Personal Watercraft questions

[jb_1275]

I spent a few hours this AM searching around and looking at some models of personal watercraft. I'm not really sold on the poontoon style cause it has a frame. I've looked into watermaster's and the water strider by incept. My question is does anyone have any personal experience with either one of these models, I know they are spendy but I'm looking to get something that'll last a few seasons. I still haven't rulled out the option of just paying the money and buying a larger whitewater raft and rowing frame but I like the look and storage ability of these smaller rafts - any suggestions would be appreciated. My overall problem is and always has been if your floating by yourself then there's not likely to be a car down below to get you back up river. and I'm not liking the idea of riding up hwy. 2 on my bike after a day of fishing.
JB

[Salmo_g]

JB,

I've got a Watermaster, and the compact size and weight, which facilitates rough and stealthy launch and retrieval sites, along with the ability to handle most any NW river conditions, is what attracted me. The only downside is it's a one-man craft. I need another if I want to comfortably take another person, but that defeats the bulk, weight, and stealth attributes. I always need another boat.

Sg

[Itchy Dog]

I'll echo what Salmo says. For me the deciding factor in getting a Watermaster was the portability- it folds up and fits into the trunk of a car.
Can't do that with other types of personal watercraft except float tubes. And you can't use tubes in moving water. Check out the gear program- you can try out a WM for yourself and see how you like it.

[jb_1275]

The rep from WM called me yesterday and I'm sold - I wonder if anyone has any experience with the 2 person model. I was on their website this AM and couldn't actually find a price for that boat. WM does look like a great NW boat for a lot of floats around here.
JB

[sroffe]

JB,

I don't think you'll go wrong with a Watermaster. I've used both the Watermaster and Wilderness Access, I think made by Incept in NZ. They're both great boats. The Wilderness Access has an inflatable seat, which is a little easier on the toosh than the Watermaster, but, you can get a nice comforatble seat to mount on the Watermaster!

Sam

[Kent Lufkin]

Before you pull the trigger on a WM, take look at the Alpacka raft. Their large model (the Alpacka Dory) has a breakdown rowing frame and is a serious whitewater boat. It doesn't have the open bottom of a WM, but unless you're wearing fins on a lake, who cares?

http://www.alpackaraft.com/store/index.cfm?CategoryID=53&do=list

K

[troutpocket]

It doesn't have the open bottom of a WM, but unless you're wearing fins on a lake, who cares?

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K

Unless I'm just using my WM to get from run to run, I'm fishing while floating and using my fins. That alpaca looks like a slick little whitewater craft but not much of a fishing boat.

my .02

Rod

[barbless]

Unless I'm just using my WM to get from run to run, I'm fishing while floating and using my fins. That alpaca looks like a slick little whitewater craft but not much of a fishing boat.

my .02

Rod

iagree
All in all, WM is still da bomb. Still the best all around bote. Ordered mine - will show up in April. Jonesin.

[Itchy Dog]

A big benefit of the WM's open bottom is that in moving water you have the ability to hop off the seat (assuming the water is appropriately shallow enough), put your feet down and stop when you hit a run you want to spend some time fishing.
Have had mine for two years and my only regret is that I don't use it more than I do. The 2 man Rock Creek Raft is $2595.

http://shop.bigskyinflatables.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=4

[jb_1275]

Another quick question for those of you WM folks - what kind of flotation vest do you all wear or recommend - I have looked at the C02 filled SOS suspenders and others like this, also at the kayak style vests that look like they allow plenty of arm movement. Any suggestions??
JB

[barbless]

I use one of these whenever I am floating around:

http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?p=STO5226

[Richard]

I spent a few hours this AM searching around and looking at some models of personal watercraft. I'm not really sold on the poontoon style cause it has a frame. I've looked into watermaster's and the water strider by incept. My question is does anyone have any personal experience with either one of these models, I know they are spendy but I'm looking to get something that'll last a few seasons. I still haven't rulled out the option of just paying the money and buying a larger whitewater raft and rowing frame but I like the look and storage ability of these smaller rafts - any suggestions would be appreciated. My overall problem is and always has been if your floating by yourself then there's not likely to be a car down below to get you back up river. and I'm not liking the idea of riding up hwy. 2 on my bike after a day of fishing.
JB

Had a Tote n Float, mostly for stillwater use. Sold it, bought a PAC 800.

Sometimes, particularly when I travel or I'm assembling the PAC800, I miss the Tote n Float. However, that promptly goes away as soon as I climb aboard the PAC800 and start rowing or fishing. The PAC800 is way easier to row, it's much faster (it's not pushing water), has a built in anchor system, has more storage, the seat is much more comfortable, and I sit higher out of the water.

However, for convenience, storage, and portability, the WM or similar boats are superior to pontoons.

Just an opinion from someone who has had both . . . and it's just an opinion. ;)