Originally Posted by
bfish
Just my opinion, but based on 25 years of fishing from canoes and kayak and 20 years as whitewater raft guide in the southern Appalachians, an inflatable boat such as yours, is very poor crappie fishing platform for 99% of the people out there. Kayak and canoes can be had new for about half the cost (up to almost equal cost) and have much better performance, easy of use, etc. If portability is an issue, float tubes or solo inflatable pontoons would be a better option for most people.
That said, your boat is fine for floating rivers with constant flow (not the best, but good enough). As I stated earlier, if it works good for you then that is great. I am thinking it would make a better smallmouth and/or trout water boat, rather than crappie.
Some suggestions for rigging your boat:
tracking-- Aire and others have fins you can add that will help with tracking. Use on rivers will knock them off. I assume the outer layer is PVC (I think that is what I felt on the SE pontoons that i have seen), so it should be easy to glue on.
I would also add a raised seat by laying a 1x8 wood or plastic cutting board across the boat. You will need to add d-rings to strap the board down. Once mounted (near center or slightly forward if you store a lot weight behind you), you can then strap your seat on the deck board. This elevation will make it easier to see, nicer on the ole knees, and gets your elbows out of being trapped in the boat (making for easier casting). Don't raise too high, as it might affect you center of gravity, but being a 3 ft wide boat, I sort of doubt this small of an increase will be noticeable.
With the elevated seat, you should be able to use a shorter paddle and more vertical stroke. Faster cadence and more vertical stroke will help with tracking, and a shorter paddle is not only lighter but stiffer.
Next I would add a pvc frame (strapped to d-rings) to provide tie down areas for coolers (one for minnows and another for drinks/food). This would be behind the seat but with in reach. I prefer soft-sided for food/drinks. This area can also be used for dry bag/pelican box to store emergency supplies (including dry clothes in fall/winter/spring plus rain jacket).
Third I would add another pvc frame up towards the bow (again strapped to d-rings). This is to provide stiffness to the sidewalls (needed since your weight is now on the sidewalls rather than the floor). Also the crossbars can be used for tackle storage and a place to rest your rod tips (add a rod holder (foam gripper style) to the crossbar.
I have not attacked you, sorry you feel that way. However, some of it may stem from the nearly constant barrage of thinly veiled advertisements from SeaEagle pontoons on another local to me board; always with gusto that they are the best. Decent yes, but best--not even close (IMO).
Hopefully some of my rigging tips will help you out.
PS bluestone is a pretty one, been about 18 years since I was on it. I don't recall any class 3 other than the old mill dam, but my memory may be slipping.