#1 rule.....don't cheap out! Those 'toons you see on craigslist are most likely junk and I wouldn't trust one on a river, especially dodge to oxbow.

Steelheader (bombproof), Outcast Pac Series (10 year no fault warranty), Scadden (embarrassing customer service, but decent boats), and a few others would be the ones I'd look at.

 

Flyjunky made a good point about not going cheap. You want a sturdy frame and tough pontoons if you're going to float those places you mentioned. And you want to avoid the 8 foot boats.....in my opinion 10 feet is the minimum if you're going to take it through big rough water.
I used to own a 10-ft. Outcast boat that I really liked. Sturdy frame and tough tubes made for a lot of confidence, especially when floating places without good access to a road if there's a mishap.
I took that boat from Warm Springs to Maupin, and it handled Whitehorse just fine. I also did Dodge to Oxbow a couple times and same thing...the boat performed where a mishap would mean big trouble.
As an aside, I would never buy one with a stainless steel frame. My fishing partner had one and it was a mess. The welds would crack just from the vibration and stress it experienced while strapped to the roof of his SUV.

 

Like flyjunky said, you dont want to skimp on price if youre looking to run river stretches such as the ones you mentioned. There are different classes/ratings for each pontoon and id recommend doing a quick research on those. I personally have one of the cheaper versions (class 1) with a small minnkota on it that works great for lakes and super smooth river floats. I do warmsprings to troutcreek in it on the deschutes no problem.

 

I run a stripped down (on basket, no trolley wheel, no motor bracket) 9 ft Classic Accessories Colorado XTS. It's not in the same class as an Outcast PAC series mentioned by FlyJunky, but it's a good boat. I mostly use it in lakes but I've taken it on the valley streams like the McKenzie and the Santiams. Because of its price point and ease of breaking it down while the pontoons are inflated, it's one of the most popular pontoon boats going. I like mine and have owned it for 4 years without any issues.

Any personal craft, 10' or longer, that does not require OMB registration will require an invasive species permit. I'm not sure if that rule has changed in the last year or so.

Good luck with the selection and let us know what you decided on, CopperMan.

 

Thanks y’all. Guess I have some research to do if I’m serious about getting a raft.

 

All good suggestions.

I'd add larger diameter pontoons and a platform for standing up. I've got an older Water Ready pontoon with 11' x 20" diameter tubes, gets you up higher to see and I believe has less surface area (drag) on the water.

 

https://www.bigskyinflatables.com/

 

I had an 8' Bucks Bags pontoon and ran Vanderzanden down a few times. Pretty easy for the most part and a lot of fun! At 8' it definitely rocked a good amount front to back in rapids, but never to the point it felt even remotely close to going over.

 

Yeah! I might still try out something small to get into this water by myself.

 

Yep...think I’ll probably hold on the pontoon since it’s going to be 1-2k. Think I would rather get a something I can at least run 2 people for that price range. Totally understand these rafts are rated for the rapid class now. Also would not want to run Dodge to Oxbow in something dinky.

 

Consider an inflatable kayak. I have a sea eagle 370, used it vanderzanden down and even higher along with many other rivers.

 

These are all valid points others have made. I have been running toons for 10 years. I have bought and sold a few others I didn't care for.
The one I have now I'll probably never sell. It fits my program so well when my Willie is not appropriate.

10' water ready, big tube diameter, which puts you up high, standing platform, room for a cooler, foot release anchor.
It's basically 100lbs, heavy but very doable to drop in or pull out wherever you want.
Bruce no longer makes these but there are comparable ones on the market.

Honestly as it's been stated above almost all of those 8' or 9' ones are for lakes or summer time lazy floats. The frames are bolted together the oars are absolute junk, your butt is in the water because your sitting so low.

Ultimately up to you but do some research and decide what your really after. Is it just occasionally going to be used on moving water? Or would you like to catch some winter steel out of it?

Food for though, that is all

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

Thanks. Yeah, I definitely get the program now. My purpose is solo winter steelheading on these waters....so think I would have to go with something bigger if I don’t want my butt in the water....which I don’t!

