Sea Eagle FoldCat 375FC Quick start guide

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Sea Eagle ®FoldCat 375fc & 440fc
Instructions and Owner’s Manual
April 2009
19 N. Columbia St., Suite 1, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
[phone]

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INTRODUCTION
Sea Eagle FoldCat 375fc & 440fc
Congratulations, you just bought the finest 2-person fold
up fishing boat on the planet. Before proceeding with
assembly and inflation, please check to see that you have
all necessary parts:
Sea Eagle FoldCat 375fc Deluxe Package includes:
- 375fc FoldCat inflatable hull
- catamaran carry bag
- repair kit* (small orange canister)
- 2 nylon plastic oarlocks with oarlock pins & hardware
- 2 collapsible rowing oars
- 5 aluminum floorboard aluminum benches
- 4 aluminum stabilizer underbars
- wooden motormount with 2 L-brackets & hardware
- 2 quick release swivel seat mounts with hardware
- 2 swivel seats
- 2 rod holders with flushmount adapters & hardware
- A-41 bellows foot pump
*Note: The repair kit includes 2 patches, tube o glue,
Recessed On-Way Valve Adapter & Valve Tool.
Sea Eagle FoldCat 375fc Pro Angler’s Package includes:
- 375fc FoldCat inflatable hull
- catamaran carry bag
- repair kit* (small orange canister)
- 2 raised oarlock bases with oarlock pins & hardware
- 2 collapsible river guide oars
- 5 aluminum floorboard aluminum benches
- 4 aluminum stabilizer underbars
- wooden motormount with 2 L-brackets & hardware
- 2 quick release swivel seat mounts with hardware
- 2 swivel seats
- 4 rod holders with flushmount adapters & hardware
- 1 pedestal for swivel seat with hardware
- nylon storage bag
- A-41 bellows foot pump
*Note: The repair kit includes 2 patches, tube o glue,
Recessed On-Way Valve Adapter & Valve Tool.
Sea Eagle FoldCat 440fc Deluxe Package includes:
- 440fc FoldCat inflatable hull
- catamaran carry bag
- repair kit* (small orange canister)
- 2 raised oarlock bases with oarlock pins & hardware
- 2 collapsible rowing oars
- 6 aluminum floorboard aluminum benches
- 4 long aluminum stabilizer underbars
- wooden motormount with 2 L-brackets & hardware
- 3 quick release swivel seat mounts with hardware
- 3 swivel seats
- 4 rod holders with flushmount adapters & hardware
- A-41 bellows foot pump
*Note: The repair kit includes 2 patches, tube of glue,
Recessed On-Way Valve Adapter & Valve Tool.
Sea Eagle FoldCat 440fc Pro Angler’s Package includes:
- 440fc FoldCat inflatable hull
- catamaran carry bag
- repair kit* (small orange canister)
- 2 raised oarlock bases with oarlock pins & hardware
- 2 collapsible rowing oars
- 6 aluminum floorboard aluminum benches
- 4 long aluminum stabilizer underbars
- wooden motormount with 2 L-brackets & hardware
- 3 quick release swivel seat mounts with hardware
- 3 swivel seats
- 6 rod holders with flushmount adapters & hardware
- 1 pedestal for swivel seat with hardware
- nylon storage bag
- A-41 bellows foot pump
*Note: The repair kit includes 2 patches, tube of glue,
Recessed On-Way Valve Adapter & Valve Tool.
ASSEMBLY
The FoldCat 375fc & 440fc require one time assembly of
optiona adapters for rod holders and quick release swivel
seat mounts. These things can be rolled up with the hull for
storage. Most people will never fully disassemble their
FoldCat.
Unroll the FoldCat hull and lay both the pontoons parallel
to each other flat on the floor.
Please note, the ends of pontoons with ecessed
One-Way Valves and two grommets for aluminum
step rod will form the bow of the FoldCat.
Stabilizer Underbars
The FoldCat 375fc & 440fc have 4 aluminum stabilizer
underbars. From the bow of the FoldCat slide 1 aluminum
underbar under the first and the second aluminum
benches (in the case of the SE 440fc under the first 3
aluminum benches) and between the fabric beads holding
the aluminum benches.
Align the bow
end of the
s t a b i l i z e r
underbar against
the triangular
marking on each
pontoon as
shown below.
BOW

