The final product
For questions and comments contact us at floattubefishingforum73@gmail.com
Showing posts with label floattubeforum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label floattubeforum. Show all posts
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Fishfindermount.com System mounted to my XPW240
Here is the video and explanation on how to mount your fishfindermounts.com system on your hybrid float tube. I was lucky enough to be able to add mine to my Maxxon XPW 240 here is how to do it and some pictures of how it turned out.
The final product
The final product
Friday, January 11, 2019
The Element by Seven Bass
Introducing the ELEMENT’s size and shape is most similar to the SBD and incorporates responsive design features as defined by the North American waterways. This float tube generally fits all body types and is one of the most popular due to increased seat and weight capacity. V-shaped weighs approximately 15 lbs. and has two color-coded internal air chambers for easy inflation. We’ve incorporated a PVC bottom to minimize the risk of puncture from underwater hazards. For improved visibility, there is a security flag holder and bright orange accents. An adjustable foam seat positioned above the waterline for greater comfort. The Clipline consists of nylon webbing and Velcro which runs the length of the float tube. It is designed for versatility and to efficiently anchor loose equipment with lanyards and secure cargo side bags. There are two back seat rod holders, and open storage space behind the seat, ideal for assorted fishing extras (small cooler, pan net, etc.). Our exclusive pocket apron conveniently allows anglers to keep their lures and tackle essentials close at hand. The shallow pocket with double zip closer fits an assortment of small tackle boxes. Cargo bags sold separately. - Maximum weight capacity 300lbs.
For more information or to order contact us at floattubefishingforum73@gmail.com
https://floattubeforum.forumotion.com/forum
For more information or to order contact us at floattubefishingforum73@gmail.com
https://floattubeforum.forumotion.com/forum
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Seven Bass USA Design Review
So I was lucky enough to receive 3 kick boats from Seven Bass USA Design. They are currently selling 6 different tubes and the 3 I received represent the 3 different levels of tube they have available. The 3 boats I received where the Element, the Explorer, and the Flatform. I will in this thread review the EXplorer and the Flatform, as they are the 2 boats that we have had the privilege of putting on the water.
So let’s start with the Explorer, and explain the basics first. The boat comes complete and ready to go. You receive the boat, an inflatable seat, Motor Mount, Backpack straps, a crossbar, apron with a pocket in the apron, a foot pump, repair kit, and a carry bag for all. This boat is a bladderless float tube which is important to know as it is built very different than most float tubes. The outside boat material is a very thick rubber with heat sealed ends. This boat is built with the most amazing quality, you can see it when you first pull it out of the box.
So in preparing to get out on the water, I pre-inflate the boat at home which has to air chambers which are both pontoons as well as like said earlier the inflatable seat as well. All use the summit valve, which I believe have a very good feature we will talk about later. So when I am done inflating the Element I quickly notice that it has a pretty narrow profile. The boat itself is very lightweight and with the backpack straps very easy to transport to the water’s edge. Now for the test ride, and GT would be handling that part of the day. As per GT the float tube was built very well and he really liked the clipline and the fact that the bags were removable (sold separately). He mentioned to me the boat looked very fast as it is light and tight. The drawback was that it was narrow. This aspect would work great for a thinner smaller person but for me personally, I can see it would be hard for me to get in and feel comfortable in. That, of course, does not mean that it is an uncomfortable ride. While on the water GT mentioned that the seat did not feel good to sit on “too hard” which would lead to discomfort and ending the day sooner. But quick-fix simple release a little air to make it softer. After doing that on the water all was better for GT. Another issue was the crossbar it was tough to connect when on the water. Seven Bass said, “the key is to roll it in, and as you roll you pull back a bit and it pops in.“ I also feel that the more you connect it the easier it will become. The overall handling of the boat on the water seemed great as it glides through the water with ease, and keeps you high and dry. Cost is about $550 and weight capacity is 350 lbs. As far as how they stack up to what we have out here already there is not too much on the market like it, so it is in a class all its own. After discussing some of the concerns with Seven Bass the did mention that then the Expedition Kick Boat had a wider sitting area, it is called the Big Boy and can handle 400 lbs and runs for $600 with all the same supplies. I think this boat has its place here with individuals that can see its value over other boats we have here in the USA. I cannot express this enough I think the overall plus here is their quality, just plan top notch.
