Pontoon float boats, anyone have the madison from scadden?

[The Fillet Show]

Well, a couple friends and I have been researching the poo out of some inflatable pontoon float boats and still don't know what we want. I've look at quite a few, have likes and dislikes on most of them. One friend went cheap with the madison from trout unlimited, nice little boat, but now he has to mod it to put a trolling motor and platform on it. I'd love to save some money and go that route, but also want a very nice quality boat. Does anyone here have the Madison ST by Dave scadden?

[Raymond S.]

My brother and I both have the Madison River from Scadden. Red 10' bladderless pontoons. Not sure right off of the specs but I believe it's rated for 400lbs?...red powder coated aluminum frame w/ aluminum diamondplate rear deck, stripping bags(those are very nice BTW). My brother had to send one pontoon back from a leak but mine hold air beautifully. One thing, I got a leftover '06 model I believe w/ the solid footrests, he got an early '07 model I believe and they went to an adjustable slid in/out footrest, not as good. Sorta cheap if you ask me but "adjustable." At the end of the day though you really don't need to adjust it.

As for 400lbs, no way would you want to haul 400lbs, it would be so ass-heavy it wouldn't be funny. W/ our 200-220lbs of weight we can pack the deck down pretty good and I'm sure it's not quite 300lbs, and it's probably all I'd really want to haul down the river w/ me. If you had a couple day trip planned, you could merit weighting it down, but for the day float it has plenty of room for rods/gear/ some food and cooking equipment.

Overall, I don't use mine near as much as I should, but I have never came close to having a problem w/ it. Now that Dave is North Fork Outdoors I believe, I don't know much about the products he has. When we got ours he was still on his own, literally a month or so before I heard he either got bought out or merged w/ someone, whatever the case was. I think we may how gotten good deals because he was clearing some inventory or something.

I see you are in Mattawan, about 40min. from me. If you ever wanted to come check one out in person you are more than welcome just shoot me a PM.

-Ray;)

[The Fillet Show]

Have you guys tried a trolling motor on it yet? I weigh 240 myself, so I need to make sure I have something that can haul my beefcake ****...lol Right now i'm debating buying some pontoons and designing my own aluminum frame. I might take you up on checking out that scadden, 2 of us are looking at them. Thanks for the reply!

[Splitshot]

This is a picture of a dry fly float boat that will handle a lot more than 500 lbs. Check out www.dryflyfloatboats.com.

Dave will personalize one exactly the way you want it and will even let you try one before purchasing it. He is also a sponser and long time member of this site.

I have five of them and think they are perfect for fishing MI rivers. They also will take a lot of hard hits.

This is a picture of mine loaded for a long days fishing. Notice the cooler in the middle. This is a two man boat. The bag on the back is for my camping stuff.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/dry_fly.JPG

[J-Lee]

I have 2 Dryfly boats, they are great boats. What you also get is SERVICE and support. Good luck on your search.

[The Fillet Show]

I checked out the DryFly boats at the fly fishing expo in warren this weekend. Very nice boats, but i'm still not sure what I want. I like his boat, but I can get the scadden with everything I could want for a little cheaper.....on the other side, I doubt anyone could match his service. I do like how the dryfly floats nice and high. Do either of you have an 8-9 footer 1 person with the standing platform and trolling motor setup?

[Raymond S.]

sorry Fillet, I forgot about this thread. No, we haven't tried a trolling motor, but our concern was never w/ the motor itself, it was w/ the battery. To answer your question I don't think it would fair very well w/ 240lbs, a motor AND battery all on the rear. W/ the adjustable straps you can shift the frame further forward on the pontoons and the diamond plate rack for that matter.
When I bought mine I think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $750. Not sure what they are these days. ALso, I'm not sure if they are still the bladderless pontoons or not. I believe total weight of mine is somewhere around 45lbs?...another thing to consider when loading and hauling it around yourself.

[Splitshot]

I know guys who use trolling motors on Dry fly boats and they work well. It is easy to balance a Dry fly boat as well and it weighs about the same weight. I have never had a problem loading my boats on or off my car or wagon and I do it alone often. I do have to make several trips to carry my cooler, camping material, fishing equipment, extra clothing, rain gear etc. etc., but it is easy to do.

Dave's boats also have two bladders in each pontoon and if one leaks, you can deflate it and the other one will fill the pontoon. It is a most excellent craft.

You could set up a trolling motor on an eight foot model, but you would be far better off with the ten footer. The boat I use most is a two man with 12 foot pontoons that have a ten foot diameter. If you get the 12 foot model it is a little difficult for one man to handle.

I carry a lot of gear when I fish for the day. I usually carry four rods a cooler stocked with food, cold drinks, lots of ice all my camera equipment, and much more and my boat is comfortable, easy to handle and anchor and I can stand up in it. It is just a superb craft.

[The Fillet Show]

Alright, dang you guys....you have me looking at the 2 person dry fly now....ugg.

My questions about the 10 foot 2 man:

How does the 10 foot 2 man handle with 1 guy?
How is it in big water with the wind if you have a trolling motor?
How much can it really carry for weight?
Any issues with the pontoons being able to rotate?
Any issues with the frame ends on the pontoons? (I notice most manufactures extend the frame and connect the front and back along the top of the pontoon for more support.)
Any durability issues with frame or pontoons? (noticed only 3 year warranty on pontoons)
Rare or mostlikely wont happen question: Will this handle some good rapids (class III+) if I go up to canada and come around a bend with not enough time to get to shore? Will I look like this when I come around the bend:SHOCKED: , or will I look like this when I come around the bend on a class III :D ?

Sorry for so many questions...lol

[Splitshot]

I have a 10 ft. two man boat I have used for about 8 years and it is still in excellent shape. One of the big advantages of the Dryfly is it is not a smooth skin boat so it floats slower than every other boat I have seen. Because it floats at about two thirds the speed, it gives you more time to analyze the water ahead of you. It also means that it spins slower and is easier to control. If you are crossing a lake in the wind it is also slower. If you use an electric motor it shouldn’t be a problem but still somewhat slower.

Dave has been in heavy rapids on some western rivers, so if you talk to him he can fill you in. I have been rafting in class IV and even a couple of class V rapids and I would have no fear of taking my float boat down any class IV. I don’t want to ever go through a class V again in any craft but I think it would do just fine.

Dave uses aircraft square aluminum which makes them heavy duty. A couple of my boats are closing on14 years and I still use them often. I fish with lots of people and we usually use my boats. I spend at least 600 hours a year on them. If you really want heavy duty, I would buy a two man boat with 12 ft. pontoons with a ten ft diameter. Dave will custom make them for you. Heck he will invite you up and build it the way you want it. With all the cargo bags, anchors and saddle bags I think I have about $1200.00 wrapped up in it and consider it a real bargin.

Call Dave and go up and try one out and you will be convinced. All the guys on this site that have them like them as far as I know.

[The Fillet Show]

I checked them out at the fly expo and really love the looks of them and how high they sit up out of the water.....well, looks like i'll be going with a dry fly as soon as the funds come in. I'd like to stick with 10' though, so maybe i'll have him bump it to 10'-18" or 20" toons for more capacity. Thanks for the replies! I can't wait to get one now!:D