Takacat 420 LX Inflatable Catamaran

Description

Looking for the Takacat 420 LX for sale? You have found it. This is the second largest boat in the Takacat LX range, a 13 foot 9 inch inflatable catamaran that seats seven, rides on big 22 inch tubes, and still rolls into two bags. Takacat calls it the powerful safety boat. Owners call it the workhorse. It is new, covered by the Takacat warranty, and we ship it worldwide.

Below you will find the full specifications, what sets the 420 LX apart from the boats either side of it, outboard advice, setup steps, care, delivery and straight answers to common questions.

Takacat 420 LX for sale: Specifications

All figures are for the PVC version and carry the small tolerances Takacat publishes. The capacity plate on your boat always has the final say.

Why the 420 LX Is Called the Workhorse

The 420 LX is where the Takacat range steps up. The four smaller LX boats all use 19 inch tubes. The 420 LX jumps to 22 inch tubes and a beam just over six feet. That extra width and buoyancy changes how the boat behaves when it is sitting still, which is where a lot of real boating happens.

Stand on the side of a small inflatable and it dips. Stand on the side of the 420 LX and it barely moves. That is why fishermen, hunters, dive crews and rescue teams like it. It is a stable platform first and a fast boat second, though it is plenty quick too.

It is also the size where portability still feels easy. The 460 LX is longer and heavier. The 420 LX gives you almost the same wide platform in a boat that two people can carry and one person can set up.

How a Takacat Catamaran Works

A single V hull inflatable pushes a bow wave and rolls from side to side. A Takacat sits on two long tubes with a tunnel between them. Water runs through that tunnel instead of being pushed aside, so the boat needs less power to move and stays level. At speed, air gets trapped under the deck, which cushions the ride.

Two parallel tubes also track like rails. Under oars, at trolling speed or under tow, the boat goes where you point it instead of wandering. Takacat founder Greg Sowden borrowed the idea from Thundercat surf racing boats and refined it for years in Auckland, New Zealand before launching the range in 2007.

Inside the Takacat 420 LX for sale

Removable Tube Transom

The back of the boat is a stainless steel frame, not a glued board. It slides into sleeves in the tubes and comes right out when you pack up. Without a fixed transom, the tubes roll small and light. With the stern open, water cannot pool on deck, so spray and rain drain out on their own.

Open bow

The front is open, held together by webbing straps between the D rings. You can walk off onto a beach or dock, and swimmers can climb back aboard from the front. That is a big deal when someone falls in or when divers are coming back tired.

Raised air floor

The high pressure floor sits above the tubes’ lowest point, so your feet stay dry. On the 420 LX the floor has a keel, which means you can pull it out and use it as a stand up paddle board when the boat is parked.

Multi chamber tubes

Each tube is split into two chambers, giving four main chambers plus the floor. If one section is damaged, the others keep the boat afloat. Smaller LX models use one chamber per tube.

Tough underside

Heavy duty rubber runs along the bottom of each tube. It protects against abrasion when you beach the boat or slide it into a truck bed.

Who the Takacat 420 LX for sale Suits

Anglers

Three or four people can fish side by side without the boat tipping. The flat deck has room for rods, a cooler and a tackle box. The shallow draft gets you over flats and into creeks a heavier boat cannot reach.

Hunters

Duck and waterfowl hunters use the 420 LX to reach blinds across shallow marsh. It is quiet under oars, steady when you stand to shoot, and packs into the back of the truck afterwards.

Divers and spear fishers

The open bow is the easiest way back aboard after a dive. Tanks sit low and central on the floor. The extra buoyancy of the 22 inch tubes handles the weight of a full dive team and gear.

Yacht owners

Many cruisers carry the 420 LX as a large tender or a backup to a rigid one. Six adults can go ashore in one trip, and the boat packs into a locker on passage.

Rescue and club safety

With its raised floor, open stern and multi chamber tubes, the 420 LX is a natural choice for flood rescue teams and for safety cover at sailing, rowing and paddling events.

Picking an Outboard for the Takacat 420 LX for sale

Our listing rates this boat for 6 hp to 25 hp on a short shaft. That wide window lets you choose based on how you use it.

• 6 to 9.9 hp for light loads, calm water and low cost running. The boat will plane with one or two people at the top of this range.
• 15 hp is the sweet spot for most owners. It planes with three or four aboard and still keeps weight manageable.
• 20 to 25 hp suits heavy loads, rescue work or regular use with five to seven aboard.

Keep motor weight in mind if you lift it on and off often. Four stroke motors around 15 hp weigh roughly 100 lb. Always stay within the capacity plate for power and engine weight.

