[prohen]

I am looking at a 13' Fishcraft cataraft. My use will be mostly fishing the North Fork of the Coeur d"Alene between Kingston and Cataldo Idaho and the Clearwater in Orofino Idaho. I also need advice with regard composite oars. Sawyer or Cataract and what length. :hmmm:

 

[Rick Todd]

Sorry you are so lonesome here! I like the cataract oars, but those are the only composite oars I've tried (I use sitka spruce oars on my wooden drift boat, which are the bomb, but very hard to find good ones!) I ordered some Cataract 9' oars with 7" blades from NRS. You need counterbalance weights for them to row nice. Have fun with your new boat. BTW-I have a 13' Scadden MacKenzie pontoon boat that I love-it allows me to use fins to get around while my wife fishes from the front (on the Yak and Methow). That way I can fish as well. I have composite oars for that boat as well-I think made by Cataract for Scadden and I really like them as well. Rick

 

[prohen]

Thanks Rick for the info. If you're looking for fishing tips around CDA Idaho e-mail me. prohen

 

[Freestone]

Both Cataract and Sawyer make great oars so it is probably as much personal preference. I have 8.5' counter-balanced Cataracts wih floating blades and they are awesome. Oar length is also a bit of a personal preference thing. Your boat is sold with 8' oars as was my Outcast PAC 1200. When I upgraded, I got 8.5' oars so I could use them on another wider frame. Truthfully, if I only had the one original Outcast frame, I would have stuck with the 8' oars on it. I also have some 8.5' ash Smoker brand oars (now owned by Sawyer) and they are awesome but require a little more upkeep. I don't think you will regret either the Cataracts or Sawyers.

 

[Mumbles]

I have cataract mini mags on my 9' boat and they are awesome. I now have a big boy cataraft and I have 8.5' Cataract SGG's for that boat. No opinion on them yet, but I'll have one in a few days.

 

[Kent Lufkin]

Congrats on getting your first 'toon. As a suggestion though, you might give some thought to upgrading the tubes on the new boat with bladderless, 2-chamber tubes such as those available from Maxxon. Besides being made of MUCH tougher material, they also have skid strips on the bottom to better withstand submerged rocks and gravel as well as double air chambers to provide additional security while on the water. I'm not sure whether Outcast offers bladderless tubes as an option on their boats, so unless you're dead-set on a Fishcat, you might also take a look at a similar Scadden boat where bladderless tubes are available.

FYI, there's a used Scadden McKenzie Drifter with bladderless tubes available right now on the Classifieds at http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php/66334-Scadden-Mckenzie-X2

K

 

[shawn k]

Congrats on getting your first 'toon. As a suggestion though, you might give some thought to upgrading the tubes on the new boat with bladderless, 2-chamber tubes such as those available from Maxxon. Besides being made of MUCH tougher material, they also have skid strips on the bottom to better withstand submerged rocks and gravel as well as double air chambers to provide additional security while on the water. I'm not sure whether Outcast offers bladderless tubes as an option on their boats, so unless you're dead-set on a Fishcat, you might also take a look at a similar Scadden boat where bladderless tubes are available.

FYI, there's a used Scadden McKenzie Drifter with bladderless tubes available right now on the Classifieds at http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php/66334-Scadden-Mckenzie-X2

K

If his boat is a fishcraft not a fishcat than his tubes are bladderless already. Also there is nothing wrong with the tubes outcast sells with the internal bladders and zippers.In some ways a boat with bladders is superior. If that was the case Aire wouldn't be one of the top manufacturers of whitewater boats in this coutry or world.
Dave scadden has done a good job of upselling people into a boat that he makes more money on.

 

[Kent Lufkin]

If his boat is a fishcraft not a fishcat than his tubes are bladderless already.

You're exactly right in that the OP stated Fishcraft, not Fishcat. I wasn't aware of that brand and thus retract my suggestion.

K