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Similarly, slide the underbars from the stern of the FoldCat
under the rearmost, 2nd rearmost and the 3rd rearmost
aluminum benches.
Align the stern ends of these underbars against the
triangular markings on each pontoon in the stern.
Also make sure that the underbars are aligned properly
along the length of the pontoon. The aluminum underbars in
the case of the SE 375fc must nearly touch each other
under the center aluminum cross bench The frame of the
FoldCat 375fc is ready for inflation.
Please note, in the SE FoldCat 440fc the underbars overlap
and go side by side under the third aluminum bench from
the front. Hint, they protrude slightly on side of the aluminum
bench.
Inflation
The FoldCat 375fc & 440fc have Recessed One Way
valves. The 375fc has 1 on each pontoon & the SE 440fc
has 2 on each pontoon.
The valve cap unscrews to
reveal the valve stem. When
this stem is in the up position
as shown, the valve retains
air. The valve should be in this
position to inflate the boat.
f the stem is not in the up
position, turn the stem counterclockwise with your thumb to
bring it to the up position.
A41 Bellows Foot Pump
This pump is used for all our
products and is one of the best
on the market today. We firmly
recommend you always carry
your A-41 on board for safety.
Attach the hose to the valve on
the right side of the pump (as
shown in the picture) to inflate.
Use the One Way Valve
adapter included with your
FoldCat (placed in the repair
kit) to inflate this valve. nsert
the valve adapter into the hose
of the A-41 Bellows Foot Pump.
Push the adapter into the valve
and turn clockwise to lock it in
position. The adapter is not for
the electrical pumps. With our
A41 foot pump, inflate each
pontoon till you cannot pump
any more air into it. At this stage
the foot pump will become
extremely hard and you will not
be able to press it any further. Withdraw the adapter from
the valve and close the valve cap. nflated FoldCat 375fc
should look like this. Please note, since the SE 440fc has 2
air chambers on each pontoon, you will have make sure
there is no crease where the chambers meet - simply inflate
each chamber evenly and inflate one side or the other a little
more to get rid of crease.
STERN
STERN
BOW
BOW
BOW

