Frameless Pontoon Boats?

N. Metz

N. Metz

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
Anyone have experience with frameless pontoon boats or float tubes designed with oars? I’m looking at the bucks bags roughneck or the outcast fish cat cruzer, both of which are basically large float tubes with oars.

What are peoples experiences with these particular boats or boats of this style?

Additionally, would something like this work in a slow / small river? A pontoon boat with a frame would likely be more river worthy, however, they’re also more set up than a frameless boat. My intended use is mostly lakes but would like to also be able to use it in some rivers.

Thanks,

Nicholas Metzman
 
N. Metz said:
Anyone have experience with frameless pontoon boats or float tubes designed with oars? I’m looking at the bucks bags roughneck or the outcast fish cat cruzer, both of which are basically large float tubes with oars.

What are peoples experiences with these particular boats or boats of this style?

Additionally, would something like this work in a slow / small river? A pontoon boat with a frame would likely be more river worthy, however, they’re also more set up than a frameless boat. My intended use is mostly lakes but would like to also be able to use it in some rivers.

Thanks,

Nicholas Metzman
Click to expand...
I got the Lost Creek by Sportsman’s Warehouse which is basically an Outcast Stealth and I love it! I’ve taken it on all of the Chehalis tribs, SW WA rivers, creeks, Cow and Kalama. Be it it doesn’t have a front bow enclosure and seated low you don’t want to get into anything too crazy but it’s more than capable.

It’s been worth every penny for lakes. I keep it in the back of my truck and I can go out after work. Even taken it on the sound a couple times for SRC and chum.

The Commander would be another good option, a little more river worthy but also a front bow to cast around on lakes.

I just started using it to taxi across big rivers to runs others can’t get too. That’s been a blast and it’s light to walk.
 
N. Metz said:
Anyone have experience with frameless pontoon boats or float tubes designed with oars? I’m looking at the bucks bags roughneck or the outcast fish cat cruzer, both of which are basically large float tubes with oars.

What are peoples experiences with these particular boats or boats of this style?

Additionally, would something like this work in a slow / small river? A pontoon boat with a frame would likely be more river worthy, however, they’re also more set up than a frameless boat. My intended use is mostly lakes but would like to also be able to use it in some rivers.

Thanks,

Nicholas Metzman
Click to expand...
I had a Outcast Stealth Pro frameless pontoon boat. Worked great floating the Yakima River and on myriad lakes, etc. even in high winds. Oars on the rivers, fins and oars on lakes. Trolled well with fins.

Most of the time I had my son in the bow of it, too, from age 2 through 7 (when he just got too big).

My only complaint is that the stripping basket, while functional, kind of sucked and my knees would also pop it out of place quite often. Your mileage may vary on that last part as I'm a bit taller than average.
 
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I have an Xtreme Cutthroat Cat made by a great guy Sos, who used to make them down by the Duamish River. I’ve had this frameless 6’ pontoon boat for 30+ years. Best small pontoon I’ve seen yet! It has oars but I prefer fins....even pink fishing in the sound!E742A5BD-0B73-4A84-BBC0-D339C41F207E.jpeg
 
I have a Fish Cat Scout, and am generally pleased with it. I am about 5' 11” and weighed about 225 when this photo was taken, so you can see that the Scout provides plenty of flotation. I also have a Fish Cat 4 float tube and find that despite its considerably larger size the Scout is easier to maneuver and propel with fins. My only complaint is that I find the stubby little oars to be inadequate for covering any distance in a reasonable time.

8B4D5653-3A61-43C4-8F45-ECF588CFEEB5.jpeg
 
For even slow moving rivers that you could conceivably use just fins, I'd still want something where I could put my feet up and brace them.
 
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Nick,
Where you live, I think any of those would be good option for rivers like the Rum, St Croix or the big river post run-off.
I have a Commander and and I’d be using it all the time on those rivers if I lived back there. I’d probably use it more for transporting myself to fishing locations rather than fishing out of while floating unless the water was flowing really slowly.
The nice thing is in slower water you can still stand up and fish while staying in the boat.

Just be aware the pinned oar system isn’t the strongest point on any of those boats and to check it each time before heading out.
SF
 
Hey Nick. My best advice to you once you have done the research is keep your money in the used market. Right now prices for new anything are astronomically hyper inflated, and I am un sure it will ever go back down. Good luck and be safe on the water.
 
