anyone use or know anyone who has used the watermaster inflatable kickboats? like the looks of them, but a little pricey. interested in comparison’s between them and a pontoon.
I’ve fished from the “Kodiak”, Watermaster once, when a club member of mine wanted to trade so she could try my pontoon boat.
In about five hours of fishing from her craft, I decided I liked my 'Toon a little better.
The “life raft shape” of the WM catches the wind, quite easily, so you’re always fighting it’s position to hold yourself steady. It was also a lot slower, when finning and rowing it, than my 'Toon when I wanted to move from “A” to “B”.
It’s basically, “a life life with half a floor cut away”, so although you can carry a lot more gear, on board, it’s shape for the wind and speed, leave a lot to be desired. When I mention “speed”, I don’t water ski with my 'Toon but when the sky happens to change color out on a big lake…I want to be able to get to shore as quickly as I can and the WM seemed pretty slow, in comparison, for that.
They, are, “light” to get around… I think the Kodiak weighs less than 50 pounds, but my Outcast only weighs 47.
This isn’t a detailed or complete report, because like I said “I only borrowed one for a few hours fishing”. So, these are only my own, quickly made, observations is all!!
I have used a WaterMaster for many years. There are pros and cons.
The Watermaster is not a fast rowing craft that is true, but, when the wind comes up and you have to row across the lake, you will make it in a WaterMaster as compared to the pontoon boat (which I also have) which will end up down on the far end of the lake. The pontoon boat is faster to row but catches the wind and sails across the water. When you are halfway across the lake and catch a big fish, you will drift a lot farther out of your way in a pontoon than in the WaterMaster.
The WaterMaster is easy to kick troll with the flippers, most of the time I only use my oars when I want to move from point A to point B and I use my feet the rest of the time, so slowly work a section of water or quietly drift past a line of reeds.
I really like the feature of the one opened bottom of the WaterMaster. You can get into shallow water (with a solid bed on the bottom) and simply stand up, wading while still being within your craft.
I use two small mushroom style anchors and when I want to fish Chronnies. I set my anchors at 45 degree angles from the rear half of my WaterMaster and let out enough line so the anchors can really dig in. I have sat out many a storm doing just that and enjoyed great fishing while doing so.
Like I said, I own both a WaterMaster raft and a pontoon boat. I use both, but if I know I am going to be in a windy area I always use my WaterMaster raft. If I have to row a long distance to a fishing area and it is not going to be really windy then I use the pontoon boat.
Larry
thanks guys. just the info i was looking for.
I have used a Watermaster on streams many times. The raft part is very well built and durable. The raft is also very sea worthy.
The oar system is the weak link. For starters they are too short contributing to the crafts slowness. Secondly they are not very sturdy and the oar lock system is subject to breaking frequently. Be sure to carry spare oar lock parts.
The handling characteristics were well described by the preceding responders and contrasted to the pontoons well.
In summary, I prefer the pontoon for rivers.