I have a few choices on watercraft #4. Should I buy a small twin tube cat (9'), or a driftboat? I plan on using this for small rivers in Grays Harbor county and the rest of the peninsula.

I have one suggestion so far, but some of you old salts, age not withstanding, have more river experience than I on the rivers.

I have also seen an 11.5' mini drifter made in Aberdeen that will fit in the back of my truck. Too small? Only $1795 fully outfitted, brand new.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

Andy-
I am chomping at the bit to buy a drifter for a couple reasons. A driftboat allows me to pull plugs and take other people with me which is not the case with a standard pontoon boat.

Other then those two reasons, I love running pontoon boats, unless I find the need to anchor up.

I love the portability and the ease of operation that comes with a pontoon boat and because I fish alone most of the time, a pontoon boat is all that is needed most of the time.

Doggie (Sorry, Andy, couldn't resist)

I have had driftboats for years, and am likely to get a pontoon boat later this year. Why? Because I flyfish, and I'm sick of rowing all the time!

The question really gets down to, how will you manage the pickup/shuttle. If you have a solution where you can get shuttled by yourself, then a pontoon becomes pretty cool. If you don't, then you need to have a buddy who also has one, so that you can take the two cars to get the turnaround handled. But if you're fishing with a buddy, then you could take a drift boat as well.

I have never been enamoured of the small drifters. Big enough to be a hassle, but two small for two people. If you're going for a drift boat, get at least a 14 footer. If you flyfish, consider the Lavro 15 ft PFD. But that might be a little out of your range.

Or you could buy redhooks, and come fishing with me.

Hi Andy, I don't have either, but I am just glad to see your post. Missed your input for the last month or so.

Well, I may be selling off my original 16' cataraft setup. Will be more then $1700 though. Going to upgrade my pontoons on my current frame. Hmmm, let the bidding begin.

But, onto boats. Yup, what was said above is true. If you're solo, you'll have to be prepared to leave some expensive equiptment behind. Unless you go to a 12-16' cat and have multi person frame built.

Thanks for the replies. Keep 'em coming.

I can mootch rides with the best of them, but I want to have a boat that I can get out in when I don't have a partner, and it is always nice to be able to share a ride with someone who doesn't have a boat or doesn't know a river. Maybe the perfect boat doesn't exist. Pitty, I might just have to but two boats.

I plan on traveling somewhat light, a vest for gear and one rod if I use a pontoon. That will usually get me through a full day.

I also saw a fiberglass DB shell in Hoquiam today that was selling for $1750. It had oarlocks, and seats, but that was all. No anchor set up, and the side rails were not reinforced. The shell was brand new, probably home made, and it looked pretty good. It was 15' long.

What are some of the limitations of the pontoon boats. I know I need a turnaround for both, but traveling light, all I need to leave downstream is a mountain bike for a solo trip in the pontoon, and a good lock for the raft at the takeout.

Sorry for not being active on the board. New job and a major home landscaping job have kept me pretty busy. Earning my kitchen passes for summer.

Andy

Hello Andy and others ...

I now have both a pontoon boat and a drift boat. The Pontoon boat is a 9' Fish Cat by Outcast. The drift boat is a 1976 14' Eastside. I use the pontoon easily twice as often as the drift boat, simply because I fish solo way more than fishing with someone, and the only reason I would use my drift boat is to carry other people. I find the pontoon much easier to handle than a drift boat, even compared to a sweet handling fiberglass boat like my old Eastside.

Andy, put all those kitchen passes in the piggy bank for Sekiu this summer!!

-N.

dogfish,
Seems to me that I have seen a picture of two little boys proudly holding a days catch before?Going on that info I would say the DB to acomidate the next generation.

I personally am hiding money from my wife so that I can get a cat,but I prefer to fish alone and only am risking divorce and some upset canines when they get left at home.I like the cat vs db because of its portability and the ability to do lower water than the db.I am also not looking for a vessel to fish out of as much as I am looking for a means to get from hole to hole.I am to squirrly to sit in a db all day,I usually turn down the invites because it just is not my gig.I believe in simple and an overgrown intertube to float from hole to hole seems the simplist.

Andy,
My remember the size of my DB? It is 15ft and it is ok to take 2 people. The only bad thing is in the river we fished was that in the summer it is nearly impossible to get a DB down, that is where a CAT can come in handy. I abuse my DB so I will be down on that river all summer, I will give you a call some time when I am coming down. take care hope you new job is going well.
chris

Andy I have a sweet 14' Don Hill wood/Glass Composite DB, It is perfect for 2 people a little to small for 3. The boat is sky blue with natural oak chines and rails, overall weight is about 200 lbs, with or without trailer.

Saw something you might want to check out. Go to the Willie website. In the used boat section they have a lil wille drift boat for sale.

Andy,

My buddy has a Don Hill mini-drifter that is 10 foot and can go anywhere. I think they are made in Oregon somewhere. It is nice and light, treads easily, and comfortably fishes two people with gear. I am not sure if they are still made because I haven't seen one other than his in quite a while. I think he paid around $1000 for his in excellent used condition. If you could find one of these it might allow you to buy a pontoon boat as well without upseting the wife. Just a thought. Good luck in your search.

Josh

Hey Josh, Maybe Chris would Sell his mini drifter for the right price?????? Andy, buy a pontoon boat. The Buck's bag South Fork is the one I'd get..... Hook up with Josh and ask to see his, that's what he's got, and it seems to be ten times the pontoon boat that I have.

I have a 16' Alumaweld DB and have never rowed a pontoon boat although given the difference in weight of the two crafts I don't doubt for a minute they are easier to row. One thing I have always noted about pontoons tho is that the rower for the most part must stay seated. I'm sure there are larger models that allow some walking or standing however. Around here things get damn cold in the winter and I cannot imagine being forced to stay seated all day, yikes. Where are you going to put the propane bottle and heater? My boat is incredibly stable and walking/ standing is safe at all times. Can you plug from a pontoon boat? Also, half of fishing for me is sharing the day with friends and family, what better way to do that than in a DB? Good luck!!

RM

Well,

I bit the bullet today. I bought watercraft #5 (forgot about the float tube). The wife nearly hit the roof when I told her , but then I reminded her that when I replaced out Pergo floor, Pergo paid me $608 to install the new floor.

I bought the Bucks Bag South Fork in green. I got an anchor system, and the oar rests too, all for $614 including shipping and handling. I thought I got a pretty good price, because I saw a number of places charging $600 for the cat alone. I got it at www.outdrs.com, and the owner was quite a character. He said he regularly catches fish up to 3 pounds on the Gunnison River. I told him we call those baitfish out here, he laughed. The basic boat is $479.

Next step, I need a lesson on a river. Anyone care to show me? I should have my boat by next Friday, and I will be ready to fish by Sunday,

Andy

Andy,

Osprey and I are heading out next weekend to a location near you. He's bringing his cat......maybe we could hook up? Drop me a line....

Hi Dan,

Check your e-mail.

Andy

Go Andy! You can use it as a backup at Sekui.

Ron

I consider my 12 foot cat ....the perfect boat.handles like a dream ,hauls everything I need ,and Sparkey........you can anchor it too ..........Os