12-23-2005, 05:28 PM
Just looking and listening to the video I see two things of concern. Understand that I have never seen one of these in person, much less driven one on the water, so these are just my musings. The two issues of concern:
1. The "low profile sides that reduce wind drift"
I wonder if these might work against you on a windy, wavy day by allowing water to splash over the sides and onto/into your person. Only test driving one in the wind or hearing the comments of someone who has would put me to ease. (I know that it is sometimes said, "Well then stay out of the wind! Its a float tube, not the Queen Mary." Unfortunately, if you're out there on the water on a relatively calm day and the wind comes up, your stuck. Besides, in some of the places I fish, "Stay out of the wind" is synonymous to "Stay home and don't fish.)
2. The "sealed air cell seat."
We've talked some on this forum about this liability in the Super Fat Cat. Tubedude has reported on his frustration with having to repair pinhole leaks in the air seat on his SFC yet needing to inflate it with sufficient firmness so that the sides don't collapse inwardly. Comfort issues aside, I think I prefer a foam seat or even a rigid seat (like on the Venture Outdoors Echo) over an air filled one that could spring a leak.
Just my random thoughts. Delete 'em if you like. If you like the boat, go for it, and report back as to whether it was a good choice.[cool]
z~
[signature]
1. The "low profile sides that reduce wind drift"
I wonder if these might work against you on a windy, wavy day by allowing water to splash over the sides and onto/into your person. Only test driving one in the wind or hearing the comments of someone who has would put me to ease. (I know that it is sometimes said, "Well then stay out of the wind! Its a float tube, not the Queen Mary." Unfortunately, if you're out there on the water on a relatively calm day and the wind comes up, your stuck. Besides, in some of the places I fish, "Stay out of the wind" is synonymous to "Stay home and don't fish.)
2. The "sealed air cell seat."
We've talked some on this forum about this liability in the Super Fat Cat. Tubedude has reported on his frustration with having to repair pinhole leaks in the air seat on his SFC yet needing to inflate it with sufficient firmness so that the sides don't collapse inwardly. Comfort issues aside, I think I prefer a foam seat or even a rigid seat (like on the Venture Outdoors Echo) over an air filled one that could spring a leak.
Just my random thoughts. Delete 'em if you like. If you like the boat, go for it, and report back as to whether it was a good choice.[cool]
z~
[signature]