For fish finders it depends upon what you want it to do. There are cheap models starting around $100 going up from there. I use a himminbird 565 on my toon. The motor I use is a minn kota 34.
I have a toon, multiple kayaks, canoe with motor.
My inflatible kayak give me great flexibility. Packs up relatively small for transport, both home and on the road.
**I fished the snake, weber and ogden, any still body of water around here is not an issue. Pulled in large Tiger Musky and trout. Paddle out to wiper boils. **
Great for runnig rivers, find a spot, park, walk and fish.
Have pvc setup for trolling, fishfinder. Just making sure you have info on inflatibles…
As far as pontoon, get the best you can afford. Used on KSL is a great option. You want at least Aluminum frame with good welds, Urethane bladders and PVC outers.
Any sonar is adaptable fairly easy. Motor, Minn Kota 30 is a great start at around $100. (remember you will have to license anything you put a motor on)
I would like to throw out one more option.
Dave Scadden SUP (stand up paddle) Sit on the board and it is a Kayak, sit on the box that comes with it and it is a canoe. Sit side ways on it with flippers, it is a tube. It is quick on the water and used on white water. Check out all the youtubes.
It is more than you are looking at but there is a great Christmas special.
It rolls up to the size of a bed roll
Plus you can add a motor
https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQB9uIDd1PaQBEv5&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-vthumb-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhvthumb-ak-prn2%2Fp280x280%2F245396_463800293707984_463800010374679_20199_618_b.jpg&jq=100
Yeah for 6 hour+ trips I’d rule out a tube. TubeDude may strongly disagree, but even as much as I love my tube for 2-3hour trips, I’m ready to be out of it by then.
A little assembly time for a toon is worth it in my view.
Where do you normally fish?
**No disagreement on long term fishing trips in a tube. Most of my trips are about a half day…usually from daybreak to about noonish. By that time my back, butt and legs have just about had all the fun they can stand. Also, on many lakes that is when the daily weather makes a change in wind direction and speed. If you don’t plan for that you can have a tough time on the return to your launch site.
I find it interesting that there are so many diverse opinions…for so many reasons and outlooks. Just goes to show ya that people really do have their own ideas and preferences…for their own reasons. Nobody is 100% right or 100% wrong…just different.
**
Ah! The hard choices we must make. So I bought them all. Currently have a caddis float tube, a classic accessories pontoon, a 15ft Coleman canoe with 30lb motor, 8ft Pelican 2 man hard side pontoon also uses the 30lb motor and now a 19ft Bayliner. I like the tube on the hot days on smaller waters and it is easier to stay in one place with no anchors. Also I like being able to turn around with the kick of a foot. http://www.wayfair.com/Caddis-Sports-Nevada-Float-Tube-NEVADA-FT-L969-K~CADD1003.html?refid=GX21919347420-CADD1003&device=c&gclid=COfLxN_9vroCFYhcMgod60AAGAhttp://www.wayfair.com/Caddis-Sports-Nevada-Float-Tube-NEVADA-FT-L969-K~CADD1003.html?refid=GX21919347420-CADD1003&device=c&gclid=COfLxN_9vroCFYhcMgod60AAGA Same goes for the pontoon. Mine breaks down into a backpack so you can haul it into the mountain lakes for a day of fun. Personally I haven’t used that feature. On a toon you are easier to see by other boaters and if one becomes punctured you still have 1 to swim to shore with. Here’s a link to the model I have. http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Accessories-Arrow-Backpacker-Pontoon/sim/B001MS8L0U/2http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Accessories-Arrow-Backpacker-Pontoon/sim/B001MS8L0U/2 I like my canoe because it is wide and stable. People probably think I’m nuts but I stand in the center and fly fish. (like a paddleboard). Haven’t used the pelican yet but it has motor mounts front and back and a pair of hard seats that swivel 360 degrees and slide. Pretty slick little craft. http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Pelican-Bass-Raider-8-Ft.-Mini-Pontoon-Fishing-Boat/0000000090976?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping%2Bsearch&utm_campaign=google%2Bproduct%20search&gslfah&gclid=CO7TvbT7vroCFewRMwodA20Apghttp://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Pelican-Bass-Raider-8-Ft.-Mini-Pontoon-Fishing-Boat/0000000090976?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping%2Bsearch&utm_campaign=google%2Bproduct%20search&gslfah&gclid=CO7TvbT7vroCFewRMwodA20Apg
Overall for an inflatable I like the pontoon because it takes up no room and is easy to transport when assembled. But now I fish with people that have nothing so it sits. I usually take the canoe for the extra seat. Part of the deal of buying the Bayliner was I have to get rid of a couple others, so the pontoon and the Pelican gotta go.
