Watercraft - canoe, kayak, pontoon

[CADreamin]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Forest Service campsite near Merritt. $6 a night for seniors.

Are those catamaran kayaks next to your trailer?

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by CADreamin

Are those catamaran kayaks next to your trailer?

Nope. Those are pontoon boats. Buck's Bags Southfork model. Can use the oars or flippers ( some even attach small electric motors ). I'd call them a FUV. Fishing Utility Vehicle, because your hands are free to handle your rod and the fish ( oars shipped and using flippers to control the boat ).

[gabeck]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Nope. Those are pontoon boats. Buck's Bags Southfork model. Can use the oars or flippers ( some even attach small electric motors ). I'd call them a FUV. Fishing Utility Vehicle, because your hands are free to handle your rod and the fish ( oars shipped and using flippers to control the boat ).

Are they very light weight ?….. Do you always wear hip-waders ?

[CADreamin]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Nope. Those are pontoon boats. Buck's Bags Southfork model. Can use the oars or flippers ( some even attach small electric motors ). I'd call them a FUV. Fishing Utility Vehicle, because your hands are free to handle your rod and the fish ( oars shipped and using flippers to control the boat ).

Those are amazing. And, according to the web site, the shipping weight for a 7' boat is only 60 lbs. Might be just the thing for someone who is fearful of tipping over in a kayak or canoe ...

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by CADreamin

Those are amazing. And, according to the web site, the shipping weight for a 7' boat is only 60 lbs. Might be just the thing for someone who is fearful of tipping over in a kayak or canoe ...

I've thought about the same thing, with photography and just recreational paddling (okay, rowing) in mind, but the fishing cats are pretty short and likely both less stable and slower than a more typical boat. Corrections and suggestions welcome...

Also,it seems to me that a better way to move something a cat - rather than rowing - would be a Hobie Cat MirageDrive, although it won't work in very shallow water.

[CADreamin]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

I've thought about the same thing, with photography and just recreational paddling (okay, rowing) in mind, but the fishing cats are pretty short and likely both less stable and slower than a more typical boat. Corrections and suggestions welcome...

Also,it seems to me that a better way to move something a cat - rather than rowing - would be a Hobie Cat MirageDrive, although it won't work in very shallow water.

When we were looking for a small-ish water craft for the lake, we debated on a Zodiac or a Porta Bote (Porta Bote | The Unique Folding Boat). We settled on the Zodiac since we wouldn't be moving it much; however, now that we're looking at traveling in our Escape, I'm sorry we didn't go with the Porta Bote.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by gabeck

Are they very light weight ?….. Do you always wear hip-waders ?

I wear either waist-high waders or my chest waders. My buddy, in the pic sometimes just wears shorts, depending on the weather. Hip waders could mean a wet bum, although you are sitting above the water.

Also, if you look up Scotty rod holders you will find accessories. I've got two rail-mount anchor holders and anchors, two rod holders and a drink holder. Small cooler sits on the apron on the back ( or I suppose you could put a porta-potti there ).

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

the fishing cats are pretty short and likely both less stable and slower than a more typical boat. Corrections and suggestions welcome...

I've used mine on rivers and in some decent size waves. Never worried. But, they aren't designed to go fast. Designed for fishing, and with flippers you can manoeuvre precisely with your hands free to handle the rod and fish.
If you want to go fast, you need a 17' canoe with no rocker. Makes a lousy fishing boat.

[Jim Bennett]

I have two 17.5' boats, a Helman Prospector, a do everything boat, but not the fastest loaded up. Quite stable, and good for fishing. Quite good in big rapids too.

My other tandem is a Swift Winisk, which is what baglo is referring to at the end of his last post. Very little rocker, asymmetrical in shape, initially unstable unless loaded, light and very fast. I got it for covering distances and it works great for that. Great for trolling too.

My last boat is a near complete 15'5' solo boat. Little rocker, quite narrow, and designed to be fast. Hope to have it in the water next spring.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

... the fishing cats are pretty short and likely both less stable and slower than a more typical boat...

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I've used mine on rivers and in some decent size waves. Never worried.

It occurs to me now that I should have said less directionally stable... not more prone to tip.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I have two 17.5' boats, a Helman Prospector, a do everything boat, but not the fastest loaded up. Quite stable, and good for fishing. Quite good in big rapids too.

My other tandem is a Swift Winisk, which is what baglo is referring to at the end of his last post. Very little rocker, asymmetrical in shape, initially unstable unless loaded, light and very fast. I got it for covering distances and it works great for that. Great for trolling too.

My last boat is a near complete 15'5' solo boat. Little rocker, quite narrow, and designed to be fast. Hope to have it in the water next spring.

The solo wouldn't be an Osprey would it? 1st canoe I built was a 15' Swift Osprey, 4 boats later it is still by far my most used and most beat up.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by padlin

The solo wouldn't be an Osprey would it? 1st canoe I built was a 15' Swift Osprey, 4 boats later it is still by far my most used and most beat up.

Pretty much. It is called a Kite, which is the same as an Osprey, except above the waterline John Winters designed it to have a full length sweeping chines. I stretched mine 6" for just a bit more capacity, for bringing the dog along.

Here is one that Martin Step from Green Valley Boat Works built.



He had sent me a bunch of photos as he built the prototype, here is one at the stage I am at. While the painted exterior is not too bad, and it covered up a couple blemishes for him. I am going to leave mine a clear coat.



If you are interested, and I am behind on posting photos, you can check out my build here. It all started with me getting a log from a friend.

Canoe Build - Kite - BearLeeAlive

[gbaglo]

Ah yes. They are inherently directionally unstable, which makes them great for fly fishing. Using flippers, you can rotate the boat in place to face the direction you want to cast.
For the travel portion, you have to constantly correct your course.