Now onto the Flatform I myself have had my eye on these tubes of kick boats for the last few years so to finally see one in person, I was impressed. The boat is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide with there air chambers. The boat is bladderless with a unique construction concept, called drop stitch. The drop stitch construction allows the boat to in flat (no bladders) but not round out simple hold its flat platform style. It does not look like the 2 side pontoons are drop stitch as they kind of round out some, but the largest chamber is flat which is the center and largest portion of the kick boat. The boat comes with a crossbar, a kayak type seat, a repair kit, a motor mount, large center scag, Oars and mounting hardware, a stand-up pump with a pressure gauge (important) and a carry bag for it all. A note; right off the bat this boat is heavy at 41 lbs. But with that being said once again you are struck with the overall quality and construction of the flatform and all Seven Bass Products for that matter.
So with the boat all inflated and ready to go I made two trips to the water one for the boat and the other to bring rods, fins, and side bags for tackle storage. If you are looking to backpack or have to carry your tubes a distance to get to the water this is an issue, but there still is the option to inflate at the water's edge. Not really an option for me but I feel it is important to note. Once I was ready I shoved off and I was quickly struck but its ease of movement in the water. There was no real effort to kick and turn, I was under the impression that it was going to be tough to move and turn but no not at all. Don’t get me wrong you can feel the extra weight but only slight it is not an issue and is far outweighed by its ability to move in the water. A concern that some people had was would it fight into tight spots for me into boat slips when needed. Yes it will I did slip into one boat slip to retrieve an errant cast and I was able to slide in between the dock and a smaller tied off boat. I backed in turned around and back out without hitting anything. The overall size will limit your ability to get into the tightest spots but you won’t lose this all together.
I was very comfortable on the flatform after I adjusted the kayak style seat to seat me back a little more. The flatform I would say is just like have the best of a kayak, a SUP Board, and a float tube. You have oars that work well (more on that in a moment) you have the ability to stand up on it. This is a great feature that I know has intrigued many, I did not attempt this but I am sure I will be testing this out soon. One thing I can see that is an issue is the oars, They are short and when in a strong current and wind, they don’t provide much movement for you. It is designed for you to pick up your legs out of the water and row, but I found that in the current and wind it was better for me to keep my legs in the water and kick while I rowed. The best features it posses like a float tube is the fact that you can deflate it and store very easily. Plus it can also be packed into the trunk of a car and transported to your favorite lakes and bays and inflated on the spot. The Flatform is in my eye one of the top performers when it comes to Float Tube / Kick Boats. Over the years I have used quite a few and I feel this one is on the top of the list for me. The Flatform retails at $1199 and is worth every penny, it is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide and is very stable and maneuverable. It comes with oars although I because the oars are small they don’t provide and strong rowing ability I still like having them as they can add you to getting out of some bad situations when needed. The Flatform can hold an impressive 450 lbs and while heavy at 41 lbs still has a great some great agility on the water. I think I have found my new favorite float tube.
There will be some more testing and reviewing going on with the Seven Bass Kick Boats, and in time I am sure we will push them to there edge. They have asked us to point out any downsides so that they can address them for the U.S. market as they continue to grow. I have been waiting for the last 3 years to test out their products and I can say so far they have not disappointed. Expect to see more from Seven Bass in the future quality product will always find their niche and Seven Bass will find there very quickly.
