Times are getting tough. Regardless of the official numbers, we all know inflation is hitting us hard at the grocery, gas pump, and elsewhere. If you’re in the market for a new bass boat, you might be at the point where you are no longer dreaming of that fancy Ranger and instead trying to find one that fits the budget. As one of the main “budget brands” out there, Nitro bass boats are probably on your radar. However, you’ve probably heard some stories that have you wondering if Nitro bass boats are any good. Well, let’s figure it out.
Do Nitro Boats Have a Bad Reputation?
Nitro bass boats don’t have the best reputation, but this is likely explainable in a large extent by the fact that it’s usually someone’s first bass boat. As I mentioned in my post about Mercury Outboards (which also have the same issue), I’d wager a good number of the “problems” that give Nitro boats a poor reputation have more to do with user error than manufacturer defect. I know when I first bought my boat, I had very little idea what I was doing. There were many “issues” that were honestly easy fixes when I got a little experience under my belt.
As a “value bass boat brand,” Nitro is going to have a large number of people who are simply new to boat ownership, and this is going to cause issues. Batteries might not be tightened down enough. One might not understand trim, or how to effectively drive through rough water. With trailering, perhaps that boat isn’t secured properly, or had its transom adequately protected. Lots of issues can contribute.
For what it’s worth though, there is some anecdotal evidence that this brand did go through a bit of growing pains after Bass Pro bought it years ago. That makes sense. They were, after all, trying to make fishing more affordable for everyone, and that would have caused some corners to be cut. However, it does seem from reading various forums that this is a malus from the past, long since removed. Even so, it’s worth a chuckle at what folks are entitling their posts. Here’s one that asks, “Are the newer Nitro’s still trash?” (For what it’s worth, most had favorable things to say about them).
What About Issues with the Warranty?
Another reason that many Nitro boats get a bad reputation is that their warranty group does a good job of inciting the internet. It’s not very hard to find stories of folks relating their experience with Nitro / Tracker warranties and how they had a hard time getting them to pay up. Granted, this might not be the manufacturer’s fault always. I’ve been in insurance for well over a decade now and there are certainly people out there who can’t accept responsibility and won’t listen to reason. Surely some of the issues on the internet aren’t Nitro’s problem but user error. Nonetheless, there are enough stories out there, especially from the mid-2010s or so, that makes you wonder if perhaps the company needed a little training on “smiling through the phone.”
With that said, in fairness to the brand it should be stated that many of the complaints aren’t so much that an active warranty won’t pay so much as the warranty expires or changes for 2nd or 3rd owners. I’d argue this is the purchaser’s issue. One of the main things you need to do when buying anything used (and I don’t care if it’s a used fishing rod!) is to understand what warranty, if any, transfers. If you buy a boat that specifically won’t have a warranty any more because you’re the third owner, it’s hardly the manufacturer’s fault you didn’t call and ask.
Are Nitro Bass Boats Reliable?
To put it plainly, a bass boat hull is going to be reliable so long as it isn’t compromised. It’s all the electronics and motors that you put on it that have reliability issues. The issue with Nitro boats is that they are almost always going to be equipped with a Mercury outboard. These engines have gotten a lot of flak over the years for not being reliable, but that really isn’t fair. As stated above, it’s mostly going to come down to user error in many instances. For example, I had the hardest time getting my motor to fire up initially, but come to find out it’s due to my simply not tightening my batteries enough! Little things like this can cause big issues.
What Sorts of Problems Do They Have?
Many of the folks complaining about Nitro boats have to do with issues with the fiberglass. Some complaints are fairly minor, such as minor spider cracks and other chipping. There are, however, some scary stories out there of the hulls completely delaminating due to manufacturer defect. What this basically means is the hull is peeling off like layers of an onion as one drives. Definitely not ideal! Unfortunately, the warranty of various years doesn’t transfer as well as you might like, so there are some heartbreaking stories of guys out there buying boats that quickly are worthless.
Aside from those scary issues, Nitro’s are going to have similar problems as other boats. They’re a value brand and to get that price means they aren’t using the highest quality materials for everything. Is that really going to make a difference on a fishing boat that’s about to get covered in worm guts? Well, that’s for you to say. Cheaper latches will wear out quicker than higher quality ones. Less durable boat carpet will wear out before a better one. These are mostly cosmetic issues, but they might be important to you.
More important, I’d argue, are things like livewell pumps and such as a breach there can cause major flooding issues. I once named a boat “Sinky” because of this (no, it wasn’t a Nitro). Definitely something to consider looking at closely!
Are Nitro Bass Boats a Good Value?
The main thing driving folks to buy Nitro boats is their value. They are significantly less expensive than the major name brands, such as Ranger. For example, as of writing (January, 2024), a top of the line Nitro Z21 XL Pro had a “no haggle, no hassle” pricing of $74,815 USD. Compare that to the Ranger Z521R Ranger Cup’s $93,870, and you’re saving nearly $20,000.
Granted, if you’re looking at a Nitro you probably aren’t looking at a top tier one, so let’s compare an entry level price. To keep it apples to applies, let’s look at Nitro’s Z18 vs. the Ranger Z518. The Nitro will run you $42,815. The Ranger goes for $53,870, over $11,000 more. Nitro also has a small Z17 (Ranger has no equivalent) that runs $35,815, though in my mind, that is a ridiculous price to pay for a 17′ bass boat and I’d definitely encourage buying the Z18 instead as it has a better motor and tournament possibilities.
Now, value does go beyond the simple price of a boat. You have to consider what kind of boat you get for the money, and these “Pro” series come with a lot of extras for the price. Depending on the model, you might have very solid graphs and trolling motors included as well as other options like a hot foot and jack plate. This makes these boats even more enticing as you’re getting everything you might want in a boat, all for the sales price.
Do Nitro Boats Hold Their Value?
Nitro boats do not hold their value like some of the top tier brands. First, they’re a dime a dozen. Being the best selling bass boat means there’s plenty of them out there to purchase and supply vs. demand is going to decrease the price. Secondly, like it or not, they do have that reputation that is ever so hard to overcome. Not everyone is going to want to purchase a used one. If you’re buying a Nitro boat you’re buying it for a value to yourself but not necessarily with the intent of preserving resale value like a Ranger or Lund would.
Should I Buy a Used One?
Used Nitro boats can be a screaming deal, but you need to be very careful. While it’s always best practice to bring along a mechanic to check out a new boat you’re interested in, it’s all the more important with this brand. This is because many people who are new to boating and fishing are likely the original owner of these boats. Is that always an issue? No, of course not. But it does imply that there may be things that went wrong with the boat simply because they didn’t know any better. If you’re buying a used Nitro bass boat, make sure you give it a good look over.
Having said that, if you’re able to find someone who has had boats for some time and has kept it nice and clean, you’re probably going to get a better deal on a used Nitro bass boat than pretty much anything else you could find. These are less expensive to start and don’t hold their value very well which means you could find a good deal. These days, with the economy being what it is, this might really be your value. Just make sure you’re careful about things so you don’t get burned!
Can I Get Parts for Older Nitro Boats?
While there is a great website for older Nitro boat parts, bear in mind that there aren’t many parts for the extremely old boats from last century. The site is interesting in that you’re basically emailing a person who will do the sleuthing for you to find a part and will then let you know what they can offer. Of course, if you know the actual part number you can always do this yourself by putting it in Google, but you’ll be at the mercy of whatever is listed on the internet. With this website, you might have access to parts you otherwise wouldn’t be able to easily find.
If you need specific Nitro parts for a much older book, you’re going to need to check various auction sites or perhaps even Facebook groups to see if you can find something. However, once your boat is that old, wouldn’t you be OK with a generic replacement anyway? For example, you can find just about any color of boat seat you need if you want a replacement, and it’s not like restoring that Nitro to showroom condition is going to do much for its value!
Where Can I Buy a New Nitro Boat?
One of the best things about Nitro bass boats is how prevalent their dealers are. They seem to be everywhere, which means you’ll never be far from one. Go check out their “find a dealer” section on their website to find one near you.
In Conclusion
If you want to get a lot of boat for your money and aren’t that concerned about “trim” or “status,” then a Nitro bass boat might be great for you. Just remember that if you buy a used one you might want to get an idea of how much experience the person has with boating as many of the issues Nitro has could have been caused by inexperienced boaters.
Hopefully this article was helpful to you!
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
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Are Lund Boats Any Good?
When it comes to Walleye boats, none have more of an aura of excellence than the brand Lund. More than one angler has spent their lives scrolling through a pamphlet or website, looking at their “dream boat.” Even so, are Lund boats any good – or is this a case of lust vs. love?
Granted I’m biased, as I’ve owned by Lund Impact for over a decade now, but I’d emphatically answer, “Yes, Lund Boats are good – very good – the kind of good that deserves a way better hook than this.”
Let’s explore why.
Impressive Lineup
One of the main reasons Lund makes such good boats is that they’ve got the perfect one for you. Lund is one of the few brands out there that has a model that can suit pretty much any need.
If you own a camp and want some good utility boats for your customers, they’ve got you covered.
If you’re a family man and want something that can fish but also pull the kids around on tubes, you can find that in the Impact XS lineup. Not quite ready to make that financial commitment? Try the Adventure – it’s a great entry level boat that will turn heads.
Finally, if you’re a hardcore fisherman, they have the perfect boat for you. Want to troll for salmon and lake trout on the Great Lakes? The Tyee and Baron are your huckleberry. Want to fish bass tournaments? The Pro-V bass is the best aluminum bass boat ever made. Finally, want the ultimate fishing boat that can do anything you ask of it? Well, the vaunted Pro-V class is for you.
