Which Float Tube ????

[MisterCompletely]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]It's time for me buy a float tube and there are SO MANY to choose from. Which should I avoid, and which are good? I expect to pay between $150 and $300. I weigh 175. Cabela's has the Outcast Super Fat Cat on sale for $300 but I don't want to pay that much unless I'm going to like it alot. Any suggestions?[/size][/black][/font]
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[Fish-or-die]

Water Skeeter makes a kind of hybrid, it's like a u type tube with two 6foot pontoons under and a 6 inch closed cell foam seat. It's sweet. I think I paid like $160-$180 a couple of years ago, someone told me cabelas sells them but i'm not sure? Everyone that I've shown it to loves it. I just deflate the pontoon part until I get up fishing and pump them up with a little two-way hand pump I picked up at wal-mart it's quick. Comfy and your sitting right at water level.

Here's what it looks like-I guess it's called a Day Tripper. Not a bad price- http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,7079...70793-_-35
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[fishfinder462]

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[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][green][size 1]I posted this in the float tube section of BFT a few days ago..[/size][/green][/font]
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[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Good price on FC4 [/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_edit;post=400552"][#000000]Edit[/#000000][/url] | [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_reply_write;quote=1;parent_post_id=400552"][#000000]Quote[/#000000][/url] | [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_reply_write;parent_post_id=400552"][#000000] Reply[/#000000][/url] [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]If anyone is in the market I found a really good price on FC4 reg. and deluxe, the deluxe is $199.00 with free shipping and no sales tax. I recently ordered one through Cabelas and ended up spending over 50$ more[mad].

[url "http://www.flyfishusa.com/float-tubes/fishcat-float-tube.htm"][#333366]http://www.flyfishusa.com/...shcat-float-tube.htm[/#333366][/url]

FF462
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(Please ignore all spelling errors im too drunk and/or tired too care..; )
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Whatever you do, do not buy a Day Tripper. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Come on over to the [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=81;"]FLOAT TUBE BOARD[/url]. Make the same post and let us know what kind of fishing you will be doing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The current best bets in your price range are the Fish Cat 4 and the Creek Company ODC 420 if you can find a good price. You may also want to look on eBay for a good price on the regular Fat Cat. Just got one for $200 delivered. Best tube for the money. Foam seat instead of an inflated seat. TubeBabe prefers the foam seat, as do quite a few others.[/#0000ff]
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[Fish-or-die]

What's wrong with the day tripper?[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The profile and the center of gravity are too high. They are impossible to control in any kind of wind, and the potential for tipping forward and out of the tube is great.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been tubing for fifty years and do not know any SERIOUS tubers who have tried the DT who have anything good to say about them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]To most of us who fish a lot from tubes, we consider the DT to be another example of something made to catch fishermen more than fish. Seems like a good concept, but they do not fish as well as most other craft.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]That being said, if you own one, and if you like it, that is all that is important. It is what you prefer that matters. However, before buying anything new it is good to get opinions from others and to talk to people who already own and use what you are considering. Above all, do not buy on looks or price alone. It is easy to buy the wrong thing for the wrong reasons.[/#0000ff]
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[Fish-or-die]

The reason I went with it instead of the fishcats was because of the seat and comfort. I haven't fished out of a fishcat but I like the idea of being secure in the u tube. The wind issue is there, but with the center of gravity being high I feel like I can move around more freely. It would be pretty hard to tip out of it. I don't use it as much because I got a little boat. I really like mine, and would recommend someone looking for a new tube to check it out as well.[]
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[trfishin]

[] I saw some boats at the expo by Dave Scaddin the guy that used to work at Anglers Inn when it used to be open. They looked pretty nice but I did'nt ask what the prices were but if I remember they were pretty expensive. But It's like someone else said on here lots of the time with anything cheeper is not always better. Hope you find something good for yourself.
I have a Leigh 8' kickboat that I have had for at least 14 years that is still in great shape and I have caught a ton of fish out of it over the years but they are no longer in business. I Payed $700 dollars for it at that time but it's held up great and is as good as the day I bought it. good luck fishin
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Dave Scadden sells good quality tubes and pontoons. His stuff is all USA made, and is the best you can buy, in terms of materials and construction.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We just finished six months of fishing the H3 Freestyle tubes (Rojos). Couldn't have asked for better craft. Our only issue was seat comfort. Never could fish more than a couple of hours without butt cramps. Tried a hundred different adjustments and add-ons.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Reflective of the quality he builds into them, Dave is mighty "PROUD" of his stuff. Prices are much higher than most other tubes and toons of similar size and capacity.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We just went back to the Outcast Fat Cats...my new one is the Super Fat Cat, with inflatable seats. Scored some super prices on eBay. First trip in the new ones last Monday. Fished all day in complete comfort.[/#0000ff]
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[bassrods]