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Inflation with Electric Pumps
MB-100 Hig Pressure Electric
Pump is specifically designed for
high pressure inflatable boats
like our FoldCat 375fc. t has a
set of alligator clips to hook on to
a 12 Volt car battery just like a
jump cable.
Make sure your pump is off and hook the red positive
alligator clip to the positive terminal of your battery. Hook
the negative clip to the negative terminal of your battery.
Adjust the pressure dial on the
MB-100 pump to 220 milibar, or
3.2 PS as shown, and plug the
hose into the valve opening above
the dial for inflation. The other
opening on the other side o the
pump is or de lation, which is not
required or our boats.
Please note, the MB-100 Pump
comes with a cluster of 8 adapters
that are numbered from 1 to 8.
These numbers are written on the
arms of the cluster that hold each
adapter. You have to carefully
read these numbers on the arms
of the cluster.
Detach adapter #7 and insert it
into the hose. Now push the
threaded end of adapter #1 into adapter #7. Now push this
adapter into the Recessed One-Way Valve and switch on
the pump. t will change gears during inflation and
automatically stop once the pontoons are fully inflated at
3.2 psi air pressure.
BST Super Turbo Electric Pump
The BST
features a two
stage pumping
system - a high
speed fan to
quickly inflate
your hull, and a
piston pump to
achieve the
desired
pressure our
FoldCats needs.
Not only is this
pump amazingly
fast, but it is portable as well. The high capacity battery
can inflate our FoldCats twice between charges. ncludes
valve adapters, high capacity battery, 110 volt household
charger & 12 volt cigarette lighter adapter for car use.
The BST Super Turbo Electric Pump also has an
adjustable pressure dial and a cluster of 8 valve adapters
like our MB-100 Pump. Adjust the dial of the BST pump to
220 milibar, or 3.2 PS . nsert one end of the hose to the
opening on the pump that has an arrow pointing outward
(for inflation). The opening on the other side o the pump
with an arrow pointing inward is or de lation, which is not
required or our boats.
Attach the other end of the hose to adapter # 1 from the
cluster. Push the adapter in the Recessed One-Way Valve
on the boat and switch on the pump. The pump will go
through the two stage pumping system - a high speed fan
to quickly inflate your hull, and a piston pump to achieve
the desired pressure our FoldCats need. t will
automatically stop once the pontoon is fully inflated at
desired pressure of 3.2 PS .
Deflation
To de late a chamber, simply
turn the valve stem clockwise
with your thumb to secure it in
the down position. This will let
the air out o your boat. Our
boats do not require a pump or
de lation.
Swivel Seat Attachment for FoldCat
375fc & 440fc
Please note, the FoldCat 375 has 2 basic positions for
swivel seats - one in front and one in rear. The SE 440 has
nine separate possible positions for seats. One or two in the
front, one or two in the middle and one or two in the rear.
The most common configurations are 3 seats or 4 seats -
i.e. 2 front, one rear, two front, two rear. n truth you have
many possible variations, since every place you see 4 holes
drilled on the aluminum benches you can attach a swivel
seat.
The quick release swivel seat mount comes with 4 bolts, 4
wing nuts as shown below.
There are two sets of
quick release swivel seat
mounts included in any
of our 375fc packages.
Bolt the quick release swivel seat mounts in the center of
the 3rd rearmost aluminum bench and the first aluminum
bench from the bow through the 4 predrilled 3/8” holes
using the included bolts & wingnuts as shown below.
Please note, the quick release seat mounts can stay
attached to the aluminum benches o the Foldcat and
never again need to be disassembled.
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2
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5
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Now slide the swivel seat(s) into the quick release swivel
seat mounts and make sure t at t e spring loaded lever
mec anisms lock in place.
Optional Pedestal for Swivel Seat
The Pedestal comes with four bolts and nuts to attach it to
the Swivel Seat.
Bolt the upper end of the pedestal to the swivel seat as
shown above. And then slide the other end of the pedestal
into the quick release swivel seat mounts and make sure
t at t e spring loaded lever mec anisms locks in
place.
Please note, or
disassembly it is very
easy to detach the
swivel seat or the
pedestal rom the
quick release
seatmount by sliding
them out while li ting
up the spring loaded
quick release lever mechanism on the swivel seat mount
with your inger as shown below.
od Holders
Each rod holder includes the plastic flush mount adapter
and hardware as shown below.
Please note, the SE 375
Deluxe Package
includes 2 rod holders
and the Pro Angler’s
Package includes 4 rod
holders. The SE 440
Deluxe Package
includes 4 rod holders
and 6 rod holders in the Pro Angler’s Package.
Attach the flush mount adapters for rod holders at the
ends of the 3rd rearmost aluminum bench and/or the first
aluminum bench from the bow. Each of these ends on the
aluminum aluminum benches have 1 big 1 1/2" hole & 4
1/8” holes surrounding the big hole as shown below.
Use four 3/4” screws to
attach each flush mount
adapter to the aluminum
bench with a phillips
head screw driver.
Please note, the
adapters can stay
attached to the
aluminum benches and
never need to be
disassembled.

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Now place the rod
holders in the adapters
as shown.
For disassembly, you only need to detach the rod holders
rom the lush mount adapters.
Oar Locks & Oars
There are 2 oars and 2 oarlocks
included in all of our FoldCat
packages. Each oarlock includes a
raised oarlock base with 2 bolts
attached, an oarlock pin (not shown)
and 2 knurled nuts.
Bolt the raised oarlock bases at both
ends of the aluminum bench through
the 4 pre-drilled 3/8" holes (2 at each
end) using knurled nuts. And then place the oarlock pins
into the raised oarlock bases and lock them in place with
split rings as shown.
Now snap the two sectional oars together and inset each
oar into the oarlock pins and tighten the wingnuts to secure
the oars as shown below.
Motormount
Parts for the motormount
include wooden
motormount plate, 2
aluminum L-brackets,
four bolts, 4 washers and
4 knurled nuts.
This rearmost aluminum bench has 2 pre-drilled 3/8" holes
for placement of motormount. Bolt the aluminum L-
brackets through these 2 holes by inserting the 2 bolts
down through the front holes in the L-brackets and
securing with knurled nuts below as shown.
Secure the wooden motormount plate to the L-brackets by
running the other 2 bolts through the top holes in the L-
brackets and the 2 holes in the motormount plate itself.
Tighten all knurled nuts and bolts.

