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+--- Thread: Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 (/showthread.php?tid=411845)
Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - PTL - 04-30-2008
Anyone on this forum use the Hobie Float Cat 60?
- What are the advantages compared to something like the best of the V shaped floats? (i.e. Outcast SFC etc.)
- Does the Hobie move faster/more easily than the best of the tube floats simply because one's seat is not in the water?
- Does it disassemble so that the pontoons come off the frame in a few minutes?
Would REALLY appreciate any and all comments on the Hobie Float Cat 60.. Thanks in advance for your help.
PTL
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - TubeDude - 04-30-2008
[cool][#0000ff]Sorry, can't offer any help from personal experience. I think we have a couple of members who have them, so you will have to wait for them to check in and chime in.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In this [url "http://www.wincom.net/~hobiecat/about.html"]LINK TO HOBIE FISH CAT[/url] it says that they break down quickly. It also says that the weight rating on the 60 is only 250 pounds. Not big enough for my tiny self.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not sure what kind of fishing you will be doing, but if you need a bit of extra altitude, the high seating would be a plus. The only potential downside I can see, is the same as most pontoon type craft. With a higher "wind profile" you could have a tough time maintaining position in a breeze.[/#0000ff]
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - flygoddess - 04-30-2008
I have a friend that has a Hobie. They do break down, but the solid toons can still present a problem. The nice thing is they can be drug over rocks[cool]
What are the advantages compared to something like the best of the V shaped floats? (i.e. Outcast SFC etc.)
I don't know of any advantage over a "V". In fact I will say a "V" shape is the perfect shape. TD is right about the wind, but you suffer from the wind in a SFC also, the only thing I have noticed different in the wind between a PONTOON and a "V" is that a pontoon will sway side to side, where a "V" doesn't. You will get blown all over in both, but the "V" seems to track straighter.
- Does the Hobie move faster/more easily than the best of the tube floats simply because one's seat is not in the water?
Most definitely the hobie will move faster, smaller foot print.
There are now more choices in the "V" design, and I can tell you from personal experience, they are the way to go.
I have mentioned this before, I have a Pontoon boat which is a very low profile and wind has never been any more of a problem in it than in a tube except the twisting, but the up side is the OARS. With a Minn Kota, it flies, as it does with the oars.
I now have the NFO Navigator II, the is a 9' "V" shape boat with OARS, and a shelf for a motor. This boat does great, kicking is easy and OARS it flies, however, due to the FOOTPRINT, it does not move as quick and easy with the motor. But, I did find out, that the motor is really not necessary with this tube/toon.
Plus it folds up in a back pack and best of all "Lifetime Warranty"
Other differences, in a pontoon, I can wear Hip Waders, in the "V" I need at least waist highs.
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Re: [flygoddess] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - macfly55 - 04-30-2008
if I may I am gonna add my two cents here.. and mind you it is not from personal experience but first hand observation..
one of our members here, bendopolo, has a hobie float cat 60.. and I have to say there is no place on the water that I have seen that he is not able to get to.. he is more mobile in that hobie than I am in a caddis tube..
the hobie does sit you up higher and out of the water.. the toons do not seem to slow him down nor hinder his ability to turn and maneuver...
I cannot say for sure if the 60 is easy to break down but I can tell you that all I have ever seen bendo do is take his gear off the toon.. then pick it up and load it into the back of his pick up.. by the time we get our tubes deflated and our gear stowed bendo is waiting for us to we can go get some lunch.. this also means that by the time we get our tubes inflated and rigged.. he is already on the water catching fish.. .
one other comment is this.. the 60 and 75 toons are made of a solid material (no inflating) and because of that I think they are safer on the water .. unless you ram something really hard.. or get hit by something.. these toons are puncture proof.. also because they are hollow on the inside there is a lot of extra storage space for little things here and there..
hopefully bendo will come on and he can tell you much more than I can, from first hand experience , about these toons..
MacFly
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Re: [flygoddess] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - Majja - 04-30-2008
FG have you even had the banana boat out since you got the Nav II?
