PONTOONS vs. FLOAT TUBES

[GUZ808]

What are the pros and cons of having a pontoon vs. a float tube?

[Old Man]

Well you can't use a float tube in a river, unless you are having dreams of drowning. Besides a good pontoon will keep your ass out of the water so you don't worry about gewtting cold.

Jim

[chadk]

pontoon: comfort (if you have a decent seat), warmth (out of the water), speed (using oars or kicking - better tracking), rivers or lakes (if you have the right model), possibly packable (not most good river capable models), less leg cramps since you don't rely on kicking the whole time, motor possible, better accessories available, possible standing platform on some models

cons: more out of the water - so more wind issues possible, not as portable and can take longer to set up and take down if you only have trunk space for hauling, more storage space at home, price

tube - smaller, many models are very light and portable\packable, easy storage, quick set up \ take down, price

cons: can't do rivers, cold as you sit in the water all day, not as many options\accessories, slow - don't cover as much water, might get cramps from kicking all day

[Cliff]

I used a borrowed float tube last spring - one of the newer models with the v-shaped bow which allows you to sit in only a few inches of water, as opposed to having your entire rear-end under the water. It was definitely an improvement over my ancient Caddis Premier u-boat, but not nearly as comfortable as my pontoon which keeps me totally out of the water. This particular v-tube also had a bad habit of collecting water in the hollow pocket near the bow, in which the drain holes couldn't drain fast enough. Due to fuel prices I'm finding myself taking my wife's little Subaru Imprezza hatchback more often than my pickup w/camper, so I've been thinking about using a tube more often. Much easier to transport than the toon. Does anyone know of a modern v-hull float tube (or twin-tube) that rides a little higher and keeps you completely out of the water, and which doesn't have the issue of collecting water in the bow area?

Thanks,
Cliff

[IveofIone]

Clliff, The Super Fat Cat with the inflatable seat keeps your butt completely out of the water and is very comfortable. It weighs only 12# and is easily backpackable even by an old guy like me. And can be quickly deflated for transport in the trunk of a small car. I use my pontoon for lakes I can drive right to the edge of but for everything else including walks of a couple of miles or so I use the SFC. Kind of the best of both worlds. And no-water doesn't collect in the bow area. Ive

[Ford_Fenders]

Guessing this thread will see some attention since you could fill a book with the discussion. Plus it's a popular WFF subject.

Couple of things. Obvious one is do a search on prior WFF threads...s/b plenty in here. Other is in terms of overall use. I tend to visualize a scale with rivers (pontoon) on one end and small hike-in lakes/ponds (tube) on the other. Then it's just a matter of where you spend most of your time. Middle ground would be a lake, maybe the size of Pass, where you can make a case for either. Rule of thumb for me at least, tube is fine up to maybe 50 acres if you want to cover the area effectively. 15-20 acres is preferred.

(I think the real issue is deciding which to get first :cool:)

[scottflycst]

My first stillwater flyfishing began in a float tube, probably like many of us. After a time I graduated to a pontoon and haven't looked back. The pontoon is more work to set up and take down but the attributes of the pontoon IMO more than make up for the extra effort. I find the pontoon more versatile in most stillwater applications and that fits my needs quite a bit. The ability to fish lakes and rivers with the same craft helps justify the additional cost of the pontoon boat.
The float tube certainly has it's place and applications. It's lower cost helps fisherman get out on the water safely without spending alot of money and it will always be more portable than the pontoon.
Scott

[Rod Sand]

Carry more brewskis:beer1:

[speyfisher]

For still water applications, it seems to me that a toon is a bad compromise between a pram and a float tube. You've got all that stuff to tangle a fly line on. Oars and foot pegs get in the way when landing a fish. You get blown around by the wind. Fins are ineffecient because your legs are half out of the water. I could go on.

Having your legs, and part of your butt in the water (float tube) ain't as bad as it's made out to be. You have a built in sea anchor. So you don't get blown around as bad by the wind. Dress for it, and cold is not an issue. You don't have to put your rod down to use oars. You have a lot more control with just your fins. No, you can't paddle all the way across the lake in the same length of time one can row across it. But you can hike around it carrying float tube fins and rod. Which you certainly cannot do with a toon.

Everything in it's place. Different strokes for diffeent folks. My two cents worth.

[GUZ808]

Thanks for all of the info. I think because I am still fairly new to the fly fishing world I will first of get a float tube. With all the info you guys are giving me it will help make the right choice on picking one. does anyone have their own brand/style of float tube they like and if you could give me a few reason you like it just so i can find the right on to fit me.

thanks again for all the info

[Jerry Metcalf]

Pontoons are like having a lawn chair in the middle of a fly shop.

Jerry

[qrider13]

In the wind, a toon is much more user friendly--you have both an anchor and oars. Toon also can carry a lot more stuff, including another rod. Toons are also a lot more confortable. Float tubes are more portable and much quicker to set up. Just my .02:)

[sprintcar13]

I would say go with float tube if you like still water and go with pontoon if you like river fishing. float tube is smaller can fit in a car if you have to. I have never had a pontoon but i do have a float tube.

[cabezon]

I own both; like most, I started with float tubes. I haven't used my float tube in four years, but I use my pontoon boat all the time. When I'm in a lake, I put on scuba fins; I rarely use the oars, except heading back to the takeout at the end of the day. I'm able to move much faster with my fins from my pontoon boat than from my float tube.

