A
AkDan76
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2014
- Messages
- 219
there is no such thing as an invincible inflatable...doesn't exist! your post made it sound like this was common place, which it is not.
I've had a bear shred a boat on a 140 mile solo 16 day float, fixed it and moved on, that thing was full of patches and lasted until the cold finally cracked the pvc, patches held to this day.
and yes I have poked a hole in an inflatable, my own fault, again very small and very easily fixed.
Don't buy junk!
and imho stay away from PVC boats! or DO NOT touch them when its cold out!!!!!
I have also tipped a raft, once in almost 20 years on the sticks. Caught us by surprise, fully loaded, 2 of us last week of September (winter here) moose hunt. Went swimming, lost a couple loose water bottles and a rain jacket, pretty minor. The raft was a propioneer, (long and skinny like the one shown in this thread)...sweet but they do have some issues that need to be addressed. 'bagging' the floor fixed the instability issues.
I've also had a buddy roll a drift boat in some nasty water....
In my opinion a cataraft is the perfect no trailer rig....a smaller one anyways. The bigger boats are a pain if you have to do a full assemble job on the frame. My frame was a custom job, by no means hard, but it did take some time. The smaller solo and 2 man catarafts are much better suited to this...as are the solo or 2 person inflatable yak/canoe style boats.
The propioneer is nice with the rowing frame, 2 folks can fish one can row, with a PILE of gear inside...its not tweaked with fancy seats or a huge frame...it takes a few minutes and you're ready. I do use use an electric (car battery style clamp) Inflator for the bulk of the pumping and we have fit this in a small hatchback, oars and all. Mind you this boat is rated for something like 1500 lbs.....hardly a fishing rig, but it rows like a ferarri too!!!!
The instability issue in the long skinny boats is a simple fix if it has a inflatable floor...just 'bag' it....simply put take a bit of air out. It allows the boat to squat more on the water..it does row a bit harder however. With this floor hard I was able to stop the canoe in smaller rivers enough it was easily fished out of. Biggest regret was selling it (move coming up). It WILL be replaced likely sooner than later. ANd you can easily find them on the used market for 1500 bucks, not the 3k new for something similar...that's IF you wanted to go with a serious boat, easy 3 person overnight rig.
Solo cats I have less experience on but I do have a few trips on the sticks. So far I've really liked them. They hold my fat behind and all the gear I've needed to do runs on. The downfalls is you can only haul me and my gear. I was thinking a 12' 2 person cat would be ideal for everywhere! and still be small enough to break down into a smaller vehicle. The electric inflator is a godsend! I did have to make a mod to the hose, which was simple. Found a piece of long hose that fit from a hand pump to the tapered end and wamo, I didn't even have to hold the pump. Unfortunately I think this pump is getting phased out. Mine lasted a LONG time before it died due to moisture.
If you have a boat find one of these!!!
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/metro-dida4-magic-air-inflator/1043780518?skuId=43780518&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_bedding_&adpos=1o1&creative=43742646469&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CITKnMnyicsCFZE0aQodoqcPCQ
I've had a bear shred a boat on a 140 mile solo 16 day float, fixed it and moved on, that thing was full of patches and lasted until the cold finally cracked the pvc, patches held to this day.
and yes I have poked a hole in an inflatable, my own fault, again very small and very easily fixed.
Don't buy junk!
and imho stay away from PVC boats! or DO NOT touch them when its cold out!!!!!
I have also tipped a raft, once in almost 20 years on the sticks. Caught us by surprise, fully loaded, 2 of us last week of September (winter here) moose hunt. Went swimming, lost a couple loose water bottles and a rain jacket, pretty minor. The raft was a propioneer, (long and skinny like the one shown in this thread)...sweet but they do have some issues that need to be addressed. 'bagging' the floor fixed the instability issues.
I've also had a buddy roll a drift boat in some nasty water....
In my opinion a cataraft is the perfect no trailer rig....a smaller one anyways. The bigger boats are a pain if you have to do a full assemble job on the frame. My frame was a custom job, by no means hard, but it did take some time. The smaller solo and 2 man catarafts are much better suited to this...as are the solo or 2 person inflatable yak/canoe style boats.
The propioneer is nice with the rowing frame, 2 folks can fish one can row, with a PILE of gear inside...its not tweaked with fancy seats or a huge frame...it takes a few minutes and you're ready. I do use use an electric (car battery style clamp) Inflator for the bulk of the pumping and we have fit this in a small hatchback, oars and all. Mind you this boat is rated for something like 1500 lbs.....hardly a fishing rig, but it rows like a ferarri too!!!!
The instability issue in the long skinny boats is a simple fix if it has a inflatable floor...just 'bag' it....simply put take a bit of air out. It allows the boat to squat more on the water..it does row a bit harder however. With this floor hard I was able to stop the canoe in smaller rivers enough it was easily fished out of. Biggest regret was selling it (move coming up). It WILL be replaced likely sooner than later. ANd you can easily find them on the used market for 1500 bucks, not the 3k new for something similar...that's IF you wanted to go with a serious boat, easy 3 person overnight rig.
Solo cats I have less experience on but I do have a few trips on the sticks. So far I've really liked them. They hold my fat behind and all the gear I've needed to do runs on. The downfalls is you can only haul me and my gear. I was thinking a 12' 2 person cat would be ideal for everywhere! and still be small enough to break down into a smaller vehicle. The electric inflator is a godsend! I did have to make a mod to the hose, which was simple. Found a piece of long hose that fit from a hand pump to the tapered end and wamo, I didn't even have to hold the pump. Unfortunately I think this pump is getting phased out. Mine lasted a LONG time before it died due to moisture.
If you have a boat find one of these!!!
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/metro-dida4-magic-air-inflator/1043780518?skuId=43780518&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_bedding_&adpos=1o1&creative=43742646469&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CITKnMnyicsCFZE0aQodoqcPCQ
