05-12-2010, 01:00 PM
My "annual water craft review" is in progress again.
And again the float tube will retain prime place in my arsenal of water craft in 2010-2011.
And once again I find myself looking at the options for big water windy weather, which the tube is not so suited for.
Having had several of boats in the past, learned the cumbersome limitations of them (as well as their advantages) I should admit that over the years my tendency seems to be to make my favourite fishing craft smaller, lighter in weight, and more compact as my boating-watercraft skills and experience increased.
So I'm looking at 10-13' dinghy (cartop and dislike the idea) vs SOT kayak (also cartop - prefer not, but lots of advantages portability-wise) vs a folding kayak (Folbot Aleut - compact, light, but the cost! Sheeesh!) vs a pontoon.
But what I need has to be able for a 20-35mph breeze and many pontoons get blown around a bit. So what I am wondering is which of the pontoons have the lowest profile, to catch the wind with, like maybe the tube-toon hybrids? I'm assuming seat out of the water ... but only just, for a low centre of gravity and stability to give ability to handle some waves, so a certain length pontoons is needed I suppose.
If I don't find the pontoon I want, this could end up with me making a wood kayak of lighter weight than the otherwise nice SOTs everyone else seems to love. What is it that makes us so fussy, eh?.
Suggestions anybody?
[signature]
And again the float tube will retain prime place in my arsenal of water craft in 2010-2011.
And once again I find myself looking at the options for big water windy weather, which the tube is not so suited for.
Having had several of boats in the past, learned the cumbersome limitations of them (as well as their advantages) I should admit that over the years my tendency seems to be to make my favourite fishing craft smaller, lighter in weight, and more compact as my boating-watercraft skills and experience increased.
So I'm looking at 10-13' dinghy (cartop and dislike the idea) vs SOT kayak (also cartop - prefer not, but lots of advantages portability-wise) vs a folding kayak (Folbot Aleut - compact, light, but the cost! Sheeesh!) vs a pontoon.
But what I need has to be able for a 20-35mph breeze and many pontoons get blown around a bit. So what I am wondering is which of the pontoons have the lowest profile, to catch the wind with, like maybe the tube-toon hybrids? I'm assuming seat out of the water ... but only just, for a low centre of gravity and stability to give ability to handle some waves, so a certain length pontoons is needed I suppose.
If I don't find the pontoon I want, this could end up with me making a wood kayak of lighter weight than the otherwise nice SOTs everyone else seems to love. What is it that makes us so fussy, eh?.
Suggestions anybody?
[signature]