I just unpacked a large package that arrived today. My new toy: a pontoon boat in a one man size. As some of you know I have had trouble wading lately due to health problems, and it's my plan that this will make my fishing life easier.
I ordered it by Ivar, an old fishing acquaintance, who runs the small operation Pontonland.dk (yes, literally Pontoon Land), and has some models, which have been designed for our sea trout fishing and proven very good.
These are not cheap, but on the other hand the least expensive way to get afloat next to a float tube. The tube is out of the question in my case, since it's my legs that tend to fail me, and I need oars. So I decided a pontoon boat would be it.
As I said: it was delivered this morning, and I of course shed all work and other chores and immediately started unpacking it. Not much to it: the frame in several parts, the seat, two pontoons, oars and a few extras. Pumps, both manual and battery driven to hook up to the car battery.
It doesn't take up much room uninflated, and I expect to be able to keep it in a large ice hockey gear bag that I bought when in Canada many years ago. That bag should be big enough.
It took me a while to get all the dots connected, but once inflated and put together it's a mighty vessel indeed! Much larger and much more confident looking than any float tube I have seen. It looks large enough to be pretty stable and sea worthy, even though I don't expect to go far beyond wading depth in it. I consider it as a kind of wheel chair on water. I have seen people use small outboards on these boats and pack them with all kinds of gizmos and gadgets, but I will start out much more moderate than that. I have a small anchor from my kayak era, and I will bring that so that I can avoid drifting in the wind, but apart from the anchor I will save myself the trouble of too much gear.
The first set up took a little while. You have to do things in the right sequence, and there's a smart and many not so smart ways to do this. And there are a lot of little things to attend to â like closing the valves before you pump up a pontoon. These are large valves and air leaves the chamber very fast if it isn't closed!
But now it rests on my living room floor. The oars have been adjusted, the foot rests are in place and all looks dandy. I will deflate it later and see how compact it packs. It will no doubt fit in the boot of a car, but the question is whether my Canadian hockey bag is large enough.
More to come...
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Hi Martin, another t
Hi Martin, another tip to make the frame last longer is to treat it with clear Tectyl, especially apply it on the inside of the frame tubes! Note: I have a new emailadress.
Lots of fun,
Ted
Richard,
No it ha
Richard,
No it has no apron, and yes the line tangled a lot the first time I used it!
But my plan is to mount a line tray on the side rather than an apron. Since I sit quite high, there is really nowhere to attach and apron, but a shallow tray will easily attach to the large pad of Velcro sewn on the pontoons. It will be right under my stripping arm.
I will also add some storage (it comes with some large pockets also attachable to the Velcro) and I will add rod holders - not to mention a place for my dog! He was going completely berserk on the bank while I was sailing and wanted soooo much to come with me.
Martin
Congrets with your p
Congrets with your pontoon boat, it is a logic decision considering the situation.
Does it also comes with a stripping apron? It's not in the pictures.
Believe me, you really want to have one on a pontoon boat, youre line will get tangled up constantly otherwise.
Richard
Martin, pontoons are
Martin, pontoons are a flyfisher dream. Congrats!
I purchased my Arrow Backpacker a couple of years ago and everything changed. To float endless rivers during days without encounters with other people in Patagonia, is incredible. The tent, small cooler and run!
Juan