rw wrote:

Tim Lysyk wrote:

Willi wrote:


2. Pontoons
+ great for fishing, fair for covering distance, control with feet, some
models good for rivers
- need to wear waders and fins, difficult to transport if kept together
PIA to assemble if you break it down, nor good for long distances

Willi


I don't know much about canoes and kayaks, except I personally find
them uncomfortable. I do use both a belly boat and a pontoon boat (not
at the same time). My preference really is for the pontoon boat. My
only disagreement with the points you and Steve have raised is the
part about assembly. My pontoon boat (Outcast) is held together by six
pins, and is really easy to assemble. It only takes about 10 minutes
to inflate the pontoons. I usually carry it in its four components in
the back of my vehicle., and it is pretty easy to set up at the lake.
If I am hiking in, of course, I take the belly boat.

Tim Lysyk


The only time I've disassembled mine was when I met Willi at Duck Lake,
Nev. (Good trip.) The frame didn't fit assembled into my popup camper.
Once assembled, we carried it around lashed to my front window. Crazy
photo, but I can't find it. Willi?

I normally just throw it into my pickup bed; frame, pontoons, lunch,
tackle, anchor, and all. I fill the pontoons tight at the station before
I leave or the night before.

Pontoons are kick-ass flyfishing boats, as long as you can drive in or
float a stretch. I wouldn't carry mine into backcountry, but I've seen
it done. It's not a pretty sight.


You might look into one of these.

http://www.easypacker.com/

If your boat is 9' long or less, this rack is really convenient (watch
the video) I _almost_ bought one. On my call to order one, I questioned
the maker about my 11" Scadden pontoon boat. He said I would have to
deflate the pontoons, and fold them so they wouldn't drag on the ground.
That wasn't something I wanted to do, so I didn't place the order.
Instead, I put a Thule rack on top of my camper shell, and haul the boat
fully assembled.

brians