GPS 300

23 June 2009

Hi, I'm Riccardo Munaro, aka td_2200 on various forums, including CFF.

I teamed up with Leonardo da Cassien for the River Po session and I also work for the up-and-coming Natural Carp firm.
Leonardo asked if I could write a few words and I'm more than happy to, having had a chance to compare your GPS300 with the product I've been using for years, namely a 3.60 collapsible dinghy with a marine ply floor and 2-piece steel keel.

We found ourselves using the boat in various different situations during the course of the session, which brought to light both its qualities and possible improvements, or at least suggestions that stem from different requirements and experiences.

These are the initial clear-cut differences between the dinghy and GPS300 that struck me straight off:
- GPS wins on assembly/disassembly times
- GPS wins on space on board
- Dinghy wins on manoeuvrability (but pays for it in other areas)
- same stability
- GPS wins on cost
- Dinghy wins on the size of outboard it can accommodate
- GPS wins on carrying capacity

Nonetheless, I must admit to being sceptical about the boat before I actually got to use it, though my mind was then changed completely regarding the real capacities and use it was created for!
It takes no time to assemble, takes up hardly any space, does not require ANY tools (whilst, for the dinghy, I have to be careful not to lose my spanners!), is stable...there's no point in me listing all its qualities, there's so many of them and they're already widely known!

I'd like to suggest a few minor fine-tunings that I noticed could benefit the product, though I should stress that these suggestions are based just on my own personal inspection and use. I hope they'll be of some use to you, anyway.
- non-slip floor, or part of it at least (things get rather slippery on the River Po with all the mud)
- stronger oars, since they're a bit bendy if you have to use them to push off or stop
- rowlocks that stop the oar from travelling upwards for people like me who aren't that skilled
- a rest for the oars inside the boat since they sometimes get in the way when you're struggling with a big fish (we hauled in a wels catfish measuring 1.75cm)
- extra rubber on the keel as it tends to get worn…
this is what emerged in conversation with Leonardo aboard the boat, in addition to the things he's already pointed out.

He'll have his own comments to make, of course, but I was keen to make an additional contribution anyway, giving you my own impressions, in the certainty that you'll enjoy growing success.
The product is still excellent and, with a few minor improvements, I think it can be taken to new heights, and not just in the carp-fishing arena of course.

Best regards
Munaro Riccardo "td_2200"