Pontoon Power

[smallmouth89]

As a person who has always enjoyed paddlecraft and self propulsion I am really being pushed by my two pontoon buddies to get an electric motor for my Fish Cat 10 IR pontoon boat. Bass Pro had electrics on sale for $109 Canadian last week and I was there with one of my friends who was almost ready to buy one for me.

In my mind the "deep cycle" battery required to power one of these probably weighs as much as my kayak which is what I prefer to use when I need to cover water. They tout the ability to troll with the motor. Well my kayak is just about the perfect trolling machine and i can also troll just fine while finning my pontoon. If the wind comes up I can put the rod in a holder and use the oars to troll.

I am much more physically fit than either of my friends in part because of the exercise i get while fishing from tube, pontoon or kayak. I know many of you use an electric on your pontoons. Am I missing something in my reluctance to give it a try?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It may be different in Ontario, but as far as I know, there is no place in the USA that has a law that you have to have a motor on your pontoon to troll. Lots of tooners do just fine by rowing. In fact, the uneven rhythm of rowing can sometimes help induce more strikes than just "washing lures" by dragging them behind a motor powered craft.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Trolling motors are appreciated for getting you back to home base after a long day and when you are a long ways from the vehicle...especially when navigating against a breeze. They are also good for trolling long distances when the fish are scattered and hard to find. But, if you are in reasonably good physical condition, do not venture too far from your launch site and have plenty of fish in an area you can access with oars and/or fins, then you don't NEED the motor.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is like the old saying about taking a coat. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. It is more weight and more fuss and bother, but you would probably find some good applications for it.[/#0000ff]
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[smallmouth89]

Pat,

Did you ever try a motor on the Cougar or did you not have it long enough to check that out?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I did not have it long, but I had never planned to "motorize" it anyway. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I have often stated, I prefer the quiet and hands-free approach of the float tube for the fishing I do. Having to use oars to maintain position is what helped me decide against keeping the 'toon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And, as I have also stated, if I want motorized water transport I will get a boat. Actually, I did buy a boat two years ago. Bought it used for a good price, from someone I know. I knew the boat and liked it. But, after dumping about $500 more into it, for necessary work, I sold the boat. Never had it on the water. I had been tubing at least 10 to 15 times since buying the boat and never had a planned trip in which I thought the boat would serve me better than the tube.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My rationale? Why have money tied up in something that only takes up space in your yard and never gets used? Also, after having boats in the past, and fishing on many other boats with fishing buddies, I have trouble justifying all of the trouble and expense involved in every fishing trip with a boat. The initial outlay for the boat is only the beginning. After that are the expenses of insurance, licensing, launching fees, fuel, maintenance and repairs, etc. And then there is all of the muss and fuss of preparation, trailer hookup, launching and trailering, cleanup, etc. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No tanks. I'll stay boatless and toonless. I have plenty of fun and catch plenty of fish from my tubes.[/#0000ff]
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[lavaman]

I hear ya Pat. With my 'toon, I find it easy to just pack up and go whenever I want. I really love not having to worry about buying the extra gasoline, license and fees, and the maintenance to boot. My 'toon serves its' purpose well.

Now on the other side of the coin, I do wish I had a little 12' alum so I could take my boys out on the lakes with me. Kinda hard to fit 'em all on my 'toon [crazy]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Your situation reinforces that it is always a matter of individual need and/or preference. We all have our own set of circumstances and our own ideas about what would suit us best. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Whenever one has multiple fishing interests, and a budget to provide all of the equipment needs, owning several different kinds of craft is okay. It is not against the law. I have known angling addicts with large boats, small boats, canoes, toons and tubes...all jammed in the same garage with their motorcycles, wheelers and snowmobiles. Having their priorities straight, they usually leave the car(s) parked outside.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As we have discussed before, it is good to have a boat if you want to take youngsters out on the water with you. But, as soon as they are ready and able, go ahead and put them in a tube. They love the freedom of being able to fish by themselves, and it is a good way to wear out some of their excess energy. Just be sure they are properly set up for safety.[/#0000ff]
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