Reputation
Lund has an extremely good reputation that it received by continuously pleasing the sort of folk who concentrate on every last detail: anglers. It would be impossible to sustain this reputation if it wasn’t warranted, especially in the age of the internet where everyone has a voice. Lund makes boats worth the reputation (and money) and tends to go out of their way to help people who have issues, assuming they’re polite and the issue really is Lund’s fault.
Resale Value
Unless it’s your last boat, you’re going to want to factor in resale value when deciding what to buy. Here again, Lund Boats prove why thy’re so good. They tend to have significantly higher resale value than competitors of value brands like Tracker, for example. This is because they’re coveted – people want them – and because they hold up very well being of such high quality.
Another important element to why Lund Boats have such good resale value, in my opinion, is who the first owner was. At least for the more expensive models, you’re typically going to get a dedicated fisherman who knows what he’s doing as the prior owner. In my experience, many of the problems folks have with boats have very little to do with manufacturer error and a great deal to do with user error. If you buy a boat from someone who isn’t on their first rodeo, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding this.
How Much Are Lund Boats?
There is no way to sugar coat it. Lund boats are expensive. Take a look at their boat builder site. Setting aside their Jon Boats, the Fury is their most basic offering and it comes in at $12,797 as of writing. Then you see the Baron’s at $97,987 and you can see that there’s quite a range. There are also some Pro-V models that start at over $100,000. Bear in mind these figures are with the smaller motors that they can run, which you probably aren’t going to want to go for. Upgrading that can add tends of thousands of dollars to these prices. Clearly, these are expensive boats.
Why are Lund Boats so Expensive?
Lund boats are clearly more expensive than most of their competitors. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily it comes down to quality and reputation. Built in America by professionals who often have decades of experience, these boats stand up to the test of time. No one is going to send tens of thousands of dollars on a used boat just because it is a certain brand – it needs to actually hold up and be worth it.
Lund’s fit and finish is second to none. If you don’t believe me, go poke around one and then compare it to some of the value brands. It’s just a quality you can see and feel.
Lund’s also are expensive used boats. Why? Simply because people want them and are willing to pay a premium for them. In that respect, when you buy a new Lund, a good portion of the extra price is to account for this. There are many tales of folks on the internet selling these boats a short while after they bought them for more than they paid for them.
Are Lund Boats Worth the Money?
If you’re set on buying a boat, a Lund is definitely worth the money over most competitors. First, it’s a product that is going to hold up over the years and provide immense entertainment to your family. Secondly, if you take care of it, when it’s time to sell it, you stand a great chance of recouping a huge percentage of its original sale value. Because a Lund does not depreciate as rapidly as other brands like Tracker, the overall cost of ownership can be much more competitive when you go to sell it and recoup some of your investment.
This of course assumes you actually use the boat. Unfortunately, boats have a habit of being an expensive lawn ornament for some people. If that’s the case for you, your boat will never be worth the money.
Where are Lund Boats Made?
All Lund boats are made in the same place they’ve been made since 1946: New York Mills, Minnesota in the United States of America. When you buy a boat from Lund, you’re supporting American workers building their (and your) piece of the American dream.
Where to Buy Lund Boat Seats?
While your Lund is likely to hold up well over the years, one area you might want to upgrade are your seats. These can take a lot of abuse after a lifetime of fishing and replacing them is the quickest way to sprucing up an old boat.
Your dealer will be able to source boat seats for your Lund, but if that isn’t an option, or you want to try and save some money, your best bet is going to be Amazon, which has a Lund Fishing Boat Seat with screws. People reviewing the seats there have been impressed with the quality, though it doesn’t seem there are many different color options, and the gray that is available is darker than the gray that came on many Lunds. My Lund boat seat is a much lighter gray, for example.
If you really want the best match, you can also try E-Bay, or Facebook marketplace. E-Bay is going to be hit and miss, but at least you have some seller protection there. If something doesn’t arrive or has issues, E-Bay will tend to work with you to make it right.
Facebook, on the other hand, can be a dangerous place to purchase Lund boat seats. For whatever reason, there have been several scammers over the years on various Facebook groups. Reputable sellers won’t be opposed to doing something like putting a newspaper or a sheet of paper with their name on it in the photo so you know it’s the real deal.Â
Conclusion: Lund Boats Aren’t Just Good, They’re Great
If you’re in the market for a new or gently used boat, you really can’t go wrong with Lund. They have high quality controls, are made in America, have extremely strong resale value and hold up for years. You can buy one and know you can get a good portion of your money back even years after the purchase – and that isn’t bad. I’d definitely encourage you to head over to the classified section at Walleye Central and see if you can find a used Lund that’ll fit your family’s needs.
I hope this helped!
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
How to Go to the Bathroom on a Boat: Poo & Pee on the High Sea
One of the big perks of writing this blog is I get to help all of you with such important questions as “how do you go to the bathroom on a boat?” Honestly, I’m not sure just how I got this lucky to be the one to teach you how to pee or poo on a small boat but I promise you, by the time you’re done reading this short article you’re going to be moving those boating bowels and pissin’ with (never “in”) the wind like a champ. So if you’re a millennial with a healthy dose of anxiety about your next boat trip, fret not and read on.
Do Boats Have Bathrooms?
In all likelihood, the boat you’re invited to this weekend will not have a bathroom (known as a “head” in naval parlance). Toilets are generally only found on boats of some size with a cabin, which can be pretty rare on lakes and rivers. I’ve also found that many captains of smaller boats that do have bathrooms tend to use them as another storage facility. There really isn’t that much need for a man, at least, to have a bathroom on a boat that he isn’t sleeping on, so it’s going to be rare. Further, it can be a pain to clean them out and many boat owners simply don’t use them, or only want folks to pee on them rather than poop.
Accordingly, the best practice is to assume that the boat you’re going to spend the day on will not have a working bathroom available. If nature doesn’t call before your trip, you’ll need to think of different ways to poo or pee on the boat.
How Do You Pee on a Boat?
If you’re on a small boat without a bathroom and need to urinate, you have few options. You’re either peeing off the side of the boat into the water, or peeing into some sort of container. They make several options for the latter which I’ll discuss later, and these are great options for women especially.
Plan A: Peeing in the Water
Let’s be completely honest. If you’re a dude, you’re probably going to end up peeing in the water. You should always check local regulations as you’re probably going to break a few doing this, but I know darn well you’re not going to leave a good fishing spot to find a porta-potty. At the very least, I’d urge you to not to be a crowd pleaser and instead to find a private cove so you can at least minimize the number of laws you’re likely breaking.
If you’re worried about pollution, well, “everything pees” and most of it does so outside. It’s up to you what you make of this. I personally would not be too worried about any contamination, but then again I fish Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT manages to discharge wastewater into it every so often so who are they to give me a hard time. In more pristine waters, you might feel worse.
Peeing in the Water from a Small Boat Safely
If you do pee in the water, there are some important steps to take to minimize the mess, embarrassment, and potential danger.
- Find somewhere private. For the love of God go somewhere folks won’t see you. I’m fairly certain it’s not entirely lawful to pee in most waters in the first place but heaven forbid you throw some public exposure charges into the mix. You have to do what you have to do when nature calls but be sensible about it and respectful of others.
- Pee with, not “into” the wind. This should be self explanatory but there’s always someone. If you pee into the wind, there’s a good chance you’re catching some spray. Pee with it, not against it.
- Wear a life jacket. It might be folklore, but we’ve all heard claims that many drowning victims are found with their fly unzipped. After all, you’re focused on the task at hand and could easily fall victim to a rogue wave or such.
- Try to pee off the stern. There are three good reasons to pee off the stern. First, you likely have a splashpan here that is a great place for the dribble to collect as it can easily be washed away. Secondly, if you have an outboard motor, you have something to hold onto and brace yourself. Finally, if something goes wrong, you’re right next to the rescue ladder to climb back in.
- If alone, deploy the rescue ladder first. While some may view this as overkill, if you’re trying to pee on a cold and windy day, make life easier (and more likely to continue) by deploying your rescue ladder before you start to pee on your small boat. This 3-second chore might save you from becoming a statistic.
Does Peeing in the Water Attract Fish or Sharks?
No, peeing in the water is unlikely to attract fish or sharks, so you’re just going to have to stick to your caffeine shads instead. While there’s a theory going around that various animals may be attracted to it, there’s little evidence that the amount of pee you’re carrying would have any meaningful attraction to fish or sharks. Poo, on the other hand, seems to be a different story as it contains little remnants of food. Personally, I’d stick to rabbit feed for chum where legal, but to each his own.
Plan B: Peeing in a Portable Toilet on the Boat
If you’ve ever asked, “how do women pee on a boat?” The best answer is with a portable toilet. This allows them to sit with some dignity rather than trying to balance over the side of the boat. Portable toilets can be as extensive as a full rig with a privacy screen or as simple as a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat attached. If you go the bucket route and want some privacy, a simple rain poncho usually does the trick. Just make sure it isn’t see through.
How About Plan C? Can You Pee in the Livewell?
More than a few fathers I know let their kids pee in the livewell. It’s really not the worst idea if you need to use the bathroom on a boat. It can be more private than peeing off the side of the boat and is certainly safer. Also, you can run the aerator while they’re doing it and for a while afterwards and it cleans itself out. If you’re going to pee in the livewell, just make sure you’ve unplugged it before you urinate. Otherwise, you’re going to need to stick your hand in there to get it later! Gross!
How Do You Poop On a Small Boat?
