04-23-2014, 03:01 PM
[quote TubeDude][#0000ff]Hey, of all people I probably understand the idea of wanting to come up with something new...that works. But I have had plenty of "fails" too. Still fun to keep trying.[/quote]
[#000000]I respect your opinion - one reason Ive asked here. I'm glad for all the responses so far. Fortunately, I don't have to rely on failure, aka, "Experience," to learn. The problem with Experience as teacher is she gives the test before the lesson.
There is information available on doing this - I just have to perform the due diligence and bring it together. I'm about 40-50% along in that.
[/#000000][quote Tube Dude] [/#0000ff][#0000ff][#0000ff]There have been a few new manufacturers over the years who have introduced solid, bladderless pontoons...and even float tubes. Why don't we see more of them on the water? Must be because most folks prefer the convenience of being able to deflate their craft when not in use...in return for the occasional leak or other maintenance problem. [/#0000ff][/quote]
[#000000]Absolutely true. If everyone had a large private lake full of fish, and a big storage garage, they would not need inflatables. If they could just walk out the door to the water and climb on, there would be no need to pack the thing away, or into small cars, etc. But here's the thing - I can get close to that ideal.
I have at least half a dozen launching sites on "my" lake, all within 8 miles of the front door. My truck bed is capacious enough to slide a rigid toon right in. Once at the water, I can slide it off and straight into the water. I might have to tote it 20-30 yards on occasion. That is about it. I could, and probably will, leave it under a cover in the truck between uses during the season. For all these reasons, a rigid is worth considering.
[/#000000]
[quote Tube Dude] Why not just get a kayak? Or frame two of them together? [/#0000ff][/quote]
I had a kayak a few seasons back. I liked its speed and rigidity. But it had "issues."
- It's low seating was cramped - toons, at least, give more elbow room.
- It gave you a case of the "swamp ass" - its seat wasnt above the hull - it was part of it.
- Its low seating position was a hindrance to fly casting.
Toons share neither of these concerns.
The other thing I didn't appreciate about the kayak was hands full of paddle all the time. Something I've recently seen 'tooners doing is adding a foot deck, where they can sit and fin around their fishing grounds. This hands free aspect appeals to me. Row (or motor) to the fishing and then move to the seating deck.
The cost of a kayak, though, is my main issue - I have a small fishing budget. From experience, anything that satisfies my needs would be many times the cost of building - or even purchasing - toons.
I have the frame for a toon, in hand. I consider it my starting point. Once the current toons give out (I've repaired them once), I'll be looking at the next move.
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[#000000]I respect your opinion - one reason Ive asked here. I'm glad for all the responses so far. Fortunately, I don't have to rely on failure, aka, "Experience," to learn. The problem with Experience as teacher is she gives the test before the lesson.
There is information available on doing this - I just have to perform the due diligence and bring it together. I'm about 40-50% along in that.
[/#000000][quote Tube Dude] [/#0000ff][#0000ff][#0000ff]There have been a few new manufacturers over the years who have introduced solid, bladderless pontoons...and even float tubes. Why don't we see more of them on the water? Must be because most folks prefer the convenience of being able to deflate their craft when not in use...in return for the occasional leak or other maintenance problem. [/#0000ff][/quote]
[#000000]Absolutely true. If everyone had a large private lake full of fish, and a big storage garage, they would not need inflatables. If they could just walk out the door to the water and climb on, there would be no need to pack the thing away, or into small cars, etc. But here's the thing - I can get close to that ideal.
I have at least half a dozen launching sites on "my" lake, all within 8 miles of the front door. My truck bed is capacious enough to slide a rigid toon right in. Once at the water, I can slide it off and straight into the water. I might have to tote it 20-30 yards on occasion. That is about it. I could, and probably will, leave it under a cover in the truck between uses during the season. For all these reasons, a rigid is worth considering.
[/#000000]
[quote Tube Dude] Why not just get a kayak? Or frame two of them together? [/#0000ff][/quote]
I had a kayak a few seasons back. I liked its speed and rigidity. But it had "issues."
- It's low seating was cramped - toons, at least, give more elbow room.
- It gave you a case of the "swamp ass" - its seat wasnt above the hull - it was part of it.
- Its low seating position was a hindrance to fly casting.
Toons share neither of these concerns.
The other thing I didn't appreciate about the kayak was hands full of paddle all the time. Something I've recently seen 'tooners doing is adding a foot deck, where they can sit and fin around their fishing grounds. This hands free aspect appeals to me. Row (or motor) to the fishing and then move to the seating deck.
The cost of a kayak, though, is my main issue - I have a small fishing budget. From experience, anything that satisfies my needs would be many times the cost of building - or even purchasing - toons.
I have the frame for a toon, in hand. I consider it my starting point. Once the current toons give out (I've repaired them once), I'll be looking at the next move.
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