Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats

[Night goat]

I’m debating getting a small rig for the river (skagit and stilly mainly) that will seat two and a cooler for drifting

Seen some pontoon boat styles that are relatively inexpensive but am not really sure what’s decent these days

Might play it safe and get a drift boat on a trailer but am curious about pontoon boat style, with the tube frames and stuff


Any experience or thoughts?

I used to have a Creek Company pontoon boat and it worked in a limited capacity and haven’t really revisited pontoons but see they make some ok looking 2 seaters

[Platensek-po]

Is it for fishing?? If it’s just for floating a pontoon is good. For fishing and etc a drift boat is much better. A 14ft drift boat can do just about anything in wa

[Machias]

Love my cataraft.  Can handle anything up to and including Class V.  Great to fish out of....but it's NOT cheap!    You can add a second seat.

[jackelope]

I've been exploring a raft purchase recently but can't talk myself into it. There's a bunch of different fishing purpose built inflatables. I used to own a 16' Lavro drift boat, which I loved and should have never sold. I recently rented a 14' Aire Super Puma with an NRS fishing frame on it on the Yakima river. It was fun, and very similar rowing to my driftboat but I didn't really like the potential for stuff to get wet very easily. The drift boat is a more dry situation, maybe a little more nimble I felt but the raft draws less water and was easier getting into and out of.

This was the rental boat on the Yak.

[JimmyHoffa]

Is it for fishing?? If it’s just for floating a pontoon is good. For fishing and etc a drift boat is much better. A 14ft drift boat can do just about anything in wa

If the water and river are right, yeah.  I have a cataraft like Machias has pictured.  The main advantages, I can disassemble it enough to put in the bed of a pick up (no trailer), can launch similarly by assembling down off a cliff, and can pick it up and drag around obstacles without a winch.  It's pretty sturdy and good to Class IV, but Class III is the worst I can even find on the OP.  Driftboats are much more forgiving in other areas.  The cataraft will go off course from good cast or moving too much.

[Platensek-po]

Is it for fishing?? If it’s just for floating a pontoon is good. For fishing and etc a drift boat is much better. A 14ft drift boat can do just about anything in wa

If the water and river are right, yeah.  I have a cataraft like Machias has pictured.  The main advantages, I can disassemble it enough to put in the bed of a pick up (no trailer), can launch similarly by assembling down off a cliff, and can pick it up and drag around obstacles without a winch.  It's pretty sturdy and good to Class IV, but Class III is the worst I can even find on the OP.  Driftboats are much more forgiving in other areas.  The cataraft will go off course from good cast or moving too much.

Yeah I take my 16ft whitewater rafting all over and run up to class IV. But if it’s for fishing in the westside I would go with drift boat. For versatility a cataract or raft is much better.

[HntnFsh]

Heres the drift boat your looking for!
https://www.ifish.net/threads/1987-willies-16x48.1646656/

[Machias]

Yehaw!!!