Pooping on a small boat is quite a different story than trying to pee on one. There really isn’t any great option, and even if you do find something that works, you now have the issue of what to do with your fecal matter. Your absolute best bet is to simply not have this issue, so I’d heartedly recommend you go to the bathroom before you launch. All the same, when you have to go, you have to go, so here are some solutions.
Use a Bucket or Other Container
If you happen to have a bucket, or even just a plastic container that you can squat over, it’ll do the trick when trying to poop on a small boat. However, you’re going to want to put some water into the bucket or container prior to relieving yourself, or you’re going to have a much bigger mess on your hands. Some poo floating in the water in a bucket is much easier to discard than feces that have gone splat on the bottom.
Of note, there are plenty of toilet lids designed to fit on a 5-gallon bucket to make things easier. If you’re planning on throwing the poop overboard (not recommended, or necessarily legal), you can use any old seat such as this portable camping toilet seat lid. However, a better option might be this complete set that not only comes with a lid, but also has biodegradable toilet bags that you can poo in. As they’re biodegradable, you can toss them into the trash or even bury them somewhere if you’re boating in the middle of nowhere without feeling like you’re harming the environment.
Bring a Portable Toilet
A portable toilet is a step up from a bucket, but not necessarily an improvement, in my mind. The reason I say this is, “who has room for one on a small boat?” Really, the toilet seat lids are your better option, in my opinion. They are much more compact and utilize something you may already have on your small boat (a bucket).
In researching this article, however, I did find one portable toilet that I’d honestly recommend for use on a small boat: The TRIPTIPS Retractable Portable Toilet Travel Toilet Adjustable Height Camping Toilet Portable Potty for Adults and Kids. OK, I get that’s a long and convoluted name, but what those guys didn’t pay their marketing team, they gave their engineers. This portable toilet has it all and seems to be the absolute best portable toilet for peeing or pooping on a small boat that doesn’t have a bathroom. Here’s why I know you’ll love it:
- Unlike most portable toilets for boats, or even a 5-gallon bucket, it compacts down to a size that’s going to fit in pretty much any storage container on your small boat.
- It is washable, though I’d probably pair it with some biodegradable toilet bags and avoid that mess.
- It can double as a trash can.
- It adjusts from 3.2 inches to 13 inches in eight different steps, meaning you can keep it smaller for kids and larger for adults.
- It can hold up to 380lbs!!! No matter how full of crap you are, it’s got you covered!
By all means head over to Amazon and read the reviews from various RV’ers and boaters out there. This may be the best option I’ve seen while reading up on this topic and it’s so good I don’t even to give you other options. Here’s a link where you can buy it on Amazon.
Can you Poop in the Water?
You really should avoid pooping in the water. While urine has relatively little bacteria, it’s another matter entirely for feces. There are significant health risks associated with poo, and a reason they drained the whole pool in Caddy Shack. Sometimes it can’t be helped, and I get that, but really it’s a matter of respect for other people to try and avoid pooping in the water whenever possible.
Even in the largest expanse of water available, pooing can make others sick. I found this interesting one-pager apparently produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture extolling you to take care not to poop in the ocean. Apparently, oysters and clams end up being infected by bacteria from your waste which can find its way into the food supply. This pamphlet even says that the waste from one person can contaminate an area about the size of 25 football fields!
I shudder to think why our government needed to go through the expense of making this pamphlet. It almost reminds me of what I’d expect the fictional town of Pawnee to have to produce in Parks and Rec, but since they went through all the trouble, we might as well take heed.
Privacy Curtains on Boats
Regardless of what solution you use to use the bathroom on a small boat, none of the options are all that private. Because most small boats don’t have an enclosed bathroom, however you relieve yourself, it’s going to be out in the open unless you figure out a way to have some privacy. While you can buy an extensive option like this pop up changing room/privacy tent, that’s a bit much out on a windy lake.
Your better option is much simpler – your average poncho. If you put one of these over yourself before getting to business, no one will be able to see anything they shouldn’t. Also, you probably either have one at home already, or can pick one up very inexpensively, making it a great option. Here’s a good one that comes with a hood meaning you can actually use it as effective rain gear as well as a privacy screen. Remember, on a boat, space is at a premium, so anything that can be used for two purposes is a plus!
Closing Thoughts
There’s no relief quite like that felt when you go to the bathroom on a small boat. It can only be matched by the sinking terror of knowing you need to use it! Again, your best bet is simply to go before you leave, but if you get caught out on the water, I hope this article provides some relief. Just remember that there are some safety concerns even with just peeing from a boat, especially in winter. When it comes to taking a poo, that danger is no longer just for you but for the general public so make sure you don’t dump it over board.
Lastly, if you’re bringing small children (who, let’s face it, are most likely to have an issue), consider letting them pee in the livewell on a windy day. It’ll keep them relatively safe and as long as you’ve got water in it and the aerator going, it’s a fairly clean way to go about things. Just don’t forget to take the plug out before you let them go for it!
I hope this all helps,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
Are Mercury Outboard Motors Any Good? A Review from 10+ Years of Ownership
I’ve owned a 115 horsepower Mercury outboard motor for over 10 years now and haven’t had any major problem with it that I didn’t cause myself. Even so, I distinctly remember how nervous I was when I first bought my boat with a mercury outboard on it. After all, there is no shortage of horror stories out there on the internet about these motors. Many people suggested buying anything else, and this used to give me a little pit in my stomach.
The good news for you is that I never had any cause for concern. If you’re wondering if Mercury outboard motors are any good, the answer is emphatically, yes. Mercury is a trusted brand that partners with several major boat manufacturers such as Lund. For many boats, they are the only sort of motor you can get, and that’s a good thing. They are a high quality brand that features a solid warranty, range of products, and an extremely interesting proprietary vessel view system that helps you track your hours and engine health.
Why Do Mercury Motors Get a Bad Rep?
Despite the fact that it’s largely unwarranted, Mercury motors don’t have the best reputation online. I am a *huge* believer that the reason Mercury gets so much heat online has nothing to do with their quality, and everything to do with user error. Mercury motors are some of the most popular and best selling outboards in America. They are the brand that comes standard with many entry level boats, such as Nitro. When you combine the fact that there are a ton of these motors out there with the fact that many first time boat owners are buying (and maintaining) them, it can be a recipe for trouble.
Outboard motors need regular maintenance that not every new boat owner is going to sign up for, especially if they’re on the kind of budget that has them buying an entry level value boat brand. If you aren’t maintaining any motor, you’re going to have problems, so this could be a reason Mercury gets a bad reputation online. Also, one really needs to pay attention to the break in sequence of any new motor, and it’s also possible a new boat owner might not do that.
It’s also quite possible that much of the smack talk online is a “Ford vs. Chevy” thing, or just a case of loyal owners of one brand giving the other trouble. This probably accounts for much of it because if these motors were really as bad as some folks claim, you’d never find charter captains running them, yet they do.
Finally, there are just stupid little things first time boat owners are going to mess up because they don’t know any better. This was my case, as we’ll see below.
Problems I’ve Had with My Mercury Outboard Motor
The only problem I’ve ever had with my Merc was my own darned fault. At one point in the life of my mercury motor, it was having a heck of a time starting. It was really scary because I’d be in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t get it going, and this was when my son was little. What would I do if a storm was bearing down and I couldn’t escape with him? I took it to my dealer and they couldn’t find anything wrong with the motor aside from the spark plugs being a little dirty. Luckily, my friend is an electrician and he knew the culprit. It was simple, stupid, and embarrassing:
I wasn’t tightening the battery connections snug enough.
That was it. That was the cause of all my trouble, and the reason I had to waste all that money on dealer diagnostic fees that went no where. Just a stupid, innocent mistake that I never thought of as I was a first time boat owner. It makes you wonder how many “horror stories” about mercury outboards come down to similar user error.
Advantages of Buying a Mercury Outboard
There are some significant advantages to buying a Mercury outboard for your boat. Some of the more important include:
- Dealer Network. The main advantage Mercury outboard motors have over other brands, at least in the United States, is as enormous dealer network. While Yamaha has their fair share of dealers as well, you’re never going to be far away from a repair shop that can service your boat engine if you go with a mercury. This makes a mercury outboard motor a good choice for someone who travels around the country a lot to fish. You never know when something will go wrong, but you can be confident you can find someone nearby to help.
- Availability of Parts. Because there are so many Mercury outboard motors sold, that extensive dealer network is going to be able to find parts to fix your engine when there is a problem.
- VesselView. Mercury Motors have a proprietary VesselView system available that allows you to manage your outboard system better. This will help you get more out of your performance of your engine as you have access to boat and engine performance data. Vessel view displays RPM, speed, fuel flow, fuel efficiency, temperature, trim, and more. Check out all of its features here.
- Price. Mercury outboards tend to be less expensive than an equivalent motor of other brands, such as Honda.
- Forward Thinking. Mercury has really embraced technology. In addition to VesselView, they also have a Smart Tow system that keeps your boat at the absolutely best speed for towing kids on wakeboards. Additionally, the VesselView Link lets you easily integrate various other systems into one screen. If you’re one of those “gadget fishermen,” Mercury motors would be a good choice.
Has Mercury Made Any Recalls?
If you’re wondering if Mercury outboards are any good, you probably want to investigate the recalls they’ve had. Any boat or motor manufacturer of noteworthy size is going to have their share of recalls, and Mercury is no different. The U.S. Coast Guard keeps a database that you can access here to see what recalls have been made on your boat or motor of choice. As of writing, there were 64 recalls involving “Mercury” since 1970. Granted, this is significantly higher than the data available for other major outboard motor manufacturers.
| Boat Motor Manufacturer | Number of Recalls (per USCG) |
| Mercury | 64 |
| Yamaha | 47 |
| Evinrude | 15 |
| Honda | 13 |
| Suzuki | 8 |
Granted, Mercury and Yamaha likely simply offer more products than the other manufacturers, which means they’re going to have more recalls for their boat engines and motors. Still, it isn’t that surprising to see Mercury towards the top, and brands like Honda and Suzuki (which are considered bullet proof) at the bottom.
