Any Pelican Bass Raider Owners Out There?

[J Francho]

Congrats!  My only suggestion is get the digital maximizer type.  Better speed control and longer battery life.

[Vicdougle]

Heyooooo!  So here is what I have done so far...

Rod Straps on both pontoons.  Drain plug at the stern.  Wired it myself as I bout the BR10...not the 10E.  It was very easy....ask if you need help.  Built a rudder out of some scrap wood, broom handle and scrap SS sheet and a gate hinge.  1/2 in plywood floor with outdoor carpet to the rear and 3/4 inch treated plywood to the front...I  cut it to the right length so if I wanna stand and fish I have an elevated casting platform when I turn it 90 degrees.  Umbrella holder.  MinnKota Battery Center to check charge levels and charge the phone/portable speaker.  Still have a lot more to do but I got it out on the water today and had a blast.  50 lb thrust MinnKota was perfect esoecially when the wind picked up...

[Vicdougle]

On July 8, 2016 at 2:27 PM, Chet Punisher said:

Picked up a bass raider today. I got a chance to sit in one and really liked it. I think it will be great for me and the kids. Now to look for a trolling motor.. Any suggestions?

I've got a minnkota endura 50 lb. and  unless you're just doing small ponds I wouldn't go any smaller.  My boat fully loaded on setting 5 is a little faster than a walking pace. 

[Chet Punisher]

Well, I was given an endura 30 to use for now... I'll get the 55 later on. It's just me and the six year old... Should be fine for now.

 

 

[Arcades]

So I got everything done. Custom welded mount for my bow mounted trolling motor, also custom wired with a 65 amp breaker. The casting deck makes this boat literally 10x better. I made a rudder with a transom trolling motor mount but honestly with the taller pontoons I just didn't need it. Got 2 29D deep cycle batteries, so I can fish all day. I fished for 4 hours today and literally never sat on the seat. I use it as a changing station for lures. 

[Chet Punisher]

I'm n Michigan. Do I have to register the boat?  Duhnams didn't fill anything out on the MOS. 

[J Francho]

looks like it.  A quick google search reveals:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_10884-34770--,00.html

[lecisnith]

25 minutes ago, Chet Punisher said:

I'm n Michigan. Do I have to register the boat?  Duhnams didn't fill anything out on the MOS. 

In Michigan anything powered by non-humans must be registered.

[Gene Tougas]

I bought a new bass raider 10e last February.  I live I. Upstate New York so I could not use it till the end of April.  I wish I bought this years ago.  I throw it in the back of my ram pick up and can be in the pond within 10 minutes.  Life is good.

 

 

Gene

[etex]

Excellent work and pictures Vicdougle!  I love the way you did your rudder.  Simple and effective!

[Vicdougle]

4 hours ago, etex said:

Excellent work and pictures Vicdougle!  I love the way you did your rudder.  Simple and effective!

Thanks so much!  Only other thing I need to do with it is secure it downward.  Sharp turns cause enough sidways pressure to lift it up.  A bungee cord should solve it.  Played around with and without it and it makes a noticeable difference while runnin the boat.  Rudder is a must...

[Chet Punisher]

What do people use for horizontal pole holders? Should I build a vertical pole holder? 

 

[Advantage]

3 hours ago, Chet Punisher said:

What do people use for horizontal pole holders? Should I build a vertical pole holder? 

 

I don't do vertical ones...two-man boats don't have enough room to cast as it is. Don't wanna get things all tangled up when making casts. I can lay 3 rod & reel combos on each side of the boat. Am gonna put the rubber rod straps front and back on both sides soon so they can't bounce or fall out.

[wnspain]

On 7/10/2016 at 5:46 PM, Arcades said:

So I got everything done. Custom welded mount for my bow mounted trolling motor, also custom wired with a 65 amp breaker. The casting deck makes this boat literally 10x better. I made a rudder with a transom trolling motor mount but honestly with the taller pontoons I just didn't need it. Got 2 29D deep cycle batteries, so I can fish all day. I fished for 4 hours today and literally never sat on the seat. I use it as a changing station for lures. 

I hear you on that aspect. I never outfitted my Raider with a rudder because proper weight distribution will provide more than enough rudder effect. I've heard of people spinning circles using a TM mounted on the bow but mine has a foot control that allows me to position myself aft of center which provides a balance that makes the rudder unnecessary.  

[Arcades]

4 hours ago, wnspain said:

I hear you on that aspect. I never outfitted my Raider with a rudder because proper weight distribution will provide more than enough rudder effect. I've heard of people spinning circles using a TM mounted on the bow but mine has a foot control that allows me to position myself aft of center which provides a balance that makes the rudder unnecessary.  

Yeah that's how's it first bass raider faired with a bow mounted trolling motor that wasn't for the bow. But with this one it works great since it's a bow mounted trolling motor. Ironically the trolling motor cost more than the boat lol. I did make a sweet rudder tho. Ordered a trolling motor mount and used a piece of pvc as the shaft, then connected a oar paddle to the shaft. Perfect little rudder, just don't need one with this boat. 

[Chet Punisher]

Got the raider out today. Worked awesome. No bites, but bats OK, no one was catching anything.  I have trolling motor set up on the bow and had a really really hard time pulling forward, back end wanted to swing put every time. There was hardly any wind. Do most people have their raider set up this way? I ended up using reverse and pushing going backwards. Any suggestions?

my boy loved it. I need to get one of those seat raisers from Walmart... 

 

 

["hamma"]

put another motor on the back

["hamma"]

Arcades?,..is your trolling motor mounted on a minn kota quick release mount welded to the boat? or to another trolling motor mount?

[Chet Punisher]

20 minutes ago, Keith "Hamma" Hatch said:

put another motor on the back

You run both at the same time?

["hamma"]

2 minutes ago, Chet Punisher said:

You run both at the same time?

I use them both when Im cruising from spot to spot, or heading home, and just the front when fishing

[wnspain]

2 hours ago, Chet Punisher said:

Got the raider out today. Worked awesome. No bites, but bats OK, no one was catching anything.  I have trolling motor set up on the bow and had a really really hard time pulling forward, back end wanted to swing put every time. There was hardly any wind. Do most people have their raider set up this way? I ended up using reverse and pushing going backwards. Any suggestions?

my boy loved it. I need to get one of those seat raisers from Walmart... 

 

 

Sounds as if you have a balance problem. Is your trolling motor, battery, and you in the front half of the boat? I've seen that often and it easily correctable. A properly balanced boat doesn't need a rudder, the pontoons provide more than enough.

[etex]

Chet Punisher it sounds like you just need to add a rudder to keep the backend from swinging around.  That is what most people have done and it is a lot simpler and less expensive than putting another TC on the back.  Go back to the previous page in these posts and there is a good example shown there.

 

Good luck!

[J Francho]

A simple, fixed skeg would resolve the issue.

[wnspain]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

A simple, fixed skeg would resolve the issue.

So would proper weight and balance without adding anything

[racedad]

7 hours ago, etex said:

Chet Punisher it sounds like you just need to add a rudder to keep the backend from swinging around.  That is what most people have done and it is a lot simpler and less expensive than putting another TC on the back.  Go back to the previous page in these posts and there is a good example shown there.

 

Good luck!

This!