In reply to Post #1
Hi all

There are several other marks out there as well as the Fox version pictured. Raptor and Vortex both have a 420 in their ranges, with Vortex being the first if I'm correct. I own a Vortex 420 with trailer and a custom made Karsten canopy, which is a heavy canvas material. This ensures that no wind can penetrate the material when out on the water (a huge bonus!) and it is also nice and dark inside so sleep comes easy(another bonus!). I have not long had my boat, and have had a few trips with it, although I had a few trips with a Dutch colleague first to get the hang of things such as setting the anchor lines and trailering the boat in and out of the water safely. It is an acquired skill, and can only really be gained by getting out there and doing it, and in the coming years I shall be towing my boat all over Europe for some quiet, undisturbed fishing away from the masses! People are always quick to knock something they haven't tried, calling it 'overkill' or 'fish at all costs', but the reality is that a lot of the larger European waterways are largely inaccessible from the bank in many areas, and a boat really is the best option to fish and explore. I have limited time to fish (like most!) so I simply wanted to ensure that I had the kit at my disposal to maximise my fishing time and give myself the best chance of catching a few on my terms...why drive hundreds of miles to then hamper your chances by plotting up in the first swim you come across?

I use a second, smaller boat that tows behind the 420 for dropping rigs and playing fish, and simply step across between boats when I need to. The boats are secured together by means of karabiner clips from Go Outdoors, only costing a few quid. I use a petrol engine when allowed (on rivers mainly), and for the larger lakes I use a Torqeedo electric which is much more powerful than a standard Minn Kota or similar. This way I can easily and safely get myself back to base should the weather suddenly turn for the worse...common sense is key, and I would never sit out on a big water and put myself or others in danger, it simply isn't worth it. It's a really great way of exploring wild venues, and has totally opened up a new dimension in my fishing. Of course it won't be for everyone, and the cost is prohibitive when buying the proper kit but if you want to do something badly enough, you'll make sacrifices to facilitate it. After all, I have binned off all of my costly UK tickets to solely fish overseas, and that saving alone has paid for my boat set-up once and for all, so I'm happy with that. All the best

I think it looks excellent and would be perfect for North American fishing.

There is so much water over here that is inaccessible from the bankside and this would be perfect for targetting those spots away from it all.

It would be just about my idea of heaven - set this up, float down the river to a spot miles from anywhere, moor up and then fish for a couple of days with nothing but the wild life around me. What's not to like...

In reply to Post #36
Hi, i don't anybody's knocking, it's still a relatively new idea, and i think like most things, people need to adjust.
Have you any photos of your set up?

In reply to Post #38
Not sure if this link will work but here you go. Have plenty of other pics.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210646928624167&set=a.1623912392473.2082602.1076378795&type=3&theater

In reply to Post #38
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212576513222576&set=a.1658411454928.2085232.1076378795&type=3&theater

The Dutch, French and Germans have been using boats for years. It's nothing new...I can recall when Max Nollert first pioneered this idea going on 20 years ago. Everybody said: Brilliant idea and an industry was born. I think the boat with the Karsten pump up is a brilliant idea. More power to yer elbow, mate!

In reply to Post #41
The platforms with bivvy's on, are a reletively new idea though, aren't they?

In reply to Post #42
Back in around 1997/8 I saw a couple of Dutch guys using two Yaks (that's a boat BTW) lashed together with a platform over the top and a big pump up on the platform. Four anchors held the thing in place and two outboards gave it quite a shift-on. They were using it on one of the huge public waters in SW France, one with oil rigs. They were too far away to see what they were catching but I doubt that they blanked!

In reply to Post #43
Can't beat innovation

In reply to Post #43
Won't get away with that on bisc now Ken .

In reply to Post #45
No, definitely not!

I think it is a great way of getting out there especially for waters like Bisc or lakes of that size and bigger across European countries.
For safety I think you would just have to keep an eye on the weather if you weren't moored against a bank marginal vegetation or an island even then I dont think I would like to be that far out in a remote unreachable spot.
My mate had a 3.000 mtr dinghy flip on him once on Du Der pushing off the bank when the waves were coming in like white horses, the leisure battery just missed his head he could of been in a nasty accident if it were a few inches the other way, the same guy was catching just off the rigs you mentioned Ken when a boat-full of German nudists moored up and started swimming all over his baited spots, he said he didn't mind that much as there were some attractive women about but the Bratwurst's swinging about the place was a bit off putting.

In reply to Post #47
"but the Bratwurst's swinging about the place was a bit off putting."

I have been looking at the Raptor platforms, and anchored well, i imagine they'd be alright far out, depending on the weather. I guess common sense is key when using anything like this, they seem very solid though, almost like a proper pontoon.

I can see that they would be handy on a big venue, instead of packing everything away, they can be towed to a new location, with minimal fuss. I bet the big ones that can take two bivvy's would pay dividends, if both anglers were making the effort

In reply to Post #48
I have seen them in the flesh at the Zwolle show Steve the last few years they are well made/constructed bits of kit very sturdy but that's lay on the ground not open water obviously, my only concern being out in the middle of an expanse of water even with anchors at each corner is when the wind gets up over deep water and you are being battered the anchors become negative if you like if they are fixed at certain depths a bit like having a 1/2lb lead attached to marker poles over 6 meter deep water, I have woken up in the morning when the weather has been a bit boisterous and they have drifted off or moved away from the spots, as mentioned if they were anchored to inaccessible islands or margins I would have no problem but out in the middle of no mans land with potentially a hundred meters of water below you the backside might be going fifty pence half pence.

I was very impressed by their unhooking mat but not the 179 euro price tag although they have shown some idiot using this like a small boat.
Unhooking mat Prat.

I know one of the guys who works for Raptor spoke with him at Zwolle about this not the best in my opinion.

In reply to Post #49
Yeah, point taken Ian, you're right mate, if things did get out of shape, right out in open water, it could become a bad situation very quickly.

How about that dufus on the mat? **** for brains comes to mind.