Outcast Clearwater?
35 pounds empty, brace for feet. Can use fins. Good oar system.
good on lakes and rivers.
 
I ordered the fish cat cruzer but am a little worried about rowing without having foot braces for leverage. Anyone have experience with this? I could send it back and get something with foot rests
 
N. Metz said:
I ordered the fish cat cruzer but am a little worried about rowing without having foot braces for leverage. Anyone have experience with this? I could send it back and get something with foot rests
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Your feet create drag and the tube I have with a bar I don’t even use unless on the river or traveling long distances on lakes. Why? Because with flippers on and 33x34 Levi 514 leg length I can’t easily get my feet through.

If I’m moving a long way across somewhere then yes, I pull my legs over top of the bar with aid of my hands, allowing the flipper to flex and pop over the bar.

Float tubes with a bar are usually longer and heavier so just depends on what you want. If you find yourself in windy conditions frequently the bar is helpful reducing drag to fight wind back to your put in. You can also lock your legs out getting your flippers out of the water in the draft of your tubes.

These tubes don’t plane like gems, your maximum speed is achieved before the efforts of pushing with your legs is needed.
 
Divad said:
Your feet create drag and the tube I have with a bar I don’t even use unless on the river or traveling long distances on lakes. Why? Because with flippers on and 33x34 Levi 514 leg length I can’t easily get my feet through.

If I’m moving a long way across somewhere then yes, I pull my legs over top of the bar with aid of my hands, allowing the flipper to flex and pop over the bar.

Float tubes with a bar are usually longer and heavier so just depends on what you want. If you find yourself in windy conditions frequently the bar is helpful reducing drag to fight wind back to your put in. You can also lock your legs out getting your flippers out of the water in the draft of your tubes.

These tubes don’t plane like gems, your maximum speed is achieved before the efforts of pushing with your legs is needed.
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So you can still row ok with your feet in the water and not braced?

Thanks
 
The Fish Cat Cruzer has packing straps ie: it has some flexibility for you if you are at all thinking of doing some hike-ins. That cannot be done with a larger Scout for instance.

Yes I row probably 85% of the time like that. Even troll because I can make less commotion, I lock my legs out and sort of push them against the tubes. This gives me lower body stability for rowing and better drag by staying parallel with the boat and my fins are about 50% out of the water. That’s on an Outcast Scout/Sportsman Lost Creek model which the tubes are longer from the seat.

You’ll have to see if that protrusion from seat to tip is enough for your leg to rest/support against.
 
Yeah I need the packing straps. I’m short so should be plenty to brace my legs against.

Thanks man!
 
If your legs cannot rest upwards then the oars are only slightly faster than the feet. But this can still be greatly beneficial for rotating muscle groups and again the hike in scenario. Which I’m typing this and reading your above update which is perfect then.

Basically this is the best option hike in tube for covering water. While many will hike, and be tempted to stay near entry you can comfortably row. And also able to obviously do non-hike in, and probably mild rivers with core strength.
 
My experience with my Fish Cat Scout is almost identical to Divad's. I most often row with my feet in the water and I sometimes kick while rowing, although I'm not sure that makes much difference! I only get my feet up on the bar when I want to be more efficient for longer distances.

If you want to pack it into lakes, then the Fish Cat Cruzer should make a nice package. The frameless pontoons with foot bars are are great but aren't really practical for packing any distance. Outcast makes a great frameless boat bag but the bag itself weighes 7 lbs according to their website and is 46" long. I use my boat bag for stowing the deflated boat in the back of my Honda CR-V but would never consider backpacking it.

2a Stealthpro in frameless bag 46x19x11.JPG
 
N. Metz said:
Anyone have experience with frameless pontoon boats or float tubes designed with oars? I’m looking at the bucks bags roughneck or the outcast fish cat cruzer, both of which are basically large float tubes with oars.

What are peoples experiences with these particular boats or boats of this style?

Additionally, would something like this work in a slow / small river? A pontoon boat with a frame would likely be more river worthy, however, they’re also more set up than a frameless boat. My intended use is mostly lakes but would like to also be able to use it in some rivers.

Thanks,

Nicholas Metzman
Click to expand...
Hello, new here & see this is an older thread, I just bought an Outcast Stealth Pro pontoon down here in Northern California….what are you using for Steelhead rivers ?
 
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