So let’s start with the Explorer, and explain the basics first. The boat comes complete and ready to go. You receive the boat, an inflatable seat, Motor Mount, Backpack straps, a crossbar, apron with a pocket in the apron, a foot pump, repair kit, and a carry bag for all. This boat is a bladderless float tube which is important to know as it is built very different than most float tubes. The outside boat material is a very thick rubber with heat sealed ends. This boat is built with the most amazing quality, you can see it when you first pull it out of the box.
So in preparing to get out on the water, I pre-inflate the boat at home which has to air chambers which are both pontoons as well as like said earlier the inflatable seat as well. All use the summit valve, which I believe have a very good feature we will talk about later. So when I am done inflating the Element I quickly notice that it has a pretty narrow profile. The boat itself is very lightweight and with the backpack straps very easy to transport to the water’s edge. Now for the test ride, and GT would be handling that part of the day. As per GT the float tube was built very well and he really liked the clipline and the fact that the bags were removable (sold separately). He mentioned to me the boat looked very fast as it is light and tight. The drawback was that it was narrow. This aspect would work great for a thinner smaller person but for me personally, I can see it would be hard for me to get in and feel comfortable in. That, of course, does not mean that it is an uncomfortable ride. While on the water GT mentioned that the seat did not feel good to sit on “too hard” which would lead to discomfort and ending the day sooner. But quick-fix simple release a little air to make it softer. After doing that on the water all was better for GT. Another issue was the crossbar it was tough to connect when on the water. Seven Bass said, “the key is to roll it in, and as you roll you pull back a bit and it pops in.“ I also feel that the more you connect it the easier it will become. The overall handling of the boat on the water seemed great as it glides through the water with ease, and keeps you high and dry. Cost is about $550 and weight capacity is 350 lbs. As far as how they stack up to what we have out here already there is not too much on the market like it, so it is in a class all its own. After discussing some of the concerns with Seven Bass the did mention that then the Expedition Kick Boat had a wider sitting area, it is called the Big Boy and can handle 400 lbs and runs for $600 with all the same supplies. I think this boat has its place here with individuals that can see its value over other boats we have here in the USA. I cannot express this enough I think the overall plus here is their quality, just plan top notch.
Now onto the Flatform I myself have had my eye on these tubes of kick boats for the last few years so to finally see one in person, I was impressed. The boat is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide with there air chambers. The boat is bladderless with a unique construction concept, called drop stitch. The drop stitch construction allows the boat to in flat (no bladders) but not round out simple hold its flat platform style. It does not look like the 2 side pontoons are drop stitch as they kind of round out some, but the largest chamber is flat which is the center and largest portion of the kick boat. The boat comes with a crossbar, a kayak type seat, a repair kit, a motor mount, large center scag, Oars and mounting hardware, a stand-up pump with a pressure gauge (important) and a carry bag for it all. A note; right off the bat this boat is heavy at 41 lbs. But with that being said once again you are struck with the overall quality and construction of the flatform and all Seven Bass Products for that matter.
So with the boat all inflated and ready to go I made two trips to the water one for the boat and the other to bring rods, fins, and side bags for tackle storage. If you are looking to backpack or have to carry your tubes a distance to get to the water this is an issue, but there still is the option to inflate at the water's edge. Not really an option for me but I feel it is important to note. Once I was ready I shoved off and I was quickly struck but its ease of movement in the water. There was no real effort to kick and turn, I was under the impression that it was going to be tough to move and turn but no not at all. Don’t get me wrong you can feel the extra weight but only slight it is not an issue and is far outweighed by its ability to move in the water. A concern that some people had was would it fight into tight spots for me into boat slips when needed. Yes it will I did slip into one boat slip to retrieve an errant cast and I was able to slide in between the dock and a smaller tied off boat. I backed in turned around and back out without hitting anything. The overall size will limit your ability to get into the tightest spots but you won’t lose this all together.
