I've got a Fish Cat 9 ft from Outcast (similar to their much more expensive PAC 9) which I bought at GI Joe's in Issaquah a couple years ago for about $475. Unlike the PAC 9, it's got a steel frame and the valves are in the middle of each pontoon instead of the end. It came with 6 foot breakdown Carlisle oars, brass oarlocks, and a detachable anchor davit which mounts behind the cargo deck.
I've added a couple of strap-on Scotty rod holders, one in front and the other in back to stow a second rod. I bought a Rubbermaid plastic tub with snap-on lid for use as a waterproof gear box behind the seat. I riveted a couple metal strap guides to it which let me secure it to the frame rails using web straps I bought at REI. The tub holds a ton of gear, lunch, water bottle and rain gear but makes access to the anchor very tight. The boat came with a hard plastic seat with a folding backrest. After a couple hours sitting it gave me a real case of bench butt, so I used some velcro dots to stick a foam garden cushion on the seat. I gather that the whole seat can be replaced with a padded swivel seat available at boat stores. With oars, tub and a typical load of gear, the boat weight about 65-75 pounds. Even without the tub and gear, it isn't exactly convenient for one guy to pick up and move around. I can't imagine putting it on the top of a tall vehicle like a Tahoe or Explorer without help. I've seen some wheeled attachments that other guys use to drag their pontoons into places like Nunnally or Lenice. Some are small wheels that strap onto each pontoon while others are either 1- or 2-wheeled carts that attach to the frame. Anybody have any suggestions on using such contraptions? How have other pontoon boat owners equipped theirs? Anybody attached a Fishn' Buddy to theirs? Kent Lufkin >I fully agree that no vehicle is perfect. Also no pontoon craft is >perfect. Speaking of which, I researched the market very thoroughly >several years back before buying a model called the Cutthroat Cat >made my XSteam here in Tukwilla WA. It's pontoons are shorter, >being in the 6 1/2 foot range, but it can be backpacked into lakes, >is a breeze to inflate (less than 3 minutes by hand), and is very >manuverable. It can be purchased in several configurations. Mine >has the oar setup, backpack, pump, etc. It has the most comfortable >seat of any pontoon on the market. It is not designed to take on >any whitewater, but many people do it anyway with no problems. The >workmanship is outstanding. My son in law was so impressed he >bought the latest version which has a little larger tubes than mine. >I plan on eventually giving my present one to my son and buy the new >model. Best buy in a personal watercraft I have ever made, and the >best features for the buck. Try it, you'll like i! >t. The owner also sells a line >of flyrods made by Heritage. Best casting rods I have ever had the >pleasure to cast. Out perform my T & T and Sage rods by a mile. > >So lets start a new discussion on various brands of pontoon boats. >Most people I know keep them partially inflated as such a hassle to >break down. The XStream avoids all that. I can be ready to go in a >minimal amount of time after getting to a destination with it. > >Roger
