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Re: My new ride
[Re: texguppy]
#3915185
09/10/09 03:48 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
Nope...no motor going on this one. I had it out on Clear Lake Tuesday and if fishes awesome. All of my biggest concerns were aleviated. It's heavy enough, and the pontoons short enough, that the wind doesn't blow it around. It didn't seem to drift anymore than a float tube did when I used them. I was impressed with how easy it moved with the oars. They weren't hard to get used to but at the end of the trip when I covered some water for practice, I realized that I could kick it about as fast as I could move it with the oars. For most of the waters I fish I may just leave the oars in the truck or not even take them. I bet I sit no higher out of the water than I would with a Super Fat Cat tube. The water line was about 2 inches below the knee.
I was very impressed with this thing and have yet to find an issue about it I don't like. As far as keeping up with kayakers I have no desire to do that. I've seen the kayakers on the same water I'm on and while their rides are way faster than mine I consider a tube or even this kick boat to have better fishability. I can put the wind at my back, use my fins to hold position and make repeated flips into the same bush endlessly. I've yet to see a kayaker do that. As a die hard basser I think this is exactly what I've been looking for. My biggest concern was always the inflatable part of the equation and that issue is solved. I can throw cranks as long as I want and never worry about a puncture nor ever worry about another seam failure.
Different strokes for different folks and I'm alot more happy with this thing than I expected to be.
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Re: My new ride
[Re: John L]
#3915200
09/10/09 03:51 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
Nice toon. It can be a lot of trouble registuring a toon but yours is new so it should be like any other boat. After you take it out a few times you may change your mind. How are you transporting it? Mine rides on my bed cover using ratchet straps to hold it there. It weighs about 50 lbs. It's easy to pick up. I stand in front of the seat facing the seat and lift it by the arm-rests. It's only 6 foot long so it fits in my Tundra with the tail gate closed. No straps or tie-downs needed. And here's one last photo of it stored in the garage. I show these photos since I always appreciate good reviews of tubes/boats, etc. I put 2 eye bolts into the studs. This space was already available so I just used 2 bungee cords to pull it tight against the wall. 
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3916107
09/10/09 02:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,581
sensei
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,581 |
very nice!!!!good price also!!
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Re: My new ride
[Re: sensei]
#3917725
09/10/09 09:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 321
J W AKA Jim Wolfe
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 321 |
K.D.- Looks pretty cool. You answered the question I was wondering about the most which was if the non-inflatable toons were as affected by the wind as the inflatable toons are and how mobile they are.
J W - Formerly know as Jim Wolfe
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3954041
09/20/09 02:48 AM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 667
texguppy
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 667 |
Now we need some pictures of it in action!!
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Re: My new ride
[Re: texguppy]
#3954392
09/20/09 04:20 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
I just messed around on the Ram Mount home page figuring out what I need to mount the Lowrance X135 on it. I suppose now that I know the part numbers for the mounting kit I should go ahead and order a second pair to mount the video camera to it!  I've been debating adding a set of small, waterproof motorcycle speakers and an IPOD holder to it. 
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3954416
09/20/09 04:27 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,326
derik d
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,326 |
I just messed around on the Ram Mount home page figuring out what I need to mount the Lowrance X135 on it. I suppose now that I know the part numbers for the mounting kit I should go ahead and order a second pair to mount the video camera to it! I've been debating adding a set of small, waterproof motorcycle speakers and an IPOD holder to it. Your going to go do all that and NOT put a trolling motor on it?
 It's more than the catfish would do.
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Re: My new ride
[Re: derik d]
#3954419
09/20/09 04:28 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
I have no interest in a trolling motor. Believe me when I say I've had years of experience with these types of boats. If I wanted to lug a trolling motor and battery back and forth from the truck to the boat I'd have a bassbuster. I've had a few of those also. Without a trailer you have to load the boat in the truck then put all your gear in the boat. When you get to the lake you have to empty the boat of the gear, unload the boat and drag it to the water. Then you carry all your gear to the boat and hook everything up. When you get done fishing you have to empty the boat to make it light enough to lift into the back of the truck, then put all the stuff back into the boat. At least with this one I was smart enough to use a trailer! 
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3954452
09/20/09 04:37 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,326
derik d
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,326 |
Got ya. I guess get your jam on then with the speakers and the ipod.
 It's more than the catfish would do.
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Re: My new ride
[Re: derik d]
#3954479
09/20/09 04:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,902
BassFever
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,902 |
KD what's your opinion of the Sun Dolphin Pro 120?? Didn't you used to own one of them also?? Is it much better then a reg 10 ft pontoon?? Would it take on much water if I left it on the lake??
I have the option of buying a friends 10 ft alum pontoon boat for $400 or a pro 1200 for $450... but would have to drive 180 miles round trip for the Pro120.. and the alum pontoon is already tied to my dock. The alum pontoon just doesn't seem as stable to me as his older plastic 10 ft pontoon he had... But I'm a little larger now then I was...LOL..
This will be used on a small electric only lake I live on.. And will probably be on the water tied to the dock most of the time.. I'm afraid the Pro120 will take on water(seeping thru the plastic) over time and would sink..Any opinions??
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Re: My new ride
[Re: BassFever]
#3954489
09/20/09 05:00 AM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
Sure, I've got opinions. I haven't owned the Sun Dolphin but at that price it's a steal. I recall an article written a couple of years back about the Sun Dolphin. It was regarding a pro angler on the BassMaster tour from Las Vegas that used one on the local lakes. He had it custom built with a few features added that you'd see on a regular bass boat. It had an outboard (5 HP) a trolling motor, battery charger, working livewells and a stand up deck on the front. That boat is exceptionally stable and works great for the purpose you're planning on. My only suggestion is to build a ramp onto your dock to drive the boat up on, just as you see the jet skiers do. I also know they sell some pretty good boat covers for that boat. I'd use it and care for it just like a big boat, right down to keeping it out of the water and covered. Here's a photo of what I'm talking about. 
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3954517
09/20/09 05:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,902
BassFever
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,902 |
Thx for your post.. Problem is I only rent.. and can't get too carried away spending too much $$.
It already has a casting deck in front and back.. I think it would work better then the alum one.. But I know the alum one would take a beating and keep floating..
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3954785
09/20/09 01:23 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 880
John L
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 880 |
Your right. I took my ton out last week with the trolling motor, battery, anchor, milk crate, rods, ores, and pfd. It took about 15 min to get everything ready then one of the pontoons came loose and that took another 20 min to get reattached to the frame. I was able to do all this at a ramp that no other boaters needed while I was there. When I went to move my truck off the ramp my battery was dead so I had to unload the trolling battery to jump my truck. It was about an hour after arriving at the ramp before I left the bank. Oh and I didnt catch any fish and almost couldnt retrieve my anchor. But Im going to do it again this week and hope to streamline the process.
![[Linked Image]](http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/longfish_bottom/CostaRica0804172-1-1.jpg) PB 110# Sail Costa Rica '04
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Re: My new ride
[Re: K.D.]
#3955801
09/20/09 09:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,864
divot
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,864 |
I just messed around on the Ram Mount home page figuring out what I need to mount the Lowrance X135 on it. I suppose now that I know the part numbers for the mounting kit I should go ahead and order a second pair to mount the video camera to it!  I've been debating adding a set of small, waterproof motorcycle speakers and an IPOD holder to it. I just use earbuds.
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Re: My new ride
[Re: divot]
#3955878
09/20/09 09:59 PM
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519
K.D.
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,519 |
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