Tube comparrisons

[BigBo]

I am in the market for a new tube. For what it is worth, what are the main differences between the ODC 420 and a Super Fat Cat? What about the Outcast Trinity, and the Caddis Pro 2000?

Price wise, WOW?

Had a Togiak, it was OK. I had an ODC 420, did not really care for it. JMHO.
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[albinotrout]

You will probably like the Fish Cat 4 or the Super Fat Cat. Have not seen the Caddis Pro yet to tell the difference but I have found caddis to be good all around boat. I have three round tubes and a u boat of theirs. The bladders are vinyl though.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]You did not mention how big you are. If you need more floatation the Fat Cat is slightly floatier (is that a word?) than the ODC 420. It also has bigger and better pockets and the valves are better. Fat Cats still have urethane bladders too...not the 420.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Regular Fat Cats have foam seats, like the ODC 420. Super Fat Cats have inflatable seats. Cost more but offer greater range of comfort adjustments.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you watch eBay there are a couple of outlets that routinely have super buys on Fat Cats. [/#0000ff]
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[michaelnel]

[quote TubeDude]Super Fat Cats have inflatable seats. Cost more but offer greater range of comfort adjustments.[/quote]

... and based on your previous posts, they also offer numerous opportunities to practice your leak-patching technique.

I had a Fat Cat with the foam seats and found them to be adequately comfortable for me. If I recall correctly, when you had a Super Fat Cat you were all over the place with alternate seating mods for it.
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[cpierce]

What didn't you like about the ODC 420? If it was too small you may have to go to a Fat Cat model or a NFO Escape.

If it was ok size, but didn't like the materials etc., then you might try a Fish Cat 4.
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[flygoddess]

Like mentioned the SFC is Urethane Bladder which is going to make it tuffer and lighter.
The Trinity is very nice with the inflatable floor and it is Urethane as well.
In that class, I would say the Escape also has the inflatable floor but they are bladderless.
The SFC and Trinity are like 5' long and the Escape is 6' long.
The bigger the tube, the more secure you will feel specially if weather changes on you.
All are ASIAN made except for the Escape. Oh and the Escape has built in oars.
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[BigBo]

I am 6-1 about 250#. In the Togiak and the 420, the back of the seat seamed to fall back alot. The 420 was nice, but I expected it to just blow the Togiak out of the water. The 420 had better seams, valves, and construction, but I road better in the Togiak. When I went fishing I took the Togiak. Yes I sat lower, but that did not bother me. I was fishing.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]My first Super Fat Cat, purchased in 2003, had an inflatable seat with multiple points of heat welding that were prone to developing pinhole leaks...especially when ridden by a hefty dude in hot weather with full inflation. (See pic below) [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It seemed like every trip there would be another spot developing a pinhole leak so that I was riding low in the dle soon after launching. That was one of the reasons I began using "alternate" seats in the tube...to help insure some measure of stability. It helped, but did not solve the problem.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a regular Fat Cat now, and have no problems with the foam seat. However, as with almost all float tubes, the back is not high enough or rigid enough to provide the back support I need. Thus, I am still using a contour chair insert to help provide that support. Problem solved.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The H3 tubes I bought for my wife and I were also problematic in the seat department. We tried every possible adjustment of inflation, straps, etc, but could never fish for more than a couple of hours without becoming uncomfortable. Part of the problem was that they seemed to be engineered with the seat bottoms tilted ever so slightly forward. We were constantly sliding forward and had to keep scooting ourselves back in the seat. That takes a toll on the upper arms and the back during a full day of fishing. The only remedy was to insert a strip of foam up inside the top of the seat to create a ridge to keep us in. That and some PVC patio chairs cut to tilt slightly backward.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, the first bottom seat cushion I got on the H3 also turned into a big round balloon instead of having ridged cushions. (see pic) Drove it up to the NFO warehouse in Ogden and then waited two weeks for a replacement.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Me and seats have always been an issue.[/#0000ff]
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[flygoddess]

I am going to point out that you and Babe were the only ones out of the many out there to have these issues, however.

Everyone has their own preference.

Good thing about the Escape is the seat is movable.
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[TubeDude]

[quote flygoddess]I am going to point out that you and Babe were the only ones out of the many out there to have these issues, however. /quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Maybe from your perspective. But I have had quite a few other folks who have expressed similar sentiments...including those who bought our H3's. Regardless of the propaganda from Dave there have been a whole bunch of dissatisfied NFO customers...encompassing several different models. Sometimes it is a matter of construction or comfort. Most often it is in the area of follow up and customer service. I think we have had a couple of threads along those lines.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, silly us. We are not old enough, experienced enough or in touch with our own comfort levels enough to realize that we were really very comfortable. Guess we are just stupid.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As we have agreed to agree, comfort is a personal matter and very subjective. There are a wide range of physical types and physical "conditions" that can affect how one feels about the "comfort". We ain't all built the same and we usually have different ideas about what is the ideal ride.[/#0000ff]
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[flygoddess]

Now you are just being silly[][laugh]... and Propaganda?

My question to the original post is the usual, how often will you be using it, what kind of water, I mean Hike Ins, do you pack a lot of gear?
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[BigBo]

So far I have only fished lakes. No hiking, I did that as a youngerman. I will walk a fair distance to fish but I will not be hiking for miles.
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[flygoddess]

Where do you live? Of the list you gave, I would still lean towards the SFC and the Trinity.
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[BigBo]

I live in Bakersfield, Ca. The nearest lake is Isabela. Not many lakes in my area.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Ah yes. Good old Lake Isabella. I have spent many fond hours on that lake...and on the Kern River both above and below the lake. Great fishing area. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Too bad it has gone through so many changes over the years. Don't know what the current species mix is but in days of old it was great for crappies, bass, catfish and bluegills...with plenty of trout at times and a few squawfish (pike minnows). During the bass heydey there were some huge largemouth in there. But I have heard that drought drawdowns really messed it up. Hope it has come back.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Goddess Lady has offered some good advice.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Be sure to send some pics of Isabella. Also, there are lots of small ponds and lakes all up and down the foothills of the Sierras. Spend some time looking for them and getting to know them.[/#0000ff]
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[cpierce]

In looking at the tubes you mention and from what you say of your size and fishing style.

The 420, Fish Cat, and others of that size are a little small for you. The Caddis Pro 2000 is another one of about the same size as the 420 - It has a 250lb weight capacity.

The Outcast Trinity would be good as far as it has a 300lb capacity - but it is really built to be lightweight for backpacking. To make it lightweight they have probably sacrificed comfort, storage space, and used materials that won't last with constant regular usage.

I would say that you will probably be happier with something like the Fat Cat, Super Fat Cat, or NFO Escape.
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[cpierce]

Or get a small pontoon boat.
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[flygoddess]

For sure, check out Denny Rickards SUPER CAT, Or Venture Outdoors has some killer small pontoons.
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