Major Mercury Verado Recalls
While Mercury has had a number of recalls since 1970, most of them were for little minor things. However, there are a few more major recalls you should be aware of especially if you’re buying a used Mercury outboard or a boat equipped with one. The Verado in particular has had its share of troubles:
- The Verado L4 and L6 motors had a flaw in the power steering fuse that affected 36,476 models from 2008 to 2020. You’ll want to ensure that this was taken care of by any prior owners. These are popular motors and one of the more likely you’ll encounter on a used boat, so be careful.
- In 2023, the Verado 250/300 had a steering recall for 1179 motors.
- Also in 2023, the Verado 200/300 had an “engine gasoline” recall for their 2017 model year affecting 504 motors.
With that said, a recall is an indication that a company is taking a problem seriously and doing something about it. While it stinks to see the Verado have these recalls at least they’ve been addressed. Just make sure if you’re buying a used motor that these issues have been corrected so you can buy with confidence.
Where are Mercury Outboard Engines Manufactured?
While Mercury’s world headquarters is in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, they have a worldwide presence with seven manufacturing centers in six different countires:
- Fond du Loc, Wisconsin, USA
- Juárez, Mexico
- Komagane, Japan (TMC joint venture)
- Petit-Rechain, Belgium
- St. Cloud, Florida, USA
- Suzhou, China
Different locations manufacture different motors for mercury. For example, Mercury’s popular 150 HP outboard motor is manufactured in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA, but many of their 90 HP motors are made in Suzhou, China.
What Is the Warranty on Mercury Outboards?
Mercury Motors offers different warranties depending on what sort of motor you’re choosing. Per their website, this is what Mercury is currently offering as warranties on their outboard motors:
| Mercury Outboards & Jets | Limited Warranty (Pleasure Use) | Corrosion Warranty (Pleasure Use) | Limited Warranty (Commercial Use) | Corrosion Warranty (Commercial Use) |
| 4-Stroke – FourStroke / Pro XS / Verado / Jet Outboard | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year | None |
| 2-Stroke DI – OptiMax / ProXS | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year | None |
| 2-Stroke DI – OptiMax / SportJet | 1 year | 3 years | 1 year | None |
| 4-Stroke – SeaPro | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Make sure you double check with your dealer just to make sure none of this changes.
What Are Mercury’s Major Competitors for Outboard Motors?
While I think Mercury makes very good outboards, there are other brands available if you’d prefer. Their most prevalent competitor is Yamaha. Both of these companies vie for market share, and they each have been quite successful at capturing it. Therefore, if you wanted an outboard motor and didn’t want a Mercury, Yamaha would likely be your next best option.
However, both Honda and Suzuki offer outstanding outboard motors that are often considered bulletproof. As testament to this, they have significantly fewer recalls historically than Mercury or Yamaha. The downside is that you might have a hard time finding a dealer.
Can You Put a Brand Besides Mercury or Honda on a Lund?
Mercury has somewhat exclusive partnerships with several brands. For example, Lund boats. For several years, Mercury was the only brand that Lund would put on their boats. Recently, they’ve also offered Honda as an option. However, you’re perfectly capable of putting a Yamaha, Evinrude, or Suzuki on your Lund–you just need to find a dealer who will do it. You have two options. Find a dealer who sells Lund boats as well as the engine you want, or order a boat from Lund without the motor and have it rigged at the dealer of your choice. Who knows? Putting that Yamaha or Suzuki on it might make all the difference in resale value to the right person.
Conclusions
Again, this is my personal opinion backed up by a decade of running one, but I think Mercury outboards are good motors. Yeah, they catch a lot of grief on the internet, but much of this can be explained by the usual Ford v. Chevy syndrome. Further, you have to remember that if you’re one of the top dogs in terms of market share, as Mercury Marine is, you’re going to be selling a lot of outboards to people just starting off. I know I made dumb mistakes when I was learning and I’m sure others have too. Errors in maintenance and break-in due to the novice nature of much of the clientele could easily explain some of the issues.
While I spent the first few years of owning my boat scared that I made the wrong choice by buying a Merc, time marched on and proved me wrong. My 115 HP 4-stroke Mercury motor has been a rock for me just as soon as I stopped being a numpty and started tightening its battery properly!
Thanks,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
Gheenoe Comparison – Which Model is Right for You?
As I mentioned in an earlier article, I own a Gheenoe LT10. I think it’s a great boat and one that I’d definitely recommend to parents, or folks who just want a good skiff for smaller water bodies. With that said, it’s just one of six different Gheenoes currently offered by both gheenoe.net and customgheenoe.com. The point of this article is to help you choose which one of these six models is best for you.
The Different Gheenoes at a Glance
As of writing, there are six different models of Gheenoe you can choose from (at least that have information available on the main Gheenoe website). While there were other models available in the past, it appears that these are what you can buy new today:
- 13′ Model Gheenoe
- 15’4 Model Gheenoe
- 15’6″ Classic Gheenoe
- 16′ Super
- LT10
- LT25
At a glance, here is how they compare:
| Gheenoe Model | Length | Beam | Weight | Capacity | HP Rating | Transom |
| 13′ | 13′ | 3′ 8″ | 145lbs | 412lbs | 5 HP | 15″ |
| 15’4 | 15′ 4″ | 3′ 8″ | 145lbs* | 675lbs | 10 HP | 15″ |
| 15’6 Classic | 15′ 6″ | 4′ 7″ | 245lbs | 530lbs | 25 HP | 15″ |
| 16′ Super | 16′ | 4′ 7″ | 350lbs | 650lbs | 40 HP | 20″ |
| LT10 | 15′ 10″ | 3′ 9″ | 190lbs | 300lbs | 10 HP | 16″ |
| LT25 | 16′ | 4′ 8″ | 270lbs | unlisted (3 persons) | 25 HP | 16″ |
The various Gheenoe all have their pros and cons. Here’s a few thoughts on each of them to help you decide which to choose.
13′ Gheenoe
At just 145lbs and 13′ long, the smallest Gheenoe is going to be your best bet if you need to cartop. While 145lbs spread across 13′ is awkward, at least it’s doable.
A nice thing about this model is that it has a wider stern compared to the 15′ 4″ version. Folks on various forums have mentioned that this makes it easier to stand in. Given that one of the main reasons you might be looking at a Gheenoe is its stability, this is probably a plus.
The 13′ also has a front seat positioned more rearward than the 15′ 4″ model. This is going to allow a bit more legroom for someone sitting up front, if that’s a consideration. You’d also be able to fit more gear up there if that happens to be “your workstation.”
The downside is that you can’t use much of a motor on this, though that’s probably not what you’re looking for if you’re choosing this model.
15′ 4″ Gheenoe
The website has the 15′ 4″ Gheenoe having the same weight as the 13′ model. I’ve snooped around on the internet and can’t find anything definitive saying this isn’t true. From the layout, I suppose it could be possible. The stern is less wide than the 13′ model and folks have advised that this makes it a little less stable. This makes sense.
On Gheenoe’s website, they’re claiming folks have reported speeds of 18+ MPH with the maximum 10 HP setup. It also has a more streamlined shape than the 13′ model which is going to help one paddle.
As stated above, by the looks of the photos, the 15′ 4″ actually has less legroom for folks sitting in the front. This may or may not matter to you.
Finally, just because you have another 2′ to account for, it’s going to be tough to get this model in the back of a pickup.
15’6″ Classic Gheenoe
Once you move up to the 15’6″ Classic, you are well past a cartopper and more onto a trailable skiff boat. While all Gheenoes look like canoes, the classic starts to look like a regular boat. It is considerably wider than the 13′ or 15’4″ (4′ 7″ beam vs. 3′ 8″) and is much heavier (an extra hundred pounds).
As it it wider, it’s going to be more, more, and more of everything that makes the smaller Gheenoe great. You can use a 25 HP motor, and can fit it with pretty much any option you could think of. It really transforms into a small boat. There are front deck or bench options and in the rear many folks opt for a raised poling platform for targeting various inshore fish on flats.
16′ Super
The 16′ Super Gheenoe is so large, it can actually accommodate a center console steering model if you’d like. This makes it much more of a flats boat than a canoe. The 16′ Super is 16′ in length with a 4′ 7″ beam and is rated for a 40HP motor as well as having a capacity for 650lbs. This makes it a “true” family Gheenoe where you can actually get the wife and both kids on comfortable.
The 16′ Super Gheenoe also comes standard with many “boat” features including a front deck, livewell, and bilge pump. Frankly, if you’re looking for a flats boat, this is a great option.
LT10
The type of Gheenoe that I own is the Low Tide 10, or LT10. It’s made by a slightly different company, “Custom Gheenoe.” You can read everything I love about it in an in-depth review I wrote here, but suffice it to say, it’s my personal favorite. Marketed as “the Gheenoe you need to see before you go buy that kayak,” it truly is a great option for small lakes and ponds.
At 15′ 10″ and 190lbs, this is a small enough Gheenoe to paddle, but can also handle up to a 10HP motor. I personally prefer the layout of these to both the 13′ and 15′ 4″ options available from the main site, though your preferences may differ.
