Video · Inflatables & Skiffs
Air Skiff Inflatable Fishing Boat: Unboxing, Setup and Water Test
I unbox the new Air Skiff from Tiny Boat Nation, set it up, run it with a 6 hp outboard and fish from it with an AutoBoat GPS motor.
What’s in this video
We’ve run inflatables over with a truck, thrown them off my house and taken them shark fishing. The new Air Skiff from Tiny Boat Nation should be even tougher because it uses heat welded seams instead of adhesive. In the Florida heat, adhesive seams can bake and blow out. That’s the only time I’ve ever needed a repair kit.
It comes in a wrap style case that’s easy to repack, with EVA decking, a bench seat, a pump and a patch kit. I got white to stay cooler. The bottom is heavily reinforced, which makes sense since the maker also builds river boats. I like the slide style drain valve and all the Railblaza ports. The floor goes in, the grab bar and cooler rack mount on D rings, and there’s a pressure release valve for hot days. I inflated with my Oak and Iron pump off a LiTime battery, floor first, then the tubes, set to 15 PSI.
It’s rated for a 10 hp outboard. I ran my 6 hp Yamaha because that’s what I have, so this isn’t its top speed. There’s room for two people and maybe a kid. We cruised the canals and hit choppy open water, and I think I was running a little low on air, so top it off before you go. Then I fished from it and put an AutoBoat GPS motor on it.
Key moments
- 0:00 Introduction
- 1:16 Unboxing
- 3:08 Durability
- 3:57 Assembly
- 4:41 Mounting Grab Bar Cooler Rack
- 5:52 Inflating Air Skiff Boat
- 8:00 Mounting Outboard To Boat
- 8:35 Why Is Air Skiff Unique
- 9:15 Launching Air Skiff Into Water
- 10:06 Cruising By Canal Homes & Yacht
- 11:55 Open Water Testing
- 13:13 Fishing From Air Skiff
- 13:56 AutoBoat GPS Motor On Air Skiff
- 16:32 Pros / Cons Air Skiff
- 17:10 Final Thoughts
Quick takeaways
- Heat welded seams hold up better than adhesive seams in hot climates.
- Inflate the floor partway first, then the tubes, then top off the floor so the fabric stretches into shape.
- It's rated for a 10 hp outboard; between 4, 5 and 6 hp, I'd get the 6 unless the price is very different.
- Purge valves can let air out in a hot garage, so check pressure before you launch.
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