04-25-2014, 05:44 AM
[quote MotoBoat]tubedude, considering your indepth level of tube tinkering. I was almost certain you had made the oar modification, and that mod was a dedicated chapter in your book! I can't beleive I missed that so badly.....lol!
I had read where others with "v" tubes used kyak paddles in combination with kick fins, for assistance in windy conditions. But, I got to thinking about the co-ordination it might take to kick and paddle at the same time. I was not sure if paddling and kicking was a either or, as apposed to doing in tandem?
Not in tandem. Paddles are slightly faster than kicking. Kicking gives much better hands free control.
I was also attempting to justify the "what if" kyak paddle I recently purchased at my favorite thrift store. Brand new in the bag, 3 piece aluminum handle, breaks down to a 16" length. Cost was an astounding $.075. Retail cost looks like $30.
I had kicked around the oar conversion. But was fishing for advise from the experienced "v" tubers on the site.
I am not ready for a pontoon boat. For me, the frame is the kicker, to big. Can't just throw it in the back of a car. Perhaps not the back of a truck either. Definitely not packable. Requires waders and kick fins. Might require assembly in addition to inflation before fishing.
The Discovery Trekker was a 20# 6' packable pontoon boat with a one piece aluminum frame that fit in a check in airline bag, but not in production anymore. Even assembled 8' pontoon boats can be quickly ratchet strapped in fishing ready condition on the roof of even the smallest car for transport.
I have a 8 ft fiber glass dingy I use. When wanting to stay dry, or wanting something just a little more roomy to fish from. I can load and unload without help, fits in the back of the truck. For me, getting in and out of waders and fins is not my preferred method of fishing. As portable as that dingy is with a set of transport wheels, it has its limitations. That is where the "v" tube fills the void. Places that require "carry" in fishing, or poor access at water edge. I can say with certainty, that dingy is most likely as close to a pontoon boat as I will ever come. That is how much I dislike wearing waders. It is the stepping in or out of, being overheated or to cold in, leaking and patching, dealing with a bathroom break.......oh lordy! I wear waders, only when a must.
Yes, that is why I never wear waders even in Winter, but the water temperature rarely gets to a low of 40 degrees where I fish in South Tx. The 8# ODC 420L "V"can be transported anywhere, 2 will fit into an airline carry on bag. Inflated and fishing ready, 2 are easily carried by a compact hatchback car then walked in to difficult access areas with their back straps.
Around here, if salt water beach fishing. The year round water temp is 50 degrees or less. I would rather stand in the water in shorts, than dawn the waders, and boots. Am I cold after several hours? Sure! But not miserable, not uncomfortable. During summer it is refreshing. yet I am the only one without waders on. Wet? Yep, but swim trunks dry off quick or I change into a dry pair for the drive home. The key is to sit above water at least 3" with your feet on a crossbar so you stay dry if you pick low wind/sheltered areas, sunny days, propulsion with oars or motor, not fins. I do this on my ODC during Winter, but big guys may need a larger capacity tube, like some of the NFO frameless. [/quote]
Hope this helps,
Pon
[signature]
I had read where others with "v" tubes used kyak paddles in combination with kick fins, for assistance in windy conditions. But, I got to thinking about the co-ordination it might take to kick and paddle at the same time. I was not sure if paddling and kicking was a either or, as apposed to doing in tandem?
Not in tandem. Paddles are slightly faster than kicking. Kicking gives much better hands free control.
I was also attempting to justify the "what if" kyak paddle I recently purchased at my favorite thrift store. Brand new in the bag, 3 piece aluminum handle, breaks down to a 16" length. Cost was an astounding $.075. Retail cost looks like $30.
I had kicked around the oar conversion. But was fishing for advise from the experienced "v" tubers on the site.
I am not ready for a pontoon boat. For me, the frame is the kicker, to big. Can't just throw it in the back of a car. Perhaps not the back of a truck either. Definitely not packable. Requires waders and kick fins. Might require assembly in addition to inflation before fishing.
The Discovery Trekker was a 20# 6' packable pontoon boat with a one piece aluminum frame that fit in a check in airline bag, but not in production anymore. Even assembled 8' pontoon boats can be quickly ratchet strapped in fishing ready condition on the roof of even the smallest car for transport.
I have a 8 ft fiber glass dingy I use. When wanting to stay dry, or wanting something just a little more roomy to fish from. I can load and unload without help, fits in the back of the truck. For me, getting in and out of waders and fins is not my preferred method of fishing. As portable as that dingy is with a set of transport wheels, it has its limitations. That is where the "v" tube fills the void. Places that require "carry" in fishing, or poor access at water edge. I can say with certainty, that dingy is most likely as close to a pontoon boat as I will ever come. That is how much I dislike wearing waders. It is the stepping in or out of, being overheated or to cold in, leaking and patching, dealing with a bathroom break.......oh lordy! I wear waders, only when a must.
Yes, that is why I never wear waders even in Winter, but the water temperature rarely gets to a low of 40 degrees where I fish in South Tx. The 8# ODC 420L "V"can be transported anywhere, 2 will fit into an airline carry on bag. Inflated and fishing ready, 2 are easily carried by a compact hatchback car then walked in to difficult access areas with their back straps.
Around here, if salt water beach fishing. The year round water temp is 50 degrees or less. I would rather stand in the water in shorts, than dawn the waders, and boots. Am I cold after several hours? Sure! But not miserable, not uncomfortable. During summer it is refreshing. yet I am the only one without waders on. Wet? Yep, but swim trunks dry off quick or I change into a dry pair for the drive home. The key is to sit above water at least 3" with your feet on a crossbar so you stay dry if you pick low wind/sheltered areas, sunny days, propulsion with oars or motor, not fins. I do this on my ODC during Winter, but big guys may need a larger capacity tube, like some of the NFO frameless. [/quote]
Hope this helps,
Pon
[signature]