At the saltwater get together I was lucky enough to test drive the XPW-239. The first thing I noticed was the size, this thing is nearly 8 feet tall and it is 4 feet wide. The material feels very tough compared to my Cumberland and the construction looks top notch. I am unfamiliar with the material used but it seems nearly bullet proof. I also noticed that once inflated it did not seem to shrink in the cool water or swell up sitting in the sun and it was rock solid at all times.
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Jeff showed me how to carry it by standing inside and using the foot bar as a lever to balance it. I was surprised how light this thing is; it really felt like a big balloon. The advertised weight is 35 pounds but it felt lighter like 20 or 25 pounds. The kicker is the size; there is just no comfortable way to grasp this thing. With all the attachment points I am sure there is a way to rig a comfortable carry strap or sling.
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Stepping into or getting out of the XPW_239 is a little awkward because of the enclosed shape. Sitting in this tube is just as comfortable as my Cumberland, it feels light on the water, and it floated my 200 pounds easily. I can see fishing 6 or more hours on the water with this machine. Kicking the XPW-239 is very easy and it is the most stable tube I have been in. The seat is slung low, right at water level, so my butt would get wet, but not my knees or thighs. I believe the low seat height is what makes the XPW-239 so stable when kicking or rowing. As far as kicking I found it used no more energy than kicking around in my Cumberland. The size of the XPW-239 required some adjustment when I was moving around the docks, and under the piers, but the tube felt quite agile. It will spin around just as easy, and possibly easier, than a much smaller tube. It seemed I could spin around the centerline as opposed to turning on a radius, this thing floats great. Also, the size makes this thing feel ultra stable and I really felt I was suspended below the center of gravity, so there is no feeling of being able to tip it over no matter how far you reach out to either side.
Rowing the XPW-239 is certainly faster than kicking but not in the same speed league as a kayak. I did notice I could fight the current in Newport Harbor better than the float tubes, but I was straining at the oars after a short time. I can see how rowing the XPW-239 could be advantageous in windy conditions and experienced the advantage in heavy current at Newport.
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To summarize, the XPW-239 is a comfortable tube, it is a fantastic fishing platform, and exceptionally light feeling especially considering the size. The size of the tube makes it cumbersome to carry and that may just take some practice to figure out. The slightly awkward entry was forgotten as soon as I started kicking. The tube felt incredibly stable and solid for an inflatable toy. For me it would need a few tricks and accessories to make it an awesome fishing tube. In fact, I think with a little tweaking in the rod and tackle storage department this could be the ultimate fishing tube. The $700 price tag is a bit of an obstacle, but the bladderless design of the material makes this thing very light and tough.
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Jeff showed me how to carry it by standing inside and using the foot bar as a lever to balance it. I was surprised how light this thing is; it really felt like a big balloon. The advertised weight is 35 pounds but it felt lighter like 20 or 25 pounds. The kicker is the size; there is just no comfortable way to grasp this thing. With all the attachment points I am sure there is a way to rig a comfortable carry strap or sling.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Stepping into or getting out of the XPW_239 is a little awkward because of the enclosed shape. Sitting in this tube is just as comfortable as my Cumberland, it feels light on the water, and it floated my 200 pounds easily. I can see fishing 6 or more hours on the water with this machine. Kicking the XPW-239 is very easy and it is the most stable tube I have been in. The seat is slung low, right at water level, so my butt would get wet, but not my knees or thighs. I believe the low seat height is what makes the XPW-239 so stable when kicking or rowing. As far as kicking I found it used no more energy than kicking around in my Cumberland. The size of the XPW-239 required some adjustment when I was moving around the docks, and under the piers, but the tube felt quite agile. It will spin around just as easy, and possibly easier, than a much smaller tube. It seemed I could spin around the centerline as opposed to turning on a radius, this thing floats great. Also, the size makes this thing feel ultra stable and I really felt I was suspended below the center of gravity, so there is no feeling of being able to tip it over no matter how far you reach out to either side.
Rowing the XPW-239 is certainly faster than kicking but not in the same speed league as a kayak. I did notice I could fight the current in Newport Harbor better than the float tubes, but I was straining at the oars after a short time. I can see how rowing the XPW-239 could be advantageous in windy conditions and experienced the advantage in heavy current at Newport.
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To summarize, the XPW-239 is a comfortable tube, it is a fantastic fishing platform, and exceptionally light feeling especially considering the size. The size of the tube makes it cumbersome to carry and that may just take some practice to figure out. The slightly awkward entry was forgotten as soon as I started kicking. The tube felt incredibly stable and solid for an inflatable toy. For me it would need a few tricks and accessories to make it an awesome fishing tube. In fact, I think with a little tweaking in the rod and tackle storage department this could be the ultimate fishing tube. The $700 price tag is a bit of an obstacle, but the bladderless design of the material makes this thing very light and tough.