Ronan, I'd send this "off list", but I don't have your email addie, so, had to post this here... Sorry about no one responding to your question about "Pontoon Boats"... I must have inadvertently deleted the original message, because I never saw it... Anyway, I got a fantastic deal @ "Sportsman's Warehouse" on a "Fish Cat - Discovery Deluxe 9"... It's an identical boat, as the "Deluxe 9", it just has Sportsman's Warehouse logos on it instead of "Fish Cat's"... I paid $379.99 for it, (plus tax), versus the $650.00 "Outcast" actually wanted through their website... It came with the two large side bags, oars and oar locks, padded seat, the diamond aluminum cargo deck, (behind the seat), motor mount, anchor system, TWO rod holders, and for an extra $22.00 I got the seat saddle bags... I absolutely love it... The only problem, which I don't care for, and which I replaced, are that the large washers that help attach the seat to the frame with the wingnuts underneath... They have a tendency to bend, or crimple, when you tighten down the wing nuts... First time I used it, I really thought I had the seat tightened down enough, but when I really laid into the oars to maneuver in some strong current in the river, the seat slid on me... So I replaced the flimsy aluminum washers with heavy duty steal washers... It's fast and very maneuverable, even in some of the heavy rapids of the San Juan River... Oh yeah, and there's one other thing that I need to figure out, is an easy storage system to hold the anchor rope... Right now I'm using one of the pockets in the seat saddle bags... Another thing that I'm VERY happy about is that when I'm shuttling from take-out point back to camp, I don't have to disassemble the frame... All I have to do is take the frame off the pontoons and slide it right into the back of my Ford Explorer, with the back seats folded down... Fits perfectly... I don't even have to deflate the pontoons, they slide right inside... Unfortunately with the pontoons inside the vehicle, it makes it a little cramped if there's another person riding with me...
A suggestion to you, is that you purchase a set of decent fins... Especially if you're going to be using it in the river... They really help in maneuvering about in slower, or even faster water... Oh yes, and don't forget an inflatable life vest, (or belt)... I got tagged when I was fishing up on Heron Lake... Left my vest back at camp and lucky for me the Game Warden believed me when I told him my fishing vest was also an inflatable... His comment was, "Oh cool... I have one also, how do you like it?"... I lied through my teeth, but it saved me a hefty ticket... Now I don't go near the thing without having it on... LOL ... Oh yes, another thing you might want to consider is purchasing an electric pump to inflate the pontoons... Believe me, it'll save on your back trying to use a hand pump... Wal Mart has an AC/DC Rechargeable Pump, made by "Ozark Trail", that I think I paid $25 for... It works great, and inflates the pontoons in no time at all... It even comes with a detachable long cord that plugs right into your auto's cigarette lighter... Anyway, have fun with your new pontoon boat... Hope you enjoy it... I really love mine... I'm most definitely taking it with me to the Sowbug this year... Didn't get a chance to fish the White last year, and I'm not going to miss out next year... Rodney...
