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I purchased the Prowler listed in the classifieds. A week of shipping from the wast coast passed in high expectation, but it got here in good shape well packed and it seems to have traveled well.
After a couple of beginner stumbles (taking the summit II valves out of dump mode, getting the correct adapter installed on the K200 pump etc...) I got it inflated and set up. Everything seems to be in working order and good shape.
Unfortunately it arrived with a blasting high pressure front and gale force winds, but it was in the upper forties and hadn't frozen overnight for a couple days so I had at least moderate hopes as I headed out to the Cape Cod kettle ponds in search of trout.
Well the wind was blasting and the pond I intended to fish had large whitecaps. So I looked around and found a smaller pond that was slightly sheltered, or at least had a shorter fetch. I set up, giving the main tube and the seat/floor bladder a top off as they had an hour and a half ride in the unheated back of my truck to cool off.
As I went to attach the finder I discover that I have forgotten the unit to battery pigtail cable so so I put the finder back in the truck for another time...
So I get to the water set up and head out. It has been about 15 years since I last used a tube and my goodness have things improved. This thing does an amazing job at getting you up and out of the water and really makes for a fabulous casting experience.
I worked the shoreline and drop-off for about 2 hours without a touch. and then turned around for the head back into the wind. I immediately discovered the price in wind resistance for the high position and also started to take notice of how much the seat had lost pressure. Very happy I had worn my pfd. Oh my... After a 3/4 mile kick in the sagging boat into a nasty wind I made it back to the put in.
So a mixed bag...
When I got home, I did some youtube research, took out the valve core cleaned up the threads and seal, and re-tightened. I aired it up and put it in my garage for the night.
It seemed a bit better in the morning, some loss of air, but I attributed that to temp change.
I went out to a closer lake that was open and gave it another go. Topped up the air and headed out. Remembered all of the finder bits so it was nice to have that up and going. But the wind was picking up again so I decided to bag it. Packed up and headed home. But as I took the tube out of the truck I noticed that the seat was softening again. Grrr...
So I now have a couple of new Summit II valves on order and a bottle of ToobSeal in case replacing the valve doesn't get it's attention...
I'll update as I get more data...
After a couple of beginner stumbles (taking the summit II valves out of dump mode, getting the correct adapter installed on the K200 pump etc...) I got it inflated and set up. Everything seems to be in working order and good shape.
Unfortunately it arrived with a blasting high pressure front and gale force winds, but it was in the upper forties and hadn't frozen overnight for a couple days so I had at least moderate hopes as I headed out to the Cape Cod kettle ponds in search of trout.
Well the wind was blasting and the pond I intended to fish had large whitecaps. So I looked around and found a smaller pond that was slightly sheltered, or at least had a shorter fetch. I set up, giving the main tube and the seat/floor bladder a top off as they had an hour and a half ride in the unheated back of my truck to cool off.
As I went to attach the finder I discover that I have forgotten the unit to battery pigtail cable so so I put the finder back in the truck for another time...
So I get to the water set up and head out. It has been about 15 years since I last used a tube and my goodness have things improved. This thing does an amazing job at getting you up and out of the water and really makes for a fabulous casting experience.
I worked the shoreline and drop-off for about 2 hours without a touch. and then turned around for the head back into the wind. I immediately discovered the price in wind resistance for the high position and also started to take notice of how much the seat had lost pressure. Very happy I had worn my pfd. Oh my... After a 3/4 mile kick in the sagging boat into a nasty wind I made it back to the put in.
So a mixed bag...
When I got home, I did some youtube research, took out the valve core cleaned up the threads and seal, and re-tightened. I aired it up and put it in my garage for the night.
It seemed a bit better in the morning, some loss of air, but I attributed that to temp change.
I went out to a closer lake that was open and gave it another go. Topped up the air and headed out. Remembered all of the finder bits so it was nice to have that up and going. But the wind was picking up again so I decided to bag it. Packed up and headed home. But as I took the tube out of the truck I noticed that the seat was softening again. Grrr...
So I now have a couple of new Summit II valves on order and a bottle of ToobSeal in case replacing the valve doesn't get it's attention...
I'll update as I get more data...
Last edited by guido on Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
