Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

     Well gang I'm back to work again. This time home was worse than my last. I think Mother nature hates me. I had big plans to load up the Raider and hit Lake Juniper. Lots of flooded timber and giant Florida bass. Last spring the bite there was hot. I caught 3 fish over 8, 1 just under 10, really close to my pb and stumpload of 3 to 5's. Now don't get that twisted that wasn't one day. I fished there a bunch last year. I really enjoy fishing timber but my bass boat hates it. I can't wait to put the Raider to work out there. I did manage to fish around my pond a bit. I caught several but nothing more than 2 pounds. For that matter the first 4 I caught probably didn't make 2 pounds combined. But hey, time spent with the rod bent. No mods to the Raider this time home either. I'm still going to cut down the 7" seat riser to around 5" and see how that works out. I had planes to get a troll king, and still do. I had to buy a new TV instead, Mother nature decided to send a lightning bolt that fried the old one. I'm telling you she's upset with me for something. lol 

[Hudspace]

1 hour ago, Hi-Powered Red Neck said:

To put your mind at ease, I'll give you an example. I drilled a scupper hole in the aft deck of my pelican. When I'm (270lbs) standing at the back with a group 29 battery the water comes just flush with the floor. So if you get that rub rail in the water you've got bigger problems. Congrats on a great bargain!!! You're really going to enjoy it. I know I love mine. 

That does set my mind at ease just a bit, thanks!

[Shard_Hunter]

On 3/9/2019 at 11:20 AM, Hudspace said:

Maybe call around, if you can find one cheaper, Academy’s policy is that they will not only price-match, but they’ll take an additional 5% off.

 

But if it makes you feel better, I have a repair to do on this one before i’m comfortable putting it in the water. Hopefully you won’t have the same experience.

just tried calling 6 dicks around me and not a single one has one in stock, such a bummer

[Murphy S. Law]

On 3/7/2019 at 10:35 PM, TotalNoob said:

I'd really like to. The prewiring is only 10 gauge. Per the minn kota chart above I need 6 gauge wire for the 55lb thrust traxxis.

 

It makes sense, as I understand there would be resistance or power loss and possibly hot wires if I use just 10 gauge wiring to run the 55lb TM.

 

I'm hoping the items I purchased are appropriate for creating a mechanical connection between the two different sized wires, and if not, any info on alternate items would be greatly appreciated.

I contemplated getting a 55lb. TM, and for the wiring reason to run the TM in the front, I opted for the 45lb. instead. I did check my raider last night, and it has 8ga wire. If I went with the 55lb., I would have ran 6ga.

On 3/8/2019 at 7:25 PM, Hudspace said:

In the end I just couldn’t pass on that, pretty much a brand new boat with what I HOPE is just a cosmetic flaw, for $329 out the door.

Nice steal. I get the impression that Pelican may still replace your rub rail if you were still concerned. I have ocd, so little things tend to bug me. But that's just me.?

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

On 3/7/2019 at 9:35 PM, TotalNoob said:

I'd really like to. The prewiring is only 10 gauge. Per the minn kota chart above I need 6 gauge wire for the 55lb thrust traxxis.

Noob Lots of us are running a 55lb TM on the factory wiring. It really won't become an issue. But its obviously a concern to you. You can easily change out that wiring. It's not attatched on the inside of the hull. Simply remove the rubber grommet around the wiring going into the stern. Be careful not to destroy it it should pry out fairly easily. Cut off the rings and the inline fuse. Pull the grommet off and be sure to leave plenty of wire. Tape about 6" of the new wiring to old stuff. Pull the screws holding the plug in the bow, then simply pull the new wires thru with the old ones. That might require someone to help feed it into the hole. Once it's in, you can use the original grommet on the new wire. It's going to be a tight fit but, it will go.  If you decide to go this far I suggest buying a new TM plug as well. I got mine at Walmart it's made by Attwell. It came with the socket and plug. It fits in place of the old socket without any modification. In my opinion it's better made than the original and, it costs less than the plug you'll need to use it. On a Pelican at least. Not 100% on the Pond Prowler.  

