Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Night goat on September 08, 2021, 08:56:00 PM

Title: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: Night goat on September 08, 2021, 08:56:00 PM: 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
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: Platensek-po on September 08, 2021, 09:09:48 PM: 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
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: Machias on September 13, 2021, 03:02:51 PM: 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.
Title: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: jackelope on September 13, 2021, 05:50:18 PM: 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.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210914/97f03bb6558215097346064d499b7581.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210914/6675c633557e30b0fc10dbecfad5d893.jpg)
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: JimmyHoffa on September 13, 2021, 06:05:46 PM: Quote from: Platensek-po on September 08, 2021, 09:09:48 PM
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.
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: Platensek-po on September 13, 2021, 06:27:03 PM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on September 13, 2021, 06:05:46 PM
Quote from: Platensek-po on September 08, 2021, 09:09:48 PM
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.
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: HntnFsh on September 14, 2021, 06:03:45 AM: Heres the drift boat your looking for!
https://www.ifish.net/threads/1987-willies-16x48.1646656/
Title: Re: Pontoon boats, rafts, and drift boats
Post by: Machias on September 14, 2021, 11:52:42 AM: Yehaw!!! :) :)