I've been looking at pontoon boats for the smaller rivers and found them to run from about $350 to $1000.

From those that own pontoons, what sort of things should I look for? Look out for?

Stay closer too the $1000.00 price range and you will probably get a quality raft. Remember, this is your life your gambling with so don't think cheap. Pay close attention to the seat and mounts. I read a story not to long ago about a seat that broke off and sent the rower over the back into the water! Good sturdy oar locks are crucial also. Most rafts come with two piece aluminum oars, consider upgrading to Cataract oars. If your going to use it in the winter look for one that keeps you higher off the water. (larger diameter tubes.) Bottom line, go for quality!

As always, it depends. That is, if you are truly going to run big water, you need a better boat. Otherwise, you can get by with less. The question is how much of a margin of safety do you want.

Back during the summer, I drifted with a friend on the Sky. He used a 7', and I used a 9' much stronger pontoon. Take a look at the difference in the size in this picture.



Mine retails for about 800 his is about 250. Both did just fine on this calmer water during the summer when flows were low. I hope this helps.

Thank you fishinmagician. Someone had to say it.

Goharley,
Please consider the following two points:

Safety-
Without resorting to tales of woe, let it suffice it to say there is a definate reason why you see pontoon boats mainly on lakes and rarely on our winter steelhead rivers in the NW. We're not talking river rafts here. Even on some of the "easy" stretches, I'd personally be very uneasy in a 'toon. Just this week I witnessed two DB incidents (1st got wet, 2nd broke a rod). Both could have been tragic in a 'tooner. I have seen enough tragedy on these rivers to speak out against these crafts for this intended purpose. But if you insist, stay with one that has a river rowing frame that you can really reef on and sits high enough that you could jump off onto a sweeper your craft gets sucked into.

Practicality-
Plus, have you actually fished a river from one? I get a crick in my neck just thinking of casting to the up-side all day while pointed downstream. Anchoring up in strong flows would give me the willys. Transport and portability may be their primary assets, but most of the prime bank fishing spots you can walk to anyway. Not to mention transporting that precious steelhead rod safely through chutes and channels without having to break it down all the time.

They sound cheap and effective, but on further inspection and closer analysis they are clearly less than practical or safe on the winter salmon & steelhead rivers of the NW. Think of it this way; you might take a Harley down the freeway but would you drive a go-cart, cheap or expensive, even if you could? While it might get you from place to place, it certainly won't be safely or comfortably.

On some lower stretches and lower flows they might suffice, but lakes are where 'toons shine!

Be safe and live long, brother.

i own one closer to the 1000$ end , i like it i wear my PFD and always float with someone else. do a search of old post this topic has been done before.

havnfun,

Which winter rivers and stretches do you feel comfortable floating with your 'toon?

Mooch, you have to look at "all" the boats that they call "pontoons". You have two grades, the catarafts being much better and safer. Actually all the points you make are for boats like Outcasts and the likes. Now, you run up some hardcore catarafts in same price range, and you have a fishing machine. Neither will pull plugs effectively. But, you do alot of fishing on the go, a good cataraft you'll stand up and fish from. I know my Steelheader ran the Hoh, Duc, Upper Sky (Did a test run for it's class V distinction on the boulder drip with it, but not fished), and a few other rivers. Have been highly successful using them for true "mini driftboats". And had a hard time flipping them, except close in the class V's, but ANY boat is able to do that in a class V. None are safe, not even my 16' cataraft.

So yes, they are perfectly safe. And, best to go with a 9 or 10' model (of course, I strongly say the Skookum boats all the way). This way your rods will sit inside the boat just fine. Normally, I don't fish longer then a 10' rod anyways (except my speys). So I'm good to go. They are good vessels, especially for the "lone" angler out there. Plus, they can anchor in just about any water a DB can safely (the Steelheader grade catarafts that is). I know I have, and fished some OP rivers an super high/heavy water with mine safely and successfully. Plus, they give you alot more leeway for someone new on the sticks. You nail a couple rocks running down a boulder garden in a DB, you can damage or swamp a DB (which I've seen first hand, and was there day Bob pulled the guys off of the Hoh). But with a cataraft, acts like a big bumped. Will push you away from a rock if you hit it hard. But like I said, these are cataraft grade boats. Better frames, better tubes. Made to whitewater as well as fish. I've owned and run alot of the boats on the market, and their is a difference in construction of the two. For an example, my avatar is running the original Steelheader (they've since improved tons compared to most who build the same) down the Hoh Oxbow near flood stages (we had traveled that far, we were gonna fish it). Water was churning, and the boat didn't miss a beat. My buddy didn't think I'd had made it, since his DB was being pushed around, so took pictures of me while his buddy rowed. I made it through the run better then he did. And I had to veer to the right since I caught up to him and passed him. So he went through the easy straight through. I went to the right and had to spill over the rock nose first into the slot at the oxbow. Didn't flip and got to pullout before him.

