I just went to my local Dick's Sporting store where i recently purchased my Pelican for $699 with a pic on my phone of Academy's $599 advertised price of the same Pelican 10e. They refunded me the price difference. I'm a happy camper!

Does the Dicks by you have any more?  I'm in Laplata 20646 and seems that I will need to drive at least to No. Va.  I called my local store 3 weeks ago and they indicated they have no way to predict when boats will arrive in their store. Thanks

Just now, johnkn said:

Does the Dicks by you have any more?  I'm in Laplata 20646 and seems that I will need to drive at least to No. Va.  I called my local store 3 weeks ago and they indicated they have no way to predict when boats will arrive in their store. Thanks

John they have one that just arrived sitting on the shelf. Dick's in Bel Air off of rt. 24, not far from I-95

I saw it there on the shelf this afternoon. They also had a Sundolphin sitting up on the shelf next to the Pelican 10e. Take a pic of Academy's ad and take it with you for a $100 savings like i did today. You should join the fishing meet were planning.

Nice weather on the east coast so I finished up some mods. Lowrance  Elite 4 Chirp mounted on a Yakattack cellblok, carpeted floor, New Mossy Oak seat by Tempress Seating. Yakattack and the Tempress seat are made in the USA

29 minutes ago, Tommy X said:

Nice weather on the east coast so I finished up some mods. Lowrance  Elite 4 Chirp mounted on a Yakattack cellblok, carpeted floor, New Mossy Oak seat by Tempress Seating. Yakattack and the Tempress seat are made in the USA

Man, really looks great!

That Cellblock is a nice idea, very clean no wires. I think I'm mounting my new Helix5 SI-  FF to a small ram mount and using the front right rod holder for a removable mounting system, since I fish from the front most of the time.

The floor is my next upgrade, Yours looks really good. Have any measurements I can start with? What thickness board did you use? Did it make the boat noticeably heavier, I load mine to the back of my truck so weight is always a concern.

Man, really looks great!

That Cellblock is a nice idea, very clean no wires. I think I'm mounting my new Helix5 SI-  FF to a small ram mount and using the front right rod holder for a removable mounting system, since I fish from the front most of the time.

The floor is my next upgrade, Yours looks really good. Have any measurements I can start with? What thickness board did you use? Did it make the boat noticeably heavier, I load mine to the back of my truck so weight is always a concern.

I used 1/2 ply total length is 103" X 20 1/2"  and I cut the length in half so it's easy to take in an out. No its not much heavier. I use my truck bed too. I just bought a new Ram 4x4 which is 5 1/2 " higher then my old 98' Ram 2x4. That will make getting it in the back that much harder. I am by myself 95% of the time. I starting to think about keeping the 98' as my fishing truck. Its still runs great, it just looks like hell and has no AC. There's a lot to say about having a truck you don't give 2 hoots about scratching, getting hit by rock and gravel, or washing. My wife says the insurance is cheap, so why not keep it? Right?

6 minutes ago, Tommy X said:

Man, really looks great!

That Cellblock is a nice idea, very clean no wires. I think I'm mounting my new Helix5 SI-  FF to a small ram mount and using the front right rod holder for a removable mounting system, since I fish from the front most of the time.

The floor is my next upgrade, Yours looks really good. Have any measurements I can start with? What thickness board did you use? Did it make the boat noticeably heavier, I load mine to the back of my truck so weight is always a concern.

I used 1/2 ply total length is 103" X 20 1/2"  and I cut the length in half so it's easy to take in an out. No its not much heavier. I use my truck bed too. I just bought a new Ram 4x4 which is 5 1/2 " higher then my old 98' Ram 2x4. That will make getting it in the back that much harder. I am by myself 95% of the time. I starting to think about keeping the 98' as my fishing truck. Its still runs great, it just looks like hell and has no AC. There's a lot to say about having a truck you don't give 2 hoots about scratching, getting hit by rock and gravel, or washing. My wife says the insurance is cheap, so why not keep it? Right?

Yah it is nice to have a beater, especially if its a spare and you know some good spots off the beaten path to put the raider in. I ran across some small lakes that had steep access paths, so I carry two 2"x6"x10' boards with the tailgate hangers on them and slide the raider in and out on them....Much Easier!

Thanks for the measurements of the floor, maybe next month I can do that project. I'll post some pics after I give the raider a wash and prep her for the season.

Keep those pics coming everyone, great to see everyone's ideas and mods on their boats.

21 hours ago, Tommy X said:

Nice weather on the east coast so I finished up some mods. Lowrance  Elite 4 Chirp mounted on a Yakattack cellblok, carpeted floor, New Mossy Oak seat by Tempress Seating. Yakattack and the Tempress seat are made in the USA

Tommy X,

Nice set up.  Is that the 18 or 24" Transducer Mount?

Canam 13,

Like the rod storage set up.  Will do the same with mine. 

Thanks for all the great info and ideas everyone.

11 hours ago, Paintball said:

Tommy X,

Nice set up.  Is that the 18 or 24" Transducer Mount?

It came with the 18" piece which is nowhere near long enough. I grabbed about 3'  of 1/2 alum round at work and put the 90 in it. After I mounted the cellblock to the boat I put it all together then cut the bar to size. it came to 28" total including the bend. I had to buy more  black wire loom to cover the alum rod and to give it a finished look. 

 

Tommy X,

Finish fooled me.  Good job on the set up and thanks for the info. 

