Elling 350KB as a sea fishing platform?

[Oldman]

Hi, I am at the "pick a boat" stage but my list of options keeps getting altered/lengthened.
I was steering towards Honwave T32 or Frib 330 but both have some things I dont much like about them.

The 350 interests me, its got plenty of attachment points as standard and with a weight of 35kg bare boat shouldnt be to difficult to get in/out of the car.
The possible downsides of this boat are as far as I can see, narrow transom area meaning any wheels attached are rather close together, "tippy" was mentioned, has this proved to be the case or is it stable?
Being it sits more on rather than in the water and I tend to fish alone, how does it behave at anchor in fairly calm weather? will it spill my tea?
When drift fishing again with big tubes and sitting on, does it get difficult to slow troll without the aid of a drogue?
How to tie down fuel tank at the pointy end with no visible mounts there?
I assume all inflatables are a pain to clean down after fishing with worm/fish finding new places to hide.
I know about the seat screws being too short, any other negatives or positives I should be aware of please.

[richardh]

Just on one point, the 350 lists at 45kg. It's the 430SL (longer but narrower and with smaller tubes, that I have) which is 35kg.

[Oldman]

Yes I was aware, but thanks for mentioning it. I followed another members posts where he weighed his and without the seats and floor it was 35kg so as thats the crunch for me lifting it into my car tailgate area I disregarded the 6kg items that I could separate from the main load. Hence the bare boat weight.

[harrison]

Not a fisherman nor own a KB350 I’m afraid, but reckon the Elling would make a great lightweight fishing platform.

Yes, it’s a bit narrow but being a cat hull will be more stable at rest than say the shallow V hull on a T32, and it’s got big 500mm dia toobs. It’s also very light and efficient and will go well with 6 or 10hp motors.

All inflatables suffer windage (oooer!) and the cats may be negligibly better, definitely not worse.

I think Andy, previously of this parish, fitted Beachmaster type wheels, which worked well.

Presumably the lack of tie down points for the fuel is sortable with say a strap laid under the air deck before inflating.

It would certainly be on my list.

[Gray]

Hi @Oldman, I have an Elling KB350 that I have been using for fishing. It is an amazing fishing platform, very stable and goes really well on a 10hp engine. Had 20mph out of it yesterday with 2 onboard. It is very well balanced to launch if you put the right wheels on it. Some of the Honwave lads I go out with are quite envious of it. It packs up really easy too.

Do not get the beach master wheels, there will not be enough clearance as the transom is quite high.

[Oldman]

Hi Gray, Some questions for you if I may.
What wheels did you use, I assume those are whats poking out from the pointy end in the photo.
Is your fuel tank up front ? if so did you tie it down?
How is the floor? hard enough and did you cover it for fishing or does the boat clean down after without problems?

Thanks for any input.

[harrison]

Looking good there @Gray

Liking the Russian rocket launchers on the old transom.

[Gray]

@Oldman These are the wheels I bought:



Both myself and @harrison have bought from this company. Just expect to be waiting a few weeks for delivery. The wheels are very well made. I have had mine in the salty stuff 4 times now and there is no sign of corrosion. The underslung design helps balance the motor on the boat and makes it easier to pull/lift. They also double up as rod holders.

I haven't tied my fuel tank down. I have had it at the front and rear and the boat plains either way. infact it plains really easily with one or two people on board. It would be easy to tie down if required as there are grab ropes are floor level inside the boat.

The floor just feels like a solid floor when on the water, uncannily so. I have stood up on it a few times to have a pee over the side I haven't covered my floor, just a foam pad for unhooking bass or anything with spikes. It all cleans down easily and anything in there just gets flushed out the drain at the back. As you well know fish tend to have a habit of dropping their guts the minute you lift them out of the water. I just wipe it down with a wet cloth and it ends up getting flushed out. The floor fits really tight when it is inflated so nothing gets in-between apart from water.

@harrison, I love the wheels. They just work like a dream. The boat has been named The Russian Trawler.

[Oldman]

Thanks Gray for the detailed reply.
Being a novice in this sib world, I do need to launch off shingle beaches and row out to clear obstructions so I note that the oars are located low down on the tubes, but where are the rowlocks? surely you are not expected to paddle it? Or is there something attached to each oar that plugs into the Borika tube mounts?

Talking of these Borika mounts, are they an industry standard size so attachments from another manufacturer fit the bases on the tubes? FASTen being their range.

Re the launch wheels, I looked at the RU site and it was around £210 all in as far as I could see inc taxes but with a wait for delivery, I had a search about and found some on Amazon for £199 with next day delivery, 14" wheels and no underslung just straight legs. Not sure i'm allowed to link direct so here is the item to search for B00AWGS46E.
Boatworld are expecting a shipment of boats the end of this month so I need to make my mind up pretty sharpish

[richardh]

For info, my 430SL came with Borika rowlocks which are a good adjustable offering and of course fit into any of the pre-attached mounts. I'd be surprised if the 350 did not. Mine also has oar stowage velcro loop straps on the lower tubes just above the floor (which could also be used for other attachments). Elling make a big deal about their high pressure (10psi) floor being especially rigid. Interesting about the Beachmaster wheels not fitting, I know it's a different design but I'll be carefully measuring my transom up before ordering, should I need them. 430 transom is too narrow for conventional wheels to fit at all.