About 5 acres of water surface to explore. Fishing is not a top priority as much as simply being able to enjoy the pond by floating and exploring...but...being able to carry a rod and a tackle box to wet a line wouldn't hurt, either.
We have an old beater jon boat; awkward and uncomfortable. I want to be able to just push off the dock in a nice, AFFORDABLE little water scooter to just putz around. Those little paddle boats seem to meet the need.
I see that they now have a small transom area to be able to attach a trolling motor; love that idea, too. I'm 6'-3", so concerned for size and legroom.
Who has one? What's the pros and cons?
Some models (older types) can be hard to paddle in the wind. There are a bunch of types - try some out first. Your pic looks a lot better than the ones I have used. ? built in ice chest/storage . Weight could be a factor in removal from water.
Try looking at Pelican Pedal Boats -Large selection & Prices seem right. I havr ridden in these and they were fun on a small pond.I have seen some models at Gander Mountain, Pamida & Target stores. I plan to get one this year
We have one very similar. I am 5'8" and it seems a little tight for me. The seats adjust back, but when I do that it is a little tight for me to get the back end in between the sides of the seat. You will get a work out peddling. Also, ours will collect water between the top shell and the bottom shell when it rains. Their is a plug to take out and drain it, but it is kinda a pain. I would suggest covering the boat with a tarp to avoid the water getting in. Finally, fishing is a little difficult I think. It seems hard to steer when trying to move just a short distance while fishing. When just riding around, it is easy to steer. You just need some momentum and steering is pretty easy. The trolling motor option would make fishing much easier I think.
JWHAP wants a pedal boat. I'm not completely convinced. I find a kayak fits the bill for a good all around boat. Fun to fish out of, easy to maneuver, light weight to carry around.
That being said I'd love to see you paddling this around Brettski...
Heck there's even a pirate ship for DIED:
Brett have we one. We bought it used last year for 300$. The grandkids love it and even my big person enjoys taking it for a spin ever now and then. I will say the smaller you are the faster they move. My grandson can almost get it on plane. I can't move near as fast has he does the water line is much higher when I'm on board. It came with a padded seat and canopy but we never use it.
My brother use to work here. They make some quality stuff and have a large selection.
http://www.klindustries.com/catalog.phpI hope posting a link is not against rules. If it is, let me know.
After closer observation, I see you are looking at the same manufacturer. About 20 miles from me.
My brother says they are really nice (he had one before the divorce) Just lay low on the beverages with that extra karma, otherwise it is hard to get back to dock. Might be fun!
Brettski, Tractor supply has a nice one at a great price, We've been thinking about getting one also.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/gifts-home/...-canopy-5201392
That would not be so good a purchase for a 6'3" person as the seats are fixed.
Us tall people never get a break!
I'm looking at getting one too. Costco has one for $499 that looks pretty sturdy.
Like Brettski, fishing is kind of secondary. I'm wondering how difficult it is to get back in if you decide to go for a swim -- whether for my decrepit 63 YO body or my 6 YO rather spry granddaughter.
That company also makes a model with an adjustable seat but I don't know if TS carries it.
http://www.boatownersworld.com/kli/sun_slider.htmYou tall guys quit complaining, studies show that tall people get the best jobs and make the most money.
Here's a ladder for ya Ken.
http://www.ezriserproducts.com/jetskistep1.htm
Upper body strength, if it is foam filled.
Just my opinion, but I think they are more for just putting around in. Not as a swimming platform or life saving platform. The ones that won't sink immediately cost a bit more, like a Boston Whaler, but you still have to get in, or hang on. So safety is your call.
bski, walmart has some real nice pond boats that average between 3-500 dollars and they have been built for trolling motors. They are plastic, small and light enough to manuver easily.
I managed a pond with a paddleboat very similar to the one in the photo. Was a hoot. A Pelican. Seats had three positions. I'm 6 foot, and it was not exactly full leg extension on farthest or last position. The canopy was kind of lame. But thing got used all of the time. Was one design flaw, or made for a full time level pond. The rudder extended too low and got snapped off over and over being dragged up on shore. Lasted an incredible 5 years. I put a lot of fixes on it. Rudder several times, to the point I just left it off and put it on when I got there. Steering shaft, steering handles. Thing was really built well. It's pretty much mothball fleet material now as we have two aluminums and a canoe in there. I dropped one of my ancient foremost 12 footers in there. The old Monkey Wards powder blue. Olny complkaint I have is knees really got stiff because of no full leg extension. But we would get two adults and three kids on it fishing. Can't fish with canopy, and this was never brought indoors so it just weathered year after year. I'll take a photo of what's left of it. If you take care of it, a paddleboat is a great investment. No parts on it ever really wore out, and it was used daily for years.
