Intex Seahawk 4 Review | Should You Go For It?

Nothing gets the blood rushing and imagination racing for those who love the sea than the image of an inflatable boat bouncing up and down on the waves. Whether you’re the type of dyed in the wool sea dog who wishes only for “a tall ship and a star to steer her by,” someone looking to enact your own Old Man and the Sea-sequel fishing rituals, or care less for seafaring odysseys than simply making memories with family and friends in your very own inflatable boat, the ship you choose can have an enormous impact on the experience you all have while out on the water.

Enter the Intex Seahawk 4. Like many inflatable boats, this model from Intex is made with a specific audience in mind, and that’s family and fishing buddies. While this may not exactly be a “tall” boat, it is certainly on the larger side, which is great news for those looking to buy an inflatable boat for either of these purposes. For those who care about fishing, you get a ton of room with this model, which is always a good thing. Fishing requires standing up and piling catches up in your boat, and to do either of those things it always helps if you don’t feel like you’re pinned into a tiny space. At the same time, fishing is always more fun when it’s done with friends, which is a big reason why so many of the best and most sought after inflatable fishing boats are on the bigger side – like this one.

But the question remains – how does the Intex Seahawk 4 stack up against the other inflatable ships out there? What can you and your family and fishing buddies do to ensure that you get the most out of this model?

Features of Intex Seahawk 4

Some of the most notable features offered by the Intex Seahawk 4 include:

• 138 in. x 57 in. x 19in.
• 37 lbs
• Three inflatable chambers, including an auxiliary chamber located inside the main hull
• Two Boston valves
• Sturdy vinyl
• Sturdy I-beam on the floor for added rigidity and stability
• Inflatable cushions
• A gear pouch
• Two fishing rod holders
• Motor mount fittings
• 2 x 48 in. French oars
• S. Coast Guard Certified
• Repair kit
• Weight capacity of 1,050 lbs

There’s a lot to unpack there, starting with the inflatable chambers and how they help ensure that your boat stays afloat. Once upon a time, one of the biggest concerns about inflatable boats and kayaks was that they were all too easy to pop compared to their hard-shelled counterparts. Today, thanks to the vinyl, that’s a lot less true. But what makes these boats even more safe and dependable is the fact that they come with multiple inflatable chambers and can even stay afloat if one of them is punctured. That’s true of the Seahawk 4, and its part of what makes it such a refreshingly durable purchase.

Nautical Durability

If you doubt that, consider that this boat is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard – it’s hard to beat that as an endorsement of nautical durability. On the off chance your boat does suffer a puncture or tear, it comes with a handy repair kit.

Spaciousness

Sizewise, this model does quite well, offering a spacious interior and well over 1,000 lbs of carrying capacity. That should be more than enough for yourself, a few friends, your fishing gear, and whatever you happen to catch that day. The size, spaciousness, and weight capacity help combine to make this an excellent choice for those looking for an inflatable boat that can and is meant to be enjoyed with friends.

Here you can check a video overview by The Scary Truth Catalyst:

What Do Users Say?

One of the most interesting things about this inflatable boat is the fact that it has a soft springing bottom. On the one hand, that means that it should definitely be more comfortable to sit down in than other boats that have harder bottoms. If comfort is a big concern for you, you may find the user feedback to this model from Intex encouraging thus far. On the other hand, however, those boats have a hard bottom for a reason, namely that it’s easier to stand or walk on such a surface. As a result, it’s harder to do that with this model. That is somewhat offset by the I-beam at the bottom, but it’s still something to consider.

Enough Space For Everyone

That said, users have mostly reacted positively to this model, in large part due to that aforementioned combination of size, spaciousness, and weight capacity. All three of these factors have made it an excellent choice for fishing, and user reviews have reflected that. In addition, the Boston valves make this model easy to inflate and deflate quickly, cutting down on hassle. Add to that the fact that this model has a package weight of just 37 lbs, and it’s easy to see why users see this model as a great lightweight option – even if the vinyl isn’t as thick as other models.

 

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Quite Durable

The separate air chambers are a definite win, as they make this model harder to sink – all the more necessary feature, given the thinner vinyl. The warranty is pretty short, just 30 days, which would normally be a cause for concern and give reason to think that the makers weren’t confident in their product. However, Intex is one of the most established names on the inflatable boat market (again, see the U.S. Coast Guard endorsement), so that’s not as big of a problem here.

This model is quite easy to set up, making it one of the easiest and most accessible inflatable boats of that size.

Pros and Cons

The latter point is admittedly a minor point given the fact the interior is comfortable due to the lack of a hard shell on the bottom. Still, it’s something to think about. Fishing expeditions can last hours or even days, and you want to be comfortable while you’re sitting there. This can also impact the space equation in the boat – if you aren’t comfy enough due to the lack of backrests or any other support, you may feel compelled to add your own, and that can cost extra money and take up more space in the boat.

That being said, there are far more pros than cons with this offering from Intex. As mentioned, it is highly lightweight and thus highly portable. Even a potential con, its thinner vinyl, is offset in part by a couple of other pros, such as the multi-chambered design and the repair kit. The weight capacity is fantastic for a boat of this size, making it a favorite for families and fishing buddies alike.

Finally, there is room in this boat for mounting a motor if you are so inclined. This is a nice touch that gives you extra options on how to propel yourself across the water. It’s always better to have a mount built-in rather than have to MacGyver a motor mount yourself.

In Conclusion

Our rating: 4.6 / 5

When searching for a boat of any kind, it is critical that you know exactly what you want and then target those features. While the Intex Seahawk 4 may not be for everyone, there is a lot about it that can appeal to a lot of people, especially if you know where to look.

For one thing, this inflatable boat should definitely appeal to those looking for a good option for fishing. There is plenty of room for both your fishing gear and any catches as well as your fishing party. There are even holders for your fishing rods.

Once you are done fishing, this model can deflate quickly thanks to its Boston valves. Its design makes it that much easier to roll up and store, and its lightweight nature makes it a lot easier to carry as well.

As mentioned, the two big areas you’ll need to be a bit careful with are the bottom and the hull. The latter isn’t thin, but it’s by no means as thick as other options. The bottom of the boat, meanwhile, doesn’t feature a hard shell and thus is harder to stand on than other models. However, the tradeoff of the latter point is that it’s more comfortable to sit on the bottom of this boat (albeit without a backrest), and the I-beam does give it some rigidity.

On the whole, this is an excellent lightweight inflatable fishing boat, especially if you like to head out on the water with friends. As long as you know what you’re getting into, you can have many great fish stories to come with this model from Intex.