08-13-2007, 12:31 PM
Well as you know I ordered two ODC Classics for my wife and I and I am super pleased with this product ... wow! Especially for the price.
Specs: [ul] [li]Frame - Full take-down, no-tools-required, powder coated steel frame with padded fabric rowing seat can adjust on pontoons to balance your cargo. [li]Pontoons - 8 foot long, 16 inch diameter pontoons feature heavy duty 840 denier nylon outer covers and 30 gauge PVC bladders fitted with Boston Valves. Two cam-lock straps secure each pontoon to frame. [li]Oars & Oarlocks - 6 foot take-down oars and heavy-duty steel clamp-on oarlocks mount into nylon inserts in frame for smooth rowing. [li]Cargo Pockets & Stripping Apron - Two large side cargo pockets for tackle storage and large stripping apron with raised edges for fly line control. [li]Cargo Deck - Large cargo deck with D-rings to secure the load. [li]Footbars - Walk-through foot bars have six position adjustment to fit most anglers. [li]The ODC Classic DOES NOT COME WITH A PUMP!, so you will need to order #916 ODC Two-Way Pump to inflate your Classic. [li]Weight Capacity: 375 lbs [li]Overall Weight: 50 lb [/li][/ul]
With clear illustrated instructions and everything fitting perfectly together, assembly only took a little more than 10 minutes.
The Boston valves are well placed in the pockets of each pontoon (one bladder per pontoon) with a protective Velcro-flap covering them.
The pockets are massive but very floppy, you have to be careful your tackle boxes don't slip into the water.
The cargo deck is ample and with 8 D-rings, can have anything lashed to it.
The seat is very comfy considering it is basically padded nylon stretched across a tubular frame. I have a back issue and I never felt discomfort all day on her, neither did my wife.
The frame also moves backwards and forwards easily to adjust weight distribution.
Once assembled it looks like a solid built craft with quality and functionality in mind, and is surprisingly easy to pick up and carry at 50lb (my wife found it so easy, she could not believe it weighed 50lb).
The oars feel solid and snap together smoothly but you will find they constantly slip into the water when you are trying to put them up. This is easily remedied though, with the optional purchase of oar locks or a home modification.
I rigged an anchor system and made two rod holders and we were off to the water to test them.
We decided to go to a calm spot on the Delaware near Sparrow Bush where there is a sort of cove off to the side.
Sitting in it, I found myself sitting a good 8-10 inches out of the water. My feet on the footrests were in the water to my heels but a quick adjustment by sliding the Classic's frame back put my center of gravity further back and my feet were out of the water.
After two hours of rowing around in the cove for some orientation i tried a little fishing from it.
What a pleasure!
I was fly fishing with a Dahlberg Diver and the smallies seemed to love it. I found landing the two bronze backs I caught much easier than from the tube, perhaps because being higher out of the water afforded me a better view of the fish through my polarized glasses.
Then it was time to head into the mainstream flow and some rough stuff and see how they held up.
They tracked very well, and going feet first down the waterway and navigating the rapids was a cinch. Even rowing back up the river in some parts (when we had takes on our bass flies and decided to make another run down the same spot) was exercise, but not taxing at all.
The toons stayed inflated and brand new even after ramping over a few shallow rocks. After a fun and tiring day, taking them apart was as simple and easy as assembly was.
Pros:
Tough
Well built/ great quality
Easy to handle and tracks well, very maneuverable.
Quite comfortable
Lots of room
Huge pockets
Simple to assemble
Great price
Cons:
Pockets are too sloppy and require modification
Need optional oar locks to keep oars in place
In a nutshell: for $199 ... AWSOME craft. My wife and I highly recommend them to anyone for lakes or rivers.
I apologize for not having pics of us in action on the toons, but my wife forgot the memory card....[unsure]
Next time, I promise.
Front view
starboard view
anchor setup on a pulley
second view of anchor set up
anchor rope tether. You could feasibly mount a cleat.
Bait caster/spinning rod holder and fly rod holder
Presto! --There's the valve.
