What mini boat would you pick?

[Levi hummel]

Out of the two that are available near me in Central pa, would you guys pick the quest angler 10' from dicks sporting goods or the 10' pond prowler from bps. I was quite surprised to the the quest at dicks had better reviews although from the looks they're identical boats. Looking to stay south of $900 $1000 as I already have a battery and electric motor I can borrow off my tracker guide-v

[TOXIC]

I had a Bass Hunter and it was a tank.  Try to find the thickness of the PVC on both brands.  Thicker is better.  

[slonezp]

Find yourself a used 14ft aluminum boat.

 

[MN Fisher]

Agree with Slone - and given some elbow grease and a few skills, this is what you can turn that 14' 'fishing boat' into.

[Susky River Rat]

I third the aluminum boat. A flat bottom Especially if you are deciding to play in the susky.

[Susky River Rat]

Just keep in mind too in PA if you put a trolling motor in it you will then need to title and register it.

[padlin]

I agree, they sure like like the same boat to me, which means it makes no difference if the prices and distance to get it are the same. The only thing I see different is the coloring.

 

 

[Levi hummel]

Thanks everyone for the input! I'm looking for 10' max 12' only because I'm planning on putting it in my truck bed and pulling a camper at the same time. I do have a cab rack on my truck that i can put the front on to leave planty of room for the trailer. I have a 16' tracker but can't pull both at the same time. How would I go about registering if I buy a prowler from basement? I'd without a doubt put a trolling motor on it

[LonnieP]

An aluminum Jon Boat won’t be as stable as the plastic boats unless you get a 1448 or bigger

[12poundbass]

Put a hitch on your camper and pull your tracker behind it. Growing up we had a 5th wheel and pulled our 18’ deep v glass boat behind the 5th wheel. 

[airshot]

2 hours ago, Levi hummel said:

Thanks everyone for the input! I'm looking for 10' max 12' only because I'm planning on putting it in my truck bed and pulling a camper at the same time. I do have a cab rack on my truck that i can put the front on to leave planty of room for the trailer. I have a 16' tracker but can't pull both at the same time. How would I go about registering if I buy a prowler from basement? I'd without a doubt put a trolling motor on it

That is why we switched from a trailer to a small motorhome !!  Now we can take the toys !!

[Susky River Rat]

9 hours ago, Levi hummel said:

How would I go about registering if I buy a prowler from basement?

I am not sure if they come with origins of sale. I think you can  just end that in? If not you’ll have to say you got it at s yard sale. There is a form you fill out from the PA fish and boat to get the title.  Then you fill out a separate form to register it. This is what I did for my scanoe. It has to be titled because you cannot register an untitled powered boat. honestly best to have a “tax and tag place” handle it. I know it costs a little extra money but, it was worth it I thought. Also remember once it’s considered powered you have to follow powered regulations as well.  Nav lights etc.

[Levi hummel]

8 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Put a hitch on your camper and pull your tracker behind it. Growing up we had a 5th wheel and pulled our 18’ deep v glass boat behind the 5th wheel. 

Illegal in Pennsylvania 

[padlin]

When I bought my Raider from Cabela’s they supposedly had all the paperwork ready to go get it registered. Being from MA and Cabela’s being in CT they were missing one form about out of state sales tax.
 

Up here we go to the Environmental Police for boats, PA probably differs. I’d suggest you call whoever registers and find out what forms you need so you don’t have to make multiple trips like I did. If you are lucky and the dealer is in PA, they should know this stuff, at least BPS, maybe not Dick’s.

[12poundbass]

3 hours ago, Levi hummel said:

Illegal in Pennsylvania 

Well that’s a bummer! 

[Levi hummel]

4 hours ago, padlin said:

When I bought my Raider from Cabela’s they supposedly had all the paperwork ready to go get it registered. Being from MA and Cabela’s being in CT they were missing one form about out of state sales tax.
 

Up here we go to the Environmental Police for boats, PA probably differs. I’d suggest you call whoever registers and find out what forms you need so you don’t have to make multiple trips like I did. If you are lucky and the dealer is in PA, they should know this stuff, at least BPS, maybe not Dick’s.