That would not be so good a purchase for a 6'3" person as the seats are fixed.
Us tall people never get a break!
I have to disagree. I'm 6'5" and have no issues with it. Yes it could be a little better but it's roomy enough to play around and fish a small pond in. But I will add I'm long bodied and short legged for a 6'5" person. A long legged fellow might not fit as well as I do.
Brettski:
I've seen some small pontoon boats - 10' or so. That's be my choice with a small electric motor, but my wants/needs are different than yours.
You know if the legroom is an issue, some models have fixed seats and some don't, and you are concerned I would try to find a place locally that rents them by the hour. This is not an item which is easy to pick up and return if disatisfied. You will know after an hour or two if that is going to work, and it should give you a great test drive feel. Also they are pretty heavy. I was always pulling it out of the water, and working on it, on it's side or flipped over. I would not, get a fixed seat model. They are almost made for kids and small adults. It looks like the one in the photo you show has 4 or 5 spots to move the seat back.
I would not use a trolling motor on one. I don't know how you could take away the drag of the paddles, which are fixed and under the boat. They would act like a block, and what would be the point of getting a paddle boat if you did not want to paddle it? I kept and oar in it for pushing away from the shore and turning while not paddling. Last, they are very, very ineffective against a strong headwind. Almost paddle in place. If you have a shoreline you can walk, I'd bring a long rope along and walk it back.
Brettski:
I've seen some small pontoon boats - 10' or so. That's be my choice with a small electric motor, but my wants/needs are different than yours.
I would also go with a small Pontoon. You would probably get much more enjoyment out of it. Unless you were into leg muscle development.
B'Skis place, which is beautiful, definite mini pontoon waters. You'll get more use out of it. A few bucks more, but at least it wont be up on the bank waiting for someone to use it.
Think about it.
If you can get me into one for about $600, turn me on
Their nice but this is the cheapest one I've ever seen, atleast one that floats.
http://www.1stdirectproducts.com/repobospkit.html
I've seen boats like this before, they work fine with trolling motors. I'm just posting this link as an example of the style of boat, I don't know what they're called.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...SSELL_THUMBNAILI think that a paddleboat is still a good idea, they're easy for novices to figure out. Trolling motors get broken when kids use them, and canoes require experience.
Brettski:
I'll tell you where to find the 2nd one that I find.
I saw one sitting by the road 2 years ago when on a trip for work. When I returned that afternoon it was already gone.
Cody shared some plans for a DIY plywood pond boat somewhere on here. No pedals on his but with your tendancy to tinker who knows!
Cody shared some plans for a DIY plywood pond boat somewhere on here. No pedals on his but with your tendancy to tinker who knows!
I could see a scaled down version of a Mississippi sternwheeler or sidewheeler as a winter project for Brettski next winter!
Bski, The link txlen added above is very close to what walmart has in stock at most stores, and the price is UNDER what you are looking to spend.
I think we might be missing the opinion of the person who controls the purse strings.
For some reason women and girls love pedal boats, I guess they think it will help their figure.
What ever you decide on buy it used and save your money. There are tons of these different types of small boats for sale. People buy them and then get tried of them after just a few years. craigslist has many of them
Absolutely. I just picked a old green coleman canoe for $200. Coincidentally they sold that division to pedal boat manufacturer Pelican. Brand new same model $1,000. Going to make it used anyway. A little Sikaflex and Gorilla tape and some seat attachment structural adds and I'm good to go. Going to get an O2 tank today for fish moves, same source. People buy boats, don't realize how little they actually use them, don't have a pond and they dump them, really cheap. If you have a pond and a dock a pedal boat is better than a pontoon boat. Take off the cover and go. Great cardio vascular, and no cost to power except for calories.
Some of you might want to sign up for Overton's email list on their site. I did that and got an email from them the next day for 15% off any order... I used that to knock some dough off a new paddle(pedal) boat from them.
The 15% is good for anything, and I figured I would let you all know about the idea.
Enjoy!
DJT, that was Cody's Little Dinghy.
