Pelican Intruder 12 Fishing Boat

Curated from 66 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: April 11, 2025

Pelican Intruder 12 Fishing Boat

Brand: Pelican
Price: $1092
Snoop Score:
8.7
Sentiment
6.9
Popularity
9.0
Technical
9.2

Snoop's Take

The Pelican Intruder 12 is a versatile and durable fishing boat designed to enhance your outdoor adventures, whether you are hunting or fishing. Built with patented RAM-X material, it promises high-impact resistance, ensuring longevity while accommodating a maximum weight capacity of 420 lbs and offering ample cargo space. Users have praised its "excellent stability and balance" as well as its spacious interior, with one reviewer noting, "It's super stable, lots of room and you can easily stand to fish." However, some concerns about stability in rough waters have been noted, especially with added weight or modifications. Overall, the Pelican Intruder 12 is highly recommended for those seeking an affordable and reliable fishing boat that performs well in calmer conditions. With a solid reputation for durability and stability, it is a great choice for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a boat that can meet their needs without breaking the bank.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Boats

It's been on multi day backcountry trips and probably bounced off a million rocks with no cracks.

Positive Feedback

It's gonna be very unstable with a deck in that small boat.

Negative Feedback
Product
8.7
Pelican Intruder 12 Fishing Boat
Family Outings
9 / 10
Fishing Adventures
10 / 10
Quick Recreational Docks
8 / 10
Hunting and Exploration
10 / 10
See how this compares to all Boats

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Durable and nearly indestructible
It's been on multi day backcountry trips and probably bounced off a million rocks with no cracks.
I’ve never owned a plastic boat before and want to convert this into a bass boat.
Excellent stability and balance
Just my opinion. I have a 14 foot with a small flat area in front that I stand on but normally have a good counter weight behind me.
I felt less safe in that boat than in a canoe. I highly recommend at least a 12 or 14 ft V-haul Aluminum.
Spacious interior for cargo
I want something bigger than can hold two people and can take a small gas outboard.
I'm a bigger guy, I like the pond prowler style boats way better than kayaks just for the stability.
Stable for standing and fishing
It's super stable, lots of room and you can easily stand to fish.
Needs to carry 2 people and is stable enough for standing and fishing.
Durable and long-lasting
I’ve got a 10’ Pelican Bass Raider and would buy another one tomorrow.
Durable material helps withstand rough conditions
I don’t wanna risk capsizing it.
The boat isn't really a lake boat. It's meant for rivers and streams, but under good conditions it's serviceable on larger lakes.
Good stability in calm waters
It handles ruff water great.
Affordable compared to similar boats
With the sale it's less than half the price of similar boats from the brands usually recommended.
You'll still buy one - because they're cheap.
Stable and surprisingly good for fishing
They're oddly stable, you really don't know how stable they are until you try it.
Affordable alternative to larger bass boats
I know these boats garner a lot of interest as they're an interesting in-between for folks who can't afford, don't have space for, or don't have transportation for a real bass boat.
Thorough review appreciated
this was a really good review of the boat. Very thorough in detailing your experiences with it, the pros and cons, etc.
BPS Pond Prowler/Pelican Bass Raider Review-Tour
Good for smaller bodies of water
I used one for several years with much success on smaller bodies of water.
Durable hull material
The hull is fairly durable. It is truly a plastic boat.
These boats are appealing to me because they're lightweight and probably wouldn't require a trailer.
Nearly indestructible design
They're nearly indestructible, the foam inserts mean that they can't sink, they're super stable.
I’ve wasted too much time worrying about smashing them on the rocks.
Good for novice and intermediate users
I just want a pretty stable kayak, I don’t care that much if it’s hard to paddle.
Affordable and accessible
family, fun, affordable.
They're good enough to get out there, and that's all that matters.
Provides stability on the water
They get my ass out on the water and I feel comfortable within my skill level with the Pelican.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Unstable with added weight or modifications
It's gonna be very unstable with a deck in that small boat.
DO NOT!, you will sink/flip it.
Unstable in rough waters or with added weight
I'll spare you the details from there but I barely made it out of there with my gear and boat.
Risk of swamping if capsized
Ideally, I would want a boat that won't sink if it were to flip.
Lacks directional stability in shorter models
The 10' Pelicans tend to lack directional stability.
Heavy and inconvenient for use as a dinghy
It's heavy as shit (100 lbs minimum) and inconvenient to utilize as a dinghy.
Concerns about stability in larger bodies of water
Is flat bottom not good for largish lakes?

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product NameImagePriceScoreCompareSee DetailsBuy Now
Pelican Intruder 12 Fishing BoatPelican Intruder 12 Fishing Boat$1092
8.7
DetailsBuy
Intex Excursion 5 Person Inflatable BoatIntex Excursion 5 Person Inflatable Boat$147
8.3
DetailsBuy
Green Toys Tugboat BlueGreen Toys Tugboat Blue$11
8.3
DetailsBuy
Botepon Boat Bungee Dock Lines - Mooring Lines for BoatsBotepon Boat Bungee Dock Lines - Mooring Lines for Boats$18
8.2
DetailsBuy
Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini CarsGreen Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars$17
7.9
DetailsBuy
INTEX Seahawk 2 Inflatable Boat SetINTEX Seahawk 2 Inflatable Boat Set$68
6.7
DetailsBuy
HarperCollins Boats Board BookHarperCollins Boats Board Book$6
4.3
DetailsBuy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Preference for plastic kayaks
This is why I'll always stick with plastic kayaks--our favorite places to paddle involve rock and pebble beaches.
Discussion about adding a casting deck
definitely don’t put a folding camp chair inside this. 😂

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Use of foam rollers for added buoyancy
Still its no fun flipping over when full.
Flex Tape is your *best friend* in any repair situation on the water.
Discussion about Pelican model identification and DIY modifications
ID on this 10ft Pelican? It looks similar to a Mustang, but it has an actual dry hatch in front and a small hatch in back.
Looks like a Mustang or Maxim, may be able to Google their color schemes to narrow it down.
It doesn't seem like Pelican has all of their models on their website anymore; I saw some similar to this when I looked a few years ago.
Also it's the Pelican Argo 120XP.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Discussion about various boat types and personal stories
It looked practical and had lots of storage.
General discussion about Pelican kayaks being suitable for novice users
The best kayak is any one that you get out on the water in.
9/10 people I see have pelicans or sun dolphins.
Concerns about website legitimacy
This must be a scam. Are they really selling new kayaks under $100?
Without even accessing the site there is a 99.9% likelyhood of it being a scam.
Well the official Pelican site is pelicansport.com.
https://www.scam-detector.com/validator/pelicansoutdoors-us-review/
Discussion about transitioning from larger boats to this model
But this might have been a good choice as well.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Concerns about safety during shark feeding frenzy
I would be lying down flat on the bottom of the boat for fear of psychosomatically falling overboard.
Its all fun and games until a shark jumps into the boat with you and your staring at it eye to eye.
Imagine if all the commotion caused the boat to flip?!
That was my first thought watching the video. "You're gonna need a bigger boat."
Personal experience with Pelican kayaks lasting over time
Been using it for 3 years.
Concerns about hatch waterproofing
I doubt that hatch is water tight.

You May Also Like

Explore more Categories
Skateboards
Top Skateboards for Finger Board and Cruising Adventures
Top Skateboards for Finger Board and Cruising Adventures
Trains & Trams
Best Train, Tram, Coloring Books, and Model Vehicles
Best Train, Tram, Coloring Books, and Model Vehicles
Race Tracks
Exciting Race Tracks for Slot Car Racing
Exciting Race Tracks for Slot Car Racing