Its been a while since I've been online here. Nice mods to all of your boats I've finally installed my nagivation lights on my 10e and installed my floor along with my battery and life vest storage box.

Just wanted to show my Pelican Bass Raider 10e. Thanks to tfultz for all your help buddy.

What's everyone using for navigating lights for night fishing? Pretty sure I need them here in MO

KW,

 

I do some night fishing out of my 10E especially this time of year. Built a 4' green LED drop light and have it clipped to the outside of the boat until I need to deploy it.

 

As for the navigational lights...I use a simple "clamp-on" set of LED lights from Atwood, I think. Each one (front-red/green & rear pole-white) have their own battery compartment with a thumb switch for off/on. Each uses 3 "AAA" batteries. I caught them on sale from Academy back a while ago. Being LED, the batteries last a long time...I haven't had to replace them yet and the rear white/pole light is required to be on all the time according to most state laws. I should note that the notes say these are NOT Coast Guard approved but that goes for a lot of LED technology at the present time simply because they haven't been certified I think. They are bright enough for sure so that is not the reason.

 

Description says "clamp-on"...they have a screw type securement feature to mount either vertical or horizontal. I removed the clamp from my front red/green and mounted it on top of my trolling motor which is mounted on front (rudder on rear). I also extended the pole on my rear light since the one it comes with is only about 18" or so. My choice to get it up higher and maybe make the bugs move up a bit

 

Been a good year for crappie at night here in my area. Got that freezer loaded up.

I have a pellican 10E with the trolling motor mounted on the front transome. I would like to purchase a Hummingbird Fishin Buddy 120 and mount it in the front, but the transome has no room left to mount it.

Question: Is there a spot in the front that a Fishin Buddy can be mounted other than the transome?

Thanks.

You can easily mount a Fishing Buddy finder on the side of a Bass raider, instead of the front or back. Just use a short 1x2 or make an L-shaped block of wood to get the clamp tightened up against the plastic sidewall. (there is a photo of this back in this forum). Swing the hole for the finder to the outside and go! I also attach the finder to a screw eye with a short nylon rope in case it slips from my hand.

Thanks fishcat. I'll try to find the photo you mentioned.

_{So i have a 18 x 8 inch piece of sheet metal and i am going to install it as my rudder. I have cut a slot in the shaft of an old trolling motor and will be putting the sheet metal in the slot and securing it with three bolts. I am just curious whether i should install the sheet metal vertically or horizontally. Any thoughts?}

I does not need to be that large.  But, I would install it vertically.

I does not need to be that large. But, I would install it vertically.

I figured as much but it was what Lowes had precut and i have no way to cut it down any further. But you think 8 inches will be enough to keep the boat tracking straight?

Wouldn't mounting it horizontal help track the boat straighter?

I made mine 10 x 18.  It seemed too bulky and limited my turning (mine is mounted on my rear trolling motor) radius.  I cut it down to 5 x 13, mounted vertically and reinstalled it.  The boat seems to track just as straight with the smaller rudder.

 

Ken

My rudder.

Recycled an old non-working rechargeable battery powered weed whacker.

Fit into an old Minn Kota mount perfectly.

Adjustable in many ways.

 

I bought a square piece (12" x 12" x 1/4") of black ABS plastic from McMaster Carr online & slid it in the existing slot on the weedeater shaft.  3 stainless hose clamps to secure it. It made a good place to mount my transducer also and the cable runs up protected inside the shaft & out the top. Even retained the handle up top. I have since cut a piece of PVC that fits right into the shaft on top to make a LED pole light that is removeable.

 

The ABS is pretty much same as a section of a truck mudflap which is easily machineable & can be cut without a lot of trouble but I was making an order for other items from McMaster & included this on the order.

 

No laughing at my pink milk crate for vertical rod holders, etc allowed.

 

 

Modified an old Plano box & mounted it under my seat rails. Slides with the seat & stays out of the way. Easily accessed.

 

 

Fun project for me. Saw several online instances of folks making their own underwater drop green LED lights & being the tight ( l ) that I am, started gathering material to make my own. Go big or go home. I went with a 4 foot section of clear PVC and spiral wrapped it around a center section of 1/2" PVC which was filled with sand and slid inside the outer clear 1 1/2" PVC. Again with the McMaster site...I found a submersible cord grip and double sealed everything with clear silicone after gluing it all together. Made about a foot section of white schedule 40 PVC for the bottom to add more sand as ballast and keep it sunk. Apparently I guessed just right on the weight needed because it sinks just beyond neutral buoyancy & stays vertical. Clips that fit the 1 1/2" PVC were accessed via that McMaster site (again...love that site for stuff I can't get locally & disclosure - I am not an employee or connected in any way other than being a satisfied consumer for many years).

