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The idea of owning a boat might seem like a bit of a luxury, not to mention where you are going to leave it. That is until you take a look at inflatable boats from Intex. Intex has a range of inflatable boats, we are going to look at the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion.
We are going to focus on the Intex Mariner vs Intex Excursion for fairness. These boats have a 4-person capacity. The Intex Mariner also comes in a 3-person capacity while the Intex Excursion is also available for 5 people.
There are just a few similarities between the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion. We will cover these first.
Intex Mariner vs Intex Excursion – Similarities
Quick Glance
The comparison chart below will help to recap all of the specifications.
Capacity
As we mentioned, the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion are suitable for 4 people. They have a maximum weight limit of 1100 pounds.
Valves
The Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion have Boston valves for faster inflation and deflation. The Intex Mariner has 4 valves. There is no information about the number of valves the Intex Excursion has but we would assume there was one for each of the three air chambers.
What’s Included
Intex is quite generous with what it included with its inflatable boats. The Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion come with 2 oars, 2 fishing rod holders and a gear/battery pouch. There is a repair kit and an air pump along with a carry bag.
Warranty
The 90-day warranty that comes with the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion is a little disappointing.
Now that we know what the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion have in common, we will take a look at the features that are different.
Differences Between Intex Mariner and Intex Excursion
Appearance
Although similar in design, they still look quite different.
Intex Mariner
This inflatable boat is 129.1 x 57.1 inches. It weighs a fair bit at 32kg. You will notice that the sides of this boat are very wide. There are two color designs, one is gray with bleu features and the other is gray with blue features.
Intex Excursion
It is just a bit shorter at 124 inches, but you notice the extra space with a width of 64.9 inches and thinner tubes. It only weighs 19kg and comes in gray with blue features.
The Winner Is- The Intex Excursion
Read next – Intex Mariner 3 vs Intex Mariner 4: Which Inflatable Boats are Better?
Materials
It is generally agreed that all Intex inflatable boats are made of good quality materials.
Intex Mariner
It is made of 2 layers of supreme strength, super-tough PVC plus an extra inner layer of polyester mesh. There is a rock guard line around the whole hull. The floor is made of heavy-duty extruded plastic and it is both inflatable and removable.
Intex Excursion
This is made of heavy-duty puncture-resistant vinyl. The floor is a rigid floor with I-beam construction.
The Winner Is- The Intex Mariner
Read next – Sea Eagle SE9 vs Intex Mariner 4: Which Inflatable Boats are Better?
Carry Handles and Oarlocks
Things like carrying handles and oarlocks add to the ease of use both in the water and out.
Intex Mariner
You will find a carry handle at the front of the boat and an all-around grab line. There are 2 oarlocks, and they are welded on.
Intex Excursion
There is a front and rear carry handle as well as the grab line. It also has 2 oarlocks but there is no mention of whether they are welded on or not.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Seats
The seats that come with these boats are all inflatable.
Intex Mariner
There are three seats, and the good news is that they are removable so you can take one or all of them out depending on the space you need.
Intex Excursion
The two seats are at either end of the boat. They don’t seem to be as high as the seats of the Intex Mariner, but they are more sociable.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Motor Mount Fittings
The motors aren’t included but there are motor fount fittings.
Intex Mariner
It is suitable for motors up to 3 HP.
Intex Excursion
You can mount a motor of up to 1.5 HP.
The Winner Is- The Intex Mariner
Pros and Cons
Before our final verdict, we will look at a few pros and cons of the Intex Mariner and the Intex Excursion.
Intex Mariner
Pros:
- Between the Boston valves and the great air pump, it’s quick to inflate and deflate
- The boat is sturdy and durable
- It’s great for rivers and lakes
Cons:
- It’s quite a bit more expensive
Intex Excursion
Pros:
- There is an amazing online community with ideas for cool upgrades
- Lovely and spacious
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- The air pump isn’t as good.
The Final Verdict
It was a difficult decision that in the end came down to three factors. We felt that the quality of the materials used with the Intex Mariner was superior and it felt that little bit safer. Nevertheless, the materials of the Intex Excursion were also strong and durable. We preferred the spacious design of the Intex Excursion and when you include the better price tag, we felt this was a much better buy.