reviews

GigBob from NRS

Reviewed by Scott Richmond

GigBob personal fishing cataraft. $1595 retail.

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have owned many types of fly-fishing watercraft in the last 25 years--float tubes, pontoon boats, McKenzie drift boats, rafts, power skiffs, and frameless inflatables. I've owned everything but a pram, a canoe, and a jet boat, and I'm still thinking about buying one or each of those.

Currently, my primary watercraft are a Maravia 13.5-foot raft with hard floor and anchor system, a 14-foot Klamath skiff with an eight-horse outboard, and a Waterstrider frameless inflatable.

Before buying the Waterstrider (see Waterstrider Review), I owned a Dave Scadden Escalade (see Escalade Review). So I've been using frameless inflatables for almost a decade. All that experience means I have a heavy baggage (pun intended) of personal preferences and prejudices.

Dropstitch Construction

I was intrigued by the GigBob from NRS. First, I'm a big fan of frameless inflatables because they're easier to transport and assemble than a pontoon boat. Second, the GigBob uses dropstitch construction. Dropstitch means there's internal stitching that allows an air chamber to hold whatever shape the dropstitching dictates. So when you pump up the chamber, it can be something other than round--flat on top, for example. And that's the first thing you notice about the GigBob: the top surfaces are flat, not rounded.

Dropstitch is not new technology. My Maravia raft has a dropstitch floor, and I bought it in 1993.

Two Boats in One

The GigBob is like two boats in one. The bottom section is two pontoons with an inflated section connecting them, rather than the traditional metal frame. NRS says you can use this section separately as a kickboat (no oars); the seat can be attached to it. The top section is like another, smaller, pontoon boat. It has the oar plates, and the seat can be attached here, too. In either configuration, there's a large flat cargo platform behind the seat.

With both major pieces joined together, you have lots of stability and floatation, plus a good rowing platform.

Taking the GigBob for a Test Float

So how does the GigBob do on the river? I recently took a loaner for a float down Oregon's Clackamas River from Barton to Carver. This is not a difficult stretch of whitewater, but it's a section that's often drifted by winter anglers.

In short, here's what I liked about the GigBob:

1. Oar plates are adjustable, as is the seat. And there are multiple footrests. So you can configure the boat to suit yourself. This is a big plus.
2. Oars are long enough to provide leverage and propulsion.
3. Manueverable and tracks well in the water. Handles rapids stably and comfortably.
4. Multiple air chambers, which is a safety feature.
5. Construction appears to be of high quality, which I would expect from NRS.
6. Oarsman sits well above the water, so he/she will stay warmer in winter flows.
7. Multiple tie-downs for gear, and lots of room to store things.
8. Assembly is quick, compared to a pontoon boat.
9. There is an anchor system.
10. The seat seems comfortable enough.
11. Shallow draft allows you to slide through skinny water.
12. Wide, flat surface that you can stand on. (I'm sorry, but my imagination is too active for me try this. I can visualize a lot of things that could go wrong while I'm standing up in a small boat while fishing the hypothermia-inducing waters of the Northwest.)

And a Few Negatives About the GigBob

While there's a lot to like about this boat, there are a few things I did not rate highly.

1. The manual is woefully inadequate. It's four small pages, black-and-white, and incapable of explaining almost anything on this boat from assembly to care to repair. I hope there's a new one in the works.
2. A third oar is not included. I regard this as a major safety issue, especially considering my next point.
3. It seems to me that it would be very easy to lose an oar. They're in driftboat-style oarlocks and could easily pop out. You would need a tether to connect them to the boat.
4. I'm not keen on the amount of leverage that's placed on the oar plates. Based on the way they connect to the boat, I have some concerns about longevity. This concern may prove groundless; or not.
5. And my biggest complaint is so major that it gets its own section (below)

My Biggest Complaint

Before I vent my major issue, let me state that this is a good boat and you should check the list of positive points (above) after reading this section.

Okay, my biggest beef is . . . (drumroll, please) . . . the beef. This is a hefty boat. It's about 65 pounds. That's a lot.

For me, it means I would never buy a GigBob. Your fishing style may be different than mine. You may even enjoy schlepping heavy things more than I. So your decision criteria could lead you in a different direction. But I find light weight very important, and this is a heavy boat.

Light weight means you can go up and down steep banks more easily, allowing you to fish places other anglers pass by. Light weight means you can hike into remote lakes or rivers with your boat. Light weight means you can easily portage around dangerous rapids. Light weight means you can ship the boat on an airplane without paying extra for heavy baggage (anything over 50 pounds will probably get a $25 surcharge, each way). Light weight means you don't wear yourself out before you even string up your rod.

Access and transportation are big issues for me, and the GigBob doesn't meet my criteria. The 65-pound heft of the thing means I'll never buy one.

NRS describes this boat as "20-25 percent lighter than other boats of the same size" and that you can "pack it on your back without breaking down a frame." Well, it's 250 percent heavier than my Waterstrider, and if I tried to backpack a GigBob it's my back that would break down.

But like I said, your criteria may be different, and there are many positives for this boat. If you're in the market for a watercraft, you should consider a GigBob. But before you make a decision, think long and hard about how you fish and whether its weight will be a problem for you.

For a few dollars more, you can buy a Waterstrider. And that boat remains my personal choice for a frameless inflatable.

Bottom Line: Many good points, but the weight will be a killer for many anglers. Reviewer Rating: 3

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 08/14/2009.

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Side view of fully-assembled GigBob

GigBob configured as a kickboat

Top view of GigBob. Note the amble flat storage space.