I’m sort of in the market for a new fishing boat. I’ve float tubed for several years and really would like to upgrade to something self propelled (not a drifting boat). Thought about canoes, but for some reason toons and yaks really excite me. I’ve used both a little, but only fished from a pontoon. My question is this: for freshwater uses only, which one is better and why? What are some advantages and disadvantages to each. I’ll mainly be fishing stillwater with it, but often larger rivers. Eventually I’ll make it back to Utah for good and then plan on hitting the Green often. What would you guys suggest?? Thanks!!
'toons get you up higher giving you better site for seeing fish and better height for casting. They and more seat like with leg room etc. On the other hand that same height also effects your being blown by the wind (bigger sail) and less stability (higher center of gravity)
‘yaks are faster, generally more seaworthy and less comfortable. You are casting from right at water level and don’t get the view from 3’ high that you can get from a toon.
If the stillwater was big or the rivers fast I would choose a yak for safety reasons alone.
If the water was smaller or the rivers slower then… I’d still choose a yak 'cause I like them and the places I can go with them. The first point is one of safety the second one of preference.
jed
I must have been doing something wrong in the kayaks I’ve used then. It seems like the pontoon I used was much more stable. I figured it was due to a wider base (2 big bladders, couple feet apart vs single compartment 3 ft wide). The toon would definately be less manueverable and maybe that is where my limited experience made the yak feel less stable. Thanks for the input! 8)
Wild One;
A 'toon also allows for the addition of a small motor or trolling motor. You can also carry more gear and a larger lunch. 2 friends own the 75" Hobi’s which have the hard molded hulls. They are faster than my ODC 816 for sure! That may be the only difference between them and my inflatable other than cost.
Wild Ones,
I think that if I were in white water or out in a bay or near the ocean I’d much prefer a kayak over a pontoon boat. You need to be more mindful in a kayak, but in rough water I think the yak is more seaworthy.
jed
3 Jack 3,
Uless of course you don’t think me a friend… :shock:
Anywho, I own 2 Hobies…
The Float Cat 75 Pontoon as jack discribed and a Hobie Outback Kayak with the Mirage drive system…It’s not Self propelled…in the sence it goes all by it’s self! :lol:
But it is Self propelled as in your own self can propel it in two different ways…Of course you can paddle it…But you can also Peddle it…for totally hands free fishing while under way…well…Some also purchase a sail kit and I guess that’d make it three way’s…and pretty much self propelled at that…I fish Lakes,streams,rivers…all with little effort where water depth allows use of the drive…Checkout Hobies site for more info and video of the Mirage drive in action…
Oh…The Float cats been dry docked since I’ve got the Yak!! and will remain that way…unless someone wants to tag along who does not have water craft of their own…THEY can use it!
These are not cheap…Nore are they cheaply made…Very kewl boats…they make more than just the outback’s with the Mirage drive…
Also if your not looking to spend over a grand…Checkout Native water’s Ultmate series of Yak’s…Hearing Awesome things! Ya gotta paddle em though…I’m sure there’ll be a few more things pointed out too…
Bill;
You are a very good friend so not to worry!
I had over looked the Mirage drive system available in the Outback. However Casting Platforms are available with some 'toons and you can pack enough gear for a comfortable overnight stay!
Having absolutly no experiance with 'Yaks I really should not be debating the pros and cons. I like my 'toon and it has served me well.
I’ve been in several types of kayaks and canoes. Never been on a toon. Kayaks are of many types and the type of kayak that is good for fishing on a lake will not be good for whitewater probably. Whitewater boats are short and boats good for making time across flatwater are long. Getting in and out of a kayak without getting wet can be hard. Canoes are easier to get in and out of, can be stabilized with some additional parts, can take a motor. Some models work well for both flatwater and whitewater. You can move around in the canoe more easily and the seat is much higher off the water than a sit-inside or sit-on-top kayak. I think I’d look at toons and canoes if it were me. All of that said, I’m sure some kayak fans will know more about the types and have more info about the benefits than I have mentioned. Have fun choosing your boat!
I have to agree, having used both yaks and pontoon boats to fish, the yak will be much much better in moving water but the pontoon can not be beaten on lakes and ponds, they are so stable and so easy to use and manouvre while fishing. Most yaks can not be fished from while underway (mirage drive excepted) and if you suffer from any kind of back pain then you need to avoid a yak, they are simply less comfortable than a pontoon boat.
Have fun trying out the boats you are looking at, and good luck making a decision!
All the best.
Mike.
