Kayak, canoe, or pontoon boat?
Jun 8, 2017 00:56:52 #
[quote=BarTim]Hello All,
Hopefully someone can help with this question, there's a lot of wisdom in this group. :)
Anyway, I do about a 3rd of my birding from the water.
I use a 12' canoe or a 9' kayak. Both have been good for some things, but I'd just like more stability.
I just saw a 9' pontoon boat for that wasn't very expensive and it'll take an electric trolling motor.
Does anyone have any feedback on this type of watercraft?
I figured I'd mount a tripod in the front somehow, I've rigged them on the other boats without much trouble.
Thanks a lot for reading and any help you can offer.
Have a good one.
Tim[/quote
I use a hobie mirage outback and I love it
Hopefully someone can help with this question, there's a lot of wisdom in this group. :)
Anyway, I do about a 3rd of my birding from the water.
I use a 12' canoe or a 9' kayak. Both have been good for some things, but I'd just like more stability.
I just saw a 9' pontoon boat for that wasn't very expensive and it'll take an electric trolling motor.
Does anyone have any feedback on this type of watercraft?
I figured I'd mount a tripod in the front somehow, I've rigged them on the other boats without much trouble.
Thanks a lot for reading and any help you can offer.
Have a good one.
Tim[/quote
I use a hobie mirage outback and I love it
Jun 8, 2017 01:03:47 #
I'm been looking at options like you have for several months. Lots of great advice from experienced boaters and photographers so far. Here are my thoughts:
First, I want stability and the ability to keep my camera dry. I started out looking at the inflatable pontoons like you show, but you would need a dry bag for your camera gear since they are so open. I then looked at some inflatable fishing boats from Sea Eagle. You might check them out. The one model basically has a pontoon inflated clear around you with an inflated floor. It would be very stable, stay pretty dry and best of all, the inflated floor would be comfortable to lie down on for those super low-level shots.
But one downside to any inflatable is they are more subject to damage and might need patching. Also they are wide overall since the pontoons take up over a foot of space on each side which makes the center area for you fairly narrow. They also require either a motor or oars in oarlocks instead of a kayak paddle.
I looked at many kayaks and decided the best of those for me would be a hybrid sit inside kayak. They have a much more open cockpit so you could slide down low for shooting and better camo. Downside to kayaks for a big clumsy guy like me is stability. The outriggers could add stability but then make you 5 to 6 ft. wide - which would require more camo and may not go through weeds the best.
Finally, I realized duck hunters have been perfecting camo boats longer than photographers. They call them sneak boats and that is what I'm leaning toward now. They are wide for very good stability yet maneuverable. They have very low draft and only sit out of the water less than a foot. They have a nice open cockpit so you can arrange things how you like. Maybe not the easiest to paddle but I plan to use a silent electric trolling motor I have. Here are two I'm considering:
https://www.explorebeavertail.com/product-category/sneakboats/stealth-1200/
and
http://fourriverslayoutboats.com/products/mini
Good luck and keep us updated.
First, I want stability and the ability to keep my camera dry. I started out looking at the inflatable pontoons like you show, but you would need a dry bag for your camera gear since they are so open. I then looked at some inflatable fishing boats from Sea Eagle. You might check them out. The one model basically has a pontoon inflated clear around you with an inflated floor. It would be very stable, stay pretty dry and best of all, the inflated floor would be comfortable to lie down on for those super low-level shots.
But one downside to any inflatable is they are more subject to damage and might need patching. Also they are wide overall since the pontoons take up over a foot of space on each side which makes the center area for you fairly narrow. They also require either a motor or oars in oarlocks instead of a kayak paddle.
I looked at many kayaks and decided the best of those for me would be a hybrid sit inside kayak. They have a much more open cockpit so you could slide down low for shooting and better camo. Downside to kayaks for a big clumsy guy like me is stability. The outriggers could add stability but then make you 5 to 6 ft. wide - which would require more camo and may not go through weeds the best.
Finally, I realized duck hunters have been perfecting camo boats longer than photographers. They call them sneak boats and that is what I'm leaning toward now. They are wide for very good stability yet maneuverable. They have very low draft and only sit out of the water less than a foot. They have a nice open cockpit so you can arrange things how you like. Maybe not the easiest to paddle but I plan to use a silent electric trolling motor I have. Here are two I'm considering:
https://www.explorebeavertail.com/product-category/sneakboats/stealth-1200/
and
http://fourriverslayoutboats.com/products/mini
Good luck and keep us updated.
Jun 8, 2017 09:50:07 #
Thank for the feedback.
SS319, did you really serve on the Becuna?
SSBN659 for me 6 deployments on her, we had is easy compared to you guys.
SS319, did you really serve on the Becuna?
SSBN659 for me 6 deployments on her, we had is easy compared to you guys.
Jun 8, 2017 14:50:06 #
The double hulls construction is extreme stable in calm water! It has a shallow draft, but as pointed out above, lots a sail area and will be adversely effected by wind. The nature of the wide double hull construction is to match the surface of the water. So in a slight wave from the side, it will follow the slope of the wave. With a more extreme wave, it will also also follow the wave slope, and that can end up with a rough ride for you.
Jun 8, 2017 16:32:55 #
ralphfr wrote:
Then please tell us what you would call it. Inquiring minds want to know!
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Classic-Accessories-Colorado-XT-Pontoon-Boat/711406.uts?productVariantId=1603979&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02515605&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KEQjwyN7JBRCZn7LKgb3ki8kBEiQAaLEsqtLKNZLVt-DWcxcDHIt6fbzgDEpuQTv1-jpm5ytB2AkaAnf58P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Classic-Accessories-Colorado-XT-Pontoon-Boat/711406.uts?productVariantId=1603979&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02515605&rid=20&gclid=Cj0KEQjwyN7JBRCZn7LKgb3ki8kBEiQAaLEsqtLKNZLVt-DWcxcDHIt6fbzgDEpuQTv1-jpm5ytB2AkaAnf58P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds
It is a very small, personal cataraft! Pontoon boats are metal, very wide boats made for many people (some also call them party boats)!
Jun 8, 2017 16:43:31 #
Why does a pontoon boat have to be metal? Yes, many are and often are party boats.
Jun 8, 2017 20:58:52 #
Actually, attaching an outrigger to a regular canoe gives incredible stability. Kits can be ordered from several companies. The struts attach ny clamps tp your gunwales; the outrigger height is adjusted by several different means. My only advice is to use small aluminum plates inboard and outboard under the clamps and make sure the outrigger is properly adjusted for the height of the canoe.
Jun 9, 2017 09:45:20 #
speters wrote:
It is a very small, personal cataraft! Pontoon boats are metal, very wide boats made for many people (some also call them party boats)!
Personal Catacraft. I do like the sound of that. I googled images for this term and got positive results so that is A correct term. However, I also googled personal pontoon boats and received many more hits for this boat. Certainly you would agree that if the manufacturer advertises this boat as a "pontoon" boat then certainly the OP is not incorrect in his description, no?
Thanks for responding. This is the first entry on my "things learned today" list!
Jun 13, 2017 19:10:11 #
ralphfr wrote:
Personal Catacraft. I do like the sound of that. I... (show quote)
Yes, I do agree, I just never heard that before!
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