[Fish_Maryland]

Bought myself a bass raider 10e. Had to drive 5 hours from MD to NC since no one delivers it and this was the closest store to me. I've went ahead and bought all my toys to go on it. Fish finder, batteries, troller etc.... I can t wait to get out there. Still pretty cold here in Maryland but I have a target date of April 1st for my maiden voyage. Excited to be apart of the bass raider brotherhood!!!

[Shard_Hunter]

couldnt find any deals so me and my dad decided to go ahead and buy a bass raider from academy. had to pay full price but we know its brand new and has a warranty and i also picked up a 30lb thrust to keep cost down, plan is to find a 3 or 3.5hp outboard to put on it eventually so going 40/55lb seemed unnecessary. also bought a life jacket for me for $10 on clearance.

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

21 hours ago, Fish_Maryland said:

Excited to be apart of the bass raider brotherhood!!!

Congrats on your new Bass Raider. Let the games begin, and Welcome to the family, Brother.

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

20 hours ago, Shard_Hunter said:

me and my dad decided to go ahead and buy a bass raider from academy. had to pay full price but we know its brand new and has a warranty and i also picked up a 30lb thrust to keep cost down

Congrats one your new Raider. It will really open up some unique fishing experiences for you. That 30lb thrust TM will do fine in ponds and small lakes. These boats don't require much thrust to move them around. I'm running a 36lb that works great. The 55lb TM's just make traveling distance go faster. When I'm fishing my motor is normally set on 1 or 2. I use a Big Foot switch to cut the power on and off. It's not a necessity but it helps out. The first mod I recommend is to the motor mount plate. The metal plate doesn't offer the TM mount screws much to bite on. This tends to let the motor slip and possibly come off. I used a scrap piece of 3/8" ply wood. I simply cut it to size removed the two mounting screws and use them to mount the wood. I put it on the inside so the TM mounting bolts could get a good bite. Oh I almost forgot I bought 1/2" longer SS screws the factory ones where to short to mount the plywood. Another guy used skateboard grid tape. Lots of really good info on this thread. I've got some pic's of my mods on here. I'm more of the keep it simple guy, others go all out. Great examples of both on here. Enjoy your new Raider and welcome to the family.

[Murphy S. Law]

On 3/13/2019 at 10:13 AM, Fish_Maryland said:

Bought myself a bass raider 10e. Had to drive 5 hours from MD to NC since no one delivers it and this was the closest store to me. I've went ahead and bought all my toys to go on it. Fish finder, batteries, troller etc.... I can t wait to get out there. Still pretty cold here in Maryland but I have a target date of April 1st for my maiden voyage. Excited to be apart of the bass raider brotherhood!!!

 

Man... 5 hours? Is that one way?! Nevertheless, that is still a hop skip and jump! Congrats! You earned it.

 

On 3/13/2019 at 11:10 AM, Shard_Hunter said:

couldnt find any deals so me and my dad decided to go ahead and buy a bass raider from academy. had to pay full price but we know its brand new and has a warranty and i also picked up a 30lb thrust to keep cost down, plan is to find a 3 or 3.5hp outboard to put on it eventually so going 40/55lb seemed unnecessary. also bought a life jacket for me for $10 on clearance.

You will enjoy it! 

[Murphy S. Law]

I finally finished re-doing my free harbor freight trailer and was able to take it out for the first time last Friday. What a world of difference unloading and loading!!! A lot easier on my back, and a lot more fishing able to be done by the time saved.

The first time I took my raider out, I had my rudder sitting too high in the back, and it really wasn't helping the fish tailing much at all. I re-did the shaft so I could lower it to the proper depth, and I was in a state of disbelief how steady this made it.

