Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?

[pudmunk]

I have the 10E and love it! I have the Minn Kota 55 on mine in the transom mount and it does very nicely even in high winds! Only thing I get bothered with is drift in the wind. I am going to experiment with a clamp on rudder in the front that stays straight all the time to see if it helps me move around easier when by myself. I have the battery up front to even out the weight some.

Just from experience, put the motor up front to pull you ,and put a clamp rudder in the rear.

[Syppy]

I got these http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014437HY/ref=oss_product and they work great for the catfishing, and I just screw them to the seat brackets like I did the fish finder.  One on either side for max trolling effectiveness, lol.  Fits both spinning reels and baitcasting very nicely.

[bigdog321]

Hey Sippi or anybody else out there, have you given any thought to mounting a bow mount trolling motor with foot control on a bass raider. I've seen that some of you guys have great ideas on setting these boats up ,so what do you think?

[bassman018]

I honestly wouldn't want to spend the money for a foot control but that's me, one of my buddies put a peice of plack PVC on the end of a 40 pound Minn Kota transom motor so that way if he shifts his body he can turn the Raider, Just my .02

[Syppy]

Yeah, when I first went looking for the motor for mine I wanted one with foot control.  Then I started looking at where in the boat I was going to put it in amongst all the gear, and how to secure it down, etc... etc...

Then I got it out on the water and realized it was small enough if I leaned one way or the other I could turn it anyway and didn't have to deal with foot pedal so I myself some money in that respect and did without.

[WVBassHunter]

Thanks for the reply's about the motor on the bow....but the places I go are very hard to get to and it is much easier to "shore" the boat with the motor on the transom....

I messed around some with battery placement and found a the "sweet" spot that will allow me to move easy and get around standing trees without bouncing off them.

Oh well I love this boat regardless!!!!

[WVBassHunter]

Hey WVBassHunter you wouldn't happen to have a pic of where you mounted your transducer would you. I was thinking of mounting mine in between the pontoons to prevent it from getting dinged up. But maybe your placement is a better solution any help would be appreciated

No pic yet...and sorry for taking so long to get back with you....we are getting ready to lose hours at work and all of our scheduled OT and go to a 3 shift monday through friday which I hate!

Anyway.... If you look at the right rear pontoon that has the white sticker for the model and whatever else is printed on it...I put the top of the hummingbird bracket flush with the bottom of the sticker.  CENTERED is a must!  Then I left the transducer a tick loose in the ratchets so I can fold it up for loading into my truck and keep it from getting nailed unloading if the ramp or ground is rough.   I will try to get you a picture of the boat this weekend and how I mounted everything.

Matt

[Red Sox Bass]

Saw some great ideas for the Bass Raider on this forum and did a modification to the casting deck idea for my 10E... I added a casting stool too! check it out! Pelican should consider making this an option! It's very stable! If you are on you boat alone it's the only way to fish. I have mk in the front and back and only use the front motor when I'm on the casting deck.

It apears I can't add a phot with my iPad... Will need to go to the laptop...

[Red Sox Bass]

Here are some photos...

[Red Sox Bass]

More...

[pudmunk]

Can you post pics of it all together? Very interested to see as I'm considering a Raider

[Red Sox Bass]

Here it is...

[Red Sox Bass]

I have 2 aluminum 1/2inch u bars bolted under the seat bracket providing extra support to the 3/4 inch plywood - it's solid!

[pudmunk]

Awesome!

So that thing just pops right out?

Can we get a side view of the whole thing?

[Red Sox Bass]

That's correct, it pops off!  The Bass Raider is an incredible boat!  The casting deck is a must!

[Red Sox Bass]

The finished product!

[Owasco]

I have been thinking about getting a small boat.  I currently do not own one.  How stable are they?  Are they very tippy?  Is it good for two 200 lb people?  I mostly fish small lakes and ponds.  Occasional a larger lake as well.

I guess I really Just want to know how stable they are.

Thanks,

Marc

[Grey Wolf]

Very stable but are built for small ponds , the side walls are not too high which could cause problems in a larger lake.

[Owasco]

Will a very small gas powered motor work on it as well?  I'm talking about under 5 hp.

[Grey Wolf]

3 hp maxium. JMHO

[dman]

i think they are rated for 5hp

[Andy Taylor]

I finally replaced the standard seat and bracket with a 3/4" pedestal base. I just removed the swivel bracket from the frame, and mounted the pedestal base with the same 4 mini U-bolts. Now I can use the same seats I use in my bigger boat. It is so much more comfortable, and my back definitely likes it.

[Red]

They are very very stable.  I am about 200lbs and I can stand and fish no problems.  I fish mine on Lake Waco, which is about 8,000 acres.  I would not recommend doing a lake this size in high winds though.  I got caught out in about 25mph winds once.  I had about 4 inches of water in the floor of the boat by the time I got to the ramp.  I was never afraid that the boat was going to capsize or anything.  It handled the bigger waves just fine, but being square the waves just crashed against it and splashed into the boat.  I never go out if it is that windy before I launch though.  If it is more than 15mph I stay home, or fish and area of the lake where I will be protected from the wind.  Recently I was considering upgrading to a used, older bass boat, but then I thought, scrw that, I catch plenty from "The Bass Tub" and it dosen't use gas, oil or require and kind of real maintenance.  Even if someday I do get a bigger boat, I will keep the Pelican too!

[pudmunk]

that's a bad rairder

[Red]

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.