tube/toon question

So, I was ready to pull the trigger on a brand spank'n new Cumberland, when I ran across a deal on an Outcast 9IR. It is used, but not abused (I know the guy that owns it). Comes with a couple of rod holders, new valves and a modified rear deck area. My question would be: at a price of $350, should I buy the Outcast, or spend under $200 for the Cumberland?

Thankie in advance

hard call my friend... I currently have the Cumberland but wow, temptation!

I know, very hard decision....I look at it objectively, and that leads me to the Cumberland because I can make it truly mine, on the other hand, I can do the same with the Outcast. Yes, I would have a little extra money in my pocket by buying the Cumberland, but damn, will I ever run across a deal like this again? I really just need someone to tell me what to do

I say weigh out your storage and portability issues.
65 pounds 9 feet long 4 1/2 feet wide Versus 14 pounds 4 1/2 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide

Where will you store it?
How will you transport it to the water?
How will you get it to in the water from your car or truck? At 65 pounds you are probably not walking far.

$350 is a fantastic deal if you got the space to store, haul, and launch it.

I'm partial to tubes myself, I prefer the ease of transportation and smaller size, so personally I'd take a tube over a pontoon with more bells and whistles. But $350 for an Outcast 9IR is a steal. They retail for $739.00. So if you have the answers to the good questions Jerdon brings up, then that's a great deal.

Talvey first Off I would like to say welcome to the forums !

Now I see you have the possibility of picking up a Outcast pontoon for a darn good deal . As Jerdon already mentioned too take into account your storage space and how you will haul the unit around .

Secondly let me say this for under $20 you can make a system to help you carry either unit to or from the water (Especially if you cannot launch on the water ) and it would collapse nicely into the back side of a tube or pontoon .

Thirdly : Take into account the waterways you are fishing , what you are mainly fishing for ? and if you had any medical issue due to legs , back , etc and go from there .. they both offer benefits and Great Customer Service !

Pontoon :
- Easily move around water (quickly)
- can customize it to fit your area of fishing (especially if you troll) in St Louis
- Will be Bulky and heavier , taking more storage space in vehicle and at home
- Will move with a trolling motor or with fins (benefit of both worlds)

Cumberland :
- Small Compact and light (Easy to store at home or in the trunk of a car )
- You can backpack with these things no worries into the mountains or hard to reach waterways
- Can be very stealthy and get into areas a boat or pontoon cannot
- Pretty much only going to be leg powered

Lastly , They are both easy to Customize and give it your own personal touch .. Have fun on the water and Welcome again to the forums .

Wes

Jerdon and Misfitdog have got everything covered, but damn is that a steal!!! Think your buddy would sell to anyone else

Hmmmm....... I took the Outcast out for a test drive this afternoon, and it was pretty cool. However, I don't think it is for me. It was hard for me to cast out of (I fly fish 90% of the time) and it just didn't feel right. Was it fun? You bet it was, but to me it was not as fun as tubes have been to me in the past. I also noticed, maybe because it is nimble and quick, that I was spending more time paddling around then I was fishing. So, I think I am going to pass on the Outcast, and head to the direction of the Cumberland. May be a mistake in the future, but I don't think my decision today is the wrong one.

And mac_2_nite, thinking this deal was just for me, but I can ask him.

Thank you everyone for their thoughts, inputs and opinions. Everything said was taken into consideration...not an easy choice to make, but then again it wasn't that hard either. For me, it is more about the relaxation and killing of time, and not just about how much water I can cover. Maybe this will change in a year or so, who knows

talvey,
Thanks for the update. I think for a lot of us we like to have our arms free to fish. With the tube we can use our legs to maneuver, with the pontoon using legs is a bit less convenient. Probably why trolling motors are so popular with tunes.

Enjoy the Cumberland!