Up The Creek: Pontoon Boats for Fisherman

by Andy Klynstra

After 7 years of fishing from my float tube and having suffered a serious back injury, I had to look at other options, as fishing from my tube was an impossible task. A friend of mine suggested I come out and try his pontoon boat, after 20 minutes I realized this was something I had to have.

After 2 months of looking around at all types and styles of pontoon boats I finally bought one. There are generally four different types of pontoon boats available and each pontoon boat has its advantages and disadvantages, before running out to your favorite fishing store and getting the first pontoon boat you see you will need to give some thought to exactly what type of fly fishing you will be doing and what type of water you will be using it on. Another good thing to consider is how far from your vehicle you have to haul your pontoon boat before you can set it into the water, as some of them can be quite heavy. Most pontoon boats today are available in a powder coated steel or aluminum frame, with the aluminum frame being the most popular due to its weight.

One Person Pontoon Boat - The options that are available on this style of boat are almost endless and they have a weight capacity of between 250 and 400 pounds (including your body weight and all your gear), I would tend to stay away from the lower weight capacity boats as you become limited to the amount you can carry. The optional motor mount is a must have and I would also recommend the aluminum frame (6 to 10 pounds lighter than the steel frame models), if the lakes and rivers you fish require you to carry the boat over a long distance. The higher end boats also have an option for a standing platform for easier casting and are available in steel or aluminum frames. Setting up this style of boat is a simple task and can be done in less than 15 minutes. The biggest advantage is this boats ability to float in less than 5 inches of water.

2 Person Pontoon Boat – Designed to carry 2 fishermen, this type of pontoon boat can be a real chore to assemble, also due to the size and weight you don’t want to haul this boat very far from your vehicle in order to set it on the water. The options on a 2-man boat are numerous; dual casting platforms, aluminum frame, motor mount (front and back), and the different array of storage compartments is almost unbelievable. The biggest disadvantage to this style of boat is the size, weight and amount of space required to haul it.

The Packable Pontoon Boat - This style of pontoon boat is an excellent choice if you like to get away from the crowds and walk into a more secluded lake, setting one of these boats up is about as easy as it can get. This style of boat because of its lightweight feature is not available with as many options as the standard single person boat. The single biggest advantage to this boat is its weight and the ability to pack it into your favorite spot. The biggest disadvantage is the lack of available options.

Kick Boat - A kick boat although not much of an upgrade from a float tube, will keep you warmer as only your legs are in the water, making it more pleasant to fish late into the fall season. The advantages of a kick boat are that they are lightweight, packable and will fit into the trunk of smaller vehicles. The disadvantage is that they can be extremely physically tiring to fin around the lake for a full day of fishing.

I have recently upgraded from my float tube into a Trout Unlimited pontoon boat, and after fishing from a pontoon boat I am sure I will never go back to a float tube again. As you sit above the water, fishing late into the season is not a problem due to cold water, casting is also much easier and moving around the lake is less tiring. My boat also has the optional motor mount and battery tray (picked up an electric motor for it on Saturday). I am looking forward to trying this out as soon as the ice is off the water.

Good luck and tight lines.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Klynstra works for Oil-Net.Com providing professionals in the global oil and gas industry with the information, products, and services they need. oilfield industry

Picking The Right Boat

by Nicholas Tan

There are two questions that should be considered when choosing the right boat: "What will be the fishing for?" and "where will the fishing activities be?"

Always look for the signs of quality check the carpet and the compartments - they could be plastic, metal or fiberglass. Look at the little but very important things like the 1000 GPH bilge pump, the six gauge wiring instead of ten or eight that is because heavier wires gives more power from the battery up to the trolling motor.

There is Five Star Advantage that ranger dealers often speak to their customers: Quality, Safety, Innovation, Performance, and Value. Below is a list of “must have” things when buying your first boat.Tow Vehicle - This is one of the most important piece of your equipment, ensured that has the rating to get the job done like loading up to 3500 lbs. of weight that could easily pull the boat up the hills and mountainous treks.

Bass Boats - For first timers, consider a second hand boat. This will be a trial and error stage where fishing skills can be tested. Consider a larger boat, which is about 19 feet with 20 to 30 miles speed for larger bodies of water.Aluminum - In smaller lakes, a 16-18 foot aluminum boat is a good choice. It is cheaper than fiberglass and more forgiving of bangs, running up into shallows and hitting stumps and rocks. The only downside is that it rides rougher even with the slightest winds.

Fiberglass - This two-stroke engine is much more expensive which could cost from $20,000 to as much as $50,000. The good thing with this boat is that it could handle bigger, rougher water and still give you a smooth ride. Brand new versus Second Hand - Buying a second hand boat is not only cheaper but holds their value longer and better. The downside is that you'll probably inherit someone else's troubles. During casual inspection, outboard engines problems are not easily identified.

The best thing to do is bring someone you trust with you to inspect a prospective boat or buy from someone you know instead.Handling the Boat - Listen to the pitch change when trimming down. Although it will be very difficult for beginners like trying to launch and retrieve the boat backing it down the ramp. Never worry, because everyone passed that stage and there's no boat owner that is not willing to help a first timer learn. Sometimes all it takes is just 4 hours to learn the basics. Buying a dreamboat is very exciting. It is not the boat that really matters but the experiences that come with fishing.

Benefits of having a used boat

by Monish
Many people have a dream of owning boat as a part of enjoyment. Buying a boat and then spending hours together sailing on the beaches is simply superb. In this case most people would prefer going for a brand new boat. But, how about the cost of a new boat? Can every body afford to buy one? A new boat would probably cost more than a new car and may not be a rational decision for all. An excess installment payment for stated years can disturb your wallet and mind drastically. As a result, buying used boat can be economical along with fulfilling your lifetime dream. These days more and more yachtsmen are finding great deal for used boat, specifically older ones. One of the chief advantages of buying used boat is that you see tremendous difference in cost when compared to the new ones.

Used boat market remains hot forever like any real estate market. By buying a used boat apart from saving money you are also saved from the maintenance hassles. A new boat might not be clear on the advantages and disadvantages, but one can easily pick the defects of the used boat. So owing a used boat is not out of reach now. You could find many incomparable values in used boats and in fact they could be reasonable, strapping, and well-maintained. To make sure you receive years of enjoyment and exploit out of your used boat, buy smart. You can search online for boat traders and have a brilliant deal as buying a boat is the adventure for lifetime.

Whether you're going to sail on the ocean, or plan a course to your dream retirement-buying a boat is a onetime experience. Buying a boat can be expensive at the same time boat trader can get you good and affordable deal. It is actually difficult for everybody to find a boat that is preferably apt for him/her. Buying a boat can as well be tiring experience; it is a high-quality idea in this case to consult a boat trader. A boat trader would do all your ground work from finding a perfect boat till the departure of the boat. All you need to do is to be clear with your idea of buying boat, give as much information as possible to your boat trader. Boat trader generally has access to the high-quality boats with huge varieties of second hand boats for sale as well.

A boat trader will display you the right direction, which simply means you do not have to do much other than explaining your needs to him whether it is for fishing or just want it for pleasure. They will as well assist you in financing the boat and other options available. There are several clauses and guarantees that have to be taken care before buying a boat; even this work will be done by your boat trader. Working with boat trader is particularly useful as they posses vast knowledge in boat purchasing and understanding in boats would make sure that you get the most excellent boat with the minimum of fuss.

About the Author
Mr.Monish is a Copywriter of www.yachtloop.com. He written many articles in various topics. For more information visit: www.yachtloop.com. contact her at yachtloop.marine@gmail.com.