Sea Eagle 285fpb Inflatable Fishing Boat Reviews

When searching for a one man fishing boat I was thrilled to discover the Sea Eagle 285. The boat offers a solution to anyone who does not have the space or convenience to purchase and store a large fishing boat. The Sea Eagle 285 along with its accessories and my fishing gear all fit in my small compact sedan. The boat is compact, lightweight and very easy to handle. Set up takes a little longer than advertised (it takes me about 15 minutes) but does get easier the more you do it. I purchased a 55 pound thrust trolling motor and would recommend this addition if you plan on fishing larger lakes. That being said, the boat is easily rowed. Once you get your item placement dialed in, the Sea Eagle 285 offers ample space for comfortable fishing. The product feels very durable and safe. The boat can handle wind and choppy waters just fine, however comfort and maneuverability are much better on calmer waters. Overall, if you are searching for a one man boat that travels and stores easily, I highly recommend SE285.

Have now spent six hours on the water in the boat. My observations:

1. Setup gets easier every time. Floor board goes into place easier now.

2. The oars are too long. Getting the paddles out of the water on the return stroke requires your legs straight...no knee bend.

I recently purchased the Sea Eagle 285 one man pontoon. I added a Minn Kota Endure C2 30 lb thrust trolling motor and a VMax CT1050 charge tank battery pack. This set up is amazing. The battery is half the size of a standard deep cell and is perfect for this small boat. I also purchased the 12 volt Smart battery charger from VMax. The fishing seat is incredibly comfortable and makes it easy to spend hours on the water. I went with the upgraded fishing seat versus the inflatable one. The trolling motor pushes the boat fast enough to make a wake. On the slowest speed, the trolling motor still pushes the boat a bit too fast for bass fishing. I found myself drifting as much as I ran the motor. The battery seems to last forever before needing a charge. The boat is easy to set up. I could not be happier with the overall package. I bought it to carry in our RV as we travel across the country. From the Lakes of the Ozarks in Arkansas, to Canada this summer, I am looking forward to fishing more in my Sea Eagle!

After one season of fishing I find this inflatable boat fun to use both on large and small lakes. other than having to make several trips from vehicle to waters edge with boat ,seat, floor, oars, trolling motor, battery, pump, and fishing gear, its easy too inflate and set up. The material the boat is made out of appears to be very sturdy. The motor mount is positioned directly inline with the swivel seat which places your arm in an uncomfortable position to operate trolling motor or my small outboard. Due to the narrow floor area a person cannot turn the seat sideways to more easily operate the motor for their is no place for your feet except on top of the pontoon which is very uncomfortable, and I am short. I can't imagine what it would be like for a tall person. Maybe if the seat stand was taller a person would be able to put their feet on the pontoon while operating the motor without being all curled up, or widen the boat a little. The boat is great for getting into places other boats can't.