I have a pontoon 8' that is cost guard approved for class 3 rapids and one of the safest ones made for sale for $300.
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[Saberfish]

[black][size 3]I recently looked at the North Fork web site to see what Scadden was offering, and nearly fell out of my chair.[/size][/black]
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[size 3]The newest boats for this year, don't have any bladders, and are two or three times the price of last years models. Not what I expected from a company wanting to sell a competitive product.[/size]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Where did you get the impression that they were trying to be "competitive"? They prefer to envision themselves as "market leaders".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kinda like the guy selling pencils on the street corner...for $100 apiece. A passerby scoffed at him and said "You ain't gonna sell many at that price."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The response? "I don't have to sell MANY at that price."[/#0000ff]
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[MisterCompletely]

[black][size 3][font "Comic Sans MS"]Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't even know there was a Float Tube forum. I spent about 2 hours last night reading the posts by TubeDude et al as well as reviews I found on the internet, and I was convinced that the Super Fat Cat would be a good choice, and when I went to Cabela's this morning (5 miles up the road) and found it on sale for $199 it was a no-brainer. Only thing is, they didn't have them in stock, and they only come in butt-ugly willow (pale green) color. But there isn't any shipping charge by picking it up at the store, plus I got $20 off by being one of the first 200 customers through the door this morning, and with my Cabela's Club points, I ended up paying about $150 even after taxes, so I'm jazzed. The salesman said they are discontinuing even the dark green and going only with a choice of dark blue or red.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Evidently you read my latest review post and my post about the circular I got on the sale price. Glad you were able to score the deal. For the price you got it for you can live with the color. You will be more than happy with the tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When you get it, feel free to contact me and I can give you directions to my "TubeATorium". I will be happy to help you get it set up and tricked out.[/#0000ff]
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[MisterCompletely]

[sly] Thanks Tubedude for your advise and posts, it was a tremendous help. I should have so much good advise on everything I buy. As for the color, at least the pond slime won't show up much on it, it's the same color. [] Maybe I should just paste BFT stickers all over it. I hope the weather's decent when I get it in about a week, and I'll see how muddy I can get it at Utah Lake. Now I need to check out your fish finder and rod holder setups. I'll use the finder that I set up for ice fishing. Holy cow, the round tube I had several years ago was primitive compared with this. I can't wait to get into tubing again. Yee Haa [cool]

BTW would you recommend the Creek Co. fins for about $40, or something else? I don't want to spend big bucks for fins but I don't want to be cussing the fins every trip either. Don't tell me, you have a review of fins somewhere too, don't you?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The Creek fins work fine. But there are a bunch of really good diving fins with soft foot pockets that you can get for a reasonable price too...expecially if you know what you want and can shop for them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yes, as a matter of fact, there are a couple of pictorial resources on the Tubing Board.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=198689;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread"]PICTURE BOARD[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We just did a review on some TUSA fins that you might want to look over.[/#0000ff]
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[swedishfish]

Make sure you check on ebay for scuba fins. I bought a nice pair of used Mares Avanti Quattro fins cheap. They are awesome! With shipping they were still less than the creek company fins at $40.

Searching for "Mares Fins" on ebay brings up several results.

If you order online the trick might be figuring out what size fins you need to fit over your waders and booties/boots. I wear a size 12/13 shoe and XL Mares fit nicely with waders and booties. Another recommendation would be to get neoprene booties instead of boots. Again, all stuff you can or maybe have read about on the Tubing board.
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[Majja]

I would say you did very well. I had an ODC420 and now have a NF H3. As mentioned before look on E-bay for some good fins. Also I do not remember if it was here or over on the Float tube forum Road posted a great review on the differences between the split fins and regular fins. If I remember correctly the regular type of fins were the hands down winner in the tube. Congrats on the purchase now you get to practice the are of PVC.

Majja
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[swedishfish]

You are right.

Road conducted a "field test" with his tube and other gear in the local dive shop's swimming pool. He tried several brands/styles and determined that, for him, the Mares Avanti Quattro fins worked the best. I had the benefit of reading his review before I went fin shopping. Thanks Road!

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=354686"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=354686[/url]
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[MisterCompletely]

[black][size 2][font "Comic Sans MS"]I found some Mares Quattro Excel fins on eBay last night and won the auction so I'll try them out and post a review on the Tubing board. The regular price for these new is $160. They appear to be some pretty good fins. I wonder if the zip-up felt-soled wading booties at Cabela's are any good for tubing????
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