I was very comfortable on the flatform after I adjusted the kayak style seat to seat me back a little more. The flatform I would say is just like have the best of a kayak, a SUP Board, and a float tube. You have oars that work well (more on that in a moment) you have the ability to stand up on it. This is a great feature that I know has intrigued many, I did not attempt this but I am sure I will be testing this out soon. One thing I can see that is an issue is the oars, They are short and when in a strong current and wind, they don’t provide much movement for you. It is designed for you to pick up your legs out of the water and row, but I found that in the current and wind it was better for me to keep my legs in the water and kick while I rowed. The best features it posses like a float tube is the fact that you can deflate it and store very easily. Plus it can also be packed into the trunk of a car and transported to your favorite lakes and bays and inflated on the spot. The Flatform is in my eye one of the top performers when it comes to Float Tube / Kick Boats. Over the years I have used quite a few and I feel this one is on the top of the list for me. The Flatform retails at $1199 and is worth every penny, it is about 6’ 7" tall and 4’ 4" wide and is very stable and maneuverable. It comes with oars although I because the oars are small they don’t provide and strong rowing ability I still like having them as they can add you to getting out of some bad situations when needed. The Flatform can hold an impressive 450 lbs and while heavy at 41 lbs still has a great some great agility on the water. I think I have found my new favorite float tube.
There will be some more testing and reviewing going on with the Seven Bass Kick Boats, and in time I am sure we will push them to there edge. They have asked us to point out any downsides so that they can address them for the U.S. market as they continue to grow. I have been waiting for the last 3 years to test out their products and I can say so far they have not disappointed. Expect to see more from Seven Bass in the future quality product will always find their niche and Seven Bass will find there very quickly.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Classic Accessroies Colorado Pontoon Boat
I had the pleasure of give one of these boats away on our Float Tube Fishing Forum just recently. We have a annual toy drive for the spark of love, and Classic Accessories has for the last 4 year donated to the cause. I thought I would take a quick moment to give a small review about the Colorado Pontoon Boat. To start after receiving the pontoon boat at home I decided to build it so that I could take proper pictures for our members to know what they were competing for.
It is a fairly easy boat to build as I was able to have it together in the my living room with in an hour. Being the first Pontoon boat I had built I figure that is not to bad. you start with the pontoons and inflate to almost full capacity. The combination quick inflation/ deflation valves made inflation quick and simple these are a great improvement on the basic valves you still find on float tubes. After the pontoons are inflated you then are able to add the mounting assembly to the pontoons which is used to attach the seat to as well as to have have the pivot spot for the oars.
Next you add the seat assembly which is simple attached with pin system assembly which make it easy to assemble and disassemble. Then you attach the back basket and anchor arm. This piece has both a anchor pulley and a plate to mount a trolling motor to. Finally you need to attach the foot resets and add the oars and you are ready to go. Overall I believe this Pontoon boat is a great product from Classic Accessories. If you are in the market for a 9' pontoon boat this is one you might want to look at. Below is a list of spec's that you might find helpful in making your discussions.
Special Features
- High storage capacity; includes 10 mesh pockets, 12 zippered pockets and two insulated drink holders
- Wire rear storage and battery platform
- Rod holder can be mounted in three different positions on each oar stand
- Anchor system with fillable mesh bag; cleat and pulley controls can fit on right or left side of boat
- Sturdy two position motor mount for trolling
- Detachable foam fly patch
Boat Specifications
- 9' pontoons
- 400 lb capacity
- River rating—Class 1
- Assembled size: 108"L 56"W 26"H
- Weight: 71.5 lbs
Comfort Features
- Three oar-lock positions
- Seat and footrests adjust to a wide range of leg lengths
- Padded fold-down plastic seat
Safety Features
- Safety labeling as per ABYC standards
- Rides high for improved visibility
- Unique dual-side stripping apron with fish ruler allows entry and exit without unclipping
- Non-slip footrests
Construction Features
- Heavy-duty pontoons with abrasion-resistant PVC bottoms and tough nylon tops
- Bronze oar-locks
- Powder-coated steel tube frame
- Rugged 7' two-piece aluminum oars
- Cold and heat-resistant bladders
- Combination quick inflation/ deflation valves
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