Personal Inflatable Watercraft
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In the spirit of the recent thread regarding inflatables vs. drift boats, I want to downsize it and ask about more personal sized inflatables. I am in the market for a personal watercraft and have been doing some research for awhile now. I keep vacillating between which type and style of watercraft I want. I want something that can float rivers, but will also be able to be used on small stillwater ponds and lakes. The 2 watercraft I keep coming back to are the Water Master (the ones used on the Trout Bum Diary videos) and Dave Scadden’s Northfork Outdoors Outlaw or Outlaw X5 pontoons. Does anyone have any experience with any of these personal watercraft? What are your thoughts? Advantages? Disadvantages? A 3rd option might be a Native Ultimate kayak or Hobie Fishcat. I like the Water Master and Outlaw because of their portability, ease of storage and no need for a trailer. I live in Texas and there are no dealers where I could take a look at one. Bass Pro is now carrying the Water Master, but my local store doesn’t have one in stock. I would appreciate any input you guys might have.
I think this falls under there is no 1 answer.
Toons
I grew up using canoes, bought a toon a few years ago, havent touched the canoe since. As great as the toon is, it biggest drawback to me is point A to point B speed. As a result I periodically start thinking about picking up a Hobby Cat for those occasions where I want to cover alot water.What I like about the toon.
Versatile: You can use them virutally anywhere, including from small to big water to fast waterStorage: Mines in a small cloat closet right now.
Transport: With a bigger vehicle I can transport it inflated and assembled. With our run about it goes in the back seat
Safety: Hard to beat toons when it comes to personal craft safety
Cargo: They can carry a surprising amount
Comfort: One reason I gave up canoeing is my lower back just isnt what it used to be. I can sit in my toon for hours
Practicality: great platform for fishing and photogrpahy
The only drawback for me is that they are slow from point A to point B.
I can probably cover more water padding 1 handed in my canoe than I could rowing hard in my toon.
Still water vs fast water is the key factor here. What type of water do you see yourself fishing most often?
Still water:
You need something that can track, with little drag. A canoe or kayak is gonna be what you need. Canoes and kayaks can be a pain to sit in all day though. They also require a trailer or a rack and take up a lot of room when stored. And they tip, which can be a disaster if your gear sinks to the bottom.There is potential to stand in one of these boats, which is a huge bonus in my opinion.
Fast water:
A toon works better for fast water. Canoes and kayaks can do this fine as well, but I like pontoons better for this type of situation.I mostly agree with Tim, with some caveats. I’ve had a JW Outfitters Renegade (designed by Tim’s buddy Jeff back in the heady early 2000s) for quite a while. I have several hundred hours on it. A pontoon of this length can definitely be stood up on.
I have taken mine at least half a mile off the beach (a real stupid move, incidentally), and frequently carry it to Gulf Shores to catch rainbow runners, bluefish, ladyfish, and small mackerel out on the sand bars.
I fished with a few guys who had scadden toons last year and they are great, quality pontoons .. The standing platform and bar are pretty cool. I’ll be picking up one later this year and replacing my current ‘budget’ ‘toon.
The outlaw design seems pretty cool, but it also seemed a little big. So, I have not decided between the skykomish and the outlaw.
I stand up on my JW to cast and fish all the time, usually having anchored up in still water outside of something interesting. I’ve done this in rivers, lakes, and on the ocean. It does take some athleticism, I am not going to lie to you.
It’s a wonder you can do it…
I have a JW San Juan.
The Native is a great boat — comfortable and versatile. IMHO, it is a top choice for flat water and mild rivers. I tested one once and really liked it.
If I could only have one boat (hypothetical, because I have three personal crafts already — ‘toon, canoe and kayak), I would go with the Hobie Outback. It is fast, comfortable, and you can fish without ever using your hands to paddle. I have outriggers so I can stand (but it is not a good option on moving water). It is also well-suited to offshore uses. (The Hobie Adventure is better suited for pure offshore applications).
My choice would be different if I lived in a different area. For example, for big western water or tailwater, I would want a nice pontoon. For lakes, I would be torn between the Hobie and something like the Native. For rocky rivers, I would get a ‘toon.
Boats are like rods – it is hard to pick one that will suit every situation and there are compromises with every decision. Even within the kayak family, there are at least 4 models that I would like to own.
Does anyone have experience with Outcast pontoon boats?
I have their kayak-style pontoon boat. http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/default.aspx?id=14 If this is what you mean, I will be glad to answer any questions.
Aaron, how do you like the Power Drifter? I have never seen that one before. It looks interesting. Seems like the floor is inflatable as well. Is that correct? Can you stand in it?
Aaron, how do you like the Power Drifter? I have never seen that one before. It looks interesting. Seems like the floor is inflatable as well. Is that correct? Can you stand in it? Also, is it open behind the seat? Looks like maybe a mount for a trolling motor. You thoughts on it would be appreciated.
In all honesty, for my applications, a traditional pontoon would be better. In particular, I miss the ability to control my direction with fins.
The floor is foam — semi-rigid. I find it challenging to stand. I do it on flat water but in most such instances I am using my Hobie kayak. The back does zip open to accomodate a motor. (I have never tried using my trolling motor on it) On the plus side, it tracks a little faster than traditional toons and your feet are out of the water.
I had the Renegade also like Zack. What a great boat. At 45# it was a joy to maneuver and the flat rocker made it track like it was on rails. I can’t help but wonder how far JW Outfitters would have advance if left alone.
From there I went to a Bucks Bags South Fork. Not much good to say about that beast except good riddance! The extreme rocker made it spin like a top in comparison to the Renegade and assembly, especially of that nightmare of a deck, could stand a LOT of improvement.
I’ve found the right boat on the North Fork Skyko! It has flat rocker like the Renegade yet enough bow and stern curve to walk on top of standing waves. Flat rocker REALLY helps in one huge aspect in that it floats higher than boats with a lot of rocker. Just what was needed on the New River during the recent drought.
The casting deck/lean bar combo is the bomb for non-ballerinas like me!
Even though it’s the longest ‘toon I’ve had, I can still micro-manage position against wind and some current with fins. No swapping oars for rod all day long. That, and the fact I can just stand up in shallow water and work the area over good beats climbing in and out of a water craft hands down.
The only thing I would change is the weight. If some ingenious American would come out with after-market carbon fiber deck and casting platform this old man would be in Nirvana!If I may, I would like to get everyone’s opinion on choice of personal watercraft but from a slightly different perspective.
I plan on living forever, so far so good.
If I may, I would like to get everyone’s opinion on choice of personal watercraft but from a slightly different perspective. In stead of versatility, what about a craft I would use only for floating and fishing rivers here in North Carolina that are too small, shallow or rocky for a driftboat. I would want something that would be easy to drag over rocks and shoals, up and down banks and portage easily over dams or waterfalls. I think having to wear fins would be a PITA on shallow water and would have to be taken off to walk shoals or up banks. No concern over ease of paddling on flat water. I have a tandem canoe for flat water and driftboat for larger, deeper rivers. I was considering small rafts, pontoons, or maybe the best bet would be a solo whitewater canoe. What are your thoughts?
Allan, you are describing the Outcast I have.
Allan, get to a Smallie Show or just keep paying attention to the usual sites. We have all sorts of floatables to see and try. We float the New quite a bit for smallies. Sure the water level was down and we had to do the fin on/fin off bit plus scootch our butts over some shoals but the rewards were far worth it. 😉 It was worse for my friends in canoes and kayaks as they had to get OUT of their boats at every low spot.
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