Hey All. New here.  I recently retired and getting the itch to do some crappie/bass fishing. In my searches I see these 12-14’ plastic Jon boats.  Anyone have any experience with them or recommendations?

 

thx for any info

 

Mike

Plastic boats have come a long way.

I am hoiping to get a plastic boat at some point and I am looking hard at the Hog Island Boatworks skiff.  I want a Jet motor so I can run the rivers around here and not havbe to worry about beating up the bottom like you would in an aluminum one.  

Are you talking something like the Sun dolphin? If so, and you don't get much info here, there's a Facebook page that includes Sun Dolphin owners. You'll have to do a search on Sun Dolphin and join to ask Q's.

Thanks. Sun dolphin was one I saw.  Also saw some bass hunter type boats.  I will try to find the fb page. Thx

Also. I really like the Sun dolphin pro 120 but having hard time finding anyone that sells them.  Any ideas who might carry them?

 

thx

46 minutes ago, Mikeinfl said:

Also. I really like the Sun dolphin pro 120 but having hard time finding anyone that sells them.  Any ideas who might carry them?

 

thx

KL Outdoors (parent co. of Sun Dolphin) is still undergoing some re-org. Add to that the recovery of supply chains from COVID and production ramp-up is still ongoing.
 

If you can find a Field and Stream Sportsman 12 - it's the same base hull as the Pro 120 since KL makes them for F&S.

I'm retired and bought a Bass Raider 10E ( plastic boat ).

Can load and unload on back of truck without assistance, no trailer required.

I had a Bass Hunter pvc boat for years because of all the electric only lakes around me.  I’d venture a guess I caught thousands of fish from that little boat and even took my at the time 5 year old daughter out in kids tournaments.  We could go to the local electric only lake and throw 2 crappie rods in rod holders and have a limit in about 3 hours of 25 fish each.  I tortured that boat for many, many years even dragging it across ice to get to open water and it held up well.

 

https://basshunter.com/

Thanks for info.  I will look further into these bass hunter type boats.  I will be fishing by myself a lot so want to make sure I can get handle it solo without too much trouble. 

I picked up a Bass Raider this past winter, retired 65 yo. I manage to get it in the bed of my F150, but getting the leading edge in isn't easy, especially on an angled boat ramp. If they'd put a couple more handles on the thing it'd be a lot easier, there is nothing to hold onto. They do work well though.

Thanks again all.  I did find a Sun dolphin 12’ Jon boat.  Other than the 2’ extra feet does one have and advantages over bass raider type ?

FWIW, the Dolphin is lighter, longer, wider, and is a jon boat.

The Raider has a bit more capacity, users sit up a bit higher, and is a pontoon style boat.

 

Can you mount cushioned boat seats in a Dolphin? I wouldn't want to sit on the bench all day, but that's just me.

15 minutes ago, padlin said:

FWIW, the Dolphin is lighter, longer, wider, and is a jon boat.

The Raider has a bit more capacity, users sit up a bit higher, and is a pontoon style boat.

 

Can you mount cushioned boat seats in a Dolphin? I wouldn't want to sit on the bench all day, but that's just me.

Good point. I’m not sure on that but valid question 

 

 

There is a 136 page Pelican Raider thread in this forum.

Search “Pelican”

Tom

13 hours ago, Bird said:

I'm retired and bought a Bass Raider 10E ( plastic boat ).

Can load and unload on back of truck without assistance, no trailer required.

I gotta get one of those seat cushions. 

I wouldn't discourage you from getting a 10' or 12' version of this type of boat, especially if you can trailer it. Anything larger than the 8 footer can be cumbersome for one person alone to load and unload into a pickup truck. My son in law and I fish out of his 8' Sundolphin several times a year. Not perfect for two grown men, but not terrible either. It's plenty for one man.

 

When I'm not out with him someone else usually is, so loading isn't an issue, especially on steep, washed out, dirt ramps. He's 42 years old and a gym rat, so he's in shape, but it can be challenging to deal with alone depending on where. When he can't get a pal to come along to his favorite spot, which happens to be one of those ramps, he brings his one man SoloCraft instead. Just something to think about.

I found a used bass hound that appears to be in great shape.  Anyone know anything about this boat?  Thx 

I've looked at them, nice boats.

The main reason I went Bass Raider is because I could throw it on back of truck by myself.....and pull our RV trailer to the lakes.

 

The Bass hound appears to require a trailer.

Does it come with a trailer?

Yes has a trailer and 6hp Yamaha.  Wants $800 for all 

There's a HUGE thread here: 

 

2 hours ago, Mikeinfl said:

Yes has a trailer and 6hp Yamaha.  Wants $800 for all 

Oh well.  Looked to be great deal but no title so getting it registered would be nightmare.  I think I will go look at the pelican tomorrow at Academy.  Is the pelican bass raider pretty much same type boat that the bass pro shops carry.  I forgot what brand they carey.  Thanks

I see Academy Carries the pelican and dicks Carries the sea quest.  Are the two pretty much same?

 

thx

30 minutes ago, Mikeinfl said:

I see Academy Carries the pelican and dicks Carries the sea quest.  Are the two pretty much same?

 

thx

Sorry I meant quest angler 

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

There's a HUGE thread here: 

 

Sometimes you can lead a horse to water but it refuses drink.

Tom?