Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Review

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The 12’6″ Sport Runabout is Sea Eagle’s medium-sized inflatable runabout. The inflation chambers of the 12.6sr are slightly larger than those of the 10.6sr Sport Runabout giving it the ability to seat 6 people and a maximum load capacity of 1600 lbs. It’s well suited for those who desire a little more room in an inflatable boat that still packs down relatively small to stow away in the trunk of a car, under the deck of a boat, or in a camper.

This is Sea Eagle’s most popular size transom boat. It’s large enough to take up to a 30hp engine and pull a skier or a tow-able, capable of motoring long distances without filling up, economical to run, and easy to trailer or cartop if you don’t want to stow and later spend the 20 to 30 minutes setting it up at the put-in.

Whether you’re looking to pull a skier, fish, dive, runabout, or need a tender, you can’t go wrong with the Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat. It serves as a great all-around boat for almost all water types.

Sea Eagle has been making high-quality inflatable boats since 1968 and has been making the Sport Runabout for over 24 years. It’s a wonderful, time-tested boat and its 5 Star Reviews attest to that fact.

About Sea Eagle Sport Runabout Inflatable Boats

The first Sea Eagle Sport Runabouts came out in 1997. Over the last 24 years, Sea Eagle has never stopped testing and making improvements to these remarkable inflatable boats. The Sport Runabout has been tested in all sorts of conditions from 300-mile ocean trips with extreme conditions from 10 to 12-foot ocean waves in violent thunderstorms to fire and flood rescue work.

The Sea Eagle Sport Runabouts are lightweight and fold down into a size that is easily stowed in a car trunk, RV, camper, SUV, or below deck in your sailboat or yacht. The portability and ease of stowing of these boats are their greatest advantage.

From year to year, these inflatable boats have weathered all sorts of conditions proving they are safe and seaworthy. They are truly the best, time-tested, boats of their kind in the world!

Sea Eagle Sport Runabout Inflatable Boats Are Performance Enhanced

Sea Eagle Sport Runabouts are not only safe and seaworthy they are performance enhanced. Twelve years ago, Sea Eagle introduced their patented, outside, drop-stitch, inflatable keel. Unlike the internal, inflatable keel that is in use in all other inflatable sports boats, Sea Eagle’s outside, high-pressure keel turns sharper and more precisely, provides faster planing, and increases stability in all water conditions.

Floor Choices for the Sea Eagle Sport Runabout Inflatable Boats

There are two different floor choices when selecting a Sport Runabout the rigid, drop-stitch, high-pressure, inflatable floor with EVA footpads or the molded plastic floorboards.

If you want a Sport Runabout that is lighter, more portable, and easier to stow, set up, and takedown, then you’ll want the inflatable floors. If you want a more rigid boat that handles larger motors better, then the plastic floorboard system is your best choice. Both floors offer excellent performance, but the plastic floorboards are better for outboard motors over 20 hp.

Sport Runabouts are great all-around boats for fishing, diving, recreational use, sailboat or yacht tender, rescue, and more. They can go almost anywhere there’s water… lakes, bays, open oceans… These boats do it all!

All you have to do is make the choice between the 10.6sr, 12.6sr, 14sr, and Rescue14 and your desired discount package.

Other Sea Eagle inflatable boats that might interest you are the SE9 Motormount Inflatable Boats, PaddleSki Inflatable Catamaran Boats, and FastCat 12 Catamaran Inflatable Boat.

Top, Front, and Side Views – Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat

Specifications for the Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat

(compare all Sea Eagle inflatable boats)

Related Content:

• Sea Eagle Sport Runabout Inflatable Boats Compared
• Sea Eagle 10’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Review
• Sea Eagle 14′ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Review
• Sea Eagle Rescue14 Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Review

