Fishing Forum

Actually I've been lurking for quite a while. Did post as 'guest' a couple times though.
I'm (it should be we're, considering that my wife is fish crazy more then I am) 99.9% fly fishers. Just our preference. Anyway, I've read and followed the posts here for a long time. I (we've) have kickboats and float tubes. Scadden Cardiac Canyons, and have been using the Outcast SFC and FC. Just aquired the one of the best float tube/pontube I think is out there. These are made by Venture Outdoors Products, made in Brigham City. BTW I'm not selling them if this is what it sounds like. I'm sure the other Utah floaters-tubers, and kickboaters have been to the Sportsmans Expo and seen their kickboats. They have the Dura-bladder. Basically it self heals small punctures. Now getting back to my story. I got tired of the SFC. Like TubeDude says, the apron leaves a lot to be desired, the seat back, I put in 3/8" plexi to help make it more comfortable but I still think its one of the best on the market. One guy I know sells Venture Outdoor brand kickboats. I went through his catalog and spied this little Echo model. It's toons are 52" long and they have a 12" diameter tube. It uses a steel frame kind of like a kickboat. Hard plastic seat, and it does weigh a little more than a normal tube. Cost is about $300. I've owned donut tubes, u-tubes and the SFC. This is in my opinion the most versitile of them all. Fastest too. We've used them a couple times already, last weekend at Trial Lake, and yesterday at Washington Lake. Fishing was great too, but that's a different story.
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for sharing the pics and info on the Echo. Looks like one of the better ideas I have seen for awhile. I especially like the REAL seat. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I continue to struggle with the SFC. I recently had to repair the sixth seam leak in the bottom portion of the inflated seat. When they lose air, while you are fishing, the comfort and flotation are miserable. I stuck a fitted piece of rigid foam about 2" thick under the repaired air chamber, for added rigidity, while keeping some of the comfort of the adjustable air chamber. It has worked well on two trips since.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A while back, I got tired of the short and fickle back rest and added a 1/2" PVC extension (see pic). I put those on both my craft and TubeBabe's too. We both enjoy the extra height.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like yourself, I have owned and or fished from just about every kind of flotation fishing device over the past 40 plus years, including many models I made myself, in the early years. Also like yourself, I have put up with the SFC because the positives outweighed the negatives...mostly.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We will be adding pontoons to our arsenal soon, and will probably go for the full pontoon, with rowing capability. I doubt we will add electric motors, but it is good to have auxiliary power when you want to go farther and faster than you can with fins alone. Having oars will add that extra dimension.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I used to do a lot more fly fishing than I do these days. I have flung flies all over the country, for just about every species of fish in both fresh water and salt water. Most of my flyrods got passed on to kids and grandkids, but I kept a couple and I just built a new 9.5 foot for a 5 line that I plan to wave around soon. I sat down at my tying bench last week and cranked out a couple of boxes full of new flies, so I am just about ready to rejoin the ranks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, that was a great pic of the high flying rainbow. Good subject, good model and great timing. I love to teach fishies how to fly too.[/#0000ff]
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Welcome to the site! Nice to see you finally registered!!! Looks like a nice toon ya got there!

Hey TD, you forgot to attach the pic of your SFC backrest.
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[cool][#0000ff]Wow, somebody actually reads my posts and pays attention to what I write. I don't, evidently.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is the promised pic, plus a bonus, showing how I use the backrest as the connector base for the rest of my "bimini cover". Also, showing the cover in use.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I had planned to do a pictorial on my step by step construction of the bimini cover, but had not got around to it yet.[/#0000ff]
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Wow, I totally thought you were joking about the bimini till I saw the pic!!!! Just be careful a wind doesn't pick up and turn it into a sail that sends you propelling into the air!! I'm such a small guy that might actually happen to me!![cool][]
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[cool][#0000ff]The cover is a "break-down" modular arrangement. It is designed for hot STILL days, not windy ones. You don't hoist sail on breezy days unless you are asking for a ride.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I really don't fish much during the hot part of the day, but I had a request to design something and I put that together quickly and easily. It really does work to keep the hot sun off the head, neck and back if you position your tube right.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here are a couple more pics to show the break down of parts and the simple storage behind the seat when not in use.[/#0000ff]
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