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I have been looking at purchasing a 12.5 ft Seamax Ocean (with 1.2 and 1.5 mm material) online. I am under the impression these boats are relatively new and can only find positive comments about them. Due to my location I am not able to phisically see one and am wondering wether anyone has personal experience with them. I like the fact that they are North American built and of course the price with it's options. It will be primarily used in rivers and occasionally the ocean. My last inflatable was a quicksilver which took me 18 years to wear out. Can I exspect similar quality and durability? Any and all comments will be appreciated.

Would love to hear more about the seamax and the seabright boats....

especially after you have used them for a year or so..... how do they stand up..... what issues came up if any..... any comments on dealer customer service etc.

This is good information for those looking to buy.

I have a 10ft 6 inch ocean series seamax. Bought it in summer of early summer of 2010, so just over a year. Early this spring I somehow tore a gash in the floor. No puncture in the tubes, just the hull, back by the transom. I do not know if it got damaged when transporting it (i had it on a new "cart") that day or something in the water. It literally looked cut. and we are talking a 12 inch or so gash. I use a 55 lb thrust electric on it, so we are not talking me flying along with a 15 hp outboard and I was not in razor rocks or something like that, we are talking barely cruising and a small, very unused lake (so no broken glass ect)

I was fishing and out on a small lake when water was rising up over the aluminum floor. Not a good feeling even though there was no risk of sinking....again lost no air. The boat ended up being out of commission for over a month, the customer service was not great in terms of getting an idea how to fix it. I literally called while driving home from the lake. They were trying to be helpful and wanted me to email pictures so they could suggest repairs, but to be frank, there was a bit of a language issue (not very good english on their parts). Shipping it back would have been insane cost wise.

I ended up using their repair kit and hitting up home depot for some pvc glue/marine sealant. That seemingly has fixed the issue, except now I think my drain plug is leaking too I believe. There is water in the boat when I am finish my day on the water, but nothing that gets up visible over the aluminum floor. Again I am not using an outboard on the ocean, so this is not water spraving into the boat.

As a guy who lives in an apartment in washington DC and drives a honda civic and is a very, very avid fisherman, I thought this was my best option. I am not very sure now and am looking constantly to replace this boat.

That is not to say seamax is bad...... but here are my negatives

-The easily damaged hull (again this is not the extra rubber strake keel guard, but the hull floor right next to it.)
-10.6 ocean is not nearly as big inside..... fishing with two people is flat out crowded
-The aluminum floor is great, but some days can be a pain to get in there

I bought an 80 dollar very professional electric pump to inflate it...... that foot one they give you will take 30 minutes and you will be sweating like a pig. Not a complaint about the boat, true of all inflatables.

So here is my dilemma. Would love to upgrade and go bigger already. What to do?

-14 foot seamax? If i did I would want the heavy duty I think because of the tear issue (1.22 pvc as apposed to .99) I do not think the floor size is the same.... otherwise could save some money if I could just add an aluminum floor board or two.
-Another company? everyday am looking at saturn and seabright..... and wondering if they are the answer.
--------- Saturn- great price and seemingly good reviews, but same as seamax basically and only a two year warrenty
--------- Seabright--- Love the fabric (german), are they glued or welded seams? heard both. and cost.... especially shipping to the US.
-Then cost...... I do like these inflateables..... and space wise need them..... But when your talking the 14 foot range, can easily buy a jon boat, trailer, and such for basically the same price (we are talking over 2,000 bucks, often closer to 3,000). These boats are guaranteed for 2 to 5 years..... the same price is getting you more room and a trailer..... plus will last forever unless you flat out wreck the boat. Again I can not store a jon boat at my apartment, but pay to store it somewhere else?

Thoughts?

Would love to hear more about the seamax and the seabright boats....

i own the seamax ocean 290 and it is made in china not north america if this helps you guys.