 

I had one back in the day, probably was around 8' pontoons $5-600 if I recall. Fun for rafting trips and small lakes but wasn't what I hoped for. Tried a number of small anchors but none of them seemed to hold in the rivers. Tough to navigate a river while fishing. Ended up "loaning" it to my brother in law about 10 years back. Pretty sure he still takes some overnight trips on the Rogue with it. I would rather be in my drift boat with the kiddos.

 

I.have also used pontoon boats for 15+ years and have run multiple rivers on them. One of my toons is a twin bladder configuration with a lower profile which puts you closer to the water but is more stable in rough water and less susceptible to wind. It is a heavier type of boat when it comes to portaging around blowdown. I also have a 10 ft. Bucks Bag pontoon which I use the majority of the time and it has been bullet proof. I do sit up higher with this single chamber type pontoon so it does catch more wind but it is also much lighter than my other boat and easier to drag around obstacles. I would also agree to not go cheap if you are planning on floating isolated rivers
Toons are definitely a fun way to fish. Good luck in your decision.

 

I have a Dave Scadden (has sales on his site all the time) and it has served me well over the last couple years. I will definitely be upgrading in the future but only because I would like to upgrade quality of frame. I am not shooting down Dave's products as the pontoons are really good but, I have broken the foot peg on my frame (which was replaced without issue). Personally, for me, as a starter pontoon, I have had a good experience as it has provided me a platform to learn how to row rivers.

Look, I will preface this with telling you I am in no way an expert in river rafting but, in my experience, think about your local river(s) and the obstacles you generally run into on those rivers. Sometimes, bigger isn't always better. Sometimes, being able to fit through gaps helps a lot. Paying attention to length is smart. But, width is also really important to consider because you'll likely need to squeeze through spots and debris which can get tricky if your rig is too wide.

Oh, and don't cheep out on oars! Trust me on this one! Cataract KBO oars have been fantastic! Literal game changers for me!

Just food for thought.

 

If you end up with a pontoon in the future I would try to keep it light enough to easily handle by yourself. I have a nice pontoon with all the bells and whistles but its really heavy and therefore requires 2 people if I'm not launching from a ramp. Small, light aluminum boats are nice because you can just slide them over the bank / blackberry bushes and go. There are some nice inflatable rubber rafts that can be purchased. A lot of fly out lodges in Alaska use them. It all just depends on the kind of water you'll be going through.

 

Definitely what I am thinking....want something that I can handle myself. Would love to access areas without ramps as well.

 

I have a 9' FishCat and have taken it down the Nestucca quite a few times in the winter, but only when the water is too low for my drift boat.

If I didn't have the drifter and the 'toon was going to be my only boat I would go 12' with a good anchor system and standing platforms, etc. These are on Craigslist occasionally for well under 2k and sometimes under 1k. I'd also get a trailer.

 

https://drlrivergypsies.com/index.html

 

I have an Outcast Discovery 9 that I wouldn't hesitate to take down certain rivers,but then again I'm kinda crazy.

 

Haha you ain’t the only one!

 

Fits in the back of my F-250 long bed with tailgate shut. Can stand up and fish and it stays around your legs without floating off. You would have to try and tip it over with the tube all around ya. Easily maneuvered around obstacles in the river by just standing up and grabbing the handles on the side and walking around.
Fits in the gray backpack bag on the back when deflated.

Downside is, it’s expensive.

 

Fits in the back of my F-250 long bed with tailgate shut. Can stand up and fish and it stays around your legs without floating off. You would have to try and tip it over with the tube all around ya. Easily maneuvered around obstacles in the river by just standing up and grabbing the handles on the side and walking around.
Fits in the gray backpack bag on the back when deflated.

Downside is it’️s expensive.

Looks sweet. Is that a pack raft? There’s a couple OP rivers I would loooove to pack in and raft down.

 

As mentioned above don't go cheap, I would go at least 10ft tubes preferably 12 ft and something in the Aire or Sotar range will last you at least 10 plus years if you take care of the tubes. I run 14' sotar and my tubes are 18 years old and still hold air like new. bigger tubes you can use a play boat in the summer for extra fun on the Deschutes and grand rhonde

 

I shouldn’t have started this thread...now I really have new boat fever. Haha

 

No kidding. I'm looking at Sotar rafts now ,thanks a lot.

 

Haha! I was thinking the same thing.