We carry new and used motors that fit. See Tohatsu 15 HP outboards, Suzuki 9.9 HP outboards, Suzuki 20 HP outboards and Yamaha 25 HP outboards. For quiet water, our Torqeedo electric motors make a clean, silent setup. Ask about a boat and motor package on the Takacat 420 LX for sale.

On the Water With the Takacat 420 LX

Push the throttle and the 420 LX lifts onto the plane without the bow climbing high. The long waterline and twin hulls keep the boat level, so you can see where you are going. In a chop, the bigger tubes ride over waves rather than punching through them, and the deck stays drier than on a smaller boat.

At rest, the boat is calm. That is the part owners mention most. You can move around, reach over the side, or haul in a fish without the whole boat rocking.

Under oars, it is a long, wide boat, so it is no rowing shell. But the low drag hull makes it realistic to row across a bay or back to the dinghy dock if your motor quits.

Beaching is easy. The shallow draft lets you run in close, and the rubber protected tubes slide up onto sand. Step off over the open bow and you are ashore with dry feet.

Setting Up the Takacat 420 LX for sale

No floorboards and no heavy transom to wrestle. With the manual pump, setup takes roughly 8 to 15 minutes depending on your fitness. An electric pump brings it down to about 5 to 8 minutes.

1. Lay out the tubes and inflate them to 3 psi.
2. Slide the Tube Transom bars into their sleeves. Soapy water helps them slide.
3. Bolt on the motor mount boards with the supplied eye bolt.
4. Slip in the floor and inflate it to 10 psi.
5. Strap the bow D rings together.
6. Fit the oars in their locks.
7. Mount the outboard.
8. Check life jackets, lights, local rules and the forecast.

To pack up, remove the motor, deflate the floor, pull out the transom and roll the tubes from bow to stern. Everything goes into the two carry bags.

Storage and Getting It There

Packed, the tubes come to about 150 x 40 x 40 cm. That fits in an SUV, a hatchback with the seats down, a sail locker or a closet. You skip the trailer, the plates, the ramp fees and the yard space.

If you would rather keep the boat inflated for summer, Takacat’s quick release wheels let you roll it to the water. Plenty of owners leave it assembled on a lightweight trailer or in a pickup bed for the season, then roll it up for winter.

Build and Materials

Standard tubes are welded from 0.9 mm, 1000 denier PVC. It is strong, light and well priced. Hypalon tubes cost more but stand up better to strong sun, heat and fuel spills over many years, which suits tropical owners and full time cruisers.

Pressure relief valves come standard, so heat expansion will not overstress the seams. A rubbing strake protects the sides. The transom is 304 stainless steel and the motor board is waterproof painted plywood. Takacats from 2.5 m upward carry CE certification and are built to ISO 6185 2.

Replace the Tubes, Keep the Boat

Tubes are the part of any inflatable that wears out. On a boat with a glued transom, worn tubes usually mean the end of the boat. On a Takacat, you order a new set of tubes and fit your existing transom and floor. That keeps long term costs low and is a big reason the Takacat 420 LX for sale holds its resale value.

Takacat 420 LX for sale Compared

420 LX or 460 LX? Choose the 460 LX if you regularly carry eight or need the extra length for big loads. Choose the 420 LX if you want the same wide 22 inch tube platform in a lighter, shorter boat that is easier to handle alone.

420 LX or 380 LX? The 380 LX is lighter and narrower. It is a great boat for two to four people. The 420 LX adds width, bigger tubes and a lot more stability at rest, which matters if you fish, hunt or dive.

Setups Owners Build

Marsh hunter. 9.9 hp tiller, oars for the last stretch, gear bags strapped to the D rings. Quiet, stable, packs into the truck.

Reef dive boat. 20 hp four stroke, anchor in the bow, tanks secured on the floor. Divers climb back in over the open bow.

Cruiser’s shore boat. 15 hp, inflatable seat, wheels for beach landings. Takes the whole crew ashore in one run.

Club safety boat. 25 hp, radio, throw bag and first aid kit. Launches fast and stays steady when pulling someone in.

Common Mistakes With Big Inflatables

• Running the floor soft. Pump it to 10 psi or the boat will flex and slow down.
• Fitting too much motor. It upsets trim and voids cover. Stay inside the plate.
• Loading all the weight at the back. Move gear forward so the bow does not ride high.
• Rolling it up wet for storage. Dry it first to stop mildew.
• Dragging it over rock. Lift it or use the wheels.

Looking After Your Takacat

• Rinse everything with fresh water after a day in salt.
• Dry it fully before storage.
• Keep it out of strong sun when parked and use a UV protectant on PVC.
• Let a little air out on very hot days.
• Check the underside rubber and the floor valve each season.
• Carry the repair kit. Small leaks are quick to patch.
• Service your outboard on schedule.

Over winter, store the boat loosely rolled in a cool, dry place away from rodents. Do your outboard service at the same time so the Takacat 420 LX for sale is ready on the first good day of spring.

