Pontoon and small(ish) car?

[BigCliff]

I was just hoping to get input from anybody out there who uses a pontoon boat and transports it with anything smaller than an Accord/Camry. I've got a Scion tC and want to buy a float craft of some sort.

I would rather have a pontoon than a float tube, but I was just wondering how much of a hassle assembly/etc is when combining a pontoon boat and a smallish car. I would rather not have to spend more than 30 minutes getting set up anytime I want to use the thing.

Also if anyone has experience strapping their craft onto the roof of their small(ish) car, I'd love to hear about that too. Let us know about driving speed recomendations, etc.

As the price of gas approaches the inevitable price of $4/gal, this may become a very popular thread.

[jeffw]

BC,

I drive a '97 Mercury Tracer (a Ford Escort in disguise!) I have a Yakima rack on the top and the ODC 816 rides up there just fine. Lots of 70 mph freeway driving and never a problem (knock wood!) I just strap it down with a couple of those nylon cam-lock type straps. My mileage drops only slightly. I can feel it up there in the Eastern WA wind sometimes, but I manage to stay on the road.

Jeff

[2_left_hands]

Cliff, you may look into an extremely light weight trailer.

[jeffw]

2LH,

Good plan! I'm working on a little trailer at present. Mostly for hauling junk to the dump, but I hope to put the 'toon on it at times. I was worried about putting a hitch on the Tracer, but it was a piece of cake.

I'm building the trailer on an old vacation trailer frame. A friend yanked the top off and gave me the frame. I'm going to chop about 4ft out of the frame to make it deliberately small so I won't be tempted to overload it. I'm curious about the mileage with the trailer. I'll let ya know!

Jeff

[DARKSTAR]

I use a thule roof rack with two kayak carriers(with rollers) set close enough that each pontoon sits in its own "cradle". works great and I travel to the Catskills regularly with it up there(about 100 miles each way) I will try to post a link to a pic for you...

here ya go-I combined this with a set of Yakima rollers on the rear bar to make sliding it easier: [url=http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=878xt:d4fb3]http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=878xt[/url:d4fb3]


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"The more widely one observes nature, the more it appeals to one's soul. Why? Because there is a music there; and the wider one's outlook on life becomes, the deeper one's understanding of life, the more music one can listen to, the music that
answers the whole universe." --Inayat Khan

[This message has been edited by DARKSTAR (edited 13 April 2005).]

[ilmbaba]

Cliff,
I have an ODC 816 and a Toyota Tercel (now that's small). The ODC comes with a pump that inflates the pontoons quickly. I set up the ODC lakeside and it doesn't take long at all. I keep most of the frame intact and put it in the car.

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Elliott W.

I tie flies to give the fish something to laugh about.



[This message has been edited by ilmbaba (edited 13 April 2005).]

[BigCliff]

Thanks for all the help folx. A trailer isn't an option for me since I remember the owner's manual for the thing specifically saying nothing should be towed by the vehicle.

I guess I'll just have to figure out whether the set-up time is worth my while or not.

[kengore]

After a little practice I think you will find the set up time minimal.

The pontoons are fairly low volume and pump up very quickly, itrs not like pumping up a full size raft. If time is and effort is your concern invest in a 12v electric blower, I have one for my big raft that will inflate a pontoon in under 30 seconds. The blower also can be used to suck the air out for quick deflation at the end of a trip.

I probaly spend more time organizing my fly boxes and other fishing gear than I sdo setting up the boat.

All that said, it is nice to have the boat fully rigged and ready to go, esp. on mutliple day trips. I can fit both my and my buddies Water Skeeter (9' long, 4' wide) on top of my Subaru in a Thule bar rack. Since the boats are slightly wider than the roof iof the car the bars are needed for extra width. Some nylon webbing and cam straps complete the system.

I prefer to stow the boats inside for highway speeds but 2 boats on top work just fine for shuttles and day trips.

[Satchel]

I fish out of my Water Skeeter a fair amount and have found that the best way for me to operate is to take the seat and attached frame apart from the frames on the pontoons. I deflate the pontoons and fold the ends of them up over the ends of the frames and stack them on top of each other and then stack the seat and frame on top of that. Mine has an anchor frame and that slips right in on each side of the deflated pontoons. The oars come apart and sit atop the whole mess. From the time I pull into my favorite "'Gill pond and stop the truck I can have the craft water ready in less than 10 minutes if in a rush. I use the double action air pump to inflate the pontoons and it takes abotu 45 seconds for each one. Slip the frame pieces together, and attach the oars and anchor frame and off I go. I do confess to carrying the who unit in my full size F-150, but to minimize the room taken up in the bed I store it in front of one wheel well and it fits nicely in that space. I can't imagine it not fitting into nearly any small car trunk. At worst, maybe a small rack of some kind on top with the whole craft strapped down... just my .02

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These are the idle thoughts that posses a man's mind when he's not able to fish.

[Jim Hatch]

Hi Folks,

For anyone seeking a small trailer or
alternative device for hauling thier toons,
check out [url=http://www.harborfreight.com/:1b61f]http://www.harborfreight.com/[/url:1b61f] In addition to some affordable small trailers, they also
offer receiver mount bumper style carriers
that will haul up to 500 pounds for about
60 bucks. Similar to the bumper style deer
and elk haulers. Might work for some toons.
Just type "trailer" in the keyword search and it will take you to all thier hauling devices. Warm regards, Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim Hatch (edited 14 April 2005).]