 

I don't imagine too many do a lot of night fishing with their Pelicans but there has been a recent thread about it for kayaks, etc. I do use mine for such instances and have had good success. I don't travel far from my put-in ramp but there is a lot of good spots to fish where I use this close by. It stays out of the way with those clips on the outside of the boat & is quick as a snap to deploy or retrieve & store.

 

Unreal amount of baitfish I get up with this light & I use a small jump start box to power it. Don't use a lot of juice & have never saw it dim or battery get low even using it many hours on the water at night.

 

 

 

Yeah, I know...I need to carpet those little bunks on the trailer but my lil Hot Tub has seen it's bumps & grinds and another scuff just adds character.

Hello everyone. My wife bought me a Sun Dolphin Sportsman 8 footer for my birthday and it should be here soon. Started looking at this discussion and can't believe how much information there is on these little boats and the mods people have done. I can't wait to get mine a start fishing with it before i decide what mods to make. Are their must haves for the Sportsman based on experience? I plan to have it on my local electric only lake in my subdivision. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Hello everyone. My wife bought me a Sun Dolphin Sportsman 8 footer for my birthday and it should be here soon. Started looking at this discussion and can't believe how much information there is on these little boats and the mods people have done. I can't wait to get mine a start fishing with it before i decide what mods to make. Are their must haves for the Sportsman based on experience? I plan to have it on my local electric only lake in my subdivision. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

I have the same boat - love it and I have made many mods to mine.  As far as what mods to make first - I did the seats - those plastic ones it comes with you will soon find out are not very comfy - I got padded one at Walmart for about $30 each.  If there is anything else you would like to know just ask me on this thread or a private message.  There are pictures of the many things I have done to my boat in this thread if you are interested in going back through all the pages. 

Just picked up myself a sundolphin. I have questions about getting it registered, the boat came with a title thing but on the bottom it asked for a signature from the retailer. Which I didn't see when I bought it. So my question is what should I do. I had to drive an hour to get the boat and my gf was going to register it tomorrow. Now we're not sure what to do.

Just picked up myself a sundolphin. I have questions about getting it registered, the boat came with a title thing but on the bottom it asked for a signature from the retailer. Which I didn't see when I bought it. So my question is what should I do. I had to drive an hour to get the boat and my gf was going to register it tomorrow. Now we're not sure what to do.

If I recall correctly when I bought mine from Dick's I got to the DMV to register it and had to go back to Dick's and get them to sign it.  (Think they do it on purpose so you buy more stuff the second time in the store lol)  Lucky for me Dick's and the DMV are only 10 mins apart.  I would call your DMV to see what they say - explain the situation and they might work something out.  If not call the dealer you got it from and speak to a manager - have them pay for your gas and time to drive back to the store to fix their screw up (maybe in-store credit).  They should know that the title needs to be signed .... it's not like they have never sold a boat before right?

 

Anyway hope this helps and things work out - once all that get taken care of and you hit the water .... life is good.

Thanks. My gf is at the dmv seeing what she can do. It just so happends that her ex boyfriend's girlfriend is working the counter. Not sure if that's good or bad.

Thanks. My gf is at the dmv seeing what she can do. It just so happends that her ex boyfriend's girlfriend is working the counter. Not sure if that's good or bad.

everything's good she was able to get it titled and registered.

I'm finally getting my 10E out Saturday for the first time since getting it. I am totally stoked. Just hope it floats and doesn't have any leaks.

Here it is...

How did you keep it from sliding on down the boat and say in place when you step on it?

Regarding the rudder: I cut a slot in a 3' piece of 1" PVC. Slid an old aluminum license plate into the slot vertically, and ran a small bolt through to hold it. I have not yet perfected a way to attach to the transom. I run my MK trolling motor on the bow transom (front), and have never had a problem steering or side slipping. But I don't go out on windy days!

I just aquired an 8' sundolphin for free. Can't wait to get it on the water. I built a small casting deck on the front that the battery box slids into being a big guy wanted to push the weight foward. Rail mounted my FF just installed my lights last night. Wanna see how zhe does on the water before I put a floor down so I just have layed in some carpet for now. Will post pictures as soon as I can. My question is my TM is missing one of the pads off the hardware to tighten it to the transom any suggestions? Love the Forum