04-30-2003, 07:21 PM
[cool]Welcome to our little forum, Mr. Ram. Hope we can shed some light on your quest. Like many things tackle and fishing oriented, if you ask 10 different people you are likely to get ten different opinions. Your ultimate choice should be based upon what features and benefits you perceive as being of the greatest value to you and the kind of fishing you like to do.
Those who still fish from "donuts" do so for only a couple of reasons. They are either reluctant to try something new, or they can't afford anything else. I do not know anyone who has tried and compared, against a Uboat or mini pontoon who elected to stay with a round model.
Over the past 40 plus years, I have tried almost every style...if not every make and model. I graduated from a round tube only a few years ago and I would never go back. If for no other reason, I prefer open ended craft for the improved ease of launching and beaching. That is no small consideration when you have a lot of gear, you are bundled up against the cold, you are tired from being out in the water for a long time or any one of several other factors.
I have witnessed more pratfalls and real disasters sustained from trying to get in or out of a "donut" than ever from an "open-ender". In fact, having the open end allows you to launch and beach in many situations that would be nearly impossible with a round craft.
Once you open your mind to "open seating", there are a lot of other options to consider. Some have stabilizer bars, to keep the ends from pulling together when you sit back in the seat. Some are stabilized by rigid foam or inflated seats, and inflated back rests. Some seats have you sitting down in the water, as with a round tube. Others allow you to sit above the water, which can be a big warmth retainer in the cold waters of fall and early spring.
Then there are the issues of pocket size and placement, the number of D rings, for attaching all the extras, the size and weight of the craft, etc. Not the least of considerations is the budget. While it is possible to pay more than $300 for an Outcast Super Fat Cat (as I did), you can get several great systems for less than half that amount. You can find very serviceable "starter kits" for well under a hundred dollars.
Send me an email or a Private Message and I will attach and send back a several page writeup I recently completed on just this subject. It comes up often as new readers find us and pose the same question. The good news is that we will do what we can to help you make an educated decision. If you find something you like, let us know the make and model and we can probably crank out a review or two.
Here are a couple of websites with some comparables for you to review.
[url "http://www.outdrs.com/xcart/catalog/category_250_Float_Tubes_page_1.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#0000ff][size 3]http://www.outdrs.com/xcart/catalog/category_250_Float_Tubes_page_1.html[/size][/#0000ff][/font][/url] [font "Times New Roman"][size 3]EAGLE…DISCOUNT TUBES[/size][/font]
[url "http://www.thefloattubestore.com/"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.thefloattubestore.com/[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] FLOAT TUBE STORE[/font][/size]
[url "http://www.creekcompany.com/craft.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.creekcompany.com/craft.html[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] CREEK COMPANY[/font][/size]
[url "http://www.riverwire.com/watercraft_ggl.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.riverwire.com/watercraft_ggl.html[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] RIVERWIRE[/font][/size]
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Those who still fish from "donuts" do so for only a couple of reasons. They are either reluctant to try something new, or they can't afford anything else. I do not know anyone who has tried and compared, against a Uboat or mini pontoon who elected to stay with a round model.
Over the past 40 plus years, I have tried almost every style...if not every make and model. I graduated from a round tube only a few years ago and I would never go back. If for no other reason, I prefer open ended craft for the improved ease of launching and beaching. That is no small consideration when you have a lot of gear, you are bundled up against the cold, you are tired from being out in the water for a long time or any one of several other factors.
I have witnessed more pratfalls and real disasters sustained from trying to get in or out of a "donut" than ever from an "open-ender". In fact, having the open end allows you to launch and beach in many situations that would be nearly impossible with a round craft.
Once you open your mind to "open seating", there are a lot of other options to consider. Some have stabilizer bars, to keep the ends from pulling together when you sit back in the seat. Some are stabilized by rigid foam or inflated seats, and inflated back rests. Some seats have you sitting down in the water, as with a round tube. Others allow you to sit above the water, which can be a big warmth retainer in the cold waters of fall and early spring.
Then there are the issues of pocket size and placement, the number of D rings, for attaching all the extras, the size and weight of the craft, etc. Not the least of considerations is the budget. While it is possible to pay more than $300 for an Outcast Super Fat Cat (as I did), you can get several great systems for less than half that amount. You can find very serviceable "starter kits" for well under a hundred dollars.
Send me an email or a Private Message and I will attach and send back a several page writeup I recently completed on just this subject. It comes up often as new readers find us and pose the same question. The good news is that we will do what we can to help you make an educated decision. If you find something you like, let us know the make and model and we can probably crank out a review or two.
Here are a couple of websites with some comparables for you to review.
[url "http://www.outdrs.com/xcart/catalog/category_250_Float_Tubes_page_1.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#0000ff][size 3]http://www.outdrs.com/xcart/catalog/category_250_Float_Tubes_page_1.html[/size][/#0000ff][/font][/url] [font "Times New Roman"][size 3]EAGLE…DISCOUNT TUBES[/size][/font]
[url "http://www.thefloattubestore.com/"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.thefloattubestore.com/[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] FLOAT TUBE STORE[/font][/size]
[url "http://www.creekcompany.com/craft.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.creekcompany.com/craft.html[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] CREEK COMPANY[/font][/size]
[url "http://www.riverwire.com/watercraft_ggl.html"][font "Times New Roman"][#800080][size 3]http://www.riverwire.com/watercraft_ggl.html[/size][/#800080][/font][/url][size 3][font "Times New Roman"] RIVERWIRE[/font][/size]
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