REVIEWS
Scout365 Inflatable Boat by: longlonghoneymoon.com
Explore the Water with the Scout Inflatable Boat on Your Next Trip by: rvlife.com
Review By: longlonghoneymoon.com
So, Scout Inflatables sent us an inflatable boat to review: the Scout365.
Boats and RVs go together like peas and carrots… peanut butter and jelly… political campaigns and allegations of sexual impropriety. (Err, you get the idea.) Go to any RV campground and you’ll find a vast array of portable boats.
For many years, my wife has been wanting a boat. Carrying a boat along to national parks and other scenic locales is a wonderful concept – in theory. With a boat you can see these areas from a completely different perspective. It’s an alternative to hiking, with the added bonus that few bear attacks have ever happened in deep water.
But the reality of Airstream and RV ownership is one of limited storage space. Heck, I don’t buy a pair of socks without carefully considering the storage issues. So I always wondered where exactly we’d store a boat if we got one. The usual solution, of course, is the roof of the tow vehicle. While there’s nothing wrong with rooftop storage, it certainly seems like a bit of a hassle. We often unhitch our truck and jaunt about town. Forgive me for saying so, but I’d rather not haul a couple of huge kayaks through the typical drive-thru.
And frankly, aesthetically it’s not the greatest look. I like our Airstream and truck to have a somewhat consistent and clean visual appearance in our YouTube videos. Strapping boats to the roof would just throw everything off visually.
Enter the Scout365. The natural tagline for this thing is “boat in a bag!” Yes, the Scout365 is an inflatable boat that rolls up and squeezes into a canvas storage bag. You can fit the entire kit-and-kaboodle in the bag – or at least the boat, its floor, the aluminum seats, the soft seat cover, and even the oars! Said bag easily fits in the bed of our pickup truck SEEMORE. This is a neat trick. At last we have a boat that I don’t mind hauling around.
But what about the quality? The word “inflatable” may bring to mind cheap and flimsy rafts, floaties, and rainbow colored unicorns that are commonly sold in drugstores and supermarkets. Rest assured that “inflatables” have come a long way, baby. The Scout365 is a new breed of inflatable – the fabric is an extremely tough PVC. The floor uses drop stitch technology that inflates to a consistency so rigid you can stand on it. The boat is made of the same thick stuff used in saltwater dingys and whitewater rafts. Once properly inflated, its solid feel inspires confidence. It has a 500 pound carrying capacity and comes with a 2-year warranty.
The Scout365 includes a number of thoughtful touches in the design. Its got built in carry handles, D-rings, and safety ropes. Tough rubber strakes protect the underside of the boat. The inflation valves are a high quality industry standard part (the same robust valve is used all over the world in such products). Seams are hand glued, which is apparently the best way of handling such things.
The setup and inflation process takes us about 10-15 minutes. We get a little faster every time we inflate the boat.
The setup and inflation process takes us about 10-15 minutes. Scout Inflatables claims that it’s possible to setup the boat in less than 10 minutes. I don’t doubt this claim. We get a little faster every time we inflate the boat. The first times we inflated the boat, it took us about an hour. But our most recent attempt took only 15 minutes. Like everything else in life, with experience we’ll be able to accomplish the task faster. (Insert crude sexual joke here.)
Breakdown typically goes faster than setup. It’s an easy job to deflate and take apart the boat. The tricky step is cramming everything into the included storage bag. Once you perfect your technique, you really can fit everything into the bag.
The boat itself weighs around 70 pounds in the bag. I would compare the boat weight to that of a 2000W generator. While you probably don’t want to carry it on a three mile hike, it’s not unreasonable to lift and carry short distances.
Overall we really like the Scout365. Personally I’m pleased that we can have these experiences with a high quality boat that easily fits into our available storage space. My wife is happy too, because she finally has a boat.
Stay tuned for future videos and posts about the Scout365. Who knows, maybe we’ll put a motor on this thing and see what happens.
CLICK HERE to see the Scout365.
Review By: rvlife.com
Getting out on the water is one of the most popular pastimes at a destination. While enjoying favorite activities is one thing, getting a watercraft there with your RV may present a challenge. For instance, owners of travel trailers have usable space on the roof of a tow vehicle for rack-mounted kayaks, however fewer options are available for those with motorhomes or fifth wheels.
“We are making a conscious effort to enlighten experiences on the water for campers and fifth wheel owners,” says Graham Kestrup, owner of Scout Inflatables and the manufacturer of the Scout 365 inflatable boat. “RVers commonly visit destinations where there’s water. These are areas where the Scout can expand their experiences without comprising space.”
