Pontoon boats
 

Hello all, I recently bought a small personal pontoon boat to float
rivers in the East, mostly Vermont.

Being poor, I was not able to afford exactly what I wanted so settled
on a Creek Company ODS sport. It seemed like a good boat for the price.


As the water level goes down I am worried about dragging bottom and
ruining the pontoons. It takes the relaxing out of fishing when I am
floating the river worried I will kill my pontoons.

Anyway, Has anyone had experience with beefing up their pontoons to
handle the occasions bottom drag on one of these or a similar boat? If
you have, care to share what you did and how.

Thanks,
Hunter

One is in for a long day when drifting a stream during low water
conditions in a pontoon boat. The tough abrasion resistant material
that covers the air bladders also sticks fast to the rocks on the
stream bottom, sometimes to the point that you have to get out of the
boat to move it.
I share your concerns with protecting the pontoons from damage. In
fact, I have implemented a few strategies to reduce the friction
between the pontoons and the rocks with little success. Ultimately, I
have come to the conclusion that the best strategy for moving through
skinny water is to simply get out of the boat and walk it through the
shallow riffle.
If the water is at a level that calls for a great deal of walking over
the course of the trip, perhaps, it is best to leave the boat at home
and walk in. It is best for the longevity of the boat and the stream
bottom.

Richard

wrote:
Hello all, I recently bought a small personal pontoon boat to float
rivers in the East, mostly Vermont.

Being poor, I was not able to afford exactly what I wanted so settled
on a Creek Company ODS sport. It seemed like a good boat for the
price.


As the water level goes down I am worried about dragging bottom and
ruining the pontoons. It takes the relaxing out of fishing when I am
floating the river worried I will kill my pontoons.

Anyway, Has anyone had experience with beefing up their pontoons to
handle the occasions bottom drag on one of these or a similar boat?
If
you have, care to share what you did and how.

Thanks,
Hunter

I'm in the same boat( Pun intended). I have seen rock gaurds for
beaching full size boats but they are rather spendy (Cabelas $100ea+).
I was thinking of glueing on a 5mm rubber runner to the under side of
my tubes. As long as I contour it to the seams of raft and match the
color best I can it should look and work fairly well.