Hello all,I’ve just purchased my first pontoon boat .I’ve thought about buying one for a couple of years now and finally got around to doing it.Put in the water yesterday and a blast.I`d like to hear anyones view on how to customize it.I was thinking of adding a rod holder of some type and another storage pouch or any other thing that will make it more functionable.Any ideas on how to best do this appreciated.
Bassbugger, Welcome to FAOL from So Cal. What kind of 'toon did you get? I have a Creek Co. ODC 9 foot. It’s a blast. Thing is, instead of adding more to mine I’ve stripped it. Unless I’m crossing a lake for an overnighter I leave the cargo rack off. Don’t need it for day trips. I made a bag that hangs off the back off the seat for lunch, water and a pancho. I have a rod holder and a few extra straps and hooks for securing stuff I don’t want at the bottom of the pond.
Creek Co. has an every Friday sale online at Creek Company dot com. They have some pretty good deals. Jim
Bassbugger,
A rod holder is an absolute necessity, in fact, I use two on mine. The right side is for the rod I am fishing with (if I need to set it down for a few minutes to do some rowing, etc) and the left side is for my second rod. I aim that one off to the side so the rod is out of the way of my casting.
The best bet for rod holders is the Scotty. They make one for fly rods and get the one that straps to pontoons. It is fully adjustable, just make sure it is turned so the handle of your reel is pointed up. You will see what I mean.
The Scotty is a great rod holder. I use the same type for salmon fishing and when a salmon grabs the fly and takes off, there is no problem with the Scotty hanging onto the rod. There is a strap that you can use to secure the rod/reel in so there is no way it will fall off.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
heres one of the better rod holders and only $10
http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=70&Cat=3&Cat1=10
Thanks for the great replies,the pontoon I bought is the Arrow Backpacker.Its an entry level but will do for now.One of the problems I’m having is knowing how much air to put in the bladders without underfilling or overfilling the bladders.The manufacturer recommends 2.5psi which really doesn’t mean too much to me.Is there a guideline that one should use?
Well, let’s see. I spray painted the shiny oars and frame to match the camouflage of the pontoons themselves, and broke one of the side bag straps, and tied a rope across the back between the pontoons so I can drag it across the snow or grass…
Customize to your heart’s desire. I wish mine had a nice cooler mounted on it, suitable for a couple sodas…
Hope no one minds links to other forums?But these guys have this topic covered. This is one of my favorite pastimes - Custom rigging my toon!!!
http://www.bass-n-tubes.com/gallery/rigging?page=1
http://forums.riversmallies.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44535
http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/fish-cat-panther-pontoon-finally-came-t20573.html
On those sites there are several other threads about riggin your toon. I say “must haves” are rod holders (I like the creek company ones -very easy to use and install, or build them yourslef out of PVC, they work on fly rod & spinning outfits, probably would work on baitcasters also…I just have not tried)
Another must have is oar keepers again Creek company: http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=71&Cat=3&Cat1=10
You may consider oar rights & a Anchor system (I perfer Drag Chains)
Plastic milk crates work well to bungiee down and keep stuff like pumps, tools, lunch box, etc etc down
Have fun, be creative & most of all enjoy your new ride!!! I love fishing from mine!!!
Brannon
Cheap solution:
http://www.leisurepro.com/prod/SLRPG.html?srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=19-22402000-2
works on every inflatable I own or have tried with Hawkey roberts valves, leafield valves, knock-off spring loaded valves & boston valves.
BP
As far as knowing how much air…You don’t need a gauge. To be honest I don’t trust them.
You have Vinyl bladders. They are going to be effected by temp and altitude.
If you travel to higher country be sure NOT to fill the toon up much.
At the lake…put the boat in the water while you get ready, then SQUEEZE the tip of the toon. If it feels firm, good to go. BUT, if you fill it firm, then put it in cold water…it’s going to compress the air…feel less full.
You do NOT want your boat to look like this:
If you fly fish, you want rod holders MADE for fly rods and you want them slightly tilted back and staggerd so they don’t get tangled.
I pack at least three rods on my pontoon (1-floating / 1-slow sink / 1-fast sink)
I prefer the SCOTTY rod holders but the ones Normand posted for $10. are sweet.
And I love RAM MOUNTS for my sonar:
What FG said…learn to go by feel…conditions change and you should be able to check on the spot…
Joni, ever get the Nav II sold?
Sold one the other is pending delivery.
It is suggested that your first customizing should include a spare oar lock, another oar (required on some streams), and a pontoon repair kit. A Spike Anchor is good to have for those river bottoms with craggy, jagged rocks that like to eat and keep the standard pyramid anchors.
I know one guy who even has a depth sounder on his toon.
Good fishing
If I was a newbie, I don’t think I would be looking at rivers/streams.
On another forum, it seems that just kicking and rowing are way harder for some than others, so stillwater is a good starter for those newbies.
Thanks for all the replies,you are a knowledgeable and helpful group.I’ve been through the links provided and saw a bunch of things I’ll be making or purchasing in the near future.Rod holders and oar keeps are first then upgrade the seat to something a little more comfy.My buddy just bought a pontoon as well and we are going to make our first foray in smallmouth fishing this week.I hope everything goes well.Again thanks for the input.
dont forget to wear a ‘pfd’ of some kind
PDF and always, Always ALWAYS have a river knife at hand (not in you pocket, but taped or strapped to the frame-seat-oar mount!
If you ever get caught with a stuck anchor, you WILL HAVE TO CUT THE ROPE!
Hi all, … I finished a text on what I modified on my pontoon.
As they aren’t sponsors, I left it on my personal site.
… on the Outlaw Review page.
Comments???
Nice!!! I am totally sold on the ONE PIECE toon. I have the Outlaw X5. Went from the Cardiac Canyon 11 1/2’ Pontoon to this and I do believe the one pice is more stable, moves better through the water, doesn’t spin or twist like two separate pontoons and TRACKS great.
Plus I like the idea I can turn the frame around and have a Zodiac and actually use a GAS motor.
I have one and the Hubby has one, so I c an put both frames on one boat for clients.
Joni ! Hi.
I never had a “traditional” 'toon. Went from Belly Boats and canoes directly to this model. I used to run some drift boats though and can really feel the difference. It doesn’t quite Glide like a drift boat, but it sure does track straight. Even then, it can spin on a dime. Enough so that I could knock you out of the front seat if I really wanted to with a left and right reverse stroke.
I took it down the cascade behind the house in high water. I nosed it in on a good line, hauled once on the left oar to set up for the slight curve.
3-5 light feathering strokes and I was held off of the rocks nicely. I actually only touched the right side oar to get straightened out and … plop, … I was down and out into the pool!
I had to redo the pulleys 'cause the anchor I use is near 30 lbs and the small pulleys built in didn’t have enough round to 'em.
I’m not sure a motor would work well on the big 'toon. There would be quite a bit of torque on the mount due to the longer moment caused by the longer frame.
Take care … Tight Lines!!
(Love your Web site!!!)
Chris:
Thanks for taking the time to put your mods on a website. I just bought a Creek Company 8 foot pontoon of of Ebay and might use a couple of your mods on mine.
Thanks again.
Roy