Pontoon-style Float Tubes

[SIslandBrowns]

I've noticed more pontoon-style float tubes on the market lately, but when I go and read reviews on them, they seemed to be more negative than positive. Reviews are often an unreliable gauge as folks with bad experiences tend to speak the loudest...

Examples include products like the Waterskeeter Day-tripper, Kennebec Pontoon, etc...

They look interesting, but get panned repeated.

Has anyone had experience with these types of tubes? Opinions wanted.

[lowwall]

Pontoon

I just used my Scandon Toon SAT for the first time. I have heard the negative reports on Toon’s and windy conditions. My old one ( Hobie 60) had no rocker to it and was great in Stillwater regardless of the wind but not capable of doing any rivers other than really slow ones. I did the saco in it without a problem. My new one has all sorts of rocker and could be considered the worst case scenario for windy Stillwater conditions. With the use of fins I had no problems controlling my drift in steady 10-15Kt with 30KT Gusts and used my Oars very little and used my anchor only once just to see how it worked. The Hobie was the ultimate Stillwater boat but my new one can do it all pretty well.

The only downsize to my new boat is size , it has 9’ toons. This is great for rivers but not needed in Stillwater applications. The thing fits in the back of my truck with the window open , but is just making it. It originally came with 11’ that I exchanged. I am glad I did. Boats are always’s a compromise, that is why I have 6 I guess!

Mike

[ThruFlyFishing]

Hello I have both a canoe and a pontoon-style float. I like them both but for different reasons. The pontoon is great for drifting down a river during the hot months of summer but for spring and fall fishing I would rather be in the dry canoe. I would not give either of them up. Most of the time during the summer I will take them both with me for a weekend trip. Read up on pontoons because it took me awhile for me to get use to using one and have fun with it, but like I said now I would never get rid of it. There are places in North Conway that will let you rent one for the day. Do that before you buy one. ThruFlyFishing

[bridgeman]

I owned both the Water skeeter Day Tripper and the personal pontoon they made for Orvis. They where both a big improvement over my Caddis belly boat. Both were high,dry and very nice boats for ponds. Stable and fast, they could handle any wind a person would care to fish in. The bad news is the air bladders were thin and both had leaks in the within 2 years. Last fall, on a 38 deg. morning, one of the pontoons on the Orvis boat exploded as I was filling it up with air. I guess the cold stiff bladder just couldn't handle the strain. I'm talking epic destruction,totaly gone. So this winter I purchased a Super Fat Cat from Outcast. Big money, even on sale for last years model from Cabela's. The thing has a five year warranty and it looks like a well made boat. I will be going down to RI for the trout opener in a couple of weeks and I will post a report and will include a perfomance review on the new boat. If want to look at the Orvis boat,check out my RI Rainbow post of a few weeks ago in the reports forum.Thats me in the Caddis belly and my brother Majic fly in his Orvis pontoon(same as the one that blew).

[Steve H.]

Bridgeman, let me know about the Super Fat Cat. I'm 99% sure I'll be getting one this June and want to hear some feedback first. Looking forward to your input.

[SIslandBrowns]

Thanks guys, good info. Dave

[castafly]

I own the outcast deluxe and my father owns the fatcat. I tip the scales at around 160lbs and my father about 210 lbs. I went with the smaller tube for that reason. They are both basically the same. Fat cat is bigger and can handle more wt.

I would encourage you to get a tube with an inflatable seat and back rest. Just my preference...but I am out of the water with only mid calf down in the water. I feel this thing was made for me. Love it and highly recommend it. I only use it on still water.

G