I am interested in getting a pontoon boat to float the Skykomish or similar rivers. Outcast seems to be the best brand, but is the most expensive. The waterskeeter looks good too. Orvis makes a boat for $450. Any advice?

My advice is to watch out for sleds if you float the Sky. Maybe wear some blaze orange.
I've only used one brand, but there are probably many good options. Just don't get the cheapest one you can find. And start with an easy river until you get comfortable with the handling.

IMO, You get what you pay for, go for a welded frame, min 8' pontoons, if you go cheaper upgrade your oar lock system to something sturdy, many of these boats come with cheap a$$ oar locks and usually the oars they supply with the boat are not long enough (your life depends on your rowing system not failing)

All of the folks here at the Rainshadow facility own and use the Outcast pontoon boats when the rivers are low, and the drift boats can't go.
We have been very pleased with their durability and performance.
The smaller in stature use the Pac 800, while others here use the Pac 900.

I'll keep it short as if you do a search on this topic you will find a wealth of excellent information.

Waterskeeter, Fishcat = JUNK!!! CRAP!!! etc.!!
Buck's Bags = Excellent for the price!
Outcast = Best of the best!!!

Jeff,

I bought a Buck's Bag South Fork and am quite happy with it. I got mine through outdrs.com, they have the best price on that boat BY FAR! They also carry Outcasts and a few other brands. Check them out. The customer service is great, and they even let me try the 6' oars, then trade them in for 7' oars for a minimal fee. Go with the 7' oars. My boat with oar rests and anchor system was $614 shipped to my door. You will pay $200 more elsewhere. I would suggest a 15 pound pyramid anchor for your stopping power. It will hold you in most water, providing you have enough rope.

I also added an old cooler on the back and attached a few rod storage racks to it for another $20. That way I can pack three or more rods, a net, a spare oar, food for the day, soda, beer, and still have a large dry space for extra clothes. Gonna add another accessory for Winter runs, a gun rack!

Andy

Let us know what you

Andy-
I am sorry but I have to correct you...I have no idea who was quoting you over $800 for a South Fork...but if they were, they were seriously trying to rip you off.

jeff'ed-
The retail pricing of a South Fork is $600...the package that Andy is referring to runs about $690 retail (anchor system $60, oar rests $30...both of which are totally unneccasary for running rivers).

Plus avoid the discount online retailers like ourdrs.com and others...they wont be there for you down the road when you have warranty issues and they sure as Hell can not help you when you need advice for running rivers and directions to put-ins and take-outs and the such.

The South Fork is an excellent boat for the money and has probally been the best selling pontoon boat for a good 5 years or so. It is a true 8'er, comes with a stainless steelh frame and an excellent warranty.

Plus most shops will throw in a double action pump when you purchase one...which are about $40 retail.

Avoid the Fishcats which are just a bit cheaper then the South Forks but of much worse quality. They are made oversees with single stitched pontoons and the bladder within the pontoons are absolute crap. The warranty is 1 year and you will be lucky if do get one year out of the boat...especially if you are running it in rivers.

Yeah, I actually agree with sparkey. I used to have a fishcat at one time, but luckily mine was similar to a pac8. Made different a decade ago. Now they look like crap. When I had mine (before I upgraded to a pac800) they were identicle frames on both, tubes were a bit better on upscale (I got a deal on it, only reason I bought it). Then, once I saw the steelheader, I was hooked. The moment I had the money I bought one.

But, depends on what you want and how you're gonna work the boat. If you take care of it, and don't beat the crap out of it, you'll get by with a low end waterskeeter/outcast. If you have the money, move up to a mid level/high end pontoon boat (your bucks/outcasts)

BUT, if you want a REAL high end boat, get yourself a Steelheader. The BEST OF THE BEST of the production made inflatables. (hehehe Sparkey). Only better is custom made at that point.