Safety Gear and Rules

Carry a life jacket for each person, a bailer, a horn or whistle, a light and an anchor. Rules on registration and required equipment differ by country and region, so check yours before the first trip. Never load beyond the capacity plate, and let someone ashore know your plans. For the full Takacat range and design background, visit the official Takacat website.

Takacat Warranty

PVC and Hypalon tubes both carry a 3 year warranty against defects and deterioration that affect usability, such as ageing, cracking or delamination. Air filling pipe seams carry 2 years. Parts and equipment, including the high pressure deck, carry handles, D rings, bow, seat, lid, paddles and oars, are covered for 2 years from purchase against defects in material and structure.

Shipping the Takacat 420 LX for sale Worldwide

Because the boat packs into two bags, freight costs a fraction of shipping a rigid hull. Tell us your country and nearest city and we will quote delivery to your door or to a local freight terminal. We can send a matching outboard in the same shipment.

Please read our terms and conditions and our refund and return policy before you order, and see what other buyers say on our reviews page.

Before You Buy

• How many people will usually be aboard?
• Will you mostly fish, dive, cruise or carry crew ashore?
• Do you already have an outboard? What power and shaft length?
• Where will you store it between trips?
• PVC or Hypalon for your climate?
• Do you want wheels for beach launching?

Buying From NJ Marines Outboard Engines

We are based in Fresno, California, and supply boats and outboards to buyers worldwide. Call or WhatsApp +1 209 690 5983, read more on our about us page, or reach us through the contact page. Tell us how you plan to use the boat and we will help you match the right motor.

More Takacat Boats

• Takacat 460 LX for sale
• Takacat 380 LX for sale
• Takacat 380 S for sale
• All Takacat inflatable catamarans
• The full shop

What Comes in the Box

Every Takacat 420 LX for sale ships with the inflatable tubes, the full Tube Transom assembly with motor mount boards, the high pressure air floor, an inflatable seat, a manual pump with pressure gauge, a repair kit, a pair of oars and two carry bags. Glue is not included in the repair kit, as it cannot travel by air freight, so pick up a tube of PVC or Hypalon adhesive locally.

Popular extras include an electric pump, quick release beach wheels, a bow bag for dry storage and an anchor kit. Ask us and we can add them to your order.

The Takacat 420 LX for sale in Rough Water

No small boat is a blue water vessel, and the 420 LX is designed for inshore and coastal use. Within that envelope it is a confident boat. The big tubes give a high freeboard, so short steep waves are less likely to slop aboard. If one does, the open transom lets the water run straight out instead of sitting on deck and dragging the boat down.

Take wind against tide slowly. Trim your load forward, ease off the throttle in a head sea, and let the twin hulls do the work. Running downwind, keep a little speed on so the bow stays up. These are the same habits that keep any small boat safe, and the 420 LX rewards them with a dry, steady ride.

Solo Handling Tips

Many owners use the Takacat 420 LX for sale on their own. A few habits make that easy:

• Inflate the tubes on a tarp near the water so you carry less weight.
• Fit the wheels before you add the motor, then roll the boat down the beach and mount the outboard in shallow water.
• Choose a lighter outboard, around 9.9 to 15 hp, if you lift it on and off alone.
• Keep a short bow line clipped to the D ring so you can hold the boat while you climb in over the bow.

Is the Takacat 420 LX Right for You?

If you want one boat that can take the family out on Saturday, carry a dive team on Sunday and still fit in the car, the answer is likely yes. If you only ever carry one or two people and need the lightest possible tender, look at the smaller LX models instead. If you need eight seats, step up to the 460 LX. For everyone in between, the Takacat 420 LX for sale is the balanced choice in the range.

FAQ: Takacat 420 LX for sale

Is the Takacat 420 LX for sale new?

Yes, new with the Takacat warranty.

Is an outboard included?

No. The $3,249 price is for the boat. Ask us for a package price.

How many people does it carry?

Up to 7 people or 1,576 lb.

What outboard suits it best?

Most owners choose 15 hp. The range is 6 to 25 hp on a short shaft.

How much does it weigh?

About 111 lb complete, so two people can carry it easily.

Can the floor be used as a paddle board?

Yes. The floor has a keel and can be paddled on its own.

Do you ship the Takacat 420 LX for sale worldwide?

Yes. Send us your location for a freight quote.

Final Word

The Takacat 420 LX for sale gives you a wide, stable, seven person platform that still packs into two bags. It fishes well, dives well, carries a crew and works hard. Order today, or message us first and we will help you set it up with the right outboard.

Browse more Takacat inflatable catamarans or see all our outboard engines for sale. Questions? Call or WhatsApp +1 209 690 5983.