One place to check is Harbor Freight in North Kent or South Rention.

I think they have a 5x10 and if you needed to lengthen the tongue, go over to metal shorts in seattle and pick up a square tube, but youll want to mount it to the main frame beyond the wishbone. As long as you install bearing buddies and keep it grease, you should get at least five years out of the axle and bearings. I bought a smaller model and I ended up replacing the axle and springs with a 2000 # dexter after 5-6 years. Its nearly impossible to match the import seals and bearings. I think the tongue I bought was 2x2.5 inches. The hitch connector is the primary consideration. Technically, you need to get with the state patrol and they will stamp the numbers into the tongue, but you can buy a set of number stamps and tag the frame with the serial number. Keep the original tag or tongue for your records. 3-400 for the trailer. Use outdoor carpet for you toon covers. Plywood will slice it, sooner or later. Get complete spare tires at les Schwaab.

Like DaveD said, I went bigger, then smaller. I've had three boats from 8 to 10'. The bigger one-man boats are fun to row and can handle anything, but they really lack the convenience that makes pontoon boats so nice. They're heavy and more difficult to transport. The 8-9' boats from reputable manufacturers are well made and light. I've settled on a 9' Bronco. It's light enough to carry down a trail but stable enough that I feel confident on the water.
I also prefer the smaller boats for lakes. They can be controlled with fins and sitting closer to the water makes releasing fish easier.

If you are not too particular, fairly cheap trailers can be had if you look around and are willing to do some of the modifications yourself.

However, I got pretty frustrated shopping for trailers because I was looking for a nicer trailer to double as a utility trailer and a pontoon trailer. At one point, I had sent out requests for quotes to about a dozen trailer companies. I didn't think I was asking for the unreasonable: 6 X 10 low profile, lightweight deck over wheels flatbed with stake pockets for adding removable sideboards. I was willing to spend about $1500 but had a heck of a time getting anyone to respond.

Yeah, what DaveD said.

The only issue I have with pontoon boats is that as soon as you decide you want the bigger of the two choices and something you can fish out of and anchor up in, a cheap drift boat is probably a better choice.

Where the bigger pontoon boats shine is really small water (although a glass boat is damn slick), dangerous water that might take a drift boat down, and the ability to disassemble/deflate for long road trips or flying it in somewhere.

Obviously, the benefits of the smaller boats are portablily (packing it in somewhere) and cost. Portability (lighter/smaller) usual means you sacrifice strength. That being said, I think these boats still offer a lot and can handle MOST of what MOST people would put them through.

The smaller boats are easier to launch where access is limited.

Ryan, I built my trailer...probably cost about $400, give or take...I'll shoot you a few pics of it if you're interested...it's a 6x10 flatbed.

Fish on...

Todd

I have the Creek Company's "JetPack" 8' packable boat. Its inexpensive, lighly built and probably a glorified lake boat. Says its rated for "Class III"...

Weight distribution was important for a good stroke, and was easily adjustable on the bank.

The only swift water I've tried was the "canal" on the Yakima behind Thorpe. Then my fly line grabbed a bush and the rod flew out the back of the boat. Love that screaming drag, unless you're not holding the rod.

Instead of completing the float, we looked for my gear. Never did find it.

And packing the boat on my back for the 2 miles to the truck worked fine. The boat is nice and light.

1) PFD
2) Lash down your gear.

http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=5&Cat=3

If ya find a black G.Loomis 5 wt. with a Ross reel, PM me!

send them my way todd...i was going to stop by harbor freight today.

Peterman,

If light and easy portability is important to you, consider a Watermaster. At 35 pounds, it all rolls up and stuffs into a backpackable duffle bag. It's frameless, but handles Class III water. Inflates in less than 10 minutes with a foot pump, even less with an electric. No trailer, packs and fits almost anywhere. Not a lot of room, but enough for a week long Alaska bush trip if you pack compactly. Around $1200. Used ones come up infrequently and are snapped up immediately.

Sg

Sparkey,

My e-mail server is down right now...so I'll give you a quick description.

It's built on the frame of one of the $250 4x8 little trailers. Put it together, take off the fenders, and remove the tongue. Get a longer piece of 3x3 tubing at Pacific Metals in Fife...it'll cost about $30.

Replace the four foot tongue with about a six foot section of the tubing. Just drill your own holes in the same spots as the ones on the existing tongue, and reattach the coupler.

Replace the 8 inch wheels with 12 inch wheels...that'll cost you about $55 or $60.

Build up the existing deck four inches...just put pressure treated 4x4 around the outside, and one piece down the middle. Use 2x3's or 2x4's crosswise across the 4x4's to build a new deck on top of the 4x4's...with a 2x4 frame all around the outside of that new deck, it should measure 6x10 now.

Get high quality plywood and put it on top of the whole shebang.

Use the wiring system that came with the small trailer, only you may have to lengthen all the wires to fit the larger deck...mount all the lights where they belong, and the license plate, too.

It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but in the end I had a trailer that was exactly what I was looking for, but couldn't find, at about 1/3 or 1/4 of the price of others that I was looking at...

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. Save yourself some serious time and heartache by finding one of those little trailers that is already built, if you can...and licensed, too. It will save you a lot of time and hassle.

I forgot to mention that the entire thing is caulked and then sealed with waterproofing stain...which is only temporary at best, and I'll probably be covering the top of the trailer with linoleum or indoor/outdoor carpeting soon.

Todd or anyone who knows
Everyone I know owns a drift boat and I love fishing out of them. The one time I find drift boats a pain is after work during the summer months. Many of the floats are too long and you don’t get to fish you really only get to row from the put in to the take out. With a tooner your options for take outs are much greater. I was thinking of getting a tooner to fish from High Bridge down to Gold Bar during the summer months. I don’t plan to fish out of the boat much just to use it for transportation and get out on the bank.

Is an Outcast cougar. 8' pontoons, 2 piece 7' oars, anchor system. Enough boat for what I want to do? I hate stuff that barely works so I really want to know if these will handle my needs. I ask about this particular boat because I can get a screaming deal on one of these. I will probably only use the tooner 3-6 times a year.

DD...yes, if you're not planning on fishing out of it, or using it on really gnarly chit, then it will work fine for you...the fact that you get a good deal on it is icing on cake.

Fish on...

Todd

I bought a Outcast cougar. 8' pontoons, 2 piece 7' oars, anchor system today from a guy at my work. The thing has only been used 5 times. It retails for $700, I got it for $300.

I have been wanting one for a long time and been sitting on the fence because I didn't want to drop the money for one since I will only use it 3-5 times a year. At $300 couldn't afford to pass it up.

Here's another one that just showed up on Craig's List.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/boa/593072649.html

Just bought the Outcast Stainless IR. Got it on a closeout from a Colorado Fly shop for $500, free shipping, no sales tax, full warranty. Going to upgrade to 10 foot tubes and use it in the salt mooching for kings, silvers and lings, rivers and lakes. Mounting a 3hp yamaha 4 stroke, custom anchor system, portable color fishfinder etc...should be damn fun customizing this boat and am looking forward to landing a big king in it this summer...cheers