Prep The Fleet for Battle!

The weekend weather is looking fine.

Things I Really Like Week: Personal Pontoon Boats

For my second post of "Things I Really Like Week" I have chosen the personal pontoon boat. Mine is a Waterskeeter (and no the pontoons are not pink as some have suggested) but rather are burgundy. I spent less than $400 on this boat that basically fits into a duffel bag (a very large one mind you) and allows me to fish everything from tail races to still water.

The boat can go from fully disassembled to ready to fish in 15 minutes. It comes with two storage packs that hook and loop to the tubes, a rod holder, an adequate anchor system and a place for a small cooler. Once assembled, I can hoist the whole thing onto my back and carry it down to the river.

The boat handles like a dream in both still and moving water. Mine is more of a low water boat but I once got caught on a tail water with the several generators open and inadvertently took her through, what in my mind was, at least a class three rapid. I distinctly remember the view I had during the ride, water, sky, water, rock wall, sky etc.... I wouldn't recommend it because I have seen one of these boats flipped, but I managed.

The ease of assembly, the small size, and the fun of having a stable watercraft that I can take just about anywhere makes my personal pontoon boat one of the "Things I Really Like."

NRS New Product: Gig Bob Frameless Personal Pontoon

If the whole blogger/writer/marketer thing doesn't work out for our pal Tom Chandler of The Trout Underground, perhaps he can farm out his services as a product model.

In this photo Tom is adeptly demonstrating a new personal pontoon boat from NRS. The interesting thing about the NRS "Gig Bob" (we have no idea why they call it that) is that it has no frame. The base is 100% inflatable (in the fashion of NRS's other raft products) and uses expandable strings in the pontoon portion of the craft to keep it very rigid. The whole package rolls up into a backpack and weighs around 50 lbs.

Word from NRS is that these have been tested on class 3 water so we are guessing that the pure buoyancy makes up for the lack of upturned pontoons. The MSRP will be somewhere around $1,600 to $1,700. It could also make a great substitute for that inflatable chair in your television room.

Tyler Harris with NRS fished our email out of his spambox (we hate when that happens) and sent us the specs on the "Gigg Bob."

NRS GigBob: MSRP $1595.00

* Material: 840 denier PVC coated Nylon
* Dimensions: * Over all: 8' L x 4' W x 17" T
* Deck: 6' 6" L x 3' 10" W
* Weight: 48 lbs
* Comes with: 7' 2-piece Carlisle Oars w/ sleeves and stoppers, oarlocks, springs w/ split rings, two Easy Access Tackle Bags and a Stripping Apron.
* Frameless design * Lots of tie-down points
* Fully adjustable seat with a pocket on the back We are currently taking orders for the GigBob.

The Boats will be available to ship in Early March, 2009.

Gear: Be a Patriot - Buy a Toon!

One of our all time favorite purchases has been our personal pontoon boat from Water Skeeter. Owning one of these versatile craft has opened up a whole new world of fly fishing for us. That's why we were excited to see this Water Skeeter Lo Profile Pontoon Boat on sale at Sierra Trading Post for 30% off it's normal retail price of $795. At $549.95 it comes in just enough under the amount of your economic stimulus check to allow you some gas money for an actual fishing trip or two (or maybe flowers for the wife if she finds out you spent the check).

Rowing is great exercise so you won't need a gym membership any longer. It will even break down into a package perfectly sized to fit into the back of your Prius. Consider your purchase to be doing your part to stimulate the economy and working for a greener planet, all the while getting rid of the love handles.

Closeouts. Water Skeeter's Lo Profile pontoon boat is a great first boat that takes you way back in the sticks. Super portable and super sneaky, you'll enjoy its lightweight and intelligent design.

Accessories include:
Fixed seat
Cargo pockets
Mesh stripping baskets-utility trays
Aluminum rod holders
50' 10mm anchor rope
Four pully anchor system
Capacity: 350 lb.
Size: Approx. 8-½x4-½’/
Weight: 62 lb.
Material:
Aluminum frame
Double-coated PVC pontoons
Aluminum-fiberglass oars
Steel motor mounts and gear racks
Closeouts. China.
Pump not included