I was in the river, with 10-12 mph winds at times, lots of hull thumping waves, and it was steady. Of course I got pushed downstream, but with a proper touch of trolling motor speed and direction, she was a dream. I still haven't hooked up my big foot switch yet, and I will post some pics of the trailer soon. I think she's a keeper!

 

[Shard_Hunter]

 

9 minutes ago, Murphy S. Law said:

You will enjoy it! 

 

We tried out the boat yesterday after the wind died down some and had a blast even though we didnt catch anything. 

On 3/14/2019 at 7:47 AM, Hi-Powered Red Neck said:

Congrats one your new Raider. It will really open up some unique fishing experiences for you. That 30lb thrust TM will do fine in ponds and small lakes. These boats don't require much thrust to move them around. I'm running a 36lb that works great. The 55lb TM's just make traveling distance go faster. When I'm fishing my motor is normally set on 1 or 2. I use a Big Foot switch to cut the power on and off. It's not a necessity but it helps out. The first mod I recommend is to the motor mount plate. The metal plate doesn't offer the TM mount screws much to bite on. This tends to let the motor slip and possibly come off. I used a scrap piece of 3/8" ply wood. I simply cut it to size removed the two mounting screws and use them to mount the wood. I put it on the inside so the TM mounting bolts could get a good bite. Oh I almost forgot I bought 1/2" longer SS screws the factory ones where to short to mount the plywood. Another guy used skateboard grid tape. Lots of really good info on this thread. I've got some pic's of my mods on here. I'm more of the keep it simple guy, others go all out. Great examples of both on here. Enjoy your new Raider and welcome to the family.

 

The 30lb thrust done a lot better than what we figured it would, its plenty enough for the fishing we do. We didnt have any grip tape and couldnt find any at walmart so we just put some gorilla tape on the rear transom mount and it worked perfectly and didnt slip any, it'll work for now until we can get some grip tape. The boat was also a lot more stable and handled all of our gear just fine. Short list so far is to make a simple dolly to take it down the boat ramp instead of carrying it by hand and trying to come up with some sort of rod holders.

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

20 hours ago, Shard_Hunter said:

Short list so far is to make a simple dolly to take it down the boat ramp instead of carrying it by hand and trying to come up with some sort of rod holders.

I made a simple dolly using a scrap piece of 5/4 decking. I bought 2 fixed caster wheels from Harbor Freight. I cut the board about 6" wider than the boat, then used stove bolts to mount the casters and added an eye bolt around 1 1/2" each end. I use a ratchet strap to secure it to the boat. You can play with it's placement to get a good balance point. My only complaint with mine is, I should have used a wider board like a 2X8 or 10. It can be a little difficult to get it to stand while strapping it up. My plan for rod holders is simply using a couple velcro straps like rod savers and screwing them to the gunnels. I think one per side would do the trick. Try mounting your TM to the front of the boat. Just make sure you set it deep enough that the prop doesn't hit the hull. Believe it or not your TM will pull the boat much better than it pushes it. 

[Dirt]

On 3/11/2019 at 7:37 AM, Shard_Hunter said:

just tried calling 6 dicks around me and not a single one has one in stock, such a bummer

I was able to order mine thru dicks and they price matched with academy

 

 

 

Has anyone experimented with paddling their raider? I’m thinking about joining a local bass tournament group that uses kayaks and float tubes etc., no trolling motors allowed.  I’ve tried both a kayak paddle and canoe paddle, just seeing if anyone maybe has golden knowledge on it. 

[Ratherbfishing]

38 minutes ago, Dirt said:

I was able to order mine thru dicks and they price matched with academy

 

 

 

Has anyone experimented with paddling their raider? I’m thinking about joining a local bass tournament group that uses kayaks and float tubes etc., no trolling motors allowed.  I’ve tried both a kayak paddle and canoe paddle, just seeing if anyone maybe has golden knowledge on it. 

