Bomber7

Nice looking boat Tim - waiting to see the finished product - probably need to start planning for my floor - seems the way to go. Doug

Thanks Brian - yeah my next plan is to install a floor with indoor/outdoor carpet then I'll put in a bigfoot switch - right now I don't have any place to anchor it down other then mounting it to the plastic floor.

Installed a pole storage holder today - it runs just above the molded in shelf and trays - I got it at Bass Pro for $12.99 - just used a few short screws into the plastic - I'm trying to make to so I don't have so much to transfer from my truck to the boat when I'm loading and unloading it at the dock. Also got another idea on making it easier to launch and load it - when I was out at the pond today I saw guy with one of these boats back his truck tailgate right up to the water and then slide it out. I wasn't doing that, I was using my ramps - think this might be an easier option so I'll give it a try. Of course the battery will be out - too heavy to lift boat with it in there - one of these days I'll get a trailer - just right now I have more money then I wanted to invest in it but I'm loving this little pond hopper.

when I was shopping around I looked at pretty much everyone and decided on the Sun Dolphin Sportsman 8' or the Coleman Perch is pretty much the same boat - one reason for this one was because I needed to load it into my truck bed and it's only 100 lbs. I do use ramps to load it now. Anyway the thing I liked about it was the deep sides so things don't get knocked out - just seems to me that the Pelicans and Basshunters have a lower side almost as if the side shelf are even with the top of the boat. Check out the thread link below for pictures of my boat and the mods I have made - that thread is filled with many other great ideas of mods people have made to Pelican, Basshunters, Sun Dolphins, etc. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/25442-any-pelican-bass-raider-owners-out-there/ Here is the boat - I got mine at Dick's Sports for $400 - got 10% off cause I applied for their Dick's store credit card. http://www.sundolphinboats.com/oz/3/com/fish/sp8/sportsman.html

Made a few more mods to my little boat - I drilled a small hole and put a rubber grommet in it - then took one of the pole holders that you stick into the ground if fishing from the bank - I had a few of these when I did that - so decided to see if I could put them to good use - seems to work ok a little loose but I might try to seal them with some marine goop. Also picked up a Humminbird 110 Fishin Buddy Fish Finder - mounted to the bow next to the TM - only place that it would grip nice and tight cause of the wood under the plastic located in the bow. I'll see how it works out. If anyone has a better idea let me know - it just clamps on so moving it around will not be a problem.

well finished with making my TM bow mounting brace - used two pieces of metal on each side (pictured) - also finished wiring the TM to the bow plug, I'll get a big foot switch later after I put in a floor. I'm a little hesitate on doing that right now as I have to load this in and out of the truck (no trailer) so I don't want to add too much weight. I do use two ramps to load it and it has made it easier then when I was picking it up and putting it on the tailgate and then pushing it in. With the ramps it slides right up and in. I also put together my rudder - buddy of mine made it out of an old road sign he had and then I mounted it to a steel pipe - I got a minn kota TM mounting bracket off E-bay for $30 - looks like it will work out great - I'll take it out tomorrow morning and we'll see how it all works out. Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas from this thread. here's some pictures

thanks for the input flacrawdad23 - I think I'm going to wait on the big foot switch until I install a floor. Right now I'm trying to wire the plug I picked up yesterday and wondering what to do with the orange wire (see picture) - my TM only has the black (ground) and a red/black (hot) wires - should I just cap this orange one off - I'm no electrician.

ok got my rudder made or at least all the parts for it - just need to put it all together this weekend and hopefully trolling motor mounting bracket I found on e-bay will arrive too. A co-worker cut all the metal pieces for me and I drilled all the holes to assemble it today using my work drill press (man I need to get one of those babies). Also he made me two metal strips to make the trolling motor mount on the bow more sturdy - so I got a busy weekend of working on the pond hopper. my boat is wired for a bow trolling motor with a 3 prong female plug - anyone know the best place to find the male connector - saw some of you talking about a foot on/off switch - if I do that do I need both? Plus keep in mind I do not have a floor installed yet - so where and how to mount it will be an issue. Thinking maybe after I do the floor. I'll get that foot switch - right now I'm going wait on the floor.

Well the canopy didn't work the way I hoped it would - so for right now I'll just go with a hat and sun screen

I'm working on a modification to mount a canopy to my seat - it will fold down behind it when not in use - when I need to get out of the Nebraska sun it will flip up. I'll post pictures when I finish it and of course if it works. What I'm using is one of those fold out chairs that has the flip up canopy. I'm going to cut the metal support for it - keep the plastic mounting hinge then mount it on two pieces of wood that I screwed into the seat back. I'm also making a holder for my throw cushion and life vest on the seat back as well - hopefully it won't be too much on the back for the seat - but as everyone with these pond boats knows space is limited.

yeah I thought about that - what I did when I'm tied up to the trees which I do a lot is just lay the poles on the side trays that are built into the plactic - or since all my poles are two piece I can always just fold them up. when I'm tied or up anchored next the the trees I usually just have one or two poles in - I fish for crappie and walleye a lot so normally I'll have one about 1-2 feet off the bottom straight down and another one with a bobber - anymore gets too much to worried about. thanks for the tips

Another question - is there wood under any other parts of the boat - for like screwing pole holders, cup holders, etc?

Thanks Jim - appreciate the help and suggestions - I just talked to a co-worker - he has a work shop at his house and he is going to make me rudder and also two metal plates to mount on the bow trolling motor mount area. Don't know why the manufacture of these didn't do that but oh well something for me to do I guess. Doug

I want to mount my trolling motor to the front my boat but it does not have a metal mounting plate like there is in the back - any ideas to the best way to do this?

Here are a few shots of my boat - right now I use a milk crate for my bait bucket - I do a lot of crappie fishing - I attached pvc pipe to the sides of the crate for pole holders.

Hi all, I'm new to this forum - first time posting. I meet a guy from this forum while I was trying out my new boat - Sportsman Sun Dolphin 8' at Walnut Creek in Papillion NE. I bought it at Dick's Sports - it was listed for $449 but I got a 10% discount for applying for their in store credit card. Well any way my first day out was Monday morning and that afternoon first thing I did was go upgrade my seat. The boat comes with these elementry school cafeteria type seats - got a nice folding padded one at Wal-Mart for $32. Well the guy I met and was talking to goes by jaaron01 here - saw some of his posts recognized this boat - sweet ride I might add. So I got some great ideas from seeing his boat and reading this forum - I'll post pictures of the mods I make to my boat once I figure out how to posts pictures - need to make the file smaller it tells me - first thing I'm working on is that rudder thing. Anyway glad to be a part of this forum - great site. Doug