It appears the your primary criteria on whether the XStream is or isn't a nice boat is 1) warranty, 2) price, and 3) the owner is a nice guy. When Andy started this thread, he was looking for good boat recommendations, for 90% river floating. Many people many not particularly care for Steve Abel, but there aren't too many people that don't believe he makes some great products. Heck, I'd love to think that I could buy everything from a great guy, but I also like to get the best product for the price, and if the owner happens to also be a great person, that's icing on the cake, not necessarily a part of the decision.
A week or so ago there was some discourse on the List about Abel craft, pontoon boats, etc. Wes Neuwenschwander (spelling?) strongly supported the Abel craft choice (he forgot to mention that he might not be as objective as he represeneted, to the extent he's named and quoted in the Abel brochure, but that's something about which I will later rib Wes), and gave cogent and factual reasons why. Even though neither one of us didn't change the other's perspectives during the exchange, we all learned a lot (at least I did) about the Abel product from that exchange. Other than the owner of the shop will recognize your name, product-wise you haven't provided much substantive to support your product recommendation. Also, I own and will use rods that are considered in the low end of the price range, but Heritage isn't one of them. I'm ordering some Temple Fork Outfitter rods (the 9' 5 weight IM6 retails for $80), probably within the next couple of weeks. Though my $75 Redington Red.Fly casts like a champ, I prefer to use my Sage, and I'm OK with it. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 1:00 PM Subject: Re: Cardiac Canyon Pontoon Boat > I have found the boats are comparable to others out there besides depending > on style and shape they all react differently in the water of course I am > referring mainly to moving water like a river. I have used some of the > other products and friends who own and use other products and have > tried Xstream see not much of a difference except in price. In still water > unless you want to be the best at doing donuts or the fastest across the > lake I do not see what difference style or price makes. The only thing that > counts then is quality of workmanship and warranty which xtstream I believe > offers a life time warranty and your personal style preference. > > There are two main styles used in rivers the banana and the cigar ( I think > is what it is called) one is very quick & maneuverable but not the best at > tracking ands the other is better at tracking but not quick & maneuverable. > Most things come down to what a person is content with and not necessarily > what is the best (excluding price). If price is what you regard as a > measuring stick for quality that just fine but as my wallet doesn't allow > that, I have to look at everything everything. > > Besides I think you may have been smoking something funny because I do not > promote nor have I ever owned a heritage rod. Why do you ask? I suppose if > it cost less than a sage it is low end to you L-O-L but that is not true > besides I suspect your one of those that uses a heritage when no one you > know is around but won't admit to it ;-)). > > Anyway hopefully no one gets angry at this email and I was only offering > something else to look at besides what is shown at the shows. > > Thanks for the laugh., Ray > > > At 12:01 PM 2/26/03 -0800, you wrote: > >Ray, what pontoon boats have you used? The X-Stream products that I have > >seen appear to be a good value, and their products are generally know by > >folks I know, and I actually know a couple of guys who have them, as a good > >value (i.e. that means they are a functional at a low end of the market > >price), but in absolutely no way would the product qualify as one of the > >best products out there. > > > >There is a HUGE difference between the X-Stream craft and the Steelheader > >and Cardiac Canyon boats. That's kind of like saying, price aside, an Okuma > >Sierra is on par with a Ross Gunnison. > > > >Say, aren't you the person who also promotes those Heritage rods? > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 11:52 AM > >Subject: Re: Cardiac Canyon Pontoon Boat > > > > > > > You should look at a pontoon boat that is made locally owmed comapny and > >is > > > as good or better than any thing on the market. Unfortunately he was not > >in > > > the flyfishing show. The company is Xstream Gear andd is located near > >the > > > south end of Boeing field in Seattle has been making outdoor gear and > > > pontoon boats for more than 25 years. Xstream Gear is their brand name and > > > they do a ton of private label for a lot of the big northamerican > >companies > > > so you may have already used his products but never knew it. His prices > >are > > > very competitive and his pontoon boats are the best I have ever seen or > > > used. There are other members of this forum that have used his a lot of > > > their products also. A lot of the fishing clubs around Puget Sound will > > > also vouch for the quality of Xstream Gears products. > > > > > > He has a small display in the Tacoma boat show this week I do not know how > > > many of the pontoon boats are there. So before you buy anything I suggest > > > you look at his too. his office number is (206) 762 6170 and tell him Ray > > > sent you maybe it will help in negotiating a blower price [ L-O-L ;-)) ] > > > on second thought may you shouldn't because he may just raise the price if > > > he hears my name L-O-L > > > > > > Like I said earlier he is at the Tacoma boat show and his shop is just > > > south of Boeing field but there is no one there right now that can show or > > > sell the pontoon boat because of the show. > > > > > > Ray > > > > > > > > > At 07:46 PM 2/25/03 -0800, you wrote: > > > >I gave one of these boats a good look-over at the fly fishing show on > > > >Saturday. They seemed like a pretty good boat. > > > > > > > >Can anyone who owns one give any pro/con feedback on the boat or > > > >accessories? > > > > > > > >I am looking for a pontoon boat that will be used 90% on the rivers and > > > >maybe 10% on lakes. I have also looked at a Steelheader boat. The front > >deck > > > >option looks interesting. > > > > > > > >Anyone using one of these? If you have the front deck, do you like it or > > > >not? > > > > > > > >I am hoping for owner feedback. Someone who has had a long term love/hate > > > >relationship with their boats. I would appreciate any feedback. > > > > > > > >Andy > > > > > > > >