While the manufacturer claims you can car top this, that would be a bit of an ordeal if you ask me. I’d certainly recommend buying the trailer. I’d recommend this model for parents with small kids who want to take them out on smaller lakes and ponds but don’t want to break the bank.
LT25
The Low Tide 25 is the largest Gheenoe offered at customgheenoe.com. While it’s only 2″ longer than the LT10, it is much wider (56″ compared to 45″) which allows more room for storage. Its width also allows you to choose either a tiller or a center/side console option for your steering. Rated for a 25HP motor, and only being about 80lbs heavier than the LT10 that can take a motor less than half that, this thing is going to fly through the water.
The LT25 would be a great option for someone who intends to use it on the flats looking for red fish or snook as it has a very shallow draft but can also accept the sort of engine that can get you to the best fishing spots quickly.
Conclusions
Regardless of which model Gheenoe you choose, you’re going to be getting a great boat for a much better price than you could find a dedicated bass boat or multispecies vessel these days. I hope this article helped you pick which one is best for you!
Thanks,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
Gheenoe LT10: A Review of the Ultimate Family Fishing Skiff
I’m beyond excited to finally get to write about my Gheenoe LT10. I purchased this fishing skiff all the way back in 2019 but for a variety of reasons I just wasn’t able to get it out on the water much until now. All the same, before I bought it I researched gheenoes extensively because I was looking for a very specific sort of vessel and found that this hit all the buttons. Let’s talk about My Gheenoe Low Tide 10 and why I consider it the ultimate family fishing skiff!
Why I Purchased a Gheenoe LT10
As long time readers are aware, I own a Lund Impact as my main boat. While I love it, it just isn’t the appropriate boat for many situations. As I live in Connecticut and am surrounded by many small lakes and ponds, several with limited launch access, I really wanted something smaller that could get me away from shore in places like Spring Pond, for example. After doing some research, I decided I wanted to buy a Gheenoe of one type or another.
If I lived in Florida, this would be easy, as Gheenoes are a dime a dozen down there. People love them because they make great skiffs or flat boats to fish from. Unfortunately, in Connecticut I had very few options. There was one dealer in New Hampshire, and another in Virginia. Neither appear to still be dealers so I’m glad I got when the getting was good!
Because of the scarcity, I really had to just grab what the gentleman had. Luckily for me, it was a model I was very interested in, the Low Tide 10. Here’s why I love it.
Gheenoes are Renowned for Their Stability
The main reason I wanted a gheenoe was because I’d prefer to fish standing up. While you “can” do this on some kayaks and canoes, I wouldn’t recommend it. Gheenoes, however, are specifically designed to allow you to do this. Their hull design is such that it basically gets wider on the bottom enhancing stability and keeping you safe.
I can confirm in practice that this is true. My Gheenoe LT10 has a bow and aft casting deck and while I would argue you need some balance to stand there, if I’m standing in the actual base of the canoe it is perfectly stable and I really don’t have issues. Transferring around to help my son out when he has a difficult fish to unhook or got a tangle hasn’t been an issue.
My son on the other hand had no problem balancing just fine on the casting deck. This helps him get better casts out and a better view and keeps our rods far enough away from each other while we are casting. As you can see from the photo above, he doesn’t have a ton of room but at 8, he’s fine. You can appreciate why I’m not too keen about standing there, however.
Size
A Gheenoe LT10 is 15’10” long with a 3’9″ beam. It only weighs 190 pounds though distributing this across nearly sixteen feet makes it difficult to maneuver into a pond without a boat launch by yourself. Two men can easily handle it however, so when Tristan gets a little bit older I fully expect we’ll be exploring even more remote locations with this skiff.
The Gheenoe LT10 can carry 3 passengers or 300 pounds according to its safety plate. This is fine for a dad and small children such as myself which made it another appealing option for the “fishing father” in me.
A Wide Variety of Propulsion Options
The Gheenoe LT10 gives you many different options for power. When I took it out last year, I hadn’t registered it yet so I was stuck paddling. To be perfectly honest it doesn’t track as well as a normal canoe, which should be expected since it was designed for stability before speed or hydrodynamics. However, it can accommodate a 10hp motor in the stern, and it’s also possible to mount a trolling motor in the bow. This gives you the same options for boat control as a regular bass boat! To me, that made the Gheenoe LT10 a much more intriguing option than a kayak.
How Can You Customize a Gheenoe LT10?
Another great thing about these skiffs is how customizable they are. For example, here is a link to the different configurations as well as prices for a Low Tide 10 like mine. As you can see, you have multiple different options. For example, the following deck options are available:
- Low Front Deck
- Raise Front Deck (No Hatch)
- Raise Front Deck (1 Hatch)
- Rear Bench Seat
- Back Foam Boxes (Not Bench)
- Raised Rear Deck (1 hatch).
You also have several options for a center box:
- No Center Box
- Small Center Box
- Center Box Fore & Aft
- Center Box Divided
My Gheenoe LT10 is equipped with raised front and rear decks with a hatch in each, as well as what I assume is a “small center box,” though to be honest I’m not totally sure.
There are plenty of other options, including mounts for trolling motors so you can even accommodate a vaunted Minn Kota Terrova if you wished. Maybe some day!
How I Configured My Gheenoe LT10
I had to buy my Gheenoe new, but “as is” given that there just aren’t many dealers in my neck of the woods. Even so, the fact that I have an aft and bow casting deck with hatches as well as the center storage box gives me many options.
I power my Gheenoe with a simple Minn Kota trolling motor that has (I believe) about 36lb thrust. While I’m not going to win any speed races with it, this is sufficient to get going fast enough to troll spinnerbaits if I’d like. I power it with a 12v battery that I keep in the hatch right next to it. This is also where I keep my anchor. There’s a little open space in front of the hatch and I slide a few plano boxes in there. Basically, like any other tiller, I have everything I need “in my office.”
In the center waterproof box I keep my records/registration as well as life jackets and cooler. There’s a good amount of space in here and you could put a larger tackle bag in as well. I just try to cut down on what tackle I’m using on this.
At present in the front I don’t have much. I put my wheel chocks there for now. There’s another hatch so at some point if I moved to have a bow livewell, I could keep its battery there.
Do You Need to Trailer a Gheenoe LT10?
While I’ve heard that some people car top these boats, at 190 pounds, I’m not! I bought one with a trailer. I will note that it is so lightweight you want to be disciplined above using the rear tie downs even for short trips. One important consideration is that this is such a narrow beam, you might have a hard time seeing the trailer in your mirrors while you’re backing. It might not be the worst idea to buy some longer trailer posts like these just so you can see it easier while you’re backing it up. I’d also just say it’s such a lightweight boat with such a small draft that these posts or load guides are going to make your life a lot easier on retrieval.
What Upgrades Should You Get for a Gheenoe?
There’s a whole list of upgrades you can get for your Gheenoe at customgheenoe.com. If you wanted to, you could even get a live well to put on one. For me, that’s a little much. However, I’d love to get the trolling motor mount for the bow so I can put a Terrova on there one day. While the trolling motor I have works fine for propulsion, I’d really prefer an option that allows me to fish with both hands while still controlling the boat.
Another thing I’d really like to buy for my Gheenoe is a proper push pole. My Gheenoe has a 5″ draft meaning I could get it into extremely shallow water. It would be very helpful to have a push pole to silently move through there on the hunt for bass. I’d probably pick something like this telescoping push pole up from Amazon given that it can go from 6 to 12′. I like the idea of being able to minimize it and store it away when not in use.
Is a Gheenoe a Good Boat for Kids?
I think a Gheenoe is a great option if you have kids. After all, that’s why I bought it. My LT 10 is stable, easy to trailer, and has enough room to put both my kids on. My Gheenoe came with 4 rod tubes to keep them out of the way which is plenty when fishing with kids, and there are places you can put a worm cooler. If your kids are little, they can sit “in” the Gheenoe as opposed to “on” it, which is helpful.
While I’d be hesitant to take small children out on a big and busy lake in any canoe-like boat, a Gheenoe is just about perfect for the smaller lakes and ponds kids cut their teeth in. While at 190 pounds, it is fairly heavy and difficult to launch by hand, I “have” done it (with trouble) by myself. Thus, you could get this into even little known kids ponds if you needed to.
Conclusions
Hopefully this helps you out in deciding if you should buy one of these. As the summer progresses I hope to have much more to say about fishing out of a Gheeno!
Thanks all,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
An Impartial Review of the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075
I, like many of you, have a dream boat: the Lund Pro-V 2075. I am so enamored with this fishing machine that for years and years I’ve followed the gentlemen at Waconda Boats who routinely post boat walkthroughs to their YouTube page. Each year, I keep an eye out waiting for them to review the Pro-V lineup so I can see what changes were made.
I have to be honest. While many of the changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 seem great, I’m not crazy about a few others. This article is going to look at the changes for 2023 and discuss what I like, and what I don’t. One should consider this article a supplement to the thoughts I have about the Pro-V lineup in general in my Lund Impact vs. Pro-V article.
The Waconda Boats’ Video
Given that I don’t actually own a 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075, I am basing my thoughts exclusively on this video by Waconda Boats. I suggest that you watch it real quick before continuing with this article as I’m going to make many references to it, and we should be on the same page.
Changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 Sport
The following is a list of changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 Sport. I’ve included two columns. Changes I like, and changes I hate. There is no in-between!
| Changes I Like | Changes I HATE! |
| -Custom trailer comes standard now. -Port and starboard storage drawers have a better design. -Slightly reduced width gunnels allow more room. -Center storage will accommodate 9′ rods. -Console redesign. -Glove box on both consoles. -Jig hook quick storage. -Starboard bow rod quick storage. -5 Bank battery charger. -Easy access to circuit breaker and fuses. | -There is no longer a stow-away rescue ladder. -I dislike the new jump seat style. -Aft seat bases has two off center standard. |
As you can see, I like MOST of the changes, and still feel this is one hell of a boat. The problem is, the three things I dislike, I really, truly, greatly dislike – nay, we’ll call it HATE. One of them in particular (the lack of a stow-away rescue ladder) makes my stomach churn.
The Changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 That I LIKE
Let’s be optimists and talk about the changes that I like first, as there are many, and they are far more numerous than the changes I hate.
Custom Trailer Is Now Standard
It seems that the diamond plate custom trailer is now standard. I suppose this makes sense given this is a high-class item. You’ll still need to pay more to upgrade to a galvanized version, which honestly is probably a pretty good idea if you live near the ocean or even trailer it on roads that may have a lot of salt.
Redesigned storage drawers
From the video above, they made a change to the way the cockpit storage drawers open on the port and starboard side. Rather than pulling out they tilt out. This was done because those folks who kept a bimini top in the boat would sometimes have trouble pulling these drawers out without it catching. If you’re someone who used to curse the old design, you should be pleased with this change. Per the video, the overall storage size hasn’t changed – it is just accessed in a different way now.
Reduced Gunnel Width
Apparently the gunnels are slightly narrower in the cockpit, which allows passengers fishing behind the captain’s chair to have more arm and leg room. This should allow a more comfortable fishing experience from the seat. I could imagine jigging for lake trout here would be that much more enjoyable.
Larger Center Rod Box
Whereas the 2022 Lund Pro-V 2075 could only accommodate 8′ rods, the 2023 can handle 9′ rods in the center storage. This won’t matter too much to many fishermen, but for those of you who love to troll, you will really like this.
Console Redesign
The starboard console has been redesigned with the idea of making it flatter and easier to accommodate multiple large graphs. I suppose if you’re the sort of guy who has the cash for one of these boats, you’ve got the cash for multiple graphs as well.
Additional Glove Box
The starboard console now has a (small) glove box of its own. While there’s been a place to put a cell phone or such for a few years now, it’s been exposed to the elements. Being able to lock it away out of the sun and rain is a good thing, so I like this small touch.
Jig Hook Quick Storage
As you can see at 9:37 of the video above, the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 comes with a handy jig holder. Placed right behind your throttles, this is meant to be a place you can hook a spinnerbait or jig safely and out of the way when you aren’t using it. It’s a neat little option that would do wonders for me as I currently have half a dozen lures lying on my console for the same reason! While I would be concerned to use it with any lure with treble hooks, I do think it would work great for jigs and spinnerbaits and keep your boat tidy and organized.
Starboard On-the-Go Bow Rod Storage
If you forgo the bow bait well, you’ll notice that there’s an option now where a few rod tubes are in the starboard console up by the bow. This allows you to place a few rods securely up front while moving from one area to another. While I just do this by leaning them against the gunnel on my Impact, I do sometimes worry about this especially if it’s wavy out. Having dedicated rod tubes would eliminate this worry, so I think it’s a great idea. I also have never really seen the point of the bait well when you have a bow livewell sitting right next to it that can hold a bait bucket, but to each their own. The rod tubes should be a much more useful option for the way I fish.
5-Bank Charger
The 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 comes factory rigged with the option for a 5-bank charger. In the past, you’d have to use two chargers (a 2-bank and 3-bank) which was two things you’d have to plug in. Having it all connected to one just simplifies things and is, in my opinion, a good idea.
Easy Access to Circuit Breakers and Fuses
Perhaps my favorite tweak is the simplest: Lund finally made it easy to access your circuit breakers and fuses. Trying to get to these on my Impact makes me feel like a contortionist. Simply having a door that opens up right to them in the starboard console is a “fantabulous” idea.
The Changes I HATE About the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075
While there are relatively few changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 that I hate compared to changes I like, they are doozies. In my opinion, one of them absolutely kills one of the coolest things about this boat and I think it’s just such a shame that Lund went the way they did.
The Stow-Away Rescue Ladder Is No More
Of all the changes that Lund made to their 2023 Pro-V lineup, the one that I hate more than anything is the removal of the stow-away rescue ladder. For years, there was a rescue ladder that would store inside the port gunnel on the stern. While the ladder itself was somewhat flimsy and reported as being fairly difficult for a hefty or elderly person to use, it allowed the Pro-V to be the absolutely most versatile multispecies boat on the planet.
The reason I make this claim is the rescue ladder used to allow one to have both a kicker motor and a Minn Kota talon or other shallow water anchor. This meant that the Pro-V was capable of being a boat that could do absolutely anything. You could troll for lakers with your kicker one hour and then lock onto a bass bed with your talon the next. You could have the safety and peace of mind of a second motor and the enhanced boat control of the Talon. There was no other boat on the market that I am aware of that allowed for this, and it made the Pro-V second to none.
Now, one has to choose. You cannot put both a talon and a kicker onto a 2023 Lund Pro-V. To me, that’s a kick in the gut. I have long had this fear of the number 23 and it just figures Lund would pull something like this in 2023! While I’m not aware of the rationale, I am disappointed for sure.
Double Aft Seat Bases are Standard
Another major disappointment is that it seems that the aft seat bases in the video above are standard. Meaning, there are two on the aft casting deck. One more to port, and one more to starboard. Now, some guys might absolutely love this. If you vertical jig frequently, this is probably an awesome way to do it with friends. But for me, this means that my father would have a tough time casting towards one side of the boat. He can’t fish standing any more so he has to sit. I would have much preferred if he was centered.
If I’m wrong and this is just an option, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll update the post. Near as I can tell from Lund’s boat builder, it is unfortunately standard. To me, it makes what I want to do with the boat more difficult, and adds another hole to plug. Note: if you do need to plug a seat base hole, this is a good option assuming it fits your model.
The Aft Jump Seats Have Changed, and Not Necessarily for the Better
In 2022 the Pro-V lineup still had flip up aft seating, and in fact it was a three part system. This was a versatile setup as you could leave a seat up on one side while having casting deck (or livewell access) on the other. Now, Lund has moved to the jump seat configuration they’ve had on the Impact XS 2025 for awhile now. While this isn’t the end of the world, I prefer the other set up as I enjoy having a flip up casting deck on my 2012 Lund Impact 1875. I personally like having a large casting deck to work with and the current configuration makes it smaller.
The Verdict? The Pro-V is Still the Best – But Not as Versatile As Before
Look, a lot of you are going to read this and think I’m nuts for having any complaints at all. There are a myriad of changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V and many of them are clearly awesome. I do think they’ve made this boat more user-friendly and have addressed many issues that people have had with past models. You can’t argue with longer rod storage, better ergonomics, and thoughtful access to fuses. If you have the coin to drop on one of these, you’re going to like your purchase and will have arguable the greatest aluminum boat on the market.
Having said that, you simply can’t tell me that the 2023 Pro-V is more versatile than the 2022. It simply isn’t. No longer having the option of easily adding talons and a kicker is a big deal to a true multispecies experience. Lund has taken the only boat on the market that could do that, and turned it into just another one of hundreds that can’t. That’s a shame.
Likewise, I am not a fan of the entire aft setup in general. I dislike the jump seats and the flip up option on past Pro-V models was a huge selling point for me over the Impact XS 2025. Also, while I get the seat bases might be well liked by folks who jig often, it just doesn’t work for my setup.
Frankly, if Lund would create Pro-V version that had the stern of a 2022 and the cockpit and bow of a 2023, they’d have the perfect boat! Here’s to dreaming!
Thanks for reading,
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
Bass Boat vs. Deep V – The Ultimate Comparison
When I was a kid, I used to sit and sift through fishing catalogues dreaming of one day owning a shiny new bass boat, but by the time I could afford one, I chose to buy a deep v boat instead. Each have their pros and cons, but ultimately, I decided that a deep v was the better family fishing boat while a bass boat would have been preferable if I fished many tournaments. Since I planned on growing a family soon, my choice was obvious. If you too are wrestling with the choice of buying a bass boat vs. a Deep V fishing boat, read on. Perhaps my experiences and research will be some help to you!
What’s the Difference Between a Bass Boat and a Deep V?
The difference between a bass boat and a deep v fishing boat is essentially the fishing boat equivalent of the difference between a sports car and a work truck. A bass boat sits low to the water, is exceptionally fast, and is built for one thing (bass fishing). A deep v, on the other hand, has much higher sides which makes it slower, but also more comfortable for passengers, and better able to target multiple species. Indeed, that’s why deep v fishing boats are often called “multi-species fishing boats.”
The Design of a Bass Boat vs. a Deep V
Bass boats and deep v, or multi-species boats, have very different design characteristics. Bass boats sit low to the water and one fishes “on” a bass boat. Deep v or multi-species boats have relatively high sides or gunwals, meaning anglers fish “in” such boats. Bass boats are designed for speed while deep v’s are designed for stability and a drier ride in waves.
Bass Boats
Always remember that bass boats are designed with three key “S’s” in mind: Storage, Speed, and fishing in the Shallows. These three things are critical wants of the audience bass boats are mainly targeted to: tournament fishermen. A bass boat is designed to carry all the gear a tournament fisherman can carry, at speeds exceeding 70 mph to any corner on the lake a bass might live in, including shallow water.
To achieve these goals, bass boats sit low to the water so as little wind as possible will touch the boat, and are designed so that, on plane, as little of the hull as possible is touching the water. When coupled with the monster 250-horsepower engines typical of the type, it’s no surprise that they can reach blazing speeds.