Wild One… in your search you might want to check out the Dave Scadden Navigator II…it is a unique piece of equipment…I’d say it’s a cross between a float tube and pontoon boat…you can mount a motor…note it’s rated for rapids…Fly Goddess seems to be gone now but she has a lot of personal experience with them…and her posts on it are probably still up on the forum…
All great points. thanks. You guys sure are making this decision hard!! 
That’s good though. Kind of what I’d hoped for. Kind of just looking for people to brag about their own boats. Or rag on some they don’t like…
As for me…I’m hoping to stay below a grand $ wise as this is my first. Thinking anywhere from free.99 to $700.
Thanks for all the input, any other thoughts?
Just that that NavII is almost always on sale if you check the web site carefully…
Duck, sweet. I’m heading over there right now
you must be referring to this…
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19005&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Looks pretty cool I must say. Did you ever get one?
Yes, I did and I am totally pleased…
I do mostly stillwater …some too big for a float tube…and I particularly like the ability with a 32# thrust electric motor to hold my position in a wind…and of course the big advantage of not having to deal with the metal frame of the pontoons…I’ve sold two pontoons…the Nav II works for my kind of fishing.
Here’s the web site…looks like the sale price isn’t listed but I’ll bet if you request it Dave will give it…he was great to deal with…
http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/homepagedirectory.html
FG in another thread has pictures of her setups…
And there is nothing wrong with aquireing more than one type of boat!..As after the purchase…They don’t eat anything. 8) Thinking I need to hit a certian pond that will almost require I pull the float cat out of hibernation! I never did get to try out the 180 some dollar stripping apron I bought for it…
Those Scadden boats do look awesome! That new one (Can’t recall the name off the top of my head) but it was something like a G3 or sumpin like that…Been giving serious thought to that one…It packs down for getting into very remote places or even on a plane…
If your thinking you’ll find the “Perfect Boat”…GOOD LUCK to you sir! I don’t think they made that one yet…
Yaks rule!..Period!
A pontoon boat is just a glorified float-tube. You can’t cover much water in one. They are slow, ungainly and ugly.
Yaks can cover miles and miles easily, in all weathers and types of water. My yak is classed as a rec boat, but I have gone through cat. 5 rapids with it and made fairly it easy. Of course, I didn’t do any fancy playboating, but I made it through right-side-up. I’ve also paddled through thunderstorms, over a few waterfalls, winds, and even been in the ocean with mine, and it has never let me down. I’ve been places with my yak that I would never consider in a canoe.
Yaks are unsinkable, unstoppable and fast. Eskimos and Greenlanders hunt 1000 lb. seals and even whales in yaks! And I have no comfort problems with mine. If you set them up correctly, they are as comfortable as it gets. You might want to look into the Sit-On-Top type of yak for your first one. I don’t have one, but I’m told they are a bit more user-friendly for beginners, and have less of a learning curve.
If you plan on taking a lot of gear, and have it accessable on the water, then a canoe is the way to go.
There is no way you can compare a pontoon float to a kayak or canoe. It’s no contest.
Hope this helps,
Semper Fi!
Wild One,
No clue why this has not come up, and if I had not recently talked the wife into letting me purchase a 444 barrel for my encore pistol…I’d not bring it to your attention either. 8) :lol:
But Duckster had on the for sale board a Wood River Gliderider, For $275.00…From all the posts by others here who own them…and the shear fact this sucker weigh’s in at a Mere 6 Lb’s…6 freak’in pounds!
As I said before there ain’t nothing wrong with owning more than 1 boat! 8)
A little saving and you’d back in the ballpark while researching and enjoying a gliderider 8)
Just wanted to be sure you were aware of this option…Cause I don’t have the bucks for it…or rather could not pry’em from the Bosses deadly grip! :lol:
It took me quite a bit of time to realize that there is no one answer to this question of which type of human powered boat is best. The reason is simple.
As a fishing platform: pontoons>canoes>kayaks (if your remember back to junior high that says that a pontoon is better than a canoe which in turn is better than a kayak).
As a mode of transportation: kayaks>canoes>pontoons
So you have to evaluate how much you are going to be travelling and how much our are going to be fishing. But this is a false argument. The same false argument about which one flyrod you should own. The answer is you should own many flyrods and by extention at least one each of a kayak, canoe, and pontoon. So if you are going to head 5 miles up the shore to go fishing, take the kayak because you will not get there before dark in the pontoon. If you are going to fish a pond or small lake, take the pontoon and have a luxury fishing experience. If you and a friend want to fish together along the shore of a sizable lake, then the canoe is perfect.
Darn, I talked myself into it, I do need to go get a pontoon to complete the set (for now).
David
I’d say that sums it up pretty good. Now then do I want to fish or go somewhere?