Steelheader69,

Thank you for pointing out the distinction between the two. Catarafts like the "Steelheader" are designed with rivers in mind. But, correct me if I am wrong, these crafts when properly outfitted are no longer in the $350-1000 price range. The danger is, for those just starting out, that they will not appreciate the important distinction between a pontoon boat and a catacraft, until it is too late and they've spent their hard earned cash. Sounds like you've upgraded a few times yourself. Too often I hear pontoon boats being irresponsibly promoted as dual purpose crafts. Even the more robust catacrafts and river rafts are a bit overkill on lakes, but most pontoon boats are just too marginal for most winter rivers around here. Technology has certainly brought many improvements to these types of crafts, but the truth is that each type and design has much narrower application and optimal performance characteristics than most people realize or that some would have you believe. Even so, I could deal with a pig on the lake, but no way would I want to get caught short on a river. If you know what I mean.

By the way, I notice you weren't waving as you went sailing by that boat in your avatar.

Harley,

I'm going to take a different approach than the previous posters. It isn't the size of the river that should influence your choice.

First and foremost, an objective assessment of yourself as a waterman is the most important element in regards to what type and grade of watercraft is suitable for your use on the rivers you intend to navigate. If you're born to run rivers, then an innertube might satisfy. At the other end of the scale are those who would be a danger to themselves and others in the Queen Mary.

I've also thought I would like a pontoon boat for river use. However, I've thought I couldn't justify it because I've long had a river canoe and a small 7' raft that pre-dated the popular use of 'toons. Both of these are craft that some have said are not suited to floating the rivers, yet I've covered rivers all over the PNW with them without incident. Key to avoiding those incidents are that I don't run rapids that exceed the capability of either boat, and I am willing to and have portaged when necessary.

So be ruthlessly objective in assessing your own skill and caution and the kind of water you want to float. My raft is high quality and durable, so I'd look for the same in a 'toon. My raft lacks the features I'd look for on a 'toon: generous gear storage pockets, a storage deck for a small ice box and duffle, anchor bracket, and adjustable foot rests.

Another important attribute is whether you intend to fish from the craft or use it as transportation. If the former, then the Steelheader or equivalent becomes your bottom line. If you'll be fishing from your feet and using the boat for transportation, then I think the field is fairly wide open.

Most importantly, avoid junk. It will break, and usually after you've passed the point of no return.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Steelheader69,

What level was the Sky running at when you ran the Boulder Drop?

IB

I started with a Buck's Bags 8 footer. I used it on lakes and the Stilly, both the main and north fork. It was ok but I needed to go bigger. I'm not exactly small and I didn't like having half the tube under water. What it boiled down to was that I wanted something I felt safe taking down bigger water. I now have a 10' Xstream cataraft. It handles better, I can stand on it, it anchors safely (within reason), and it has more room for gear. It just feels more stable overall. The trade off is that with the bigger models you can't just pick it up with one hand and carry it down a trail to the river. My Buck's weighed somewhere around 40lbs which was no problem to tote around. My Xstream is closer to 100lbs.
The Xstreams and Bad Cats are very similar and are both around a grand.
I don't mind paying a few hundred dollars more for something that I'm trusting my life to.

[QUOTE] So be ruthlesly objective in assessing your own skill and caution and the kind of water you want to float

Or " A mans got to know his limitations"
Dirty Harry


Know your equipment, know your abilities and its always a good idea to go someone who"s skills exceed your own.

IB

IB, I don't remember, was a good 8 years ago or so. I know I got report from my buddy it was prime. He was the guy I used to run cargo hauler for on his multiday whitewater excursions. He did all the planning, I ran the spare boat.