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Your motormount assembly is now complete.
Fully assembled 375fc ProAngler Pkg. looks like this:
Fully assembled FoldCat 440fc Pro Angler’s Package
looks like this
Please note, a ter irst time assembly o the FoldCat 375 c
or 440 c, or disassembly all you have to do is de late the
air chambers, remove the underbars, swivel seats,
rodholders, oars and unscrew the oarlocks. For
transportation, simply roll-up the hull along with the
aluminum benches & motormount and place it in the
FoldCat carry bag.
Canopy for FoldCat 375fc or 440fc
nstall 1 Sea Tie around the front aluminum bench in the
bow of the FoldCat 375fc or 440fc.
nstall the two raised oarlock bases on the sides of the
second wide aluminum aluminum bench from the bow as
shown. Please note, this replaces plastic oarlocks.
nsert the canopy rods with preassembled pins into the
raised oar lock rod bases as shown.
The center black strap on the canopy should be attached
to the sea tie on the aluminum step rod in the bow.

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Attach the other two black straps to the fabric portion of
the two rear handles as shown in the stern as shown.
Casting Bar
The 375fc and 440fc casting bar is easy to install, very
stable and folds flat when not in use. As shown in the
steps below, just assemble the pieces, slide the bar over
the underbars and tighten the set screws.
Partially deflate both pontoons and insert the base arm of
the casting bar onto the underbar in the bow.
Extend the crossbar so that it lines up with the undersbars
at the bow as shown above - do not extend the crossbar
for the 375 fc.
nsert the casting bar upright base over the underbars as
shown. Tighten the set screw with wrench provided.
nstall the padded covers - nstall only the large cover on
the 375fc. nstall the 2 small covers on either side the
large cover for the FoldCat 440fc.
Now attach the upper
part of the casting
bar to the raised
ends till the snaplock
button locks in place.
You may adjust the
height of the casting
bar to the position
that is comfortable
for you.
To fold the casting
bar, depress the
retainer button on
each of the bases as
shown.

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Lift the uprights to
expose the slot
indicated at the left.
Push the casting bar
toward the back of the
boat (aft).
Casting bar will fold flat as illustrated in this photo. To
return the bar to the upright position, push the bar up and
towards the bow. When it reaches vertical press it down
until the retainer buttons click into their holes.
Mushroom Anchor Kit
Place the anchor grip about 17 inches from the end of the
second aluminum bench from the bow on the starboard
side. The pointed end of the anchor grip should point
towards the bow as shown.
Trace the holes for the screws on the aluminum bench
with a pencil.
Drill holes in the aluminum bench.
And then attach the
anchor grip to the
aluminum bench with
screws as shown.
Attach the line to the
anchor and then pass
this anchor line over
the bench in the bow of
the FoldCat.
Further pass the line over the first aluminum bench from
the bow.
Finally pass the line
through the anchor grip
and pull it as required.
Press the line down in
the anchor grip in order
to grip it. Pull it up in
order to release the
line from the grip.
Make sure to knot the
open end of the line to
prevent the line from
slipping thru the anchor
grip.
Storage
The Sea Eagle FoldCats can be stored inflated for an
indefinite period of time as long as the temperature remains
warmer than -20° fahrenheit. For outdoor storage, cover the
FoldCat with a tarp and keep it off the ground.
For indoor storage it is best to find a dry, relatively cool
location. Avoid attics or other locations with temperatures
above 120 degrees fahrenheit.

Troubleshooting
Leakage of air: f your boat appears a bit soft, it might not
be because of a leak. f the boat was inflated late in the day
with 90 degree air, that air might cool 20 degrees overnight.
The cooler air exerts less pressure on the hull, so it could
appear soft the next morning.
f there has been no temperature variation, you need to start
looking for a leak. Below are the three best methods.
1) Visual inspection. Get a good look at your boat from just
a few feet away. Flip it over and closely check over the
outside. Any large leaks should be clearly visible.
2) Listening. f you have a rough idea where your leak is,
you can sometimes hear it in a quiet room.
3) Soapy water. Use a mix of dishwashing liquid & water in
a spray bottle, and spray over suspicious areas. Any leak
will produce bubbles that will pinpoint the location of the
leak.
4) Check your valves: Look, listen, and if necessary, spray
soapy water around your valve and the valve base. f you do
find that it is leaking at the valve please call our service
department to get a replacement valve.
epairs
Through use you may occasionally puncture your boat.
Most leaks only take a few min utes to repair. Your boat
comes with a repair kit, and additional repair supplies can
be ordered from our website.
Small epairs: Deflate your boat. Thoroughly clean and
dry area to be repaired. For a small puncture (less than
1/8th") apply a small drop of glue. Let dry 12 hours. f you
need to get on the water sooner, let dry 30 minutes and then
inflate the boat, inflating the compartment with the repair
only 3/4 full. Be sure to make a permanent repair later.
Patches: Leaks larger than a pinhole can be patched. Most
patches can be done in a few minutes, but we do offer a
repair service for more complex jobs out of warranty. Our
minimum repair fee is $75. and you will be responsible for
freight expenses to our facility in Port Jefferson and return
freight to your destination.
First locate the leak by
the methods above.
Soapy water will bubble
out from the source of
the leak.
Thoroughly clean the
area surrounding the
leak to remove any dirt
or grime.
Cut a piece of repair
material large enough to
over lap the damaged
area by approximately
1/2". Round off the
edges, and place over
the damaged area.
Using a ball point pen,
trace the outline of the
patch. Angle the pen
inward a bit so that the
ink will be covered by
the patch later.
Ap ply ad he sive to the underneath side of patch and around
the area to be repaired. Coat the affected area lightly but
completely with glue.
Let the glue sit for 2-4
minutes until it appears
tacky.
Place the patch on the
damaged area and
press down firmly. Place
a 3-5 pound weight over
the patch and allow 12
hours for repair to dry.
After patch dries, apply
glue around the edges
for a com plete seal (dry
4 hours).

