01-25-2005, 03:02 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Hey Barry, welcome to the floatation forum. You have already gotten some pretty good input. I suggest you wander back through some of the past threads and look at pics and comments. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have worn out several Caddis round boats over the years. Until the advent of more U-boats and other open-ended craft, I didn't have much choice. I would never go back to a donut. Being able to get in and out of the water, and your craft, by just standing up and sitting down through the opening in the front is light years ahead of getting in and out of the donut.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The pointed bow (stern) designs of the Fat Cats and other Outcast craft are much better at handling chop and wind too. It makes it possible to maneuver and maintain position even in some Utah "breezes". [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]These craft also ride higher on the water, and you sit higher out of the water. That not only helps you stay warmer in cold water, but makes for better and more efficient propulsion too. More of your power on each kick goes into moving you ACROSS the top of the water, and not plowing your way through it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you like to carry lots of lures and goodies, the large pockets on the Fat Cats are unbeatable. You can take several large lure boxes on each side. Best I have found in that department.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you want to try before you buy, let's hook up down at Lincoln Beach or the State Park. I have two complete Fat Cat rigs, and TubeBabe is often tied up with family stuff on Saturday mornings these days. I can put you in her "tricked out" craft and let you see and feel how it works. Then, if you decide it is worth the extra investment, you can go head on til your head hurts.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Shoot me a PM if you wanna work something out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, I do recommend riverwire.com. That's where I got my Super Fat Cat. No tax and no shipping. The prices are kept pretty much the same by all Outcast dealers. You don't find much special pricing on them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you look at the Trout Unlimited craft...like the Togiak and the Kennebec...I can give you some input on those too. I piloted a Kennebec around for over a year. Good high flotation, but lousy pockets. Several small ones (for fly flingers), but you can't carry large lure boxes. The stabilizer bar on the front is a pain too. None on the Outcasts. Finally, the Kennebec is two mini pontoons. It rides high but when the wind comes up...fuggitaboudit. You can't maintain any control at all in the wind. Of course, we never see any W in Utah. Right? [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Togiak is designed more like the Fat Cats. They have the pointed bow, and are much easier to keep control in breezes. However, they still have the small pockets and the stabilizer bar. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Ain't nothing perfect. The Fat Cats have a lousy apron system. I have made my own modifications (a hard apron, made from the lid of a Rubbermaid storage container...a "shushi board"). The seats can also require some adjusting to get them just right. They are also heavier than some craft, so they are not good for packing long distances. But, most of the places I fish, I can drive pretty close to the launch spot. And, the PVC coating on the bottom (that adds to the weight) can save a lot of pinhole punctures from plopping your craft on hostile terrain.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have worn out several Caddis round boats over the years. Until the advent of more U-boats and other open-ended craft, I didn't have much choice. I would never go back to a donut. Being able to get in and out of the water, and your craft, by just standing up and sitting down through the opening in the front is light years ahead of getting in and out of the donut.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The pointed bow (stern) designs of the Fat Cats and other Outcast craft are much better at handling chop and wind too. It makes it possible to maneuver and maintain position even in some Utah "breezes". [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]These craft also ride higher on the water, and you sit higher out of the water. That not only helps you stay warmer in cold water, but makes for better and more efficient propulsion too. More of your power on each kick goes into moving you ACROSS the top of the water, and not plowing your way through it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you like to carry lots of lures and goodies, the large pockets on the Fat Cats are unbeatable. You can take several large lure boxes on each side. Best I have found in that department.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you want to try before you buy, let's hook up down at Lincoln Beach or the State Park. I have two complete Fat Cat rigs, and TubeBabe is often tied up with family stuff on Saturday mornings these days. I can put you in her "tricked out" craft and let you see and feel how it works. Then, if you decide it is worth the extra investment, you can go head on til your head hurts.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Shoot me a PM if you wanna work something out.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Oh yeah, I do recommend riverwire.com. That's where I got my Super Fat Cat. No tax and no shipping. The prices are kept pretty much the same by all Outcast dealers. You don't find much special pricing on them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you look at the Trout Unlimited craft...like the Togiak and the Kennebec...I can give you some input on those too. I piloted a Kennebec around for over a year. Good high flotation, but lousy pockets. Several small ones (for fly flingers), but you can't carry large lure boxes. The stabilizer bar on the front is a pain too. None on the Outcasts. Finally, the Kennebec is two mini pontoons. It rides high but when the wind comes up...fuggitaboudit. You can't maintain any control at all in the wind. Of course, we never see any W in Utah. Right? [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The Togiak is designed more like the Fat Cats. They have the pointed bow, and are much easier to keep control in breezes. However, they still have the small pockets and the stabilizer bar. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Ain't nothing perfect. The Fat Cats have a lousy apron system. I have made my own modifications (a hard apron, made from the lid of a Rubbermaid storage container...a "shushi board"). The seats can also require some adjusting to get them just right. They are also heavier than some craft, so they are not good for packing long distances. But, most of the places I fish, I can drive pretty close to the launch spot. And, the PVC coating on the bottom (that adds to the weight) can save a lot of pinhole punctures from plopping your craft on hostile terrain.[/#0000ff]
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