THE WOLF’S A STAR
SIBs could be the next craze in boat angling, and this canine companion could be just the ticket to ride
Your little ticket to ride.
Small inflatable boats, known as SIBs, are gaining a following among British sea anglers, and from what I see around the coast and on social media they are likely to be the next big thing in sea angling afloat, their popularity following a similar trajectory to the boom in kayak fishing a decade or so ago.
This is hardly surprising, as SIBs are incredibly stable for their size, much more so than kayaks. I have mentioned before that during my time in the fire service I occasionally used to instruct crews on the operational use of SIBs, invariably under far more testing conditions than you would ever willingly put to sea in for a day’s fishing. They really are wonderfully versatile little boats.
Compared to kayaks, SIBs are more comfortable to fish from, too, because to a varying degree, they give you some room to move around and stand while casting. Their lateral stability really does have to be experienced to be fully appreciated. With most SIBs you also benefit from a lot more space to store your tackle and other items of equipment, yet still leave sufficient free deck space from which to fish.
For me, the single biggest advantage a SIB offers over a kayak is the benefit of an engine
as your primary source of propulsion; for the eco-minded you even have the option of running an electric outboard. If you live in an area subjected to powerful runs of tide, or you intend to fish marks a significant distance away from where you can launch, an engine gets my vote over a paddle every time.
EASY TO HANDLE
The Wolf Star Caiman 330RFD (Rigid Folding Deck), which was originally branded the Aqua Star, is the perfect example of what I have been talking about, and she is well worth a look if you are thinking of buying your first inflatable boat.
Being a lightweight boat, the Wolf Star is easy enough for one person to unload from a car, and very quick to inflate and make ready for the water.
Key features include a collapsible, rigid deck with stringers, and three inflatable sections. It comes with an over-pressure valve, inflatable keelson, drain valve in the transom, keel guard hull protection, external fender with spray rail, bow anchor rope protection and fairlead and bow towing bracket.
There are seven handles to lift and carry the boat, a protective strip along the upper edge of the transom, spray-repelling webs aft of transom, fully adjustable seat positions and protective handle on the keelson air valve. All of this packs away neatly into PVC carry bags/dry bags with handles.
Others features of note include a pair of brackets fixed to the transom for attaching launching wheels, which are then removed easily as soon as the boat has been launched, and captive rowlocks.
The inflatable tubes are constructed from strong five-layer reinforced PVC material, with 950 g/m2 density fabric used on the coloured sides, and even tougher 1080 g/m2 density used in areas of potential wear, including cheekbones, cones and bottom. The material used is resistant to ultraviolet light, gasoline and oil, and withstands folding many times over.
ENGINE CHOICE
The Wolf Star 330 has been classified as CE Category C, and is rated for carrying up to four persons, which, of course, would be totally impractical under any fishing scenario. Ideally, what we have here is a single-person boat, two at a push. She has an overall length of 3.3m, a 1.58m beam with a 0.43 tube diameter.
The vessel can be used with engines as small as a 5-6hp, which will produce speeds of up to 12mph. That’s more than enough for a lot of inshore/sheltered harbour fishing. Fitted with a maximum rated 15hp outboard, the boat can reach speeds of up to 27mph, ideal if you intend running long distances.
The review boat was fitted with a Selva Ray 8hp outboard, which provided more than adequate performance for most anglers needs. This neat manual-start engine features two in-line cylinders, manual choke, reverse gear and an auxiliary fuel tank. It weighs 88lb.
I would say that 8hp is perfect for the needs of most anglers, and you’d likely only choose a larger engine if you routinely intend to use the boat in areas with very strong tides, or on rivers, for example.
ON THE WATER
My opportunity to review the Wolf Star 330 was on the River Thames at Shepperton, not the ideal to place to assess the sea-keeping qualities of a sea-going boat, I agree, but perfectly adequate to get a general feel of what’s what, and how she handles. Within 15 minutes the boat was unpacked from its travel bags, inflated and ready to launch. I noted that everything required could have been easily transported in most family cars, and then manually handled with ease by an able-bodied person.
Out on the water it immediately became apparent that, as with all inflatable boats, her lateral stability was a key feature. Her shortened, aggressively raised bow section allows the boat to easily ride over any waves, ensuring maximum performance can be gained. The Wolf Star 330 even features an inflatable keel for comfort and directional control. Many anglers will appreciate the rigid, folding deck, which, unlike many other SIBs that have a standard soft PVC deck, gives this boat a feeling of, well yes, rigidity!
SIBs really do encourage an ‘air’ of confidence, no pun intended, in the operator. They are incredibly safe little boats, which is exactly why they are used so widely among the various water-based rescue services. ■