need some input

Hey Guys,
I haven't been up on the board much recently and I apologize. I have been crazy busy with work and other things. Jeff I hope your kid's are doing well and please let me know if I can be of any assistance. (PM me mister,)...

Anyways,... the one thing that has me the most distracted right now is my "hell bent for leather" want, to design and build, the ultimate pontoon boat. I have spent countless hours researching designs, materials, and processes. I think I am closing in on a plan. BUT!,.. I think now is a prime moment to for me to humbly ask for a little input from you all. So,... to keep this simple and genuine, I am simply going to ask you a couple of questions.

1) What is the single most satisfying (important, exciting, fun,... ) thing about float tubing (tooning) for you?
(and I mean anything,.. this is not just a question about the hardware but the experience.)

2) What is the one thing you would improve tomorrow if you could? ( and I don't necessarily mean the equipment, I want to know how you would improve the experience. )

3) What do you see as the future of float tubing (fishing) ?

OK, I know these are broad questions, and they may not seem like they are directly applicable to the design and production of the "ultimate toon", but the answers are key for me to understand, that I might be ABLE to build "THE ULTIMATE TOON!

I hope to hear from you soon, thnx

J. Steve "gooch" Iriguchi

AKA: bodfish


PS. I intend on building only two at this point but my wife is beating me on the back of the head to make this my next career. (or at least a profit making hobby). We shall see.

1) What is the single most satisfying (important, exciting, fun,... ) thing about float tubing (tooning) for you?

- 3 things, the company, just to be out in the water in contact with mother nature and of course To catch a lot of fish or a really big one!

2) What is the one thing you would improve tomorrow if you could? ( and I don't necessarily mean the equipment, I want to know how you would improve the experience. )

- the only thing I would improve is to make my float tube dry and confy for my doggy to ride on the back.

3) What do you see as the future of float tubing (fishing) ?

-a lot more tournaments for tubers only as is getting very popular.

1. I agree being so close to mother nature is the most satisfying for me.

2. Comfort comfort comfort you can never be to comfortable.

3. Light weight compact, easier ways to transport to.the water. I think the future of tubing and tooning is wide open good luck with you build if you need any help at all please ask.

just being on the water, spent too many years stuck fishing from shore...

oh by the way I cannot stress using stainless steel strongly enough, when I first started "tooning" the harbors I rusted through two frames before I had the SS one built! I rinsed them with fresh water after every trip but they still fell apart, the SS one has now lasted be five years I think?...

1. getting to go where u want
2. there is no other experience then bein on a tube i dont think i would want to change anything sep for having some shade every once in a while
3. i would like to see durability in the tubes like bladders not being able to pop or get holes stuff like that

Hey guys,
Just back in town, Thnx to those who have responded thus far. I'm hoping a few more of you will chime in.

I am hoping to build a slightly different type of fishing platform that will incorporate ideas based on improving the float boat experience. I want to make sure I do not lose sight of the overall experience by over thinking the design. ( this can get really complicated really fast! and expensive too!)

Thus far I know I have a design that is,...
1) faster
2) stronger and more stable (it is very safe!)
3) more, and more usable, dry space (above water) for motors, tackle, electronics, rods and reels.... ( doggies?)
4) better in the wind and waves (hydrodynamic)
5) more comfortable

I am still working on issues of weight and portability, but I think I have those items solved. I hope to be in the range of 30-40% lighter than existing pontoons, and as portable as most float tubes,..all in a package that can be broken down quickly and stowed in the average car trunk.

The impetus for my effort is my firm belief that sportfishing here in Southern California is rapidly changing. The high cost to low return of owning a fishing boat, the political /environmental , climate of lower and lower impact outdoor activities, and the diminishing fishery overall, is going to make float tubing and tooning, more and more THE means for us all to enjoy the sport on the water.

That being said, The things I like about tooning,....

1) It is such a personal experience because of the closeness to the environment,...
satisfying, more than any other form of fishing because of the physical effort and simplicity of it.

2) The one thing I would improve? almost everything about my boat. I'm working on it.

3) The future? for tubing and tooning, I think things are very encouraging. As for fishing in the Golden State? ..... hmmmmm....TBD.

bodfish

Oh just a quick update,....

Abandoned first and second designs recently, Third design in progress, as well as third mockup. learning, learning, learning,...

Dude this cool I would like the first ride if I can ask for such a thing.
I am like most excited to see what you come up with, and I am sure it will be great. I agree whole completely there is a big need to protect our environment and the cost of that could go up. But if we start really looking at float tubing an tooning as a means to leave less of a foot print than the cost can be much more doable for most.
I do be leave we have a responsibility to protect our planet and we can all do our part even if it is small. So those of you that have got into Tubing and Tooning you are helping keep it up. And good luck Bodfish again if you need some help let us know.

I call seconds!!! and my doggy! lol

I like the idea of shade but that seems hard without interfering with casting. I think a dry storage in the back would be nice for like a small cooler or something or for sweatshirts when it gets warm every time I take off my sweatshirt when the sun comes out it gets soaked in the back of my tube. And of course Aquaholic's will need a space for his dog!