Feb 18, 2025

BUYERS GUIDE to OUTCAST BOATS & PONTOONS:

My Outcast PAC 1000! Big enough to carry what I need on day or light overnight camp trips! Rivers or lakes, no problem. (photo: John Garrett)

Ever been fishing on a river or lake bank and just couldn't reach where you really wanted to fish?  Maybe you've driven along a river and see water that you just can't get to or have never fished and thought, man if I just had a boat I could fish that water.  Or you're at a beautiful lake and all the fisherman in their boats, pontoons or float tubes are crushing it.  I sure have.

Today, we have so many options to solve this problem, options to get you where you want to fish.  Outcast has you covered for just about anything. Let's go over those options...

Travis's OSG Clearwater loaded up and ready for a multi day trip on the Deschutes.
(photo: Travis Duddles)

NOTE:  When it comes to the boats listed here, one thing to consider are the bladders.  A boat with Urethane Bladders will cost more than a boat with Vinyl Bladders.  This is mainly because of their durability and life of the product.  This is not to say that Vinyl is not durable, it does provide adequate durability but over time it's just not as durable as Urethane.

The Clearwater was introduce in 2021 and it has been a customer favorite every since. This is the perfect boat for big water like the Deschutes River for instance.  I wouldn't be afraid to use this on smaller rivers either.  Because the Clearwater can handle longer/stronger oars (not that it needs them), this makes a great personal boat for river fishing.  I really like how the seat allows you to see while rowing, to me this is very important.  I like to see where I am going and avoid any hazards that come my way.

The Clearwater comes with Urethane bladders and has a generous load capacity of 450 pounds and weighing only about 35 pounds, making it easily transported.  Carry it deflated in your SUV or partially inflated in your truck bed, heck you can even strap it to the top of your car if you feel the need.  At 9'4", there's ample room (as seen in photo above) to store gear in the front and rear "trampoline" style cargo spaces. An added bonus is that it comes with a 5 year limited warranty.  It comes standard with 2 piece 7' oars, but stated earlier, it can accommodate longer/stronger oars if you choose.
The Clearwater, as you can see, there is a fair amount of room to carry what you need.
(photo: Outcast)

It has many features that make it even more functional and customizable.  You can put an anchor system in the rear if you'd like, you can add additional cargo pockets if you'd like, some folks have even put electric trolling motors for using in lakes where permitted to do so.  If you are taller, like me, you can adjust the foot rest.  It is just a practical, functional boat that adds enjoyment to your fishing day.
Review: "Outcast Clearwater" - After having the boat for several weeks on the lake and on whitewater class 2/3 it is a new favorite. At 35 pounds I can easily carry it from the van to the shore. The frameless system works well. There are also plenty of "D" rings if you wanted to add a frame. I was not sure how it would do in bigger whitewater but it is a blast. I am not fishing with it but it is easy to set up for fishing. - Margaret Arthur.

Recommended Accessories for the Clearwater:

Recommended Pumps for the Clearwater:

Quick Link to the OSG Clearwater: 


Cool thing about the OSG Commander is that you don't have to get out of it to fish.
Simply stand up and SEND IT! (photo: Outcast)

The Commander is a Kayak style boat that leads to easy transportation and packing.  The open area allows for fin kicking and oars for rowing.  This feature makes the Commander a versatile machine.  If I'm rowing a moderate sized river, I'll use the oars.  If I am fishing a local lake, I'll use both the oars and fins.  The Commander is more suited for day adventures, unless you are a true minimalist camper.
Top view of the Commander. A versatile kayak style boat sure to please!
(photo: Outcast)

At 10' long and 32 pounds, the Commander fits perfect in the back or your truck or easily deflated in the back seat of your car or SUV.  Standard oars are 5' 2-piece and store easily out of the way while casting to your prey.  The Commander comes with Urethane Bladders and a 5 year limited warranty also is an added attractive feature.
Review: "Should have bought this years ago." - I'm having so much fun in this craft now I can't imagine fishing life without it. I've wanted one for years but kept putting it off thinking it would just be a waste of money like half the fly rods I now store in my closet. My Commander is going to be to busy floating rivers to ever be in the closet but the fun part is if you need to store it, it will fit in a closet! - River Wright

Recommended Accessories for the Commander:

Recommended Pumps for the Commander:

Aerial view of the OSG Striker. (photo: Outcast)

If you like to fish with a buddy or family member, the Striker is the boat for you.  It doesn't need a trailer for transporting because it can fit in the back of your truck.  It takes minimal set us time and two people can carry it.  It only weighs about 102 pounds, and has a self bailing floor.  You have the option of adding a motor if fishing lakes or reservoirs.  It has 8 "D" rings for tying down anything you need to carry. Has a load capacity of 800 pounds and a 5 year limited warranty.
Outcast Frameless Motor Mount for the Stealth Pro and Striker boats. (photo: Outcast)

Something that's nice about an inflatable boat/raft is that when river conditions are low and clear and when a drift boat just isn't the best choice, the raft, pontoon type boats are a better choice. I have fished out of rafts in the upper Klickitat River where it was real boney (rocky) and low water conditions and the raft worked great.  I have a number of guide buddies that will use rafts in situations like this.  The Striker comes with Urethane Bladders.

