Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?

[Reyn]

Thank you for the replies to my question. So point hunter 75, you just used the vinegar and that was it? Sounds easy enough. Thanks again.

[Reyn]

Thank you for the replies to my question. So point hunter 75, you just used the vinegar and that was it? Sounds easy enough. Thanks again.

[pointhunter75]

Yeah she said people complain about stickers coming lose and they tell them to use vinegar instead and they'll stick better

[mmrivera86]

Hey everyone. Here's a picture of what I've done with my pelican so far. I dropped the foot pedal (makes it so much more comfortable and easy to use), added some little rod racks on the side, and made a little pole to attach my bag upfront with me when I'm fishing with someone else (I can take the pole off too). Hope you guys like it.

[schnoodlemom]

i will admit on that day, being the first time experiencing bigger waves with it, I was a touch nervous at first.  After seeing how it handled, my nerves relaxed.  I don't sweat it now when I see them big rollers coming after a bass boat or something passes by.  The problem isn't how the boat handles the waves, on windy days, it is keeping the boat where I want it to fish that is a problem.

My sister and I took my 8' raider out this past Sat. on South Holston and went down the lake a bit. When all the pontoons and bayliners, bass boats... I was very nervous and the waves were really rocking us!!! Headed back to a cove and caught quite a few nice Bluegill and a Walleye. Boat did fine and I love it but will never like the big waves. Guess I will go down the lake early mornings and weekdays only. : ) Deep fried the Bluegill with beer batter mix this evening and it is SO worth the fillet work.

[justwhit83]

Doubt it would help much since the rear is what swings around so bad justwhit

Yeah, I was hoping for an easy fix but should have known better.

This may be a goofy question, but do you guys leave the seats on the boat when you are transporting it? also was wondering if putting the trolling motor on the front really makes that much of a difference in its performance.

[TNReb]

Yeah, I was hoping for an easy fix but should have known better.

This may be a goofy question, but do you guys leave the seats on the boat when you are transporting it? also was wondering if putting the trolling motor on the front really makes that much of a difference in its performance.

 

I admittedly have a short drive to the areas I fish (10 miles), but I leave the seats on.  I replaced mine with regular (cushioned) boat seats, so they're slightly heavier... but on the roads I take I can't go faster than 45 anyway - they won't blow out.

 

Consider getting a bungee just to run across them (or through the rails) so they can't blow out.  

 

I keep my rolling motor on the front and prefer it that way.

[justwhit83]

TNReb, I am hoping to getmy rig out for the first time this week. Is it mmanageable without a rudder? Some of the previous posts have me concerned about having the TM up front without one.

[pointhunter75]

I keep my seats on and run a pull strap(not ratchet) strap from front handle, diagonally over the seat frames to the opposite side rear handle. Need a long strapthough. I tied part of a broken strap to the hook to extend it. I go over one frame bar then under and to the back seat frame and do the same. Can't go anywhere. Ratchet straps would work but i DESPISE them! The trolling motor in front is plenty manageable, just annoying in wind. Gotta get me a rudder made.. Hope this helps.

[Montanaro]

My dad is putting a stake/push pole on back...hope it helps in wind.

[basshead1]

TNReb, I am hoping to getmy rig out for the first time this week. Is it mmanageable without a rudder? Some of the previous posts have me concerned about having the TM up front without one.

Just run the motor in the back and you will be ok. With the motor in the front and no rudder in the back the slightest wind will blow your ass end around. 

[justwhit83]

Just run the motor in the back and you will be ok. With the motor in the front and no rudder in the back the slightest wind will blow your ass end around.

Wouldnt the same be true of the front end though? If the battery, motor, and myself are in the back would it lift the front too much? if the tm is up front i can at least seperate my weight from the battery.

[basshead1]

Wouldnt the same be true of the front end though? If the battery, motor, and myself are in the back would it lift the front too much? if the tm is up front i can at least seperate my weight from the battery.

You can adjust the motor to push into a slight wind when the motor is on the back. When it is on the front you will fishtail and spin in the wind unless you are going in reverse. If you have someone with you in the back it may track a little better but if you are alone you need a rudder for the back if the motor is in the front to improve tracking. 

 

Try it if you like it may be ok in a,light wind if you are a big big dude. I am 190 and with the battery(size 29) in the back and my gear there still was not enough weight to keep the pontoons down enough to track well. I had to switch it around while on the water, good thing I brought a screw driver jic, because the wind was so bad I just kept fishtailing like crazy and spinning around and couldn't even keep it straight enough to get back to the ramp.. 

[pointhunter75]

Where i fish it has to be up front. Shallow logs,rocks, limbs etc. You can't see what's in the water from the back.

[georgetown bassin]

For the guys that run outboards do you have the battery in the front?

[Reyn]

For you folks that have mounted a rudder on a trolling motor mount, what's the best length for the D.I.Y. shaft?I think, I remember reading 30" from the mount, but I just wanted to check with those of you on what's working for you. I just bought a new mount on eBay.

[pointhunter75]

Georgetown bassin, i just bought a 2.5 hp 4stroke yamaha, 37 lbs. I just slid the battery almost as far as the wires will reach, basically under the rear seat under my gf who fishes in the back. Does great.

[pointhunter75]

I also glued that anti slide stuff on the bottom of my minn kota power center box so it doesn't slide around.

[TNReb]

Just run the motor in the back and you will be ok. With the motor in the front and no rudder in the back the slightest wind will blow your ass end around. 

 

I've ran my boat about a dozen times, and still don't have a rudder for it.  It will blow your tail end around, but when I'm fishing alone, it's manageable.  

[georgetown bassin]

Pointhunter, do you have a 10 foot or 8 foot boat?

[pointhunter75]

10 ft with the wires

[georgetown bassin]

I have an 8 foot but mine has a deck built on it with a bow mount trolling motor and with no one in the front i,m having to run the battery up front using my little mercury 2.5 because my rub rail is underwater

[TNReb]

Finally got around to making a rudder.  Pretty simple really.  Cut the ends off an old trolling motor that didn't work.  Cut a piece of sheet metal to size, and bolted it in to the shaft.

 

[Trackercal]

Finally got around to making a rudder.  Pretty simple really.  Cut the ends off an old trolling motor that didn't work.  Cut a piece of sheet metal to size, and bolted it in to the shaft.

 

That is a great set up.  I could not locate any transit mounts under $30.00 so I made mine from the PVC but, yours is great.

[TNReb]

That is a great set up.  I could not locate any transit mounts under $30.00 so I made mine from the PVC but, yours is great.

 

I think I'm going to make one for my dad out of PVC.  Seems like it'd do just as well, and cheap to replace if it happens to hit something and break.