06-11-2008, 10:32 PM
My take on it.
TUBES, got to be a "V". Size not a big deal other than load capacity but you sound light enough.
Advantage, they fold down small and easy to transport.
YOU have to wear full waders with them as even if you sit a few inches off the water, with waves and movement your rear will get wet.
Easy to pack into places if that is anything you want to do or might do.
PONTOON's you have the option of sitting higher and Hippers are plenty. Better for colder days. They have MUCH more storage area.
You have OARS if your legs get tired, and they do FLY on the water.
I am not going to bring up the Motor and Battery thing cause you CAN use it on both, you just need a Flote Power for a tube. I did that for many years.
A Pontoon is a little harder to transport because of the frame.
Steel frames and PVC bladders are going to weigh allot (around (80 lbs)
The Aluminum frames and Urethane bladders are allot lighter (around 50 lbs)
I hear all the time that wind is terrible on a pontoon, you do get hit a little harder, but you can get a hold on it much easier with Oars, Flipper.
I for one have never felt that as a Handy cap to a pontoon, in other words not a big enough deal.
NOW There is one more choice.....The North Fork Outdoors "NAVIGATOR II" (not the Caddis Navigator II).
It weighs around 40 lbs. Is 9' long, NO FRAME! completely deflateable right down to the seat. Comes with Oars, optional rear deck for DRY STORAGE plus a battery and motor.
The Back PACK bag that comes with it measures 25" long, 22" wide and 5" thick.
It is however the same as the H3 in that your rear will get wet. Plus it has a larger opening in the back with a zipper for the prop of a motor.
THIS IS the design of the future in that it is MUCH more stable than anything out there. ON WHITE WATER, you don't have two separate pontoons strapped to a frame, it is ONE PIECe, with two inflateable seat pads and and each side of the Pontube is inflateable.
There is now the OUTLAW 5X which uses the same "V" design but is wider and longer and DOES come with a metal standable frame that can be put on in either direction. So it can be a ZODIAC.
They cost much more but will last much, much longer...LIFE TIME warranty.
I have had my NFO pontoon now for close to 8 years and this is the second on the Navi.
In my opinion, they are all USA made by a FISHERMAN and they don't get any better.
[signature]
TUBES, got to be a "V". Size not a big deal other than load capacity but you sound light enough.
Advantage, they fold down small and easy to transport.
YOU have to wear full waders with them as even if you sit a few inches off the water, with waves and movement your rear will get wet.
Easy to pack into places if that is anything you want to do or might do.
PONTOON's you have the option of sitting higher and Hippers are plenty. Better for colder days. They have MUCH more storage area.
You have OARS if your legs get tired, and they do FLY on the water.
I am not going to bring up the Motor and Battery thing cause you CAN use it on both, you just need a Flote Power for a tube. I did that for many years.
A Pontoon is a little harder to transport because of the frame.
Steel frames and PVC bladders are going to weigh allot (around (80 lbs)
The Aluminum frames and Urethane bladders are allot lighter (around 50 lbs)
I hear all the time that wind is terrible on a pontoon, you do get hit a little harder, but you can get a hold on it much easier with Oars, Flipper.
I for one have never felt that as a Handy cap to a pontoon, in other words not a big enough deal.
NOW There is one more choice.....The North Fork Outdoors "NAVIGATOR II" (not the Caddis Navigator II).
It weighs around 40 lbs. Is 9' long, NO FRAME! completely deflateable right down to the seat. Comes with Oars, optional rear deck for DRY STORAGE plus a battery and motor.
The Back PACK bag that comes with it measures 25" long, 22" wide and 5" thick.
It is however the same as the H3 in that your rear will get wet. Plus it has a larger opening in the back with a zipper for the prop of a motor.
THIS IS the design of the future in that it is MUCH more stable than anything out there. ON WHITE WATER, you don't have two separate pontoons strapped to a frame, it is ONE PIECe, with two inflateable seat pads and and each side of the Pontube is inflateable.
There is now the OUTLAW 5X which uses the same "V" design but is wider and longer and DOES come with a metal standable frame that can be put on in either direction. So it can be a ZODIAC.
They cost much more but will last much, much longer...LIFE TIME warranty.
I have had my NFO pontoon now for close to 8 years and this is the second on the Navi.
In my opinion, they are all USA made by a FISHERMAN and they don't get any better.
[signature]