This design also has the effect of allowing bass boats to have very shallow drafts, meaning that they can go into very shallow water. This is handy around spawn time as bass and other species tend to spawn in the shallows.
Deep V / Multispecies Boats
In contrast to the specialized bass boat, deep v’s are designed to catch every boat in the lake. While they can’t go into as shallow water or reach the same speeds as a bass boat, they can go into higher waves with much more confidence. As a consequence, deep v fishing boats are far and away the preferred model for walleye, trout, and salmon fishermen.
Because one sits “in” a deep v boat, it’s going to provide a much drier ride than your typical bass boat in rough waters. This is enhanced by the fact that its v-shaped hull is designed to cut through higher waves. Many deep v boats are also designed to have a full windshield. This is a blessing and a curse on a windy day. While it can help keep you dry, it also makes boat control challenging as it acts like a sail. As a result, backtrolling is quite popular (literally, going backwards while trolling) on windy days because it’s much easier to go slow and methodically this way in a deep v.
Pros and Cons Between Bass Boats and Deep V Fishing Boats
As I have experience fishing out of both style boats, I’ll go ahead and list what I consider the pros and cons of each. I’ll dive into some of the less obvious in more detail below, but at a glance:
Bass Boat Pros and Cons
| Bass Boat Pros | Bass Boat Cons |
| -Speed. 60 mph is nearly standard with 70 mph + available on many top models. -Huge storage compartments that can fit anything you need. -Bass boats can get into very shallow water compared to deep v boats. -Lower gunwales means a bass boat won’t catch wind as easily as a deep v boat. -Normally fiberglass, which means they’re stealthier -Can easily accommodate any shallow water anchor system you like. -Jack plates can enhance performance. -Easier to make different types of casts (pitching and flipping) given lower gunwales. -You can use whatever trolling motor you’d like, including cable driven ones, on pretty much any bass boat. | -Not as safe for children given they are “on” the boat as opposed to “in” the boat. -Difficult to fish more than two people or three in a pinch. -Challenging to use for family activities such as water sports. -Limited storage for tubes or water skis. -Can provide a very wet ride when driving in larger waves. -Not intended for very large bodies of water or very rough seas as they handle poorly in high waves. -Can be difficult to find in certain (mostly northern) areas. -Not designed for trolling. -Difficult to mount accessories such as rod holders or downriggers to the boat without damaging it. |
Essentially, the pros of a bass boat vs. a deep v is that the bass boat is going to make bass fishing significantly easier. Not only can you fish more waters that bass frequent, but you can fish them more effectively. Here are a few ways:
Casting
You may not appreciate how much better you can cast from a bass boat vs. a deep v, but it is remarkable. First, a bass boat’s lower gunwales makes techniques such as pitching and flipping much easier. Secondly, you can cast your lure on a lower arc towards the water, which makes it easier to achieve a soft entry without a huge splash that could spook fish. If you’re fishing in clear water or with wary bass, this could be a very big deal.
Great Choices in Shallow Water Anchors and Trolling Motors
You tend to have more options in terms of rigging a bass boat with shallow water anchors and trolling motors vs. a deep v fishing boat. This is because bass boats are designed with the idea that people are going to want to install a jack plate which allows easier installation of a Power Pole shallow water anchor. It’s very rare to see a deep v running one of these as most use a Minn Kota Talon instead. There’s nothing “wrong” with that, but if you prefer the hydraulic Power Pole you might want to purchase a bass boat.
Likewise, it’s pretty rare to see a deep v boat running a cable-driven trolling motor like a Minn Kota Fortrex. Many deep v’s simply lack the space necessary on the bow to place one whereas they fit much more easily on a bass boat. Some people place a huge premium on cable driven trolling motors so this too could be a huge consideration.
Deep V / Multispecies Fishing Boat Pros and Cons
| Deep V / Multispecies Pros | Deep V / Multispecies Cons |
| -Much drier ride than bass boats in wavy conditions, especially if equipped with a full windshield. -Deep v’s are designed for bigger water than bass boats, so they can handle waves better. -Cuts through waves allowing one to go faster in rough conditions. -Great for trolling. -Can easily mount accessories such as downriggers or rod holders to the boat, often without putting holes in it. -Can fit the whole family plus the dog and everyone has a seat. -Great for watersports and other activities your family wants to do besides fishing. -The higher gunwales are safer for small children and the elderly. -Easier to convince the wife to buy as it is a far more practical option for a family. -Can mount a kicker motor which aides in trolling and also provides a measure of safety. -Far better for guiding. | -Cannot access as shallow of water as a bass boat. -On average, will be significantly slower than most bass boats, sometimes significantly so. -Depending on the model, may be limited in what types of trolling motors you can purchase depending on space in bow. -High gunwales will catch the wind making boat control difficult. This is exacerbated if the boat has a full walk through windshield. -The more affordable deep v models don’t tend to have the same storage capacity of a bass boat. -Larger models may require a larger towing vehicle, especially if fiberglass. -Can be challenging to mount PowerPoles to many deep v boats as jack plates aren’t as common. Thus, most deep v’s are going to run Talons. -Can be harder to tow on a windy day for the same reason boat control is more difficult. -It can be difficult to find a deep v in many (usually southern) states. |
While many of the pros of a deep v vs. a bass boat are well-known, here are a few you may not have thought of.
Easier to Add Kicker Motors
A kicker motor is a small (usually 9.9 – 15 horsepower) motor that is used for trolling as well as a backup in case the main motor dies. If you enjoy trolling or even just want peace of mind, it is a great option to have. Frankly, I don’t think it’s even possible to add these to many bass boats, as the shape of their stern and transom is often designed in such a way to accommodate jack plates and various shallow water anchors and wouldn’t easily take to these even if you wanted to.
Can Easily add Downriggers
It is also easier to add downriggers to a deep v vs. a bass boat. First of all, most aluminum deep v’s these days have some sort of accessory track system that runs along their gunwale so you don’t even need to put a hole in the boat to add these (for example, Lund’s Sport Track system as seen below).
Even if you did need to drill holes in your boat to put downriggers, it wouldn’t kill the resale value on a deep v the way it would on a bass boat because the next guy would probably want them. If you drilled holes for downriggers on a bass boat you’d be sure to get some raised eyebrows and stares.
Guiding
Remember at the beginning of this article how I compared a bass boat to a sports car and a deep v to a work truck? I meant that very literally. While a bass boat can make you money in a tournament (where you could also lose your entry fee, mind you), a deep v can make you consistent money every day if you use it to guide others. Deep v’s are far superior vessels for charter captains or other guides than bass boats due to their enhanced comfort, safety, and room for clients. A bass boat really isn’t designed for more than two people. Three is a crowd and four is a safety risk. Given the guide needs to be on the boat with his or her clients, that’s really going to put a damper on things.
Pricing
Pricing has gotten ridiculous on all boats if you ask me. I bought my (at the time) brand new Lund Impact 1875 Sport for $27,000 out the door in 2013. Today as of writing, Lund wants over $43,000 for the same boat and motor. Lund’s smallest deep v boat, the Adventure, is being listed for about what I paid for my larger Impact just 10 years ago.
Granted, Lund is one of the more expensive brands, but even value brand Tracker is asking $23,000 for their most basic deep v offering, and that boat is so small it really doesn’t get you the best elements of a deep v.
As for bass boats? They too are pricey. Just doing apples to apples here, but a Ranger Z518 bass boat (read: 150 horsepower equipped, “mid line” – so comparable to what the Impact represents for Lund) is being listed at nearly $53,000. Their Z185 is listed at nearly $43,000. Meanwhile, Tracker’s nearly base offering Pro 170 is listed at a hair over $18,000.
Buying a Used Bass Boat vs. Deep V
Depending on where you live in the country, you might not have the option of buying a used bass boat vs. deep v, or vice versa. Or, at least you won’t have many options. Deep v’s are a specialized boat that are easy to find across the Midwest but much more challenging to find in the deep south or even New England. If you don’t believe me, go over to walleyecentral’s classified ads and check out where they’re selling. You won’t find that many in certain areas.
It’s not quite as hard to find bass boats in the Midwest though I’d imagine in certain states it could be a challenge. Certainly, you won’t have nearly as many options as you would in, say, Florida.
If you can find a used bass boat or deep v, it doesn’t necessarily mean the deal is going to be spectacular. Used boat prices have increased over the past few years to a point where one really needs to consider if it isn’t worth going new. While used boats are still a savings, you have to contend with not knowing how the prior owner treated it. It’s doubtful you’re going to have the same familiarity with boats as you would with cars, so you might want to take a certified boat mechanic along with you to check out whatever you intend to purchase.
What is the Better Family Boat?
I would emphatically argue that a deep v style boat is a much better “family” boat than a bass boat. First of all, a deep v can actually fit your family in it. While many bass boats are “rated” for more than 3 passengers, that’s as many safe seats as they have! What good is that when you want to take the wife, three kids and grandma along for a ride?
Pretty much every deep v fishing boat out there is going to have at least 4 seats, but even 16′ boats nowadays mostly come with an “aft flip up seating” option. This means most deep v’s are going to have 6 actual seats for passengers before you get creative. Now, would I recommend casting with this many seats or people in the boat? No. But that doesn’t mean you can’t vertical jig for lake trout or take the kids trolling for pickerel.
Likewise, many deep v’s are designed with the thought that they might be used for watersports such as waterskiing or pulling tubes. While you “can” do this with a bass boat, there’s not exactly a ton of space for either of these items plus your passengers. I can’t even imagine trying to race down a lake with a giant donut tube sitting on top of a bass boat, but it’s no big deal behind a full windshield.