I paddle mine all the time-but just to supplement the trolling motor (when I'm in a hurry to get off the lake before the park gates close).  But to rely JUST on paddles?  It'll get you someplace but certainly not in a hurry.  

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

16 hours ago, Dirt said:

Has anyone experimented with paddling their raider? I’m thinking about joining a local bass tournament group that uses kayaks and float tubes etc., no trolling motors allowed.  I’ve tried both a kayak paddle and canoe paddle, just seeing if anyone maybe has golden knowledge on it. 

Speaking for myself, I would not even consider trying to fish my Raider with just a paddle. Let alone trying to compete in a tournament against a bunch of guys in kayaks that are designed to be paddled. But, lets just say for the sake of argument that I would. My first instinct would be to trade off my Bass raider to a guy that was tired of paddling a kayak. That not being a option my second move would be, obtaining a stake out pole, and the longest kayak paddle I could get my hands on. Remembering these boats are hard enough to control with a trolling motor. I would consider myself at a distinct disadvantage against the more agile kayak. Now with a trolling motor on the Raider, I'll out fish those kayak guys with a snoopy pole and a beetle spin. Simple because I'll spend 10% of the time controlling my boat, that's 90% more time with a line in the water. That time could be cut down even further with a foot control TM. Could it be done? Yes if you're young and in good shape, absolutely. The real question is, why? Find a club that allows TM's or start one that does. There are a bunch of guy's out there with Jon Boats and Bass Raider style boats that want to compete. Keep the entry fees low and advertise it a little bit and you'll have a club in no time. Thats just my opinion on the subject. I'm not trying to bash the kayak guys or anyone else for that matter. I bought a Bass Raider to have the comforts of a Bass boat in a small easy to manage package that can be loaded and gone on a minutes notice. 

[Dirt]

Unfortunately I can’t find any electric only tourneys around here, and too lazy to organize my own. The raider is a pain with paddles only, but I figure I’ll be as slow as the float tube guys with only fins on their feet. We’ll see, I might not even try

[LionHeart]

I always bring a paddle for just in case.  Having said that, if I didn't have a trolling motor, I wouldn't take it out.  Paddling that thing around would get old real fast

[Dead Body Baits]

On 2/13/2019 at 7:22 AM, Murphy S. Law said:

Total Noob. Here is a youtube vid that I recently found on the troll king. He stands while using it also.

I guess the reason my text was large and bold, is that I copied the title of the youtube vid and pasted here. That must have locked me in that font. Anyway...?

I just got this and it works great!  I had the boat out last Wednesday all day and I have to say it was better having both hands on the rod and not on the trolling motor. I will post photos later along with all the mods I've made to my bass raider.  

[Murphy S. Law]

18 hours ago, Dead Body Baits said:

I just got this and it works great!  I had the boat out last Wednesday all day and I have to say it was better having both hands on the rod and not on the trolling motor. I will post photos later along with all the mods I've made to my bass raider.  

Photos would be nice. Do you do videos too?

[HoosierFisher]

Thoughts on the Bass Raider vs Sundolphin Sportsman? Academy has the Bass Raider and I saw the Sportsman at Walmart today. The Sportsman was 8 foot and the Bass Raider is 10 foot (the ones in stock anyway). I'm looking at possibly getting one of these instead of a kayak. The price of fishing kayaks is kind of insane IMO when you can get one of these and a trolling motor for around the same price. I have a short bed Tacoma so I was leaning more towards the 8 foot version of either depending on what's available locally. I would be using it in ponds and old stripper pit lakes. 

[Dan Bures]

Proud new owner of a Bass Raider 10E. Currently outfitted with MinnKota 55 and the Striker 4 fish finder. I saw a question posed about transducer mounting on these boats. My solution was to order a transducer pole mount from 

Fish Finder Mounts.com. Solidly constructed from aluminum, this mount is designed like a trolling motor. Clamps to the front transom and is capable of rotating 360, Not a cheap option, ($150 US) but should last the lifetime of the boat. Can be easily detached for use on a friends boat or a rental boat. Highly recommend you give them a call. Matt is very knowledgeable about all things transducer ( and will not hesitate to tell you so....lol) and will work with you to make sure you are fixed up right the first time.

