Inflatables?

[catfishonthelake]

Does anyone have any feedback on inflatables?

I live in an apartment in Jersey City, have nowhere to put a canoe or kayak or store a boat/trailer. I'm trying to find away to get a small craft for freshwater. I'm not even going to put a motor, just fish small ponds that I can row, like the Assunpink lakes. I found a Sea Eagle Inflatable, does anyone have any feedback before I think about buying one?

Or have any other suggestions for a cheap/portable craft?

[surf, snow, civil war]

Try inflatable pontoon boats. wally worlds website had some for 200-300 bucks and they have oars for rowing.

[Terasec]

Originally Posted by catfishonthelake

Does anyone have any feedback on inflatables?

I live in an apartment in Jersey City, have nowhere to put a canoe or kayak or store a boat/trailer. I'm trying to find away to get a small craft for freshwater. I'm not even going to put a motor, just fish small ponds that I can row, like the Assunpink lakes. I found a Sea Eagle Inflatable, does anyone have any feedback before I think about buying one?

Or have any other suggestions for a cheap/portable craft?

saw one at walmart, looked like a 2 seater, with oars for $288.
box looked a little large for my liking if your putting it in a closet,
someone has posted a pic of them using an inflatable for hiking/fishing his only weighed about 3 lbs, about the weight of a tent.

[fishermang12369]

u can also try the porta bote the 8ft one it folds up

[Tim Murphy]

Dear catfish,

Do you own chest waders?

If so look at a belly boat. You need the waders especially in cooler weather because you sit with half your body in the water, but they are great fun to fish from. There is no need for oars since you propel yourself around the lake with fins.

You can be in one for anywhere from under $ 100.00 to $ 500.00 or more. Realistically, if you look at a place like Sierra Trading Post you can usually find a couple of models on sale in the bargain bin. I've bought both a Waterskeeter Day Tripper and a Caddis Navigator from them and paid right around $ 110.00 a piece for them including shipping. An inexpensive pump costs about $ 20.00 and then you need fins which run anywhere from $ 15.00 to $ 150.00. Add a life vest which is required here in PA and you are all set.

As far as inflatable boats go they make boats that are pool toys for a couple of dollars and they make boats that are safe and rugged and seaworthy enough to explore in the Arctic Sea but they will set you back $ 1500.00 or more for a 10 footer.

Myself, I don't think I'd trust a cheap inflatable except for summertime use, and for less money you can have a belly boat.

Hit me with a PM if you want some information on the belly boats I have and use.

Regards,
Tim Murphy :-)

[catfishonthelake]

Hey guys, thanks for all the killer feedback.

Tim, I have thought about those belly boats a few times. I have chest waders, but they're boot waders, and I'm not sure if I can put fins on them.

Is it possible to put fins on boot waders, or is it possible to go without the fins?

Let me know, thanks a lot.

mark

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Mark,

Yes, you can easily put the right fins on bootfoot waders. I have stockingfoot waders but I always wear my wading shoes over the waders. You need shoes to protect the bare foot of the waders.

Caddis makes a nice pair of fins that run anywhere from $ 25.00 to $ 30.00 that will fit just about anyone. I wear size 13 wading shoes and I have no trouble fitting them on over the shoes. I do suggest you buy a pair of 60 or 72" athletic shoe laces to replace the shorter ones that come on the fins. That way you can tie them tight across your instep and then wrap the laces around your ankle a couple of times to make sure you don't kick a fin loose and loose it.

You absolutely do need fins, they make it pretty easy to move around and to hold position over a good fishing spot. I couldn't imagine trying to move around without them.

Like I said hit me with a PM and I'll give you a couple of links to investigate. Any belly boat or float tube I'll suggest to you will easily fit in a large duffle bag with the fins and the pump and you can store them in a hall closet.

If you do PM me give an idea how big a fella you are. I'm a big guy at 6' 5" and 300 plus and I'm used to float tubes that fit me. If you are average sized you won't necessarily need or want the tubes that I use.

Regards,
Tim Murphy :-)

[lostncentralma]

i think that after doing the float tube thing myself for a while i would look at the inflateable pontoon things first, puts you a little higher up gives you a little more starage and oars, i loved doing the float tube thing butthere comes questions, if on a large body and a long way oars will get there quicker and with less work, what do you do if you gotta take a big dump and your in a float tube, finning all the way in getting out of the ube and then stripping off waders
ive done both if i was in your shoes i would see if the inflatable pontoon fits your price range they break down small enough for your needs, and the iflatabel pontoons cane take some harbors and such if you want it too

[Tim Murphy]

Dear lost,

I just want to add that I also have an inflatable pontoon boat, a 9' Cabela's FishCat Panther. I like it a lot but I have a full sized 8 foot bed pick up truck to schlep it around. I think that if I had to keep it in an apartment and break it down to store in a closet or under the bed after each use that I wouldn't bother having it?

That might just be me though?

Regards,
Tim Murphy

[lostncentralma]

i agree to some point, its definately more work to break it all the way down if you need to go small for transportation purposes, but i feel its the better of the 2 all things aside you can still break it down for storage in a small apartment and its a bit more comfortable then a float tube, not that a flaot tube isnt comfy im a big guy like you are and a little more room to move around is very nice,

[Chief2]

look at the porta-boat. Folds up into basically nothing as I understand.

[Yotone]

i have a sevlor colorado thats only been used once. its a sea worthy canoe that fits two. i planned on using it often but my wife decided it was too much of a hassle cleaning it off after using it. i forgot to thank her for telling me that after i spent over $600 on the canoe, oars, pumps, and life jackets.

[hatidua]

Go to a GOOD fly shop that caters to freshwater fly fishermen and they typically have a selection of various inflatables to fit just about every need and budget.