11-14-2009, 01:20 AM
[quote idahoron]I will chime in on the ODC Classic pontoon like FG asked. I have fished out of it a hand full of times now. So far calm water floats down the snake river, and Strike. The fabric bottom of the classic has held up well so far but I am very careful to not drag it any more than I have to. I also have been careful to not set it up in areas with glass or nails from fires. So far I have not landed a bucket full of sharp finned fish like crappie or cats. That does have me a little worried about fish with spines swimming under the boat and giving me the old swim to shore treatment.
Hooks, thorns from brush, etc. and nylon fabric are incompatible from my experience. Especially barbed hooks when they do happen to get entangled in the mesh. Wasted time because one has to very careful removing them, has been my experience. I like 100% PVC coating on inflation chambers which is more likely to allow these things to slide over, except for the small zipper area. Also water splashes bead up and roll off on PVC, instead of wicking effect you get with nylon. Keeps the inside of your vehicle drier when moving from place to place, you have a shorter time for dry off and storage.
I like my classic toon, but I LOVE my FC4. I have been very careful with the FC4 but I still have some scratches in it that I wonder how one without the PVC would hold up.
One other thing to concider is how much "kick" do the two 420's take. I know my PVC bottom FC4 is faster than my son's fabric bottom tube but shape might also play a part.
I think fabric pores cause additional water resistance compared to a smooth PVC coating.
If it were me, and this is only worth what you pay for it. If you fish for fish that have spines, I would get the PVC bottom boat, I would go to the local second hand store and get pumps. I got 4 pumps for $1.00 each. And I would just buy a set of flippers. Ron[/quote]
Hope this helps.
Pon
[signature]
Hooks, thorns from brush, etc. and nylon fabric are incompatible from my experience. Especially barbed hooks when they do happen to get entangled in the mesh. Wasted time because one has to very careful removing them, has been my experience. I like 100% PVC coating on inflation chambers which is more likely to allow these things to slide over, except for the small zipper area. Also water splashes bead up and roll off on PVC, instead of wicking effect you get with nylon. Keeps the inside of your vehicle drier when moving from place to place, you have a shorter time for dry off and storage.
I like my classic toon, but I LOVE my FC4. I have been very careful with the FC4 but I still have some scratches in it that I wonder how one without the PVC would hold up.
One other thing to concider is how much "kick" do the two 420's take. I know my PVC bottom FC4 is faster than my son's fabric bottom tube but shape might also play a part.
I think fabric pores cause additional water resistance compared to a smooth PVC coating.
If it were me, and this is only worth what you pay for it. If you fish for fish that have spines, I would get the PVC bottom boat, I would go to the local second hand store and get pumps. I got 4 pumps for $1.00 each. And I would just buy a set of flippers. Ron[/quote]
Hope this helps.
Pon
[signature]