Actually Mooch. I didn't do upgrading several times. You have to realize, that there were BIG whitewater catarafts, then they about a decade later the first fishing "pontoon boats" came to the market. Like Salmo, I used to have an old bucket boat that we used to run. Ran all sorts of water. But, when catarafts came out they really became the sportscars of the whitewatering world. But I was never pleased with the pontoon boats I bought. I wanted a "cataraft" type boat, but I couldn't find one. I tried uprgrading outcasts, then tried out quite a few of the different makes out there. None satisfied me. But met Bill at the sportsman show at the old Kingdome and fell in love with his boats. BS'd with him awhile, and found out he was an old whitewater guy like me (well, he's a bit older lol, I'm only 33, but started whitewater before I hit my teens). More I talked to him and more I studied his boats, the more I realized how well they were built and how he built from ground up to be true fishing/whitewatering boats. So no matter where you want to take them, you have a better chance of making it out. Plus, they have a heavier carrying capacity. Making them safer when you have a load on them. (including tossing a couple big kings on the back ). But Bill started it all in the hardcore boat scene. The rest of the boats in it's class mentioned and not mentioned are pretty much following up what he perfected. Nice thing about Skookum, they've constantly improved their boats. A big benny.

Oh yeah, Mooch. If you go with your top notch Outcasts, they are virtually the same price as the Steelheaders. I mean like the Pac 9000 series. I do believe they are running about $1400 with nothing but the boat and oars. That is the top of the line. And still they don't compare to the Steelheaders IMHO. Compare any boat out there that is made by a pure "fishing craft company" and the steelheader is made of heavier oz material and one of the best frames on the market. So something to last you for quite a few years. But, most people base too much by price, or the looks. There are a few boats out there that are knock offs of the steelheader. But most have tubes made overseas of lesser material. Look similar, but lesser materials at almost same price. Where as the Steelheader is made here in Woodinville with better materials and frames are built here too (except on the Osprey series). I guess it's flattering to be copied I guess. But I still hold the Steelheader as the creme dela creme of these boats, and I've tested them hard and have come out pleased.

Steelheader69

You look like big guy in you avitar are on your 16" pontoon? How do you haul it?

IB

My buddy has a pair of 9' Skookum Ospreys that we fish around the Grays Harbor tribs, and up on the OP.

They are nice in a couple respects. First, you can launch them and take them out in places you can't get in/out of with a driftboat. They are very capable of handling rough water, as long as you are.

They aren't bad to fish from, as long as you have a float or spinner or something that doesn't require you to drag bottom. A rod holder is mandatory equipment so you can put your rod somewhere to row to shore when you hook a fish. Get a gear bag, too, to stor the stuff you need easy access to.

Get a quality anchor setup, but mind where you anchor. And get a quality set of oars, like Cataracts.

I'd expect you'll have about $1200 into a well set-up cat. that you can fish most rivers safely from.

IB, in my picture I'm on my 9' Steelheader. I'm 6' and 220#'s in picture (this is before my injury, quite a few more #'s now thanks to being stuck in house and no outdoor activities). My 16' used to be carried on top of my full sized K5 blazer before I bought an old driftboat trailer and modified it. When I ran with a whitewater crew, they had their own transport trailer for all the tubes, rafts, frames, and extra gear. Just tossed it all into that and went. Now mine sits on a trailer and can launch that way. I used to have a picture saved with my 16' inflated on the top of my Blazer, but think I erased it. Always got people pointing and looking when I drove by. LOL. Just tossed my moped in the mounts off bumper and went.

I would second the earlier post regarding a spare oarlock! I already posted my oddessy on the McKenzie river this year.

Thanks for the info. I've been checking out the Skookum boats online.

Question: Why is the Osprey considered a kickboat but the Steelheader is a pontoon boat? What's the differences?

I have an 8ft outcast that I use up here on the OP. There are a couple things I'd recommend: 1. PFD....always, 2. KNOW THE STRETCH OF RIVER BEFORE YOU FLOAT IT.... if you dont, at least ask around before you attempt it! 3. spare oarlock... I have broken 2 in the last 3 trips. Carry 50ft of rope so you can walk the pontoon through anything you are uncomfortable with.

Also - some previous posters mentioned that its hard to anchor and fish.... I place my upstream anchor in the water Between the 2 pontoons, the other outside the downstream pontoon.... this turns my boat about 45 degrees and makes it easy to cast. I am very cautious when I anchor.... I keep it to slower water.

I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard about more of you using your "smaller" pontoon boats on rivers. I have an 8' buck's boat that I've taken down the Sky, Stilly, Skagit. In general I've felt pretty safe but I have always worn a PFD and pay close attention to the water and what is up ahead. I'm now thinking I'd like to at least try a longer boat to see how it handles.