Fishing Float Tubes and Inflatable Pontoon Boats

A pontoon boat is a twin hulled boat similar to a catamaran. The pontoons are the flotation devices and are mounted lengthwise. They can be made of steel, concrete, steel, GRP or be inflatable. The hard hulled pontoon boats are used to support a platform on which can be a deck, accommodation or even a full houseboat.

Usually the personal pontoon boats are of the inflatable type so they are lightweight and have pontoons which range between 6 ft and 10 ft long and 12" to 16" diameter. They are most popular in the USA where they were designed and are used mainly for fishing, sport or just recreation.

They are primarily for use on lakes and rivers and are not recommended for white water or the ocean. If you like river fishing, a personal pontoon boat can be very valuable as you can cover large areas of water compared to walking or wading. They are ideal for fishing on lochs, lakes or ponds and float in very shallow water, you no longer need to be confined to the shore - you can go to where the fish are! Because of their maneuverability, personal pontoon boats can get into areas that more traditional boats can't. The added bonus of leaving the insects behind on the shore is also not to be underestimated!

Due to the flotation pontoons being mounted at the extreme sides of the boat, they are especially stable. The normal roll of a single hulled boat is entirely absent and they are almost impossible to capsize. The boats we sell have at present have one seat, the total load carrying capacity is 350lbs to 400lbs (25 to 28.5 stones!) and so are ideal for carrying camping gear, fishing tackle or a cool box full of beer!

All the pontoon boats have a double bladder system within the tough outer pontoon covering. An inner "safety" bladder is first inflated and then sealed, followed by the outer bladder which envelopes the safety bladder and also forms the "pointy ends". In the event of a puncture of the outer bladder then the safety bladder would would come into play and keep the craft afloat, meaning four simultaneous punctures would be needed to completely deflate the boat! Each boat comes with a puncture repair kit and it's a simple matter to effect a repair.

In common with all inflatable boats, you need to pay attention to the air pressure inside the pontoons. It's good practice to deflate the pontoons slightly when the boat is out of the water. On a hot sunny day, (we should be so lucky!) the pressure will increase and if you don't do this you may burst a bladder. Inflate again prior to launching and unless in extreme situations, the water temperature will regulate the air pressure whilst the boat is in the water. It is not recommended to leave the boats for an extended period on a mooring or similar, better to take it ashore and store it in the shade. The boats are extremely light and easy to carry so this is not a problem.

It varies on the model, the Arrow Backpacker does just what it says and will fit into a rucksack which is small enough to carry or go on the back of a motorcycle, even the larger models will fit into the boot of a small family car or under the seat in a caravan.

It is not recommended to fit a petrol outboard due to the weight. You could however fit an electric outboard to the Madison, which has a stronger frame than the other boats in the range and some folk have already done this. We were going to offer one as an aftermarket accessory, however as they are simple to make we have decided not to. Pictures of the method used by one of our customers are shown in the gallery section.

If you are going river fishing on a pontoon boat, then as you would in any other type of craft, make sure that you know the water well. Pull over before you approach rough water and scout the section onshore to make sure that you can safely negotiate it before committing yourself. If you are in doubt, walk the boat around the section of water in question. Being safe is always the best policy.

Find out as much as you can about local water conditions. For safety reasons, it is not recommended to float a stream by yourself. It is always a good idea to have a partner with you should something go wrong. Safety gear should include a rope that can be used if you get stuck or need to rescue another person.

Getting used to fishing out of these pontoons in a river can take some practice, but it is not that difficult. A good tip is to limit the amount of gear that you take on your first trip. While some anglers may carry multiple rods, I would suggest limiting your gear to one rod on the first trip. Because you will be preoccupied with rowing and safely negotiating the river, having more than one rod with you just gets in the way.

If you think that this is something that you would like to try be sure to go with someone experienced the first time and always wear a life preserver! I know that you will have a good time.

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