mtdoramike

I'm in the process of trying to find someone in my area who is wanting a 55lb thrust with a 42" shaft. It's just too blasted heavy and overkill for my Bass Raider. I'm costantly worried that the motor is going to snag something with a shaft that long if I drop it down a ways. But if not then I'm riding around with my arm up in the air steering the motor. I think a 30-40 pound thrust motor with a 30 inch minimum to a 36 inch maximum shaft would be perfect for this boat. Plus the 55 weighs better than 25 pounds and after a few trips to the lake that motor gets awfully heavy for me to keep taking on and off the boat.

I wanted one of these boats 30 years ago, but I couldn't find a place that sold them in or around my area. So I had to settle for a Jon boat. I really enjoyed the Jon boat, but I just couldn't forget about these little boats. So after 30 years, I still couldn't find anywhere around my area that sold them. So I lucked up and found a used one in great condition and bought it. Now, to me, there isn't that much of a difference between the two except for weight. A 10 foot Jon boat weighs about 100 pounds unloaded where one of these weighs about 150 pounds unloaded. Plus there is a bit more drag due to the pontoon shaped hull over the Jon boat. Also, patching an aluminum Jon boat is a bit easier if needed. I have used Black Jack Tar pitch to patch a small leak. With this RamX material, there's not much that will stick to it. You might also consider The Pelican Basstender, it's shaped more like a little boat. But everyone that I know of that owns one loves them. I don't think you can go wrong with either my self.

I just joined this site as well due to this thread. I had been wanting one of the Pelican Bass Raider boats for the last 30 years, ever since I saw them in the Bass Pro Shop catalog. But at that time they weren't common in my area of central Florida and if I wanted one, I would have to order it and pay out the you know what on frieght charges. So I had to settle for Jon boats, which I like as well. But since I retired, I have gotten the bug again about wanting one of these two man plastic boats. Again, all the places the sell them in my area Like Dick's Sporting goods, Bass pro Shops, Sports Authority, Sports Unlimited either don't have any and require special order or stopped carrying them. Bass Pro started carrying the Pond Prowler line by Uncle Buck's. But they never appealed to me like the Raider. So I thought I was SOL, But thank goodness for Craigslist. I found a fellow selling a mint Raider, with everything from 55 pound thrust motor to Life vests. So I snapped it up. I haven't gotten out on the lake with it yet because the day I picked it up, I came down with a cold and have been nursing it for the past 3-4 days.