If a $1000 is a bit high then a zodiac may not be your best bet. They aren't cheap. Specailly new, you can find them on kijiji for under a grand but for the most part they have been patched alot and I wouldn't really want to take a chance at that money.
As Moosebunk said the fishing float tubes are great, you can get them for a couple hundred even cheaper and if it is colder weather and water just get a nice pair of neoprene waders and ypur laughing.