Add-On/accessories For Pond Prowler??

[CC268]

Hey guys hopefully going to be picking up a 9 foot Pond Prowler here pretty soon and I would like to get a few things for it and would like some feed back, especially regarding a trolling motor.

 

1. Trolling Motor - what do you guys recommend? Thrust? (nothing crazy expensive)

2. What battery(s)? How many do I need?

3. Oars for emergency

[Brian6428]

I have the 10ft bass raider, basically the same thing. If you go through the "Any pelican bass raider owners out there" thread on this forum some people have upgraded theirs nicely there. On mine I have as follows:

 

1. Bass Pro shops Prowler 30lb thrust trolling motor. This propels my brother and I (310 lbs combined) plus our gear across the lake nicely. It says it is transom mount but one screw removed and replaced makes it a bow mount.

 

2. Battery. Not sure the exact type, its an everstart 12v battery from walmart. About $80.

 

2.5. Almost forgot the battery charger. Only about $20 at walmart.

 

3. 2 Shoreline marine collapsible paddles incase of emergency.

 

4. One fire extinguisher. My state has a law that says you have to have one if the boat has a motor. Check your state guidelines.

 

5. Lastly, a 10lb mushroom anchor and an anchor rope. These boats sit high in the water and drift like crazy, even on calm days.

 

If you plan to fish by yourself, make a rudder (see thread listed above) these boats are impossible to control while alone otherwise. If you have any questions send me a pm and I will gladly help if I can.

 

Brian

[CC268]

Thanks! I saw that Prowler trolling motor at BPS...was thinking about getting a 40 or 50lb thrust trolling motor...but we will see.

 

I will definitely pick up an anchor as well. 

 

I am surprised they don't make rudders for these boats...guess I will have to check that thread out and see how people are making these rudders

[Brian6428]

Just a thought, but sometimes my 30lb trolling motor is too fast if I am trolling in first gear and fishing a slow moving bait (worm, jig). Then again the 45 or 50 lb tm's would get you across the lake quicker.

 

Brian

[CC268]

Just a thought, but sometimes my 30lb trolling motor is too fast if I am trolling in first gear and fishing a slow moving bait (worm, jig). Then again the 45 or 50 lb tm's would get you across the lake quicker.

 

Brian

 

Hmm...well I suppose I will ask around at Bass Pro and see what they recommend...is there a rudder you can buy for these things or do you have to make one?

[Brian6428]

I'm pretty sure you just have to make one. I don't have one because my brother is usually with me so with him in the back the boat handles well. When I am by myself I just make the motor a transom mount cause as a bow mount it is impossible to control without weight in the back. If you don't want a rudder or don't get one right away, just keep the motor transom mount, it handles way better that way unless you have a rudder. I think most people just buy an old trolling motor mount (i think they're about $30) and weld on a piece of sheet metal to the bottom.

[Bomber7]

Hey guys hopefully going to be picking up a 9 foot Pond Prowler here pretty soon and I would like to get a few things for it and would like some feed back, especially regarding a trolling motor.

 

1. Trolling Motor - what do you guys recommend? Thrust? (nothing crazy expensive)

2. What battery(s)? How many do I need?

3. Oars for emergency

I have an 8 foot Sun Dolphin Sportsman - got it at Dick's Sports for $400.  I started out with a 30lb MK TM but the drive pin broke so I took it back to Dick's and they let me upgrade to a 55lb MK - the 30 was fine but it's nice to have this 55 really scoots across the lake.  My battery I got at Walmart for around $80.  Over the summer I made lots of mods to it which I posted pictures of in the thread called:

 

Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners out there?

 

I too load it in the back of my F150 but after slipping on my butt a couple times I'm looking for a trailer. 

 

Good luck with your new boat and if you have any questions on things send me a message - these little boats are great - I live in Nebraska and we have tons of 5mph no wake lakes and ponds around here.  

[CC268]

Awesome thanks for all the help guys. I am going to pick up (most likely) the 9ft Pond Prowler not this weekend but next weekend. I will pick up a trolling motor, battery, and anchor, as well as some oars

[aceman387]

I have the 10 ft model and it hangs out the back of the tailgate just a couple of feet (6 ft bed,2  ft tailgate when down) the couple feet hanging out the back is no big deal. I have a 55 lb thrust trolling motor on it. I fish alone often so i reversed the handle on the trolling motor so it is mounted on the front of the boat and the handle faces me.I sit up near the front or actually a little farther back towards the middle to balance things out. You will want to make a rudder for it. A rudder will make a huge difference from having the wind spin you in circles. See if you can't find an old trolling motor and just use the shaft and the clamp and you can use a piece of plywood or in my case i used a scrap of 1/4 plexiglass .I drilled holes in the plexiglass and used three conduit clamps to mount the plexi to the shaft.

[CC268]

Thanks guys, tough decision between the 9ft and 10ft...