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Re: [Majja] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - flygoddess - 04-30-2008
Once last year at Scofield. I really like my Cardiac, but it is easier to transport two Navi's. This year the Banana comes out! I have a new idea for the deck I want to try out.
Hard part is they are in our Garage on the west side and I am living with POPs on the East side.
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Re: [flygoddess] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - Majja - 04-30-2008
We need to get out again this year. Hopefully the weather settles down a bit while I am jaunting around the country for the next few weeks and the fishing picks up. Maybe I will even go get some of that fancy line and dig out my willow rod and try that for a bit. It has been a long time since I have felt the tug on one of those sticks.
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Re: [Majja] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - PTL - 04-30-2008
Wow guys, much appreciated. Post a question and get a flurry of great responses. OK, I'll wait and hope the gentleman who owns the 60 will answer.
Another one that interest me is the Venture but I'll post that in a separate thread later. The Venture people are really great but I REALLY want my seat to be out of the water. My lake is 1 mile across so I think I'll like as much speed as possible with a flipper which dictates that my seat has to be out of the water.
Anything larger than 5 feet is out of the question for my vehicle which is why I'm looking at the Hobie 60. If I could find it used, I'd be all over it in a hurry. At $400 new, they are too pricey for what they are....
Thanks again!
Thanks!
PTL
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - macfly55 - 04-30-2008
[#0000ff].....your mention of venture brings to mind the fact that they also carry several good models to choose from.. you have the echo dura.. and the durapro.. plus they have two models with hard molded toons like the 60.. cheaper in price.. and on the hard molded models in particular the seating keeps your out of the water..
[/#0000ff].....
MacFly
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Re: [macfly55] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - PTL - 04-30-2008
Macfly55,
Thanks. All the venture short pontoons (hard side both 4 1/2 and 4 feet long models) has one sitting in the water a bit , not off. Otherwise, it would be a done deal already. They have GREAT service and pricing - hard to beat. Quite impressed by the Venture company.
That's a GREAT bumper sticker.
PTL
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - macfly55 - 04-30-2008
my bad.. thought you were out of the water...but then again they are kind of low to the water.. not like the hobie..
I think it was my daughter who sent me that bumper sticker .. I kind of like it myselfe.. [
]MacFly [cool]
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - TubeDude - 04-30-2008
[cool][#0000ff]Here is a link to [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/community/community.cgi?do=user_page;pg=user_profile_view.html;username=bendopolo"]bendopolo[/url][/#0000ff][#000000] . [/#000000][#0000ff]Click on his name and when his profile comes up, click on "Send Private Message". Let him know you are looking at the Hobie and see if he can steer you right. Better yet, have him reply on the forum so we can all have the info.[/#0000ff]
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Re: [PTL] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - bendopolo - 05-23-2008
I wrote a long story on how much I like my tube but Spell Check made it vanish. I wrote a quick couple of answers to your questions but Spell Check took it away. Don't use Spell Check any more!!!!!! Yes I like my tube. Best $300.00 I ever spent. I fish it three times a week and no problems. I weigh 225 pounds and it floats me fine. Comes apart and assembles in seconds. Very easy to fish out of. A little heavier than my last tube, 14 pounds.
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Re: [bendopolo] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - macfly55 - 05-23-2008
only three times a week.. your slowing down bro.. [laugh]
MacFly [cool]
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Re: [bendopolo] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - PTL - 05-23-2008
Bad bad bad speel chek!!
Bendopolo,
THANKS. So you are in So. CA also? Thanks for the reply.
PTL
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Re: [bendopolo] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - tlspyder13 - 05-24-2008
When spell check eats your post hit the back button once. You will usually still have the post without any spelling you might have fixed.
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Re: [tlspyder13] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - bendopolo - 05-24-2008
tried it but no disertation , just said this page has expired.
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Re: [bendopolo] Help: Hobie Float Cat 60 - macfly55 - 05-25-2008
just a thought.. maybe you could write it in word.. do the spell check there.. then copy and paste into your post..
MacFly [cool]
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