Standard Features of the Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat

• NMMA & CE Certified
• Smooth rounded hull shape reduces drag and provides more efficient motoring
• Wide beam hull design for stability and added capacity
• 4″ Drop-stitch, inflatable keel provides performance benefits: smoother ride, amazingly precise steering, and faster planing
• Choice of high-pressure, super rugged and rigid, drop-stitch floor for easiest, fastest assembly and lightest weight, or maintenance-free, plastic floorboards for best rigidity
• Rounded rear pontoons for rapid planing and improved bow control
• Two layers of 1000 Denier reinforced material on the lower side of the tubes for the greatest abrasion and puncture resistance
• Splash guards on the transom to prevent water from entering the boat
• Easy open or shut, self-bailing drain valve located inside the boat at the bottom center of the transom for easy access
• 5/8″ grab line runs along sides through brass grommets for safety
• Rubbing strake around hull for extra protection and improved bow control
• Two large, heavy-duty, stainless steel D-rings for towing
• Four side carry handles and one front handle for easy lifting
• Oars clasp firmly to side tubes
• Pop up oarlocks for instant use
• Nylon carry bag, repair kit, and printed instruction manual

If you’d like to check out the manual, there is a downloadable Instructions and Owners Manual for the Sea Eagle 12.6SR Transom Boat.

Key Features of the Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat

Molded Plastic Floorboards or Rigid, High-Pressure, Drop-Stitch, Inflatable Floor

Sea Eagle offers two floorboard options for the 12.6 Sport Runabout. Unique performance benefits for the boat are found with each.

You’ll only have the option for one floor when ordering one of the discount packages. Should you want both floors you can purchase the alternate floor separately.

12’6″ Sport Runabout Rigid, High-Pressure, Drop-Stitch Inflatable Floor

The Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout’s rigid, high-pressure, drop-stitch, inflatable floor is lighter, super portable, and faster to set up making it perfect for recreational boaters, fishermen, motorhome owners, and anyone needing a sailboat or yacht tender with faster setup times.

If you think pool raft when you hear inflatable floor, you have it wrong. This inflatable floor is far more rigid than you might imagine. It is a structural element of the boat and it’s made to stand on while out on the water.

The amazing rigidity of this inflatable floor adds to the structural strength of the boat. The inflatable floor is so rigid you can comfortably stand on it, so Sea Eagle designed the floor with non-slip EVA foam pads for secure footing and improved durability.

Benefits of the Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Floor:

• 10-minute faster setup over the plastic floorboards
• The inflatable floor is 34 lbs lighter
• It conveniently rolls up with the boat for improved storage. This makes the boat easy to unroll, inflate, and get out on the water!
• The 12’6″ Sport Runabout with the inflatable floor is self-bailing. All you have to do is leave the drain open. The shape of the inflated drop-stitch floor forces water out as it enters. You can leave the boat moored for weeks and come back to a dry boat.
• Motor performance is excellent when using a lightweight 9.9 hp to 20 hp short raft motor.

12’6″ Sport Runabout Molded Plastic Floorboards

The Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout’s molded plastic floorboards are even more rigid and rugged than the high-pressure, drop-stitch, inflatable floor. This rigidity provides the boat with superior structural strength and a stable platform for anglers and others to stand on.

Sea Eagle polyethylene plastic floorboards offer superior durability that surpasses plywood and aluminum boat floors. Plastic floorboards are extremely durable, maintenance-free, heat resistant, virtually unbreakable, and impervious to the sun, saltwater, and chemicals. They won’t deteriorate and delaminate like plywood floors and they won’t get all dented up or get uncomfortably hot like aluminum floors.

I don’t know why polyethylene plastic floorboards aren’t offered by other boat companies but they are exclusively a time-tested feature of Sea Eagle Boats. Impressively, they have sold over 20,000 boats with these popular floorboards.

Patented Outside Drop Stitch Inflatable Keel

The Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout has an outside drop-stitch, inflatable keel instead of an internal keel like other transom boats. Its outside keel improves the boat’s overall performance by making it more precise, responsive, and stable in all water conditions.

• The keel gives the 12’6″ Sport Runabout its superb ability to turn sharply and precisely. An advantageous feature when docking, motoring in crowded areas, and if the boat is used for water rescues.
• The drop-stitch, inflatable keel increases the buoyancy in the bow to provide a smooth ride over waves instead of smashing through them.
• The improved buoyancy of the bow in combination with the boat’s large, rear, rounded tubes gets the 12’6″ Sport Runabout up in a plane position much faster.

Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Discount Packages

Inflatable Drop-Stitch Floors

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Drop-Stitch Deluxe Package

The Drop-Stitch Deluxe Package (Model Number 126SRDK_D) with a high-pressure, inflatable floor weighs far lighter than other inflatable transom boats its size. Its lightweight design improves fuel efficiency while improving portability, and stowability. Already has a motor? This streamlined model will save you some money.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat Package

The Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat Package (Model Number 126SRDK_SW) has everything in the Drop-Stitch Deluxe Package plus a bow storage bag and locking swivel seat that mounts on 2 aluminum cross boards. If you’ll be motoring long distances, you’ll want the comfort of this upgraded seat.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat & Canopy Package

The Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat & Canopy Package (Model Number 126SRDK_SWC) with the Deluxe Sun & Rain Canopy has you protected from the rain or sun while the locking, swivel seat keeps you comfortable on long days on the water.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat Honda Motor Package

The Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat Honda Motor Package (Model Number 126SRDK_HM) is the same as the Drop-Stitch Swivel Seat Package with the addition of the highly efficient Honda 9.9 hp four-stroke outboard motor. You are going to want a motor, right? Here it is all in one convenient and tested package.

The only thing missing in this package is the canopy. No worry. You can add the Sun & Rain Canopy.

Features:

Plastic Floorboards

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Deluxe Package

The Deluxe Package (Model Number 126SRK_D) with molded plastic floorboards has everything you need to get out on the water except the motor. Already have a motor? Then this package can save you some money.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Swivel Seat Package

The Swivel Seat Package (Model Number 126SRK_SW) has everything in the Deluxe Package with the addition of a locking swivel seat that mounts on 2 aluminum cross boards. This seat is a must for comfort on those long days on the water.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Swivel Seat & Canopy Package

The Swivel Seat & Canopy Package (Model Number 126SRK_SWC) will have you riding in comfort and style. The Sun & Rain Canopy provides shade and protection from the rain while the swivel seat keeps you comfortable on long days of motoring.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12.6sr Sport Runabout – Swivel Seat Honda Motor Package

The Swivel Seat Honda Motor Package (Model Number 126SRK_HM) has everything in the Swivel Seat Package with the addition of the highly efficient Honda 9.9 hp four-stroke outboard motor. If you don’t have a motor, you’ll need one. Here it is all in one convenient, Sea Eagle tested package.

The only thing missing is a canopy. No worry. You can add the Sun & Rain Canopy.

Features:

Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boat Instructional Video

Who Are Sea Eagle Boats?

Sea Eagle Boats is a family-owned and run company located in New York. They have had a stellar reputation for making high-quality inflatable boats since 1968 and each of the boats in their lineup is a testimony to their excellence in the inflatable boat industry.

Sea Eagle Boats are lightweight, extremely durable, compact, easy to carry and transport, and above all fun! These inflatable boats pack down into carry bags and can be stowed as luggage when traveling or stored in a car, SUV, van, truck, RV, or yacht. You can get Sea Eagles to almost any body of water for leisure, recreation, fishing, tending, rescue, and more.

Certifications

The Sea Eagle 12’6″ Sport Runabout Inflatable Boats have met the manufacturing standards of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) for design, construction, and safety and have been certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Sea Eagle Guarantee and Warranties

Sea Eagle 4-Month Trial Guarantee: Try a Sea Eagle Risk-Free for 120 days! “If you’re not totally happy with your boat, just return it in good condition for a full refund of your purchase price.”

Sea Eagle 3-Year Limited Warranty: 3-year limited warranty against any manufacturing defects.

Sea Eagle 3-Year Extended Hull Warranty: In addition to the limited 3-year warranty, Sea Eagle offers a 3-Year Extended Hull Warranty to give you 6 years of total warranty against any manufacturing defects.

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Steve Hood

Steve Hood is a writer, photographer, and outdoor enthusiast. He has had a lifelong passion for exploring the woods, mountains, lakes, and rivers of the United States with a focus on kayaking, hiking, and fishing and enjoys sharing the love of outdoor adventures, conservation, and education with others.

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