I see several other advantages to a pontoon boat, several of which have already been mentioned. One major factor is that I'm much warmer in my pontoon boat with my butt and legs out of the water when fishing chironomids in the spring than I would be in my float tube. In summer, I often just wear shorts and neoprene booties when tooling around in the pontoon boat; that just is not possible in a float tube, even in a warm bass/bluegill lake.

The one situation where the pontoon boat is more problematic is when there is a strong breeze. All that pontoon surface acts as a sail and it can be a lot of work to keep pointing in the right direction. Like an iceberg, most of my bulk is underwater in my float tube, increasing stability and resistance to the wind.

You'll probably end up with both. My suggestion is to find a nice float tube if you're just starting out and budget is an issue. Then, make the move to a 9' pontoon boat; larger size means more comfort and margin of safety when floating rivers.

Your mileage may vary,

Steve

[Josh Brower]

get one of each. toon for when you can, and tube for when you cannot use the toon.

[Christian Brewer]

My 2 cents...
Float Tube:
Pros:
Easy to transport and hike with
Easy to use
Easy to store
Cheaper than a pontoon
Cons:
Can't use in rivers
Colder in the winter

Pontoon
Pros:
Can use in rivers
Warmer in the winter
Increased load capacity
Cons:
Transporting (bigger, heavier, pain to disassemble/reassemble)
Drive up fishing only
Lots of possiblilities for line tangles (probably my biggest complaint :beathead:)
Storage
Price

If were only going to fish hike in and drive in lakes, I would get one of those already suggested super fat cats that keep you ass out of the water and call it good.

If I were only going to fish drive in lakes, I would get a pram or something and stay dry/warm.

Since I like to fish rivers and lakes I have a pontoon and a float tube.

Good Luck
:beer2:
Christian

[Evan Burck]

get a watermaster. get the best of both worlds.

getting one of these is on my long list of things I "need." but my pontoon is doing just dandy for now

[GUZ808]

Thanks for all of the info. well I am on a budget so I think I will keep an eye out for a good deal on a float tube.

[Richard]

What are the pros and cons of having a pontoon vs. a float tube?

You've gotten some useful information here. I believe if you do a search of the archives you'll find even more information . . .

[zeelander]

I've never tried a tube or a pontoon yet but from what everyone has explained so far it sounds like a sit on top kayak could be an option as well. Like mentioned about the pontoons it's a dry ride but isn't effected by the wind that much. It's relatively easy to transport, can be used in stillwater, rivers and the sound/ocean. They're excellent at modifying for your own style of fishing and can carry a good amount of gear. Price-wise I think it's hard to beat w/ a good yak coming in around $600-$1000.

Z

[J Marcus]

There's a lot of information already posted here, so I'll try not to repeat too much of it. However, I think that I can add to the safety factor here. A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine drowned while pontooning in the Yakima. After talking to friends who were at the scene we came to the conclusion that there were probably three factors that we could identify that led to this tragedy. These were: A. She was using a very old model of pontoon boat that wasn't rated for use on rivers and had pontoons that did not turn up on the ends, B. she seemed to have had what I have come to think of as "rowing dyslexia." That is, she would often or even usually get confused about whether to push or pull on the oars to go the direction she meant to go, something I have noticed in a few people, and C. she was not wearing a floatation device!!!She was floating around a bend that had a long, large log jam on the outside extending into the water. The person closest to her was too far upstream by a bit to witness the mishap so we can only guess what exactly happened. However, we think it went like this: Going around the bend she began to drift over into the log jam. At this point she may have tried to row away from it, got confused and rowed into the jam by accident. Then, since her pontoon boat was not made for rivers, the blunt-ended pontoons caught under or into the logs and flipped, which propelled her into the logs. She had some massive bruising on the side of her head that would support this. When the person following her floated into the bend pool, her pontoon boat was empty and she couldn't be seen. He rushed over to find her and finally located her underwater when she floated up a ways down the river, whereupon, with the help of others that had arrived right behind he got her over to the bank and they tried, unsuccesfully, to revive her.
The points I'm trying to make here are: A. Don't go pontooning in rivers with a pontoon boat that's not rated for rivers. B. Don't use a pontoon boat (or almost any other boat, for that matter) on moving water unless you have proper rowing technique down pat! That is--absolutely instinctual! and C. ALWAYS wear a floatation device!!! Also, it's good to wear neoprene waders with a good belt for two reasons: 1. They will help keep you afloat and 2. if you do fall in and they take in some water, they will act much like a wet suit. That is, the water, after warming up a bit is insulated from the body of water and you will be somewhat warmer than if you had worn breathable or lightweight waders. I know this from experience.
I must disagree about fins not being useful in a pontoon boat. I have a very large one and found that, even so, the fins are remarkably effective in moving me around. Probably because I don't have my butt draggin' like a sea anchor. An advantage to a float tube can be due to your butt (and legs) dragging like a sea anchor in rough water. You will bob like a cork but unless you get seasick you'll be fine. Sitting that low in the water you won't catch so much wind and can make slow, but steady progress into it. Good, long fins can help a lot here. I don't like the snap, buckle or tie-on ones--too short and bendy.
Be safe!