Recommended Accessories for the OSG Striker:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG Striker:
Side view of the Drifter. (photo: Outcast)

A.K.A. the "Weekend Warrior" by the staff at Outcast.  Right off the bat, there are a couple things to know about this boat.
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with Urethane AIREcell bladders
What I like about this boat, is that it comes with a NRS 3 person fishing frame.  Rather than have the kids fighting over who gets to go, I just take them both!  Problem solved.  The self bail floor is always a great feature. You'll need some sort of trailer, I prefer a flat bed,  for transporting unless you start from scratch and set the boat up at the river. The load capacity for the Drifter 13 is about 1350 pounds! Load it us and be gone for the weekend exploring.

Your go to raft for fishing with friends or clients is the PAC 1300. (photo: Outcast)

The PAC 1300 has a slightly shorter and narrower build than the PAC 1400 making it perfect for navigating smaller, technical rivers.  The PAC 1300 comes with a 10 year limited warranty, which is amazing in my opinion!
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders
Recommended Accessories for the PAC 1300:
Recommended pumps for the PAC 1300:
PAC 1400 a guides favorite. (photo: Outcast)

If you make your living floating clients down a river, this may be the one for you and it's a guide favorite. The PAC 1400 is very spacious and comfortable, allowing you to accommodate two anglers with overnight gear and supplies. The PAC 1400 is a raft ready for big water!
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders
Recommended Accessories for the PAC 1400:
Recommended pumps for the PAC 1400

PONTOONS:

The OSG PAC 800 in action. (photo: Outcast)

This 8' pontoon, is nice and compact, easily fitting in the back of your truck and easy for one person to handle.  Weighing in at just 55 pounds, it's the perfect size for smaller more intimate rivers and will carry anything you need for a day trip or ultralight overnight camp trip.  Even being only 8' long it boast a load capacity of 300 pounds, this would be an ideal pontoon for young anglers or small to mid sized adults and their gear. Comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders for years of durability.

Top view of the PAC 800, as you can see there is a platform in the rear for some gear.
(photo: Outcast)

If you're a bigger youth or an adult, this may not be the pontoon for you.  I am 6'5" 225 pounds and have fished on a barrowed PAC 900 (9' version) before, but that's the smallest I would want to go personally.  When I bought my own pontoon, because of my size, I ended up going with the PAC 1000 (10' version) because of my size and the needed load capacity, it was a perfect match.
Review: "Amazing little boat" - "I have had this boat for almost 10 years now and it has yet to let me down. Very versatile and will handle some pretty decent whitewater. Perfect for small and medium sized rivers in the PNW and Midwest. I have used mine in lakes as well where it performed really well." - Ryan on 12/2/2015
Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 800:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 800:
The go just about anywhere OSG PAC 900 

Slightly larger than it's little brother the PAC 800, the PAC 900 comes in at 9', giving you a bit more stability but not really extra room onboard.  This is an excellent all around boat for any angler up to 300 pounds.  The load capacity for this gem is 400 pounds, which is pretty generous in my book. Even if the boat was tapped out at 400 pounds, it still is quite agile. I may sound like a broken record, but these pontoons are just the ticket for personal fishing.

The versatile and agile PAC 900 all you need for a personal float fishing experience!
(photo: Outcast)

What I like about the PAC 900 and PAC 1000 is that you can easily attach an electric trolling motor to the built in transom.  This makes fishing Stillwater a breeze.  If your fishing a lake and the wind kicks up, you know how difficult it can be to get back to your truck, an electric trolling motor is a welcome addition in this scenario. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders and Outcast really stands behind this product with a 10 year NO FAULT warranty, that's impressive!
Review: "Outcast PAC 900 = Perfect" - "I've used the PAC 900 for a couple of years and it has performed wonderfully. I have floated several rivers, locally and on the Oregon Coast, and I've fished a few of our local lakes and I've always felt safe and comfortable in it. I have even done a few overnight (light) camp trips as well. Plenty of room for all the gear I need. If you are looking for a personal, versatile outfit this is a great one. Highly Recommend!" - John G

If you plan on using the PAC 800, 900 or 1000 on Stillwater lakes, I highly recommend that you get a second anchor system.  I use the Scotty Anchor Lock system, but with a rail mount, and I mount it on the tube of the left foot rest.  This helps stabilize you and keep you in place if anchored while fishing Chironomids if the wind picks up.  Honestly I don't wait for the wind to pick up, if I am fishing Chironomids, I am double anchored in most cases.  A double anchoring system is a must in my book!  I simply add mine to the frame near my left foot bracket. It is the perfect place to easily raise and lower the second anchor when needed. 

Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 900:

Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 900:

The OSG PAC 1000 has plenty of space and a sweet load capacity of  500 pounds!
(photo: Outcast)

The PAC 1000 is Outcasts largest weight capacity for a single person pontoon boat.  If you want larger capacity you will need to jump up to the PAC 1200 or larger.  The 1000 is what I ended up with, when considering my size and how and where I like to fish.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far and have had zero issues with it.

