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Bass Hunter EX review #10381890 10/31/14 12:32 AM
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Dan90210 ☮ Offline OP
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I'll keep it short.

Pros- very stable; you can't flip this boat. Speed; the hull design is such that it tracks better and is a little faster than many similar boats. Durability; this thing is rock solid! You'd have to go at it with a torch to cause real damage. Flooring; it's soft! Great for fishing barefoot. Profile; it's like the old model in that it's low profile and does not blow around as much as other boats like it. Looks; it looks sleek and well made. Because it is!

Cons- weight; this thing is heavy. It's borderline too much for one man to launch from a truck bed. If you can do five pull-ups you're good! If not it's a two man or trailer deal. Storage; rod storage is terrible! You can kinda tuck one in on each rail but for those to be secure you have to place them just right! I'll need an aftermarket rod holder set up.

In the middle- Price; it's not cheap that said get what you pay for. It's very well made that's clear! And made in the USA!

All in I'm happy with it! The weight makes it super durable, design is stable, great fish abilty minus the rod storage situation.

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10381946 10/31/14 12:50 AM
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K.D. Offline
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I'm curious if you found a solution to the lack of rod storage. Have you built something, are you placing them on the sides and hoping for the best or are you tucking under your seat and storing in the floor?

What made you,pick the EX over the bassbaby? From what I can tell it's the same manufacturer, same construction, same width but with flat sides for rod storage and built in wheels. Any experience with one of them?

And are you using the same cart that fish fear me showed in the other post? How that working out?

Last edited by K.D.; 10/31/14 01:04 AM.
Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10381984 10/31/14 01:08 AM
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Dan90210 ☮ Offline OP
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Have not used the dolly on the new rig expect for loading into my garage. No reason to think it'd not be ok with a medium range hustle overland if need be.

Not settled on rod storage yet, kayak guys have shared some great ideas with ram-x systems that would work for storage and trolling; which I like to do if conditions dictate.

Went with the larger version for the stability and the design is better if you're taking a bro with you. It's got more leg room for the guy in front to get comfy and kick his feet up. Also the weight difference and price was negligible.

That rod storage and higher walls on the rails had me reconsidering if I could go back I'd look at the baby hunter a little harder.

But the EX has nice cup holders and dry storage! Used the cup holders; beer spill proof! Haha

The dry storage is meh... Not much to me at this point


Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10382249 10/31/14 03:09 AM
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mapquest
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If you let me borrow your hunter for a month, there is a good chance it would have rod holders, LED lights, sight fishing deck, and live well installed when you get it back


[Linked Image]
Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: CCTX] #10382280 10/31/14 03:30 AM
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Dan90210 ☮ Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: collincountytx
If you let me borrow your hunter for a month, there is a good chance it would have rod holders, LED lights, sight fishing deck, and live well installed when you get it back


Kayak guys ^^^^ lol

Custom everything!

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10428180 11/22/14 03:45 PM
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Mulholland Offline
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Sounds like my Uncle Buck's Pond Prowler, only without rod storage. The rod storage aint the prettiest but it holds 4-6 pretty comfortably with it's little 3 big 3 little cutout foam blocks with Velcro straps at each end.

Also it's heavier than cuss, partly because it has a teensy bit of water it got in it from filling in the rain and seaping past the TM plug so I need to rectify that, but it's just a heavier duty design than most others, hence the capacity, hence the 5hp outboard rating. I've had it well over loaded with my big bubba ex-friend and me a time or two when I first got it and always performed flawlessly even doing high speed donuts with the 55lb TM on max thrust haha

I can comfortably pilot it with someone up front and still man the TM with fish tinder mounted to it and stand and cast on the back standing on the rails. Nice and stable. Wouldn't call it unflippable because I could probably flip my buddys 21ft stratos from the back if conditions were right... I was one of those kids who could break Tonka trucks. But it is unsinkable, so that's a plus. Boat plug is more of a scupper... that ends up below water line fully loaded... just like my kayak was but with more seating and tackle room hahaha


The foam block rod holders on it are surely available, and they work great and probably cost $25. No clue where they came from, PO must have installed, don't think they come on them new

EDIT: Bingo.
http://www.basspro.com/Attwood-Vertical-Mount-Rod-Holder/product/10211296/

Those hold 6 baitcasters on their sides in a nice tight little pack. Spinning reels add clutter but are still doable, that's why I say 4-6 rods. Takes some getting used to in order to get the right method down but they work great once you use them properly.