ecessed One-Way Valves
Over the years the Recessed One-Way valves can loosen
a bit which will produce a slow leak. f you are seeing this,
first try to tighten the valve using the the Recessed Valve
Tool in your repair kit. The valves are very durable and
should last the life of the boat. f the vavle should break, it
can be replaced.
To replace your valve,
use the aforementioned
valve tool to remove
the old valve. Turn in a
counterclockwise
manner to remove the
valve body.
The vavle base is loose
inside the chamber, so
make sure you hold the
hull so that it does not
move.
Screw in the new outer
valve in place and
tighten by hand until
secure. Use the valve
tool to tighten the valve.
Check tightness when chamber is fully inflated.
Basic Motoring Instructions
The Sea Eagle FoldCat 375fc or 440fc is a very light weight
catamaran. Since only the pontoons are in touch with water,
there is less drag and so it motors very well even with small
outboard motors. t takes only up to 3 HP gas engine. You
can also use up to 74 lb. thrust electric motor. As with any
boat, while motoring you need to be keenly aware of the
wind and water conditions around you - especially while
using an electric motor, you don’t want to be caught with a
4 knot boat trying to fight a 5 knot tidal current. As with all
boating, a little planning goes a long way. However, you will
be surprised at the fine maneuverability of the Sea Eagle
FoldCat 375fc or 440fc even with an electric motor.
Basic owing Instructions
You will be sur prised how easy it is to row your FoldCat
375fc or 440fc pontoon fishing boat. f you have never
rowed a boat of any kind, there are some fundamental
concepts that you will have to grasp.
Before embarking on the water, you should realize one
fundamental truth: when you row forwards, you face
backwards. This means that you will have a great view of
where you have been, but almost no view of where you are
going. f you want to alter this you may get one or two rear
view mirrors. Some traditional rowers will consider this
immoral, but it is nice to have a view of where you are going.
As in any boating situation, it is vital to carry a life jacket and
to be aware of the conditions of the water you are rowing in.
You should be aware of any and all obstacles and dangers
that you might encounter (i.e. sailboats, motorboats,
moored boats, buoys, docks, rocks, winds, waves, lightning,
rain, etc.). When rowing backward it is important to realize
that if you are not using a mirror you will have to periodically
twist your neck and look where you are going. Please
remember to give way to both sailboats and motorboats, as
they have the right of way.
Before getting in, you should adjust the oarlock pins so the
handles of the oars almost touch as they come together.
Please note, at some point in the future, when you become
more proficient with rowing, you may want to use longer
oars which will crossover each other and give you greater
reach and coverage. You also may want to switch to
traditional oarlocks that allow you to feather your blades on
their retrieves. Using longer oars that crossover and/or oars
that feather takes practice. You may want to consult some
books on rowing before before considering these future
options.
f this is truly your first time rowing, we recommend that you
practice rowing for several hours near the shore before
venturing out further on open waters. Practice not only

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makes perfect, it makes safe.
Please note, when pulling your oars through the water you
should try to keep the blades fully immersed, but as close to
the surface as possible. This will give you greater rowing
leverage. You should continually practice your rowing
strokes, trying to make them as fluid and smooth as
possible.
SeaEagle.com
19 N. Columbia St., Suite 1,
Port Jefferson, NY 11777
Ph [phone] Fax[phone]
E-mail: st[email protected]