“Now that is slick, but the peddling looks like work. I would be up for trying one of those.”
I’ve rented both the Hobie Mirage and Native watercraft. The peddling is amazingly easy compared to paddling. Your legs are so much stronger than your arms. For me no fatigue or soreness at all even with putting in 10 miles in an outing. Much easier than using fins. To me that’s the biggest benefit besides the hands free aspect of peddle kayaks.
Thanks, I got to try one some day. On this last one however, it appears to go forward and backward, but the peddles look higher, am I see this right?
I know bikes are headed this way as well.
An owner will correct me if I’m wrong but I believe on the Hobie Mirage system the peddles go back and forth (so they can both be low to the boat.)
On the Mariner Propel they go around and around so they have to have the clearance to circle – and one foot is going rather high.
Yes you got that right but I think Flygoddess was referring to the fact the Native watercraft being able to reverse direction by peddling the opposite direction. The Mirage doesn’t allow you to go backwards peddling.
http://sport.woot.com/offers/sea-eagle-inflatable-kayak-3-choices
Interesting question, and lots of great input. I’ll say, I took a step up and got a 12ft flatbotom, and I’ll say the comfort of filling it withcrap, stand/sitting with ease, I love it. Yeah, I gotta tow, but I can still launch by pushing/dragging the beast to coast.
But I’ve also played with inflatable canoes, and they open other doors.
The motor mount? Don’t u wanna flip that head? Pull me push you?
I was to both. I thought the peddling, as MD pointed out, because they can go in reverse, look like legs are straight out and up. To me looks like the comfort zone would be to lay back.
But I am speculating as I have never tried on, like many here have never tried the frameless, or a pontoon with a standing deck.
I have said before, I thought of a kayak for the Jordan River which I live very close to and fish often. Reason, the crap in the river some is very sharp, and feet out of water. And that is where this SUP looked even better as it floats on top of the water.[:)]
Stillwater, I prefer a bigger footprint, but I have been doing this almost as long as Tube Dude growing up with the Snake River for a back yard, literally!
But I went through many pontoons to get to what “I” feel is the optimum pontoon.
1000 lb pay load makes possibilities limitless, plus the room to haul it & retain easy mobility. This I say from experience. I could haul 3 adults easily on one pontoon that weighs 65 lbs.
Yes it is up there in price. Not as high as the peddle yaks, but up there.
There are cheaper ones, but not with these features on either end.
With that $200. budget, to get quality, you will be buying USED. in my opinion.
I know you are leaning towards tube or pontoon from what you last said but I was on KSL. This appears to be a KILLER deal. It doesn’t have the mirage drive but this is fast, durable, stable, and 2nd to none quality. You would want a 130-140 cm paddle with this boat. This is a great fishing kayak. I would recommend this to anyone up to about 225 lbs. If a complete clutz, maybe 180 lbs.
Saw this too. Not the best as your only flatwater board, a bit short, but a smoking deal for sure.
Can’t beat this one either,
$150!
It won’t last long at that price and will get you out on the water. If you can store it over the winter I’ll bet you can get double what you paid.
It doesn’t say it comes with paddles, but they are cheap.
Seems to be gone already, in fact!
That’s how you can tell the really good deals.
Up for less than 3 hours.
The ad was for an Old Town Discovery canoe, 15’6". in royalex,
Probably worth $450 if it hadn’t been wraped around a rock and had the gunnels all broken up.
For $80 you may as well get a hitch put on the car and start paying launch fees.
Go look at it anyway.
Gone.
Hey flygoddess,
I live close to the Jordan as well and would like to start using my craft on it. It’s tempting, but I don’t plan on using my float tube in flowing water. A pontoon is the next choice, I plan to get the ODC Classic XL - http://www.floattubefishing.com/fishing-pontoon-boats/. Has your pontoon been adequate for the Jordan River? Are you able to get enough propulsion upriver with the paddling?
Thanks in advance!
I have never put my pontoon on the Jordan. I thought about it a lot. I would like to float with my sonar to get some depths.
When I get the Fusion DSL I think I will try.
Maybe meet up and try together.