Last edited by Mulholland; 11/22/14 03:49 PM.
Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10428308 11/22/14 04:49 PM
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meP2too Offline
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The bass hunter brand is tough as nails,
but I saw the rod storage as an issue. That is why I chose an actual "Buster Boat" when scaling down from my Bass Cat. Both sides are high enough to lay three to four rods between the seat rails and gunnel. I can also store four 3700 Plano tackle trays in each of the two storage areas, one is supposed to be a live well.

Has anyone put a lower unit hydrofoil on a small HP motor, I am thinking of adding one to my BB's 4 hp motor. If so did they help.

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10428403 11/22/14 05:31 PM
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Mulholland Offline
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why would you add a hydrofoil? It's not a planning boat hull anyways... they just plow water. Probably not a good investment at all. Money better spent on a sweet DIG-IN shallow water anchor pole or something useful. Nice little down imaging unit if you don't have one perhaps

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10428720 11/22/14 08:57 PM
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meP2too Offline
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I hope the hydrofoil will direct some of the thrust out the rear and not "around" the prop.

The junior sizes are around 30 bucks, its not huge waste of money.

I've ordered a stick it anchor pole but not the bracket. I am going to see if a looped rope tied to the boat handle will hold up to the tension during windy days.

I have a lowrance elite 5 hdi with down scan.

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10433197 11/24/14 10:29 PM
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Mulholland Offline
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You'll need the bracket or a similar bracket made that allows the pole but not the handle to pass through or you'll throw it into the lake. Ask my how I know... bang definitely keep a rope tied to it securely either way lol. I had a hard time getting mine to work well even with a 12ft pole, anchoring in 8ft of water as difficult with waves. Pond boats have little weight and get moved a LOT by wind and waves.

I'll go retrieve my 12ft pole form Muenster Lake some time though... lol

and I don't think you understand what the products you are looking at do if you want a hydrofoil/whale tale for that... they help reduce bouncing/porpoising on planning boats, and help produce stern lift and get the bow down. You have a prop not a jet drive... it isn't generating thrust it's screwing through the water and pushing you.

Unless you do have a sterling jet 5hp outboard jet like I have for my pond prowler... in which case it still doesn't matter I don't think since the thrusting water is just pushing against the standing water to move you anyways.

Just trying to keep you from wasting money... I'll take the $30 if you are just tired of it sittin' around though thumb

Last edited by Mulholland; 11/24/14 10:37 PM.
Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Mulholland] #10433952 11/25/14 03:09 AM
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Phototex Offline
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Originally Posted By: Mulholland
Just trying to keep you from wasting money... I'll take the $30 if you are just tired of it sittin' around though thumb


Richard, you made me laugh with that one!

Last edited by phototex; 11/25/14 03:09 AM.

PB: 10-01 on a Ribbit frog
Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10434131 11/25/14 04:36 AM
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doctorxring Offline
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.

Since this topic has surfaced, how much anchor (weight) do you need to hold
one of these pond boats in 8 to 10 foot of water. Just thinking ahead. I will
be getting a Bass Baby soon.

thanks, Chris

.


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Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10435077 11/25/14 08:19 PM
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Mulholland Offline
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I use a little 5lb grapple anchor and it works great but in the wind you need to find something solid to hook into, not enough to hold you stationary in anything over 10mph winds really, but still drags really well to drift with. I think a plow anchor would be better suited at digging into bottom and would still be able to hang on stuff when needed in timber and rocky bottom.

biggest problem is how far you need to let line out to anchor well, puts a boat that doesn't sit still well on the end of a long rope swing pretty much. Not so great for anchoring on standing structure like in trees but good if you're in open water areas fishing a broader space. In trees I usually just find a good spot to tie off to one as best I can and fish, or try to get a nice controlled drift going along the edge of them with the TM, or TM and claw anchor dragging

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10437259 11/26/14 04:55 PM
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Dan90210 ☮ Offline OP
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Mulholland is right on the anchor.

I have a 8lb mushroom style and anything over 10 mph wind and you will be drifting unless you can get it hung on something.

I would like a ten or 12 that would hold you solid even on a smooth bottom in all but the most gusty of winds.

Re: Bass Hunter EX review [Re: Dan90210 ☮] #10438287 11/27/14 12:58 AM
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doctorxring Offline
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I've got a length of railroad rail. I'll just cut off 12 pounds worth and go with that.

thanks !


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