Todd --

I have an 8-ft Outcast PAC-800, with an eye on their 9-footer possibly sometime in the future -- a really cool setup, which you can check out on their website:

http://www.outcastboats.com/

Of course, any of the other BnT'ers will probably point out that I've had, not one, but TWO blowouts on my pontoons, but those were the result of a bit of negligence on my part (i.e., leaving them fully inflated in the warming sun). The company repaired and returned them to me quickly, though, at no charge (other than shipping them back to Idaho), and with no questions asked. Great customer service!

I would recommend no less than an 8-footer. You can carry just about as much as you'll ever need, and will always be comfortable. The six-footers just seem to me to be too much of a compromise, & you'd probably be wishing you had gone to the larger model after a short time. A 10-footer gets to be pretty cumbersome to cart around (that 9-footer I've been considering might be a bit much in that regard, as well).

Anyways, you've got quite a few options. I would suggest maybe holding off until the San Mateo Sportsmen's Expo in January/February. They always have the widest variety of mfr's on display, in one place. That'd be your best bet to be able to compare features, prices, and maybe even a special 'show price' that'd save you some additional cash!

Y'gotta make the move, though! You'll be able **fish better** than you can in that tube, too, trust me! (Rich Caro's big wins this year notwithstanding!!!) ;-)

Go for it, bud!