While Cody says it was a just a tad more sturdy than the Titanic, it looked pretty risky.
DJT, that was Cody's Little Dinghy.
While Cody says it was a just a tad more sturdy than the Titanic, it looked pretty risky.
Believe it or not I was searching for Cody's thread about a week ago because I wanted a small pond boat and was thinking about making a replica. The wife picked up a Coleman 4 person inflatable from Dick's sporting goods today which will save me some work. Regular $100 clearanced down to $40. I'm going to give it to the boys as a birthday present next week. Of course I get to use it too.
Alright, 5 grand would surely send me looking in a different direction, but
this thing is pretty danged cool.
I wonder how much the wind affects it? Looks like a pretty good sail area.
It DOES look interesting tho!!!!
Probably has a 454 in it, and the fact that you can see their knees is because they needed a place to stuff it
If you can get me into one for about $600, turn me on
Everytime I make a statement like that around my buddy Tim he always asks me "How much have you spent on your pond already? Now you want to be cheap?"
I feel your pain Brettski. Get a cabin cruiser then you don't have to worry about paddling back to shore.
Everytime I make a statement like that around my buddy Tim he always asks me "How much have you spent on your pond already? Now you want have to be cheap?"
query corrected
Now that's a paddle boat a man wouldn't be ashamed to be seen in. My little Sun Dolphin would fit on the deck of that monster.
They have the industry standard Pelican back at Costco for $499. I gave it a quick look over, and the did the same EC's I would have done.
They shortened the rudder so it does not extend below the hull. Won't tear off so easily.
They added a slot for the seat to move back further for long legged people.
Last they simplified the steering instead of two handles just one in the center.
I guess they took thier field feedback and got it right. Very few moving parts and those that do are built to last. For a constant use community boat ours lasted 5 years. If cared for properly this should last a decade.
Everytime I make a statement like that around my buddy Tim he always asks me "How much have you spent on your pond already? Now you want have to be cheap?"
query corrected
Now theres the defense strategy for the next time I get told that, thanks B-ski. Of course I tell the wife the opposite, this is no time to get nervous, or we need to do this...you get the idea.
I have a paddle boat... it works, but its almost unusable for fishing when the wind is blowing... We had a troller motor mounted on the bottom of it but it seems to have stopped working recently. Since the seats are fixed and low, its difficult to fish, bait trotlines, turn around, stand up...
If I were going for something new, I'd save a bit more and get something like this, and add a removable troller motor.
http://www.basspro.com/Boating-Marine-Ac...1z0ux8mZ1z0v3mnIf you have kiddos or wife that would also want to be on the lake, and you're not comfortable with them using the troller motor, then the paddle boat may be a good option.
I picked up a used Water Tender 10 locally for $150. I really, really like it. Small enough to be easily portable, large enough beam to be pretty stable, and easily pushed by a trolling motor.
http://www.amazon.com/KL-Industries-Water-Tender-9-4-Feet/dp/B002GXJ0NW
I have an older Weere's water bike, basically a aluminum pontoon paddle boat.
That would not be so good a purchase for a 6'3" person as the seats are fixed.
Us tall people never get a break!
You're 6'3"? If I had known that I never would have picked on you. LOL
That would not be so good a purchase for a 6'3" person as the seats are fixed.
Us tall people never get a break!
You're 6'3"? If I had known that I never would have picked on you. LOL
Pick away Cecil, my fighting days are long past
I am actually shrinking as I get older. 6'2" with a bit of change now. That's cool, because it actually matches my drivers license, and I haven't changed the specs on that since I got it when I was 16.
Biggest problem is trying to find jeans that fit. Most times, about all they carry in the local stores are for short, and short/fat people. Nothing demeaning to anyone about that, but volume sells. I usually have to order them.
A Control Geek buddy of mine is 6'7". I look up to him when we talk face to face on projects, but that is it. We share how to do things and what we have learned, so we can help others. Quite a few others on my Geek Network that we all work well together.
Being taller than someone else makes no difference at all, with anything!
Although, the air is better up here, and the pay scale is much better. These two are faults tho!
JKB, now you're the same height as my cousin, but he's got a couple pounds on ya. In college he was wrestling at 320#, but he added a few more over the years. The last time I saw him he lost weight because the docs said he had to lose a bunch before they would do hip surgery. I'm guessing he dropped 100# and still wasn't down enough to go under the knife.
