04-03-2007, 01:33 AM
[#bf0000]Road, I agree with everything you've said 110%. You are taking your life into your hands if you don't know what you're doing. You can't always depend on someone else to help you if you get into trouble. I cannot emphasize how important a PFD is and like Pat mentions a air horn or whistle. What happened at Starvation should be a lesson to all new tooners. This ain't a game (not saying that Mac and Nansea thought it was). Before getting on the water, do a dry run. Pull it out of the box read the instructions, pump it up as per instructions. If you don't have any instructions or are smarter than everyone else and don't need them, at least talk to someone you know that is experienced.
There is a difference when your bladder is urethane or pvc in how much you can pump it up.
Make sure the straps that hold the toons to the frame are on correctly, and are tightened down correctly.
If you use a motor and battery (and put them in the rear), your center of "gravity" is going to be off. Move your frame up towards the front of the toons-FOWARD. You don't have to go much. Just enough to balance it out. Figure out how much you weigh along with 60 lbs. for the battery, 20(+- )lbs. for the motor and extra for the goodies you'll be bringing along and make sure you're under the recommended weight of your boat. Take your oars along too. And fins are highly recommended. And with the fins, tethers also. You drop a fin you'll be going around in circles. Most fins don't float. They sink like rocks.
There has been more than one time we've been fishing (overnighter or 3+ days) when the battery dies. Oars will save your legs especially in the evening, when you've been out all day. It doesn't take much when the breeze comes up to blow you around. A kickboat has a higher profile than a float tube does.
Learn to use the oars. You row backward when on stillwater. You have more power than you do when trying to row forwards. At first you'll find your strong arm. You'll have to compensate for that or you'll be going again in circles. If you have the brass oarlocks (like the ones on driftboats etc.) you might want to invest in Oar Rights. They keep your oars at the correct position in the water when rowing. You can and will use both motor and oars when a big wind or storm comes up. Just ask FG, and Pokymon about the storms we've been in up at Henry's Lake in Idaho.
Murphy's Law is always in effect when you're toonin'. The wind will always blow you away from where you launched. It's the law.
PDF's. Don't get caught without one. It's a law and it's a hefty fine if you don't have one.
If you use or are going to use a trolling motor, you better register it. It's also the law. Anything with a motor on is considered a boat and it needs to be licensed. If you don't, you can get a ticket.
It's easier (for me and about 90% of the tooners) to put the motor in the back, turn the head 180 and have the motor PULL you. You steer with your feet. I've seen guys that put them in the front and say they're happy with it there. To me, it's something that would get in my way of casting, bringing in a fish, or the blades just to close to my feet. But there is a butt for every seat.
Just use common sense, and look at other's boats and there's a reason they do things the way they do.
And add the last paragraph that road wrote.
Enjoy and be safe.
[/#bf0000]
[signature]
There is a difference when your bladder is urethane or pvc in how much you can pump it up.
Make sure the straps that hold the toons to the frame are on correctly, and are tightened down correctly.
If you use a motor and battery (and put them in the rear), your center of "gravity" is going to be off. Move your frame up towards the front of the toons-FOWARD. You don't have to go much. Just enough to balance it out. Figure out how much you weigh along with 60 lbs. for the battery, 20(+- )lbs. for the motor and extra for the goodies you'll be bringing along and make sure you're under the recommended weight of your boat. Take your oars along too. And fins are highly recommended. And with the fins, tethers also. You drop a fin you'll be going around in circles. Most fins don't float. They sink like rocks.
There has been more than one time we've been fishing (overnighter or 3+ days) when the battery dies. Oars will save your legs especially in the evening, when you've been out all day. It doesn't take much when the breeze comes up to blow you around. A kickboat has a higher profile than a float tube does.
Learn to use the oars. You row backward when on stillwater. You have more power than you do when trying to row forwards. At first you'll find your strong arm. You'll have to compensate for that or you'll be going again in circles. If you have the brass oarlocks (like the ones on driftboats etc.) you might want to invest in Oar Rights. They keep your oars at the correct position in the water when rowing. You can and will use both motor and oars when a big wind or storm comes up. Just ask FG, and Pokymon about the storms we've been in up at Henry's Lake in Idaho.
Murphy's Law is always in effect when you're toonin'. The wind will always blow you away from where you launched. It's the law.
PDF's. Don't get caught without one. It's a law and it's a hefty fine if you don't have one.
If you use or are going to use a trolling motor, you better register it. It's also the law. Anything with a motor on is considered a boat and it needs to be licensed. If you don't, you can get a ticket.
It's easier (for me and about 90% of the tooners) to put the motor in the back, turn the head 180 and have the motor PULL you. You steer with your feet. I've seen guys that put them in the front and say they're happy with it there. To me, it's something that would get in my way of casting, bringing in a fish, or the blades just to close to my feet. But there is a butt for every seat.
Just use common sense, and look at other's boats and there's a reason they do things the way they do.
And add the last paragraph that road wrote.
Enjoy and be safe.
[/#bf0000]
[signature]