-ABT
[#ff0000]EDIT: Sorry, but the pics were too big and covered the options menu...reply, etc. I removed the pics from the main post but attached them at the bottom.[/#ff0000]
Thanks for fixing the ignorant African's post Pat, much appreciated.[crazy]
[signature]
Specs: [ul] [li]Frame - Full take-down, no-tools-required, powder coated steel frame with padded fabric rowing seat can adjust on pontoons to balance your cargo. [li]Pontoons - 8 foot long, 16 inch diameter pontoons feature heavy duty 840 denier nylon outer covers and 30 gauge PVC bladders fitted with Boston Valves. Two cam-lock straps secure each pontoon to frame. [li]Oars & Oarlocks - 6 foot take-down oars and heavy-duty steel clamp-on oarlocks mount into nylon inserts in frame for smooth rowing. [li]Cargo Pockets & Stripping Apron - Two large side cargo pockets for tackle storage and large stripping apron with raised edges for fly line control. [li]Cargo Deck - Large cargo deck with D-rings to secure the load. [li]Footbars - Walk-through foot bars have six position adjustment to fit most anglers. [li]The ODC Classic DOES NOT COME WITH A PUMP!, so you will need to order #916 ODC Two-Way Pump to inflate your Classic. [li]Weight Capacity: 375 lbs [li]Overall Weight: 50 lb [/li][/ul]
With clear illustrated instructions and everything fitting perfectly together, assembly only took a little more than 10 minutes.
The Boston valves are well placed in the pockets of each pontoon (one bladder per pontoon) with a protective Velcro-flap covering them.
The pockets are massive but very floppy, you have to be careful your tackle boxes don't slip into the water.
The cargo deck is ample and with 8 D-rings, can have anything lashed to it.
The seat is very comfy considering it is basically padded nylon stretched across a tubular frame. I have a back issue and I never felt discomfort all day on her, neither did my wife.
The frame also moves backwards and forwards easily to adjust weight distribution.
Once assembled it looks like a solid built craft with quality and functionality in mind, and is surprisingly easy to pick up and carry at 50lb (my wife found it so easy, she could not believe it weighed 50lb).
The oars feel solid and snap together smoothly but you will find they constantly slip into the water when you are trying to put them up. This is easily remedied though, with the optional purchase of oar locks or a home modification.
I rigged an anchor system and made two rod holders and we were off to the water to test them.
We decided to go to a calm spot on the Delaware near Sparrow Bush where there is a sort of cove off to the side.
Sitting in it, I found myself sitting a good 8-10 inches out of the water. My feet on the footrests were in the water to my heels but a quick adjustment by sliding the Classic's frame back put my center of gravity further back and my feet were out of the water.
After two hours of rowing around in the cove for some orientation i tried a little fishing from it.
What a pleasure!
I was fly fishing with a Dahlberg Diver and the smallies seemed to love it. I found landing the two bronze backs I caught much easier than from the tube, perhaps because being higher out of the water afforded me a better view of the fish through my polarized glasses.
Then it was time to head into the mainstream flow and some rough stuff and see how they held up.
They tracked very well, and going feet first down the waterway and navigating the rapids was a cinch. Even rowing back up the river in some parts (when we had takes on our bass flies and decided to make another run down the same spot) was exercise, but not taxing at all.
The toons stayed inflated and brand new even after ramping over a few shallow rocks. After a fun and tiring day, taking them apart was as simple and easy as assembly was.
Pros:
Tough
Well built/ great quality
Easy to handle and tracks well, very maneuverable.
Quite comfortable
Lots of room
Huge pockets
Simple to assemble
Great price
Cons:
Pockets are too sloppy and require modification
Need optional oar locks to keep oars in place
In a nutshell: for $199 ... AWSOME craft. My wife and I highly recommend them to anyone for lakes or rivers.
I apologize for not having pics of us in action on the toons, but my wife forgot the memory card....[unsure]
Next time, I promise.
Front view
starboard view
anchor setup on a pulley
second view of anchor set up
anchor rope tether. You could feasibly mount a cleat.
Bait caster/spinning rod holder and fly rod holder
Presto! --There's the valve.
-ABT
[#ff0000]EDIT: Sorry, but the pics were too big and covered the options menu...reply, etc. I removed the pics from the main post but attached them at the bottom.[/#ff0000]
Thanks for fixing the ignorant African's post Pat, much appreciated.[crazy]
[signature]