(Video courtesy of Sean and Kristy Michael/Long Long Honeymoon Blog)
Fishing a lake, bird watching in a state park, or taking a picnic basket on day trip to a nearby island are a few pastimes that can be enjoyed. Kayaks are popular among the RV crowd for various reasons. Yet, while practical for some, the reality is that transporting them (especially for senior RVers) can be difficult.
Based on the combined designs of dory fishing boats, kayaks and dinghies, the Scout has a length of 12 feet with a width of 3.5 feet – when inflated. When deflated, it measures 37 x 24 x 10 inches and fits in its designated tote bag. It`s also light on the scale with a weight of just 68 pounds, making it compatible for many RV-dedicated storage compartments. The Scout can even fit in the trunk of a car. To reduce weight further (to just under 40 pounds), Kestrup suggests storing the two paddles, two aluminum seats, pump separately.
“The concept of the Scout is to create a very stable boat ideal for many activities, while being light weight and portable for RVing,” says Kestrup.
To use, simply unroll the Scout, inflate it (that takes 10 minutes or even less with a 12V pump) and you’re ready to go. Additionally, the Scout has a weight capacity of 500 pounds plus ample space to bring along guests, food/beverages, and fishing gear.
While underway, the Scout tracks well with its long, narrow waterline. There are a series of strakes (heavy layers of rubber) on its bottom protect it from punctures. For extra security, there are three air chambers – one for each of the pontoons and one in the inflatable floor.
Other Construction Highlights on the Scout Include:
- The Scout features PVC 1100 denier PVC fabric (with polyester support for abrasion and tear resistance)
- Hand-glued seams with four layers of bonded fabric
- Drop-stitch air flooring, which consists of thousands of interwoven stitches to hold the sections of fabric parallel. It also absorbs vibrations and is extremely rigid (once fully inflated).
- Eight-inch pontoon base strakes
- A marine-plywood transom and coated with tough 0.9mm, 1100 Denier PVC fabric and engine protection plates
- Double-sealed Halkey-Roberts valves for easy inflation and deflation.
“One of the highlights is the inflatable floor. It consists of the same Drop-Stitch technology in high-end inflatable paddle boards,” says Kestrup. “When it’s fully inflated, it becomes hard as wood. This creates a lot of rigidity and allows users to even stand.”
Kestrup explains that even in the event of an extreme circumstance such as punctures to the pontoons, users will still be able to make it back to shore.
To enjoy activities, users can row, paddle, or power the Scout by an optional outboard or electric motor. What`s more is the seats are higher from the waterline. This allows more comfortable, upright seating positions while enjoying the convenience of the outboard power that`s available.
The Scout has a maximum rating of 3.5 hp and many outboard options are available. While the engines are available separately, Kestrup suggests that the lighter the engine, the better. For instance, a lighter engine complements the overall light weight and portability of the Scout. As gas engines may be the ideal choice for some, electric motors – introduced in recent years – are also popular. They are now lower in cost and there are no restrictions for their use in State parks.
While the Scout measures only 12 by 3.5 feet, seating is versatile. There can be three rows of bench seating (the third bench is optional) and fit into UV-friendly straps on the pontoons. Seats with seats backs are also available. Comfortable seats with back support are also available.
Scout Inflatables has provided a coupon code for RV LIFE readers. To receive a 10% discount simply use the code RVlife16.
“Ultimately, a couple with two small children, one adult with two children, or a couple can enjoy the Scout,” says Kestrup. “It basically comes down to the weight factors of the individuals and how they determine the combination. We also put in straps for a third row. It also allows the positioning of forward seat to gain more space and better overall balance when on the water. We put in straps for flexible positioning of the forward seat. This allows users to place the front seat more forward to gain additional space for when two people are fishing. It also provides better overall balance when on the water.”
According to Kestrup, another practical use for the Scout is it can accompany kayaks during a day trip. For instance, the kids can enjoy the kayaks while adults can ride along in the Scout with food, drinks or other gear. If the kids tire or the wind picks up, they can run a line to the stern of the Scout to assist them home.
After use, the Scout can be inflated for several days and left at a dock or campsite. Kestrup suggests rinsing the boat after use, and should be kept out of direct sunlight when not in use.
“The whole concept of the Scout is to create an inflatable that`s an alternative to a kayak,” says Kestrup. “It`s easier to transport to and from a campsite, its durable and provides a very stable, reliable ride. Basically, it’s an ideal compromise and we deliver a boat that could easily fit into an RV.”