Inflatable Pontoon Boat

[Just Don]

Was wondering if any one is using one of these Inflatable Pontoon Boat?

I'M doing a Ben Franklin list on kayak's which fits me.

I love fishing around Port O'Connor, TX during the winter months.

Being inflatable would be nice fitting in the basement even though it would    

take up storage room in there. I don't know how much I would  use it the rest

of the year and having a hard body kayak it would be in the way

hanging on the 5th wheel ladder the other 7 months. Also figured getting in

and out of this should be easier and I do have a air compressor.

Wonder how they would handle probably not as easy a regular kayak,

but I won't be entering no races.

So please let me know I would really like personal info on this tanks.

Don

I like this one https://classicaccessories.com/classic-accessories-pontoon-boat

[Yarome]

I've never used one, but have considered an Oru folding kayak. Might be worth looking into.

There is another that I've looked at before.. a Pakayak. Still quite bulky and expensive.

[Pappy Yokum]

Don't have one  - but was curious to see if there was a 2-person inflatable pontoon boat - so Googled it.

Interesting site - just reviews , no prices  (top five, etc.) of  the 2 & 4 person boats ....

http://www.inflatablepontoonworld.com

.

 

[Vladimir]

I have a pontoon boat.

The one your looking at is fairly cheaply made and is sold by Costco for 299 each spring.

This is the boat I own: http://www.outcastboats.com/pontoons/pac-900.asp

It is more expensive, but you can take it down rivers. They are used by fly fishermen all the time. If you go to a lake that if frequented by fly fishers you will be able to see and try different brands. And get some good advice on using them. You do need waders or hip boots and fins to use them for fishing. They are great, both hands free and you maneuver by kicking with the fins. If you want to go somewhere fast use the oars. I outfitted mine with a small trolling motor and a small battery charged by a solar panel. On small lakes I do not bother with trolling motor.

See the set up here: http://usbackroads.blogspot.com/2012/05/solar-powered-fishing-boat.html

It is probably the safest craft for fishing. Very stable. Wind is the big issue, but read the blog.

There are lots of companies that make good pontoon boats. Here are two in Idaho. 

http://www.outcastboats.com/..........click on shop to see the companies product line.

https://bucksbags.com/ver193/fishing.html

The boats store well for travel. Set-up time is usually about half hour or so if completely deflated. I just keep mine inflated all the time during fishing season and it travels on top of the truck boat rack.

Strictly for fishing. I would buy a pontoon boat before any other type boat. Most of one person crafts.

Like I said they are really popular with fly fishing folks since you have both hands free for fishing.

I can answer any other questions that you might have.

 

 

 

 

[Just Don]

Thanks every one some really great info.

[Just Don]

On 8/31/2018 at 11:26 PM, Vladimir said:

I have a pontoon boat.

The one your looking at is fairly cheaply made and is sold by Costco for 299 each spring.

This is the boat I own: http://www.outcastboats.com/pontoons/pac-900.asp

It is more expensive, but you can take it down rivers. They are used by fly fishermen all the time. If you go to a lake that if frequented by fly fishers you will be able to see and try different brands. And get some good advice on using them. You do need waders or hip boots and fins to use them for fishing. They are great, both hands free and you maneuver by kicking with the fins. If you want to go somewhere fast use the oars. I outfitted mine with a small trolling motor and a small battery charged by a solar panel. On small lakes I do not bother with trolling motor.

See the set up here: http://usbackroads.blogspot.com/2012/05/solar-powered-fishing-boat.html

It is probably the safest craft for fishing. Very stable. Wind is the big issue, but read the blog.

There are lots of companies that make good pontoon boats. Here are two in Idaho. 

http://www.outcastboats.com/..........click on shop to see the companies product line.

https://bucksbags.com/ver193/fishing.html

The boats store well for travel. Set-up time is usually about half hour or so if completely deflated. I just keep mine inflated all the time during fishing season and it travels on top of the truck boat rack.

Strictly for fishing. I would buy a pontoon boat before any other type boat. Most of one person crafts.

Like I said they are really popular with fly fishing folks since you have both hands free for fishing.

I can answer any other questions that you might have.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Vladimir for the info I didn't even think of using the fins that be great.

That PAC-900 would be sweet and I did think trolling motor, but did not think solar panel at all.  I was worried about leaks I guess a higher end pontoon model would be less likely to spring a leak. These would fit in my 5th wheel basement for sure. I'LL will study on these site every one posted pick one before Dec arrives.

I'll be back with questions for sure.

Thanks again

[Al F]

This fulltiming couple, Howard & Linda http://www.rv-dreams.typepad.com/  have been using both a kayak and pontoon boat for several years.  They have even taken a multi day trip down a river in the pontoon boat w/o concern about air leaks.

Use the following Google search to find some of their blog entries about their experiences. "sea eagle: http://www.rv-dreams.typepad.com/"

You may have to do more searching on their website for more of their experiences with the boats.

[RV_]

Not a kayak, and not inflatable, but my buddy had one of these Porta Botes and a small outboard motor. I joined him in it on the Bay of Valdez Alaska catching our limit of Silver Salmon.  Valdez is the end of the Alaska pipeline and is where the big oil tankers fill up. I only felt some fear when the wake from one came our way and was at least six feet tall. We bobbed right over it just fine.  You asked about pontoon/inflatables. This one my friend had mounted on the side of his fifth wheel. It took up zero basement space. Here is their website with videos of the boat being used and I was surprised at their current accessory line. If the exercise is part of the appeal of Kayaks, these can be rowed as well. It now has fishing decks, sailing rigs, dive ladders, and others shown in the videos on the website here:

https://www.porta-bote.com/

If zero storage space loss and fishing are the goals, it bears looking into.

[Just Don]

Thanks AL F and RV_ for the info.

 

[Vladimir]

On 9/4/2018 at 10:38 AM, RV_ said:

Not a kayak, and not inflatable, but my buddy had one of these Porta Botes and a small outboard motor. I joined him in it on the Bay of Valdez Alaska catching our limit of Silver Salmon.  Valdez is the end of the Alaska pipeline and is where the big oil tankers fill up. I only felt some fear when the wake from one came our way and was at least six feet tall. We bobbed right over it just fine.  You asked about pontoon/inflatables. This one my friend had mounted on the side of his fifth wheel. It took up zero basement space. Here is their website with videos of the boat being used and I was surprised at their current accessory line. If the exercise is part of the appeal of Kayaks, these can be rowed as well. It now has fishing decks, sailing rigs, dive ladders, and others shown in the videos on the website here:

https://www.porta-bote.com/

If zero storage space loss and fishing are the goals, it bears looking into.

The porta-note does NOT have a flat bottom. I was in one for only a short period of time and it was rather uncomfortable. 

Nice boat, however, I would definitely look into one IF they had a flat bottom. They are limited to lakes, the advantage of a good fishing pontoon boat is you can take it down some pretty knarly rivers.

[RV_]

 I had a Mad River 15' canoe for that in the 80s. We did canoes and sailboats because kayaks were still in the college crew level of development. <grin> Of course we used tubes for easy whitewater.

It's OK, Vlad, one boat does not fit all.

Folded flat on the side of the RV for some fishing they take up no storage space.  With a fiver no room for kayaks on the roof of the truck. The tank and motor can ride in the truck bed.