Fishing Forum

[#505000]Ok I've tried the tube and I love it, but I've had a growing itch between the ol' shoulder blades to get a pontoon also. I am selling one of my assault rifles (see the for sell board for details, you know you want to buy it!!!!) and I expect I will use they money to procure a pontoon.[/#505000] [#505000][/#505000] [#505000]There are a few requirements I have already decided are a must. It has to have a motor mount, stripping apron, be at least 9' long, have an aluminum frame, and I must be able to take it apart without tools. Creek Company seems to make a few nice craft that meet these requirements.[/#505000] [#505000]The big question is, and I am relying on all you toons out there to chime in...... what else do I need to be looking for?[/#505000] [signature]
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[cool][#0000ff]If you wander over to the Float Tubing board, you will find links to a lot of the past threads on tubing and tooning. If you go to [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=198735;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"][b][#333366][size 1]PONTOONERY[/size][/#333366][/url] , on the picture board for float tubing, you will see pics of several models.[/#0000ff][/b]
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[#0000ff]I am in the process of putting together a pontoon shopping guide for that board. I already have one for float tubes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Creek Company makes good floatation craft...tubes and pontoons. If you choose one of theirs, you should get good value.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you want a reasonable price, and a good craft for fishing Utah waters, and want to mount an electric, you should at least look at the Trout Unlimited Colorado and at the Outcast Fish Cat Cougar. Several BFTers have these and will probably be glad to arrange a show and tell...or a test ride...before you plunk your money down.[/#0000ff]
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My only beef with the FishCats is....

The frame is too narrow and there is not enough storage space.

Plus's to the FC's...

The tubes outer lining is the same material used on high class water rapid capable rafts so it is very hard to puncture or get a hole in.

The Colorado is an excellent one as for functionality, storage space, and room. My only beef is they tend to get leaks where the valves are.
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I HAVE A COLORADO AND I HAVE HAD ZERO PROBLEMS WITH IT.
THEY HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE ON THEM. HAS A PRETTY GOOD MOTOR MOUNT AND IT IS 9FT.
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Sportsmans has one that is 9 feet,and sells for under $400.The thing about this one is it has all the stuff you would have to pay extra for on some others.It has padded seat,anchor system,motor mount,and diamond plate for a battery.It only has single tubes,but they are in a tough outer bag.
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In Idaho everyone has a Bucks Bag pontoon. (including me) They are built to last forever and meet all the requirments you specified. These things are tough boats! And you can get the same model I have for $450
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Go with a creek company. I have a creek company OCD. It's light weight, easy to assemble/disassemble, and it's cheap(only $175 at Cabela's.) That particular model dosen't quite meet your requirements, but if all of their products are as good as the OCD, your money will be well spent.
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[#505000]I agree. After looking around I am more and more convinced I like the Creek Company OCD models. I really think I have my heart set on the OCD 1018. It's a wee bit costy, but I am selling a rifle to pay for it. It's got 10' pontoons, and the biggest draw for me is the fact it has a lot of cool upgrades and features avaliable to it.[/#505000]
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That CC OCD 1018 looks like one sweet ride. I've had a 9 ft pontoon for a year now and to me shore fishing just doesn't do anything for me anymore. The thing that surprised me about the 'toon is how easy it is to row and how manuverable it is. The only down side is they don't work so well in heavy wind (when you are rowing that is.) It's rare I think to find someone that isn't thrilled with whatever 'toon they decide to get.
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[#505000]I am thinking of putting a motor on mine for that pesky "W" problem. I also got to thinking about a possible logistics problem. I guess not really a problem but what is the best way to launch a toon?[/#505000]
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I WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN TRY MINE OUT BEFORE YOU BUY IT IS A COLORADO THE VALVE PROBLEM WAS ON THE OLD ONES THEY CHANGED THE VALVE DESIGN LAST YEAR
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If you want,you can try out my aircraftcarrier toon sometime - we would just need to work out the logistics.

Depending on how you set it up of course, toons are easier to launch backwards from a boat ramp. But, the beauty of them(and tubes) is that you can launch them anywhere you can get them to. I have carried mine(disassembled) for some pretty long distances to put in. It goes without saying, that if you motorize it, you have a heavy battery to deal with.

One consideration you should put on the table before you buy is - where are you going to fish with it ? Rivers or stillwaters ? River and lake boats are different in construction and design. Mine is capable of a class III river and I know a person that has taken one just like it on a class IV rapid - he was more gutsy than I and did not have any equipment on his raft when he did it and there were about a dozen rafters and kayakers down stream for support and rescue if needed.
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[cool][#0000ff]Even the smallest pontoon is heavier than the biggest float tube. The frame and the greater amount of material in both the cover and the air chambers make for some weight. That means that unless you are pretty strong, you will not want to be carrying them very far. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As suggested, you will use launch ramps whenever possible. That's what they are for. If you launch where there are no ramps, and you have to park a ways from the water, then you either have to carry or drag your craft over the distance in between.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Many pontoons have a PVC cover, which sustains less wear when it is dragged over parking lots and gravel, compared to what happens to those which have only a nylon cloth cover. Having to transport your 'toon a ways to the water is a good argument for going with a buddy, so that you can share the carrying of each others' craft to and from the water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some lines of tubes sell wheels and other accessories for helping roll your 'toon to the water. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, and if you are handy in the garage, you can whup up a homemade wheel rig like this one made by BFTer Henerysfork. He uses it interchangeably on both his Colorado and his Fish Cat Cougar. It simply clamps onto the foot rests, using 1/2 inch PVC for an axle.[/#0000ff]
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