On 7/28/2010 at 10:24 PM, Red said:

I will post pics tomorrow if I remember, forgot tonight.  My boat hasn't taken on a drop of water yet in the hull.  I have been meaning to caulk around everything that I screwed on, but haven't got around to it yet.  I only have screwed into the top "rail" section, nothing down in the floor area or anything like that.  I will shoot some pictures tomorrow.

3M marine adhesive 3200 is your best bet for sealing anything on these boats. Read about it a 3m web site, but dont get the 5200...problems with adhesion to plastic is the rumor.

[LionHeart]

11 hours ago, HoosierFisher said:

Thoughts on the Bass Raider vs Sundolphin Sportsman? Academy has the Bass Raider and I saw the Sportsman at Walmart today. The Sportsman was 8 foot and the Bass Raider is 10 foot (the ones in stock anyway). I'm looking at possibly getting one of these instead of a kayak. The price of fishing kayaks is kind of insane IMO when you can get one of these and a trolling motor for around the same price. I have a short bed Tacoma so I was leaning more towards the 8 foot version of either depending on what's available locally. I would be using it in ponds and old stripper pit lakes. 

I own an 8ft. Sun Dolphin and for me it is perfect.  It weighs 100 lbs, so if you plan to just throw it in the back of a truck, the difference in size and weight from a 10e is considerable.  The whole reason I bought one of these tiny boats was to be able to fish solo and launch nearly anywhere.  Doing this with a 10e would be exhausting, considering I use a homemade 2 wheeler alot to hike the boat through trails to reach the water.

 

The floor space on an 8 foot is plenty if you fish alone, and totally doable if you want to bring a friend.  Crowded, but doable.  I also like the raised sides on the Dolphin.  I usually take 4-5 rods with me and I never worry about them rolling overboard.

 

I have not fished out of a 10e but they look awesome, just too big and heavy if you don't plan to use a trailer.  I wanted something that absolutely didn't need a trailer so to me the Dolphin was an easy choice.

 

 

[Dan Bures]

On 6/5/2011 at 10:07 PM, cBooms@SML said:

found out something new with the pelicans. they dont do too well with large motors. the area around the metal transom plate began to bend when i put the motor at about half throttle and it was a merc 3.3hp. i went back to the dock and took everything but a life jacket out and tried it again and it was much better. i guess you cant have anything weighing down the front. has a decent size wake to it too when you get it goin. i should probably still do more tests with the motor and stuff before i come to a final consensus about whether or not gas outboards are good for these boats.

Don't know how much the Merc weighs.....but Honda has a 2.5 @ 48lbs. 

[HoosierFisher]

5 hours ago, LionHeart said:

I own an 8ft. Sun Dolphin and for me it is perfect.  It weighs 100 lbs, so if you plan to just throw it in the back of a truck, the difference in size and weight from a 10e is considerable.  The whole reason I bought one of these tiny boats was to be able to fish solo and launch nearly anywhere.  Doing this with a 10e would be exhausting, considering I use a homemade 2 wheeler alot to hike the boat through trails to reach the water.

 

The floor space on an 8 foot is plenty if you fish alone, and totally doable if you want to bring a friend.  Crowded, but doable.  I also like the raised sides on the Dolphin.  I usually take 4-5 rods with me and I never worry about them rolling overboard.

 

I have not fished out of a 10e but they look awesome, just too big and heavy if you don't plan to use a trailer.  I wanted something that absolutely didn't need a trailer so to me the Dolphin was an easy choice.

 

 

Awesome. Yeah the 10E seemed like it would be a bear to launch by myself. Sounds like the 8 foot Sundolphin would be enough for me and potentially my wife or buddy.