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Which brand of mini pontoon bass boats are the best? My situation is, i'm tired of trying to control my 14ft flatbottom by myself. It's hard to do especially in the WIND while vertical jigging... I have been looking at the Pelican brand and also Sun dolphin Sportsman 8, Bass Hunter ect... Just needing a smaller boat to handle by myself. Im open to any suggestions or good leads in this effert. HELP!! :D
slab, one big thing about the small boats is the same thing. control in the wind or even no wind. what gave me the idea to make a rudder for my little toy boat was i saw a rudder on a john boat and talked to the man about it. he said, "if i left home and got to the lake and forgot the rudder i would drive back home and get it." he said it made all the difference in the world how the boat handled. when i'm fishing out of my john boats i leave my outboard down and tie it with bunge straps to hold the motor straight and it acts as a rudder. makes all the difference in the world how it handles too. you might think about making a rudder and trying it before buying another boat.
Stay away from the sportsman as it take on water between the top and bottom. had one and sold it for that reason . now have a pond prowler that is water tight. need that rudder that ole duck hunter has for me..... ?????
#1slabseeker,Quote:
Originally Posted by #1slabseeker
If fighting the wind is you concern be aware that the two man boats are much lighter and the wind blows them around like a fishing cork on the water. Having said that, I will tell you some of the tricks that I have found that work good on the 2 man boats. I have had a couple of them, and I had to learn as I went. when you are in forward motion and you shut off you trolling motor, they tend to want to swap ends or veer left or right, I solved this problem by buying a old trolling motor out of a pawn shop for twenty bucks, all I wanted was the mount and the shaft out of it anyways, the rest I chunked in the trash. But cut the top and the bottom off of the trolling motor, Leaving only the shaft passing thru the transom mount, Split the shaft about twelve inches up and drill you three hole thru the shaft that you just split, get you a peice of thin alluminum plate about twelve inches tall and fourteen inches long and slide it up into the trolling motor shaft you just split and drilled and run three bolts thru the plate and shaft. The reason for wanting the mount is so that you can adjust the newly made rudder, you will be able to adjust the height of the rudder and you will be able to tilt it up and lock it in the up position for easier loading, the new fully adjustable rudder will keep the boat tracking straight and stop it from swapping ends on you. it is also removable as it just clamps onto the transom like a trolling motor. It also helps in the wind, by keeping the rear of the boat from blowing around as bad. Depending on the type mount you have, some have adjustment screws that make the shaft harder to turn, if it does not have the tensioning screw you will need to drill and screw thru the mount and the shaft to lock it in the straight position. Also Very important get good comfortable padded seats.
Good stuff... I really appreciate the info guys, Thanks! :)
Sounds like you guys need a fishing buddy and keep the 14 ft. boat----My boat is 18 ft. and about 1000 lbs with a 90hp. on it---I use my trolling motor or tie up at different spots.---I do know about the wind but my heavy boat is more stable than a light boat. I leave my foot down to help slow the boat when drifting but I use the trolling motor also to guide it. I have floated 3-4 miles like this in Red River. Big Lakes is usually a place I avoid-I fish the rivers and backwater.--Lake Erling is a great lake to fish in the standing timber--plenty of it.
Years ago a product was made called a tail nail. It was a rudder that you could raise and lower. On my boat I leave the outboard down.
all good advice , I'm going with the trolling motor shaft deal when I find a old motor. Me and Ole duck hunter like your idea . Thanks
Thank you it was a original idea for me, It also make a really nice and highly functionnal rudder. I am glad to of been able to help.Quote:
Originally Posted by rocket rich
rocket, i guess that means you no longer need my assistance? yes slab, i like your idea. i built my own out of scrap stuff and i finally, i think, got it through to rocket that he needed a rudder on his "toy" boat. a rudder on one makes all the difference in the world how the "toy" boat handles. and i do like one gentlman above does when i fish out of my jon boat. i use the out board as a rudder.
Just goes to show that you can teach and ole dog new tricks . and found one on craigslist this morning if I can make a deal on it
Well olduckhunter, I have graduated from a two man to a 18'-6" stratos bass boat with a 150 johnson on it. It does not have much trouble in the wind, only when the waves get four feet tall then they may wash over the bow of the boat. But I have done my time in a two man waterscamp, and have found to this day that it still serves a purpose in my line up of boats, I am boats poor, I have four of them. I have a 21' bass boat with a 250 evinrude, a 18' bass boat with a 150 johnson, and a 1542 war eagle john boat with a 25 johnson. I pretty much have a boat for all occasions. But the rudder on the two man boat is a must have, it does make fishing out of them a lot less miserable. If a person is Using a Graph on a two man boat the rudder is also where I had my transducer mounted. All I did was unplug the transucer cable from the graph when I removed the rudder and left it on the rudder all the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by olduckhunter
We're all boat poor I've got 3
i am shocked. with my poor memory i can count 9 boats that i have. no wait. 10. i forgot my ranger bass boat. they run all the way from 2 duckhunting paddle boats that more than likely none of you have ever seen and wouldn't ride in one if you did to the ranger.
Now there's a man with too much time on his hands. and must have lots of bucks. send me some $$$ That's the ole duck hunter
i don't have lots of bucks but i've killed lots of bucks. deer that is. i just have a problem of not ever selling anything.
It does help to keep your motor foot straight when trolling.---The add on rubber fins on the bottom of the foot also is great. One poster mentioned about tying the motor down so it would keep the foot straight or keep the wheel from turning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RCC
Compensating trolling fin - Google Patent Search
I contacted an old buddy and he came up with a partial name and that the "tail nail" was patented. Here is the patent info and drawing as well.
Not sure what you all think about this idea....but using your trolling motor bracket on the transom as you discussed....just take a paddle/oar with a 1" shaft diameter, which is the common shaft size for the trolling motor brackets. Slide the paddle handle into the trolling motor bracket and tighten it down....leaving the "paddle" portion facing down and in the water....which acts as your rudder. To make it even more flexible get one of the telescoping boat paddles which gives you more adjustment options for depth. Also gives you a great place to store your paddle without taking up space inside the boat.
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If i had one i'd split it and have two attachment's as with a outboard motor on the back of the prowler there's not space for a full trolling motor bracket.