Corpusfishing.com

AustinAngler · Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 6 Location: Austin, Tx

hey guys, my friends and I were in the market for a new zodiac to help run baits out on PINS. Is there anything in particular we should be looking for when shopping for a zodiac boat?
any pointers would be much appreciated. Thanks!

david weber · Bear Mullet Joined: 29 Nov 2012 Posts: 118

I believe the Fed's have a regulation on size of boat , and it must not have a fiberglass bottom, which some Zodiac's do. I think I got the 310. I believe you have to be under 11 feet. I found the info on the Park's website when reading their rules. I got it from Defender.com Also I put a 9.9 Tohatsu on it, and am installing aftermarket trim tabs, per another members recommendation. I think the trims tabs are sold by Maxi Marine. Search the site. Another member has a rigged out Zodiac and offered good advise.

AustinAngler · Joined: 07 Nov 2012 Posts: 6 Location: Austin, Tx

thats what I was looking for thanks

HungerBuster · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 371

I'd PM Towboat Trash. He can give you any particular you'd need...
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Fish ON!

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1118

Whether you buy PVC or Hypalon, get the thickest material you can. Do NOT use any of the various silicone preservative sprays or pastes on them, it makes patching holes damn near impossible. (Glue won't stick) People talk down PVC but as long as you keep it out of the sun while in storage it'll last for years. Mine is 6 years old and looks new. I've never put a hole in it but I've gone crazy gluing tow rings, rod holders and such all over it.

Get a pressure relief valve fitted, the sun will pop the boat if you forget to air it down on the trailer otherwise.

I have a 14' West Marine with a 15hp Mercury. It's HEAVY. (Aluminum floor) Just boat and motor weigh over 300lbs and launching it in the surf is a pain in the butt. My next one is going to be half that size. I REALLY over-bought.

Choose one with an inflatable keel. A lot of the smaller ones do not have them and the handling stinks.

The only requirement I'm aware about on PINS is the HP limit, no one has ever stopped to ask about the length etc on the boat. On the Kleberg side anything goes.

HardScience · Finger Mullet Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

From the Superintendents 2017 Compendium:

(ii) Zodiacs, Avons, and other soft hulled motorized vessels less than 14' in length are permitted to launch on South Beach south of the 5 mile marker. All other gulf beaches are closed to launching motorized vessels.