Yeah I think my hearts set on the bps prowler. With my local bps being a boat dealer as well hopefully they'll take care of it right then and there. That would save me a lot of hassle and headache 

[PhishLI]

16 minutes ago, Levi hummel said:

Yeah I think my hearts set on the bps prowler. With my local bps being a boat dealer as well hopefully they'll take care of it right then and there. That would save me a lot of hassle and headache 

Either way it's no big deal. It'll have a hull # tag, so even if BPS doesn't offer the service, it's easy. Nice platform to fish from. Super stable. I'm going fishing on one next week.

[MediumMouthBass]

The one thing about DSG and plastic boats/fishing kayaks are they are very rough on them in transporting them, My family and i were at our local one checking out kayaks and found a nice Old Town Sportsman 120, now we had just bought 2 Crescents so we didnt need a 3rd one, but this kayak looked like it was used by the military over in Afghanistan, it had mud on it, beat up on the sides and bottom, etc.... We went to the manager and asked if it was a used return? He said no, when they get them they arent covered in any type of protective wrap or box, and that when they take them out of the trucks it gets a bit rough.... The kayak retails MSRP for $1200, we got it for $600. So before you go to BPS and buy one just head over to DSG first and find out if any of the boats you want have some well lets just call it character.

[Levi hummel]

18 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

The one thing about DSG and plastic boats/fishing kayaks are they are very rough on them in transporting them, My family and i were at our local one checking out kayaks and found a nice Old Town Sportsman 120, now we had just bought 2 Crescents so we didnt need a 3rd one, but this kayak looked like it was used by the military over in Afghanistan, it had mud on it, beat up on the sides and bottom, etc.... We went to the manager and asked if it was a used return? He said no, when they get them they arent covered in any type of protective wrap or box, and that when they take them out of the trucks it gets a bit rough.... The kayak retails MSRP for $1200, we got it for $600. So before you go to BPS and buy one just head over to DSG first and find out if any of the boats you want have some well lets just call it character.

Yeah that's another thing I hadn't thought of maybe i could save a hundred bucks or so, Id be a happy camper. I'm not concerned about a little add "character/ battle scares" cause ill be adding some loading and unloading out of my pickup although I'd try to avoid to the best of my ability. I'm sure they're a little better but bps has to have the same kind of issue in shipping and handling at the stores

[MediumMouthBass]

@Levi hummel by the way the quest 10s on sale now.

[DaubsNU1]

17 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Agree with Slone - and given some elbow grease and a few skills, this is what you can turn that 14' 'fishing boat' into.

 

Yep, get yourself an old 14' aluminum boat. Mine was built in 1960...it does leak a little, but super stable. I'm still building / modifying to exactly suit my needs.  

 

20hp Merc on the back, 40lb Minn Kota All Terrain on the front. Garmin 7SV up front and small Garmin on the back (not really needed, but what the heck). 

 

All my gear and tackle are in storage hatches. I didn't remove the original bench seats...just built frame around them. 

 

Light, maneuverable, stable....Love it!

 

 

 

 

 

[airshot]

1 hour ago, Levi hummel said:

Yeah I think my hearts set on the bps prowler. With my local bps being a boat dealer as well hopefully they'll take care of it right then and there. That would save me a lot of hassle and headache 

All of the BassPros I have been to have a pond on premesis, you can try your boat before you buy it ...  Does yours ??  You might not like the stability of those little plastic bathtubs, I know I didn't....much prefer my 12' alum jon boat....but...if they have a pond...you can try before you buy !!!

[Levi hummel]

1 hour ago, airshot said:

All of the BassPros I have been to have a pond on premesis, you can try your boat before you buy it ...  Does yours ??  You might not like the stability of those little plastic bathtubs, I know I didn't....much prefer my 12' alum jon boat....but...if they have a pond...you can try before you buy !!!

I have an idea of what it'll be like. Growing up my father had a bass hunter very similar to these. Sadly he sold it a couple years back to a good friend and I'm just glad to see he's enjoying it as much as we did. But now I have recently purchased a camper and need a boat I can haul in my truck bed and pull our camper

[optimator]

When I bought my 1448 I sold my 1032 and immediately regretted it. It’s nice to have a small boat to just throw in the back of the truck and go. I ended up getting a Sundolphin 8.5. I love the d**n thing. I’m 60 and my balance isn’t what it used to be but I have zero problems standing up in it. And it’s easy to just slide into the truck.

[Susky River Rat]

9 hours ago, airshot said:

All of the BassPros I have been to have a pond on premesis, you can try your boat before you buy it ...  Does yours

If it is the bass pro I know of in his area they do not. It’s attached to a mall surrounded by highways.