If you are only gonna do moderate rivers, no worry about getting a high end boat. I agree you need longer oars. Those 6' oars suck. Go up to at least 7'. I rigged 8' on my 9' boat. When I wanted to move, I MOVED!

A boat is what you make of it. Buy what you need. Don't buy a cheap low end boat when you want to hit some hard water. And don't buy a custom build cataraft if you only plan to float lakes and VERY moderate rivers.

I can help you quite a bit. Just let me know what you want and how much you want to spend and can tell you what way to go.

Please remember to shop your local fishing stores [I don't mean Walmart!!!] , that is where you will get current reports on fish, water conditions, guides, lots of tackle selection etc. There is more to shopping for tackle than just price!! When I fish the Vedder I always buy some tackle at Fred's even if I don't need anything. 100% of my local tackle purchases are made at Ted's in Lynnwood, could I save money if I shopped online or at Walmart,sure. Could I get 60 8 oz. white Pt. Wilson darts without hooks so I could put on 2/0 Owner trebles and enjoy some of the best fishing of my life at Canadian Swiftsure the last two months at Walmart or online. I think not!!!!! Everything you do is a comprimise on something else----- if price is your highest prioity you will sacrifice service.

Give Sos at Xtream a call. Check my sig for the info. He makes the best ones I've seen.

I've really only tried the products from Buck's Bag. I've got a Bronco but really like it (Christmas present from the wife). I've taken it on numerous rivers as well as off a few beaches in Puget Sound and have always felt pretty safe in it, safe being relative. Like everyone else has already said, be sure you know your limits.

Jerry & Ryan,

I understand your sentiments. I am a commercial lender for a community bank in a small town. I tried to buy a Bucks Bag from three diffrent shops within a 30 mile radius of my home, but two didn't know how to order one from that company and carried the cheaper brands you mentioned. The third carried them, but were out of stock, were unsure when they were gonna be restocked, and couldn't give me a turn-around time on the additional accessories that I wanted and were unsure of the price. Two other shops were not an option because one reeks of cigarette smoke and carries limited gear while the other gave my Brother-in-law a hard time when he returned a Columbia fly vest I got him for Christmas, and he had the receipt with him. You have no idea how much we wish for a quality sporting goods shop like Ted's or Yeager's in our area. Failor's in Aberdeen is just starting out and they listen, have good service, and I buy something from them weekly, needed or not. They have even added 4 of the 5 products that I suggested they add.

As to my math:

Outdrs.com / your price
South Fork raft / $479 / $600
anchor system / $80 / $60
oar rest/gun rack / $25 / $30
Shipping / $30 / $0
Tax / $0 / $60
TU 2 year member/ $free / $?
Oar upgrade, 7'/ $20 / $20?

total / $634 / $770

Your prices matched a lot of the other folks, but a few were higher, so you can see that it wasn't a leap to say that if I didn't shop around I could have paid much more for the boat. One call to these folks answered all of my questions, and the fellow remembered me when I called back to exchange the 6' oars for 7 footers. My frustration level had been met, and I wanted a boat with the options I requested. Period. For me to drive up north to get a raft would have cost even more in gas, and especially time, which is worth much per hour than I get paid at work.

As to the anchor system and oar rest/rod rest/gun rack, I wanted them. They come in handy when I want to rest my rods securely, carry a shotgun or muzzleloader during duck/deer season, or hop out quickly in shallow enough water to fight a fish without having to beach the boat.

Next time I'm up in your neighborhood, I'll buy something at Ted's.

Andy

Andy-
I understand your dilema and please do not take anything I said personel...

Another shop to check out when you are in the North End...

For terminal tackle and rods and reels...wait 'til the new tackle shop at 3 Rivers Marine opens up...it will rock!!!!!

Andy. Why not just go to their web site and order it from them. www.bucksbags.com

wow! A lot of good input here. I bought the Outcast Pac 800 from Teds. I also got an 8 wt St Croix and a G Loomis Adventure reel. I only need the steelhead to take my fly on the sky!