Are any of you using this Fish Cat model with the oars? If so , what is your opinion of it? Fish Cat makes 2 models, the cheaper, shorter Cruzer model with vinyl bladders and the bigger more expensive Max model with a single urethane bladder. 250# capacity for the smaller one and 300# for the heavier. $459 versus $629. Both will easily fit in my Subaru Outback and save me the effort of lifting a pontoon on top and strapping it down.
I was on a lake yesterday along with 2 other guys that both had the smaller Cruzer model with lots of wind on the lake. I never got a chance to talk to them about their boats but they seemed to get around far better than if they had been in a Fish Cat with no oars. Reading some reviews though it appears that both boats Achilles heel is the hard foam seat and back rest. I tried the foam seat in my Super Fat Cat at one point and threw it away after the first use, it was hard as the hubs of hell. I'm not sure if the SFC bladders would fit in the Max model or not but I have 2 SFC's so I have bladders on hand if needed.
If you have experience with these boats or know someone that has I would like to hear about it. I like the idea of the magnetic stripping apron and think I might have a way to mount a Garmin depth finder despite having oars. I still fish some small lakes with my SFC and it is an order of magnitude easier to carry inside the car than strapping a pontoon on the roof. Now in my 72nd year of fly fishing anything that is easier has a great deal of appeal to me.
I was on a lake yesterday along with 2 other guys that both had the smaller Cruzer model with lots of wind on the lake. I never got a chance to talk to them about their boats but they seemed to get around far better than if they had been in a Fish Cat with no oars. Reading some reviews though it appears that both boats Achilles heel is the hard foam seat and back rest. I tried the foam seat in my Super Fat Cat at one point and threw it away after the first use, it was hard as the hubs of hell. I'm not sure if the SFC bladders would fit in the Max model or not but I have 2 SFC's so I have bladders on hand if needed.
If you have experience with these boats or know someone that has I would like to hear about it. I like the idea of the magnetic stripping apron and think I might have a way to mount a Garmin depth finder despite having oars. I still fish some small lakes with my SFC and it is an order of magnitude easier to carry inside the car than strapping a pontoon on the roof. Now in my 72nd year of fly fishing anything that is easier has a great deal of appeal to me.