Kayak vs Inflatable pontoon
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Pontoon:
1. Stable
2. Easy to store
3. Slow
4. Very affected by the wind.
5. Won't track well.
Hard-shell
1. Not as stable
2. Harder to get in and out of.
3. Faster
4. Not affected as much by wind
5. Tracks well.
Try before you buy if you can. And be sure to try it in breeze and current.
1. Stable
2. Easy to store
3. Slow
4. Very affected by the wind.
5. Won't track well.
Hard-shell
1. Not as stable
2. Harder to get in and out of.
3. Faster
4. Not affected as much by wind
5. Tracks well.
Try before you buy if you can. And be sure to try it in breeze and current.
Your better off with a SOT kayak. There are some very stable kayaks you can check out that would be very hard to flip.
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don't give the pontoon the nod!
having owned both, i can tell you for sure that the yak is far superior to the pon in every way. with the pon, you've got about 15-20 minutes of setup every time you go out, what with putting the frame together and blowing up the pontoons. If you use flippers for motion, they're a hassle, you may find. Plus, I always hate having my feet dangling down there with the toothy critters.
you will never flip in a pontoon, that is probably true; but on your better kayaks, you've got to work at flipping. Get a Cobra Explorer from Jon'n'Joey and be done with it. You'll have tons of stability, plus tons of mobility. Can you rig a pontoon with rod holders, fish finders, and all the other crapola? Probably. But it'll be much less hassle in a yak.
Go Yak!
But if you insist on pontoon, remember: I have a Water Otter looking for a new home!
having owned both, i can tell you for sure that the yak is far superior to the pon in every way. with the pon, you've got about 15-20 minutes of setup every time you go out, what with putting the frame together and blowing up the pontoons. If you use flippers for motion, they're a hassle, you may find. Plus, I always hate having my feet dangling down there with the toothy critters.
you will never flip in a pontoon, that is probably true; but on your better kayaks, you've got to work at flipping. Get a Cobra Explorer from Jon'n'Joey and be done with it. You'll have tons of stability, plus tons of mobility. Can you rig a pontoon with rod holders, fish finders, and all the other crapola? Probably. But it'll be much less hassle in a yak.
Go Yak!
But if you insist on pontoon, remember: I have a Water Otter looking for a new home!
Stability, like anything, is relative. Did you ever learn how to ride a bike? It was pretty tough at first. Everything we learn is. Take walking. We weren't very good but now we walk easily. Kayak fishing is the same. Obviously its a great way to fish as so many of us are doing it now. Its not mass hipnosis. If you very concerned about stability get a very stable kayak. You'll sacrifice a few other things but go for the attribute you want the most.
In well over 100 days kayak fishing I've only dumbed a kayak twice unintentionally. Once was a surf landing with a very hard break that was impossible to handle in a yak without a rudder or fin. Also I was in a kayak I had never landed in the surf before. The other was very recently. A couple guys were motoring by me slowing asking questions about the yak behind me. As I they went from port to starboard I kept talking with them and turning and violated the rule of stability and had both shoulders on one side of the yak. BAM, I was in the water. So I just climbed back on, no big deal. Its easy.
A pontoon boat is not a good choice for fishing saltwater in this area. IT is so limited as a fishing vessel compared to a kayak. Its amazing what and where a kayak will do and go when properly chosen, equipped and piloted by an experienced operator.
In well over 100 days kayak fishing I've only dumbed a kayak twice unintentionally. Once was a surf landing with a very hard break that was impossible to handle in a yak without a rudder or fin. Also I was in a kayak I had never landed in the surf before. The other was very recently. A couple guys were motoring by me slowing asking questions about the yak behind me. As I they went from port to starboard I kept talking with them and turning and violated the rule of stability and had both shoulders on one side of the yak. BAM, I was in the water. So I just climbed back on, no big deal. Its easy.
A pontoon boat is not a good choice for fishing saltwater in this area. IT is so limited as a fishing vessel compared to a kayak. Its amazing what and where a kayak will do and go when properly chosen, equipped and piloted by an experienced operator.
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I gotta say the pontoon boats look very cool. I see them on tv and think gotta get one. As much time as I spend on the water, I would think the pontoons are better suited to less windy spots like inland lakes more than windy bays though. Also, again, just guessing, but I was wathing two guys fish this weekend on ESPN (the outdoor shows are a weekend ritual for yours truly) and it looked as though it would be a bit tougher to get very far. Did look like fun though.
I had a seyvlor inflatable boat a while back.The "fish hunter"They are a royal pain in the ass.You have to pump them up every time you go out and then deflate them when you leave.A sit on top is definitely the way to go.I was out on mine yesterday in a really crowded body of water,facing wakes from speedboats and jetskis and the kayak just rode up and down with no tippiness, bobbing like a cork.It also flies through the water even in the face of a strong wind.It's frigging amazing.In fact the only time I came close to tipping was when I was half turned around playing with my fishing tackle.It was practically at a right angle to the water and all it took was a shrug of my hips to right the boat.Now that's stability.
Regards,
Flypaint(Shawn)
Regards,
Flypaint(Shawn)
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