Custom Rod Storage on my PAC 1000 (we do not carry this rod holder at Gorge Fly Shop)
(photo: John Garrett)

I even did a little custom rod holder on my oar tower, see photo below! This is a nice addition to the boat and I can carry a couple extra rods and keep the tips out of the way when not in use. The only problem with customizing your boat or pontoon, is that the more stuff you put on it, the more stuff for your fly line to get caught up on.  For me, it happens, but it happens rarely and I have learn to deal with it.  I like having extra rods for fishing situations and to me it is worth having a tangled up mess every once in awhile.  I am confident with the AIREcell Urethane Bladders that I will fish plenty of rivers and lakes for years to come.
Review: "Outcast Boats" - "5 years ago Travis (GFS Owner) recommended the Pac 1000 as the boat of choice for whitewater rivers due to the versatility and durability. 5 years later and my Pac 1000 still looks and performs like new and has never given me a problem...It's given me some great adventures and sure to see many more...My #1 pic..."  Greg Darling - GFS Team
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 1000:

PAC 1200 - Perfect for two anglers with lots of room for all your gear. (photo: Outcast)

This is a very stable two person pontoon that is still light enough to make it easily transported. Coming in at 13' long and weighing in at about 144 pounds, two people can easily transport it to the water if necessary.  If you put it on a flatbed trailer even easier yet. It features enough space and load capacity for multi-day trips as well.  One thing I like about this boat is that the front frame module can be removed if fishing solo, or removing the seat for more equipment if needed.

Things to Note about the PAC 1200:
  • This item ships DIRECTLY from the manufacturer and due to the shipping cost, this boat does not qualify for any promotional discounts!
  • This item comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders.
  • ALSO, this boat DOES NOT come with oar
Top View of the Outcast PAC 1200. (photo: Outcast)

This is a sweet boat that gives you a lot of versatility.  If you are a guide that takes single anglers out this would be a great boat for you.  Maybe you like to fish with a good buddy who also knows how to row, this is awesome, cause you can switch back and forth in sharing rowing responsibilities.

Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 1200:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 1200:
Front View of the Fish Cat Panther (photo: Outcast)

Right off the bat, the Fish Cat Panther has the highest carrying load capacity of any other Fish Cat pontoon boat at 400! The Panther features low profile 9' quad pontoons, which allow for the carrying capacity and it keeps you low to the water which is very helpful in breezy and windier conditions. 
Side View of the Fish Cat Panther - as you can see it is very low profile and low to the water.
(photo: Outcast)

 At 9' long and around 63 pounds the Panther is extremely transportable and equally at home on your local rivers or lakes. The Fish Cat Panther comes with Vinyl AIREcell bladder material and a 5 year warranty.  If you love to fish Stillwater and want something more that a float tube, this is the boat for you!

Recommended Accessories for the Fish Cat Panther:
Recommended Pumps for the Fish Cat Panther:
Top View of the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR, just add water. (photo: Outcast)

At 8' X 54" the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR is a compact pontoon, the smallest in the Fish Cat family, yet it can carry a load for an overnight adventure.  Equally comfortable on both rivers and lakes.  It comes with AIREcell Vinyl bladders and a steel, quality tested frame, for holding up to the demands of a lot of fishing.  This compact gem has a 300 pound load capacity and comes with a 5 year limited warranty!

Things to Note about the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR:
  • Ships DIRECTLY from the manufacturer
  • Due to shipping cost this item does not qualify for promotional discounts
  • It comes with 6' 2 piece oars.
Side View - Compact, yet sturdy with enough room for an overnighter!
(photo: Outcast)

Recommended Accessories for the Fish Cat Panther:
Recommended Pumps for the Fish Cat Panther:

Parting Shot:
Spring's right around the corner and if you've wanted to invest in a floating devise whether it's a raft, pontoon or even a float tube, give Outcast products a good hard look.  You can visit our website at: www.gorgeflyshop.com.  They make what will fit your style and need for fishing.
My PAC 1000 fits perfectly in the back of my truck, making it easy for me to access almost any water source river or lake. (photo John Garrett)

Thanks for reading, I know that this is a long article, and that's because there are so many choices.  If you have any questions about any of the Outcast products, please don't hesitate to give us a call here at the Gorge Fly Shop at 541-386-6977 or you can shoot us an email at: info@gorgeflyshop.com and we'll do our best to give you answers.

FINAL NOTE:  Of all the accessories that you could ever put on any boat, you absolutely NEED to have a life jacket, and some sort of First Aid Kit onboard.  I think too many folks take both of these items for granted.  I can't tell you that I've needed a First Aid Kit every time I've gone out, but I can tell you that I've had to use it enough times that I am glad I always have one onboard.  Even if it's just for a headache.  Knock on wood, I have never personally been in a situation that a life jacket has saved my life, BUT, there is peace in knowing that I have one on if ever needed!  Don't play around with these two items.  In the case of the life jacket, your life is worth more than the risk of not having it and actually wearing it.

While having fun, be safe out there...

John G.
Gorge Fly Shop Team

https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

  © 'and' Steelhead.com Mike Prine 2009-2014

Back to TOP