Going to begin work on my casting deck soon.  Couple questions for everyone and hopefully someone can give me some ideas.  Did anyone make a casting deck (for the front) that works when two people are fishing?  Also, has anyone explored the idea of making a deck that that extends the whole front of the boat width wise?  Meaning the deck extends over the pontoons on each side?  I think this is feasible and would provide more room for standing, but don't know where to anchor and how to go about it.  Thanks guys.

Could you locate 2 large 'pins' under the platform that would drop into the front rod holders?

As you know, the further outside the boat's centerline you distribute your weight the less stable the boat becomes. 

Here you go, though I'm not really sure of its value.  Not a 10e but pretty close

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, March 03, 2016 at 9:05 PM, johnkn said:

Could you locate 2 large 'pins' under the platform that would drop into the front rod holders?

As you know, the further outside the boat's centerline you distribute your weight the less stable the boat becomes.

Here you go, though I'm not really sure of its value.  Not a 10e but pretty close

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like that design a lot! Well done.  Care to share dimensions and what exactly you used?  Thanks!

Just saw the "Its not a 10e" comment.  Nevermind! Looks great none the less.

My dad and I are buying a pelican 8 on Sunday. Mainly to use for crappie fishing farm ponds and small strip cuts and lakes. I'm excited as this is my first boat. I've been reading some great tips on this thread. I think even though I'm a heavyweight guy that this boost is gonna be good enough for now for my dad and I. Is a 32lb thrust gonna push it good? Should I mount in the front with a rudder in the back?

9 minutes ago, BigSlab29 said:

My dad and I are buying a pelican 8 on Sunday. Mainly to use for crappie fishing farm ponds and small strip cuts and lakes. I'm excited as this is my first boat. I've been reading some great tips on this thread. I think even though I'm a heavyweight guy that this boost is gonna be good enough for now for my dad and I. Is a 32lb thrust gonna push it good? Should I mount in the front with a rudder in the back?

A 32 will move it along and you be able to cover smaller lakes no problem. Bigger  lakes you would want to move up to a 45-55lb thrust. My TM is mounted up front with a rudder in the back. I find that's the best setup for me alone or with a partner. 

Good luck with the boat, enjoy!

On ‎2‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 7:16 PM, 68dave said:

 

42 minutes ago, BigSlab29 said:

My dad and I are buying a pelican 8 on Sunday. Mainly to use for crappie fishing farm ponds and small strip cuts and lakes. I'm excited as this is my first boat. I've been reading some great tips on this thread. I think even though I'm a heavyweight guy that this boost is gonna be good enough for now for my dad and I. Is a 32lb thrust gonna push it good? Should I mount in the front with a rudder in the back?

2 ~big guys = 10 foot boat.    good luck.  

 

2 hours ago, johnkn said:

 

What he said.  If you have the funds, and the transportation means for a 10 foot boat, go with that one.  You'll thank yourself later.

3 hours ago, BigSlab29 said:

My dad and I are buying a pelican 8 on Sunday. Mainly to use for crappie fishing farm ponds and small strip cuts and lakes. I'm excited as this is my first boat. I've been reading some great tips on this thread. I think even though I'm a heavyweight guy that this boost is gonna be good enough for now for my dad and I. Is a 32lb thrust gonna push it good? Should I mount in the front with a rudder in the back?

Get the 10 footer or you might end up buying twice. I'm a big guy. 6'3" 250 and I thought the 8' was too small for me and I go by myself 95% of the time. Just my 2 cents

Over the life of the boat, the price difference between the 10 footer and the 8 footer is insignificant.  I used to have a pond boat, a 10' Water Buster.   The  handling differences between 1 and 2 people on the boat were significant.   Go with the biggest trolling motor you can afford.

Sooner or later you will break the motor, or shear a prop pin or wrap so much line around the prop that it won't spin anymore, something.   Be certain to have an alternate mode of propulsion - i.e. a paddle or a push pole, preferably both.

The primary reason that I got rid of my pond boat was that I'm getting older and not as agile as I one was - therefore I needed a more stable platform to fish out of.   I got an 18' Lowe WF 180.  It handles significantly different depending on if there is one or two people on board.

I was going for the Pelican for the longest time. The one my buddy was going to sell, his nephew borrowed and destroyed it.  I actually went with a Sea Eagle8.  An inflatable the same size as the Pelicans and they hold 950 pounds which is an awesome thing.  I wish there was a topic with this stuff on it, but I will post of picts of things I do with my boat on here if no one is against it.  

On 3/4/2016 at 9:50 AM, Canam13 said:

A 32 will move it along and you be able to cover smaller lakes no problem. Bigger  lakes you would want to move up to a 45-55lb thrust. My TM is mounted up front with a rudder in the back. I find that's the best setup for me alone or with a partner. 

Good luck with the boat, enjoy!

I'm stealing your rudder design!

19 hours ago, coachfozz said:

I was going for the Pelican for the longest time. The one my buddy was going to sell, his nephew borrowed and destroyed it.  I actually went with a Sea Eagle8.  An inflatable the same size as the Pelicans and they hold 950 pounds which is an awesome thing.  I wish there was a topic with this stuff on it, but I will post of picts of things I do with my boat on here if no one is against it.  

yeah, let's see it!

How did that punk manage to destroy a boat in one outing? lol

I built myself a dolly today to haul my Pelican from the campsites to the lake. Wish i could post a pic here!

I was able to post a pic!

Looks very good, should make it easy to move around.