As mentioned before at first glance this looks like a good idea but without a full demo on the water one cannot really determine how practical this is. I have one short paddle that I use one windy days to use on the leeward side while kicking like crazy to get to shore. Come on and give us a real on the water demo!
Hey man It would have been great if you inflated that bad boy and took it for a spin! Instead you showcased a giant vinyl raisin with paddles. I don’t want to hate but common dude there isn’t any other video on this thing.
At first look, oars on a float tube sound like a good idea, right? I rigged oars on a Fat Cat many years ago but quickly realized it didn't work very well. First, there is no footrest, so you are dragging your legs through the water when trying to row, which also tends to make you want to slide forward out of the seat at times rowing aggressively. Using fins and oars at the same time works but not well, especially if you are used to rowing a full-size pontoon boat. If you have a gut like me, you may have to cut the oar handles shorter. Definitely is not made for moving water because of not enough stability and buoyancy. The short length of the boat also wastes energy by rocking you forward and back as you row. The main upsides are that oars are easier to propel you through matted surface weeds than with fins that catch the weeds and you can row yourself forward, which you cannot do with fins. I took off the oars on mine and use tethered ping pong paddles instead, for extra propulsion on windy days, forward motion, and for safety, if you lose a fin.
How do people feel about using oars vs. fins? On first reflection oars would require hands so holding onto rod(s) would require stowing them. I'm sure you can do both, row and kick.
As mentioned before at first glance this looks like a good idea but without a full demo on the water one cannot really determine how practical this is. I have one short paddle that I use one windy days to use on the leeward side while kicking like crazy to get to shore. Come on and give us a real on the water demo!
Hey man It would have been great if you inflated that bad boy and took it for a spin! Instead you showcased a giant vinyl raisin with paddles. I don’t want to hate but common dude there isn’t any other video on this thing.
Need a follow up of how it handles in the water
At first look, oars on a float tube sound like a good idea, right? I rigged oars on a Fat Cat many years ago but quickly realized it didn't work very well. First, there is no footrest, so you are dragging your legs through the water when trying to row, which also tends to make you want to slide forward out of the seat at times rowing aggressively. Using fins and oars at the same time works but not well, especially if you are used to rowing a full-size pontoon boat. If you have a gut like me, you may have to cut the oar handles shorter. Definitely is not made for moving water because of not enough stability and buoyancy. The short length of the boat also wastes energy by rocking you forward and back as you row.
The main upsides are that oars are easier to propel you through matted surface weeds than with fins that catch the weeds and you can row yourself forward, which you cannot do with fins. I took off the oars on mine and use tethered ping pong paddles instead, for extra propulsion on windy days, forward motion, and for safety, if you lose a fin.
You didn't even take it on the water?
How do people feel about using oars vs. fins? On first reflection oars would require hands so holding onto rod(s) would require stowing them. I'm sure you can do both, row and kick.
Hows it work on the river??
I just bought one, I'm going to make a video.
I'm left wondering if it floats, because you never put it in the water.
What is the length on the oars?