person can assemble and disassemble the entire boat, as well as push it into the water.

3. Pre-Trip Preparation:
   First determine the weather. I recommend the mobile phone software "weatherpro" and "WINDGURU", which are very accurate and can be accurate to three hours a day.
   Do not go to sea with a wind speed of 13 (KM/H) or higher.
   You can also use the "Fishing People" software to check the highest and lowest tides of the day. The tide table of the Taiwan Meteorological Bureau is also very practical.
   Before entering the sea, it is necessary to tell the people around you the sea area location of this trip, so that you can drive the boat to rescue directly in case of danger.
   The mobile phone should be carried with you and put in a waterproof bag. Bring more food and drinking water, not less.
   Secondly, develop a habit. List the equipment and check them one by one before departure. This is the most time-saving and labor-saving.
   Usually, pay attention to collecting the points where you can get off the boat. For example, the Banhu Village and Youao Village wharves in Gulei are hard sandy land, and cars can be driven directly to the water's edge to load and unload the boat, which saves a lot of effort.
   Rubber dinghies are most suitable for fishing bass and boat rock fishing (maximum 2 people).
   Finally, the fishing worms, offering sea oyster can be regarded as a bit troublesome.

4. On-Site Performance:
   The most common thing is that the propeller is entangled in the rope. It is best to untie it. If it is too tight, cut it off with scissors or a saw.
   If you encounter a boat harvesting oysters, just hang the rubber dinghy behind the big boat and follow the fishing, there are often surprises, or you may follow the fish raft.
   In addition to technical and experience accumulation, the atmosphere at the time is also very important. If you feel that you are not in the state, it is better to rest for a while or eat and drink for a while before taking action.

5. Installation and Disassembly:
   It takes about half an hour to install the boat and engine, and it takes about half an hour to collect the boat after fishing.
   If you configure a vehicle-mounted inflator pump, it will be quicker and easier to install and inflate.
   The inflation should not be too full, 8-9% is the best. Oars, repair tools, and conventional tools for the outboard engine should be carried with the boat, so that you can repair the machine in an emergency if the engine fails or the hull pontoon is damaged by reefs.
   Generally, after the rubber dinghy is disassembled, even the aluminum alloy plate and wheels at the bottom can be folded and placed on the car, and 2 people can also sit down.
   Each time after use, the hull and engine should be washed clean with fresh water before storage, and stored indoors in a cool place after drying the moisture.
   It is best to store the rubber assault boat with low pressure 6-7% gas, so that the hull material is not prone to premature aging and has a longer service life.
   If it is to be stored for a long time, it is also necessary to safely burn off the fuel in the carburetor of the outboard engine to avoid blockage when using it again.

PART 4 / Rubber Dinghy Repair Methods

1. First find the air leak point on the hull. In the inflated state, use a rag dipped in soapy water to evenly apply the hull. Air bubbles will appear at the leaking part, so we can find the leaking point based on this clue.

2. Use alcohol to clean the dirt around the leaking point, and then dry it with a towel. Make sure the area around the leak is clean and dry.

3. Use the special glue and patch that came with the boat. Cut the repair patch according to the area of the leak, and be sure to make it larger than the leak.

4. After cutting the repair patch, apply glue evenly on the repair patch and around the leak point with a brush, and wait for about 3-4 minutes before applying it again. Apply it twice in total.

5. Attach the repair patch to the leak point, blow it with a hair dryer to the hot air state, and then press it firmly with a smooth object. It can be used after 8 hours.

6. After repairing the inflatable boat rubber dinghy, it should be fully inflated and placed for more than 2 hours before use.