Basically, a deep v lets a family easily do everything a family wants to do with a boat. They’re easy enough to fish out of, they’re great for watersports, and they have an actual seat for everyone. Clearly, a deep v is a better family boat than a bass boat.
Deep V’s are Safer Than Bass Boats
In addition to the above, it should also be noted that deep v boats are safer family boats than bass boats. They don’t go as fast, which makes collisions less likely. If something does happen, there’s a better chance you or your kids won’t be thrown out of the boat given its higher sides. They’re easier for others to see and thus avoid, and they’re designed with big water in mind. While you still want to pick your days, you have a much better chance of getting home safe from a storm in a deep v as a novice than you would in a bass boat.
Finally, because they have higher gunwales, your kids (and you) are much less likely to fall out of one of these boats. All it takes to fall out of a bass boat is to step to the side! At least with a deep v, you have a wall to hold you in.
What is the Better Tournament Boat?
In short, it depends on what sort of tournament you’re fishing (bass or walleye). With that said, if you’re googling this, chances are you want to know what boat is best for bass tournaments. Clearly, a bass boat is going to be a better choice for a bass fishing tournament than a deep v. There are several reasons for this, and they come back to the three S’s I mentioned earlier.
Speed
If you’re serious about bass fishing tournaments, you need to be serious about speed. For one thing, the old maxim “time is money” rings true. The faster you can get to your fishing spot, the more time you have to connect with fish to win a tournament. Further, if you can go faster than the next guy, you can get to “your” spot first, claiming it.
While some very pricey deep v’s are pushing the 60 mph range, it’s far more common to top out around 40 – 50 mph or less. Since even the more basic 150-horsepower equipped bass boats are besting 60 mph, and the top of the line 250-horsepower tournament rigs are more or less standard at 70 mph, this is a huge advantage.
Storage
Bass boats are renowned for their storage. While some extremely expensive deep v’s like the Lund Pro-V lineup can probably best them, any old average bass boat is basically a floating storage compartment. This is a big deal if you’re fishing one of the bigger tournament trails that might have you far from home for weeks at a time. Not only can the pros fit all their tackle in their bass boats, many also even have room for luxuries such as spare trolling motors!
Shallow Water Handling
If you want to win a bass fishing tournament, you need to go where the fish are. If they’re in very skinny water, a bass boat is going to get you where a deep v simply can’t reach.
Best Bass Boat Brands
There are a number of great bass boat brands, but most folks would probably argue that Ranger, Skeeter, and Triton are among the top tier that are widely available. There was a time when Ranger was considered the undisputed king, though a change in ownership has led to some grumbling. Time will tell if it is warranted.
Tracker is a value brand bass boat that gets, frankly, horrible reviews online. I’m not 100% sure how much of this is truly deserved. Here’s my theory. As it is so inexpensive, this is a brand that is frequently going to be the first boat someone buys. Being new to boating brings with it oh so many opportunities to do something remarkably stupid. I often wonder just how many of the horror stories out there about this boat are really due to something dumb someone has done.
Now, is the fit and finish of a Tracker going to be the same as Ranger? Goodness no. But fit and finish isn’t why these are getting the poor reviews. It’s worth researching, but I wouldn’t write the whole brand off, especially when you can find so many of them used.
Best Deep V / Multispecies Brands
While there are a number of great deep v / multispecies brands out there, my personal opinion is that two of the best are Lund and Alumacraft. I like these two brands because they have a huge range of offerings for every price point and desire. I wrote an extensive article comparing the two once which you can find here. While it is a few years old now, and there are new models, it’s still a good resource to see the difference between the brands (especially if you’re going to buy used).
In terms of value brands, Tracker makes a number of deep v style boats as well, and these get the same negative press that their bass boats do. Again, I’m not certain how much of this is truly deserved, and how much of it comes from often being the first boat someone buys.
The Best of Both Worlds: The Lund Pro-V Bass
A few years ago, Lund came out with what may just be the best of both worlds: the Pro-V Bass. While these are ostensibly bass boats, they feature a modified v-shaped hull that is designed to handle rough water better than most “true” bass boats out on the water. While you will sacrifice several of the advantages a true deep v fishing boat has over a true bass boat, you will get better rough water performance and actual seating for up to 4 adults. The Pro-V Bass is not going to be the fastest bass boat out there but it is an aluminum rig that may just prove more versatile in the different weather conditions you might find on the tournament trail.
Bass Boat Pros vs. Deep V in a Nutshell
To put it simply, bass boats are designed to do one thing (fish for bass) and they do it really, really well. Deep v’s are designed to do many things, and to do them very well. All the same, they aren’t going to be able to keep up with a bass boat (literally or figuratively) when competing in the area those boats specialize.
When evaluating a bass boat vs. a deep v to consider which is best for you, ask yourself the following:
- How many people are going to be on it usually?
- What are they going to want to do (fish all the time vs. fish and ski)?
- How old are they / how likely are they to fall into the water?
- What type of fishing do you plan to do? Casting? Trolling?
If you’re buying a boat exclusively for you and maybe a friend and want to fish primarily for bass, then a bass boat is your best option. But, if you’re looking for a great boat for family fun that is safe, comfortable, and versatile, a deep v is the better choice.
I hope this helped you pick out a great boat for your family!
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
The New and Improved Minn Kota Terrova: A Review
My 2022 fishing season was nearly over as soon as it began. My ten-year-old Minn Kota Terrova died on me on the first trip out. This was purely unacceptable and a replacement had to be found. Unfortunately, the chip shortage and shipping issues that plagued us earlier in the year gave me quite the fright as I wasn’t able to source one easily.
Luckily, I was able to find one in my not-even-close-to-nearest Cabela’s, and after several hours in the car, I had a replacement ready to go. I opted for the exact same model, not wanting to mess around with anything different. I was also hoping that this would make installation much easier. While that wasn’t quite the case, I am happy to report that EVERY last little thing that annoyed me about my old Terrova was fixed in the new one I bought. Let’s check out some of the improvements.
The New Minn Kota Terrova: Boat Control Made Even Better
Alright, so I’ll admit, I use the phrase, “new” with liberty. I honestly have no idea at which point in the past 10 years these features were added. Still, if you were one of the early adopters of the Minn Kota Terrova, and now find yourself needing to replace an early model as I did, you’re going to have a huge smile on your face.
One of my biggest complaints about the spot lock function is that it takes a few moments to get settled in. This isn’t the worst thing in the world the first time you use it, but on my older model, every time I wanted to make an adjustment I’d have to deal with the boat tracking wildly for a few moments before it settled in.
This isn’t an issue with the new models. They come with a “heading sensor” (the little white thing in the photo below).
The heading sensor talks to the trolling motor and tells it which way your bow is facing. This does two things:
- It calms the trolling motor down.
- It enables you to make minor adjustments.
Calming the Beast
The heading sensor’s main benefit is that it allows your boat to come to a controlled stop FAR quicker than old models. Because the Minn Kota Terrova can now tell which way you’re headed, it knows if it really needs to make an adjustment or not. I’ve noticed a significant improvement over the older model.
Minor Adjustments
The heading sensor also allows you to make minor adjustments while in spot lock. Before, if you wanted to move you’d have to take yourself out of spot lock, move elsewhere, and then hit spot lock again. This meant going through the whole adjustment period every time. One of the features I love more than anything else about the new Terrovas is that you can make minor adjustments. There are now four buttons that allow you to move your boat five feet forward, backward, left or right. Each time you press the button, your trolling motor will take you this distance in the direction you choose. If you press it multiple times, it will move you further along (10, 15 feet, etc.)
This is an amazingly cool feature for this trolling motor that fixed one of my main complaints with the old model and made it that much easier to use. If you buy a Minn Kota Terrova you MUST install the heading sensor. It is a true game changer.
Integrated Sonar Transducer
Modern Minn Kota Terrova trolling motors come with two options for a transducer mounted within them. The first is Universal Sonar 2, and the second is Mega Down Imaging. I was in a bind and took the first thing I could find as I was terrified of spending the year without a trolling motor. Accordingly, I got the Universal Sonar option. It works well enough when paired with my Humminbird, though if I mounted its specific transducer to it, I’d get more options. I haven’t bothered because I don’t want to mess with the install and Universal Sonar 2 fits my purposes fine.
Thinking back to the install I did on my old trolling motor, the fact that these come prepared with a transducer ready to go is a blessing. Not everyone is that handy, and it took me a few hours and a six pack to get up and operational. If you’re more of a weekend boater and rely on the marina for your installs, the Universal Sonar or Mega Down Imaging may work very well for you too.
Improved Foot Pedal for the Minn Kota Terrova
I used to hate how my old Terrova foot pedal didn’t have a button for Spot Lock. As you can see below, they have fixed this. This makes it so much easier than fumbling for the remote. Further, you can use spot lock even if the remote runs out of batteries. This keeps things hands free and enhances fishing. It was a great add by Minn Kota.
Even so, you will want to keep your remote as some features require it. For example, you need the remote to use the function where you can move five feet at a time.
Installation of the New Minn Kota Terrova
I’m not the handiest person, but I try. A major factor in buying another Terrova rather than trying an Ultrex was to make installation simple. I had hoped that it would be as simple as popping off the old one, and installing the new one in the same holes. This works for some holes. Unfortunately, it is not a perfect fit, so make sure you have a drill. I believe I had to drill two new holes to get it to fit.
You’ll also want to make sure you have some wire strippers and shrink wrap as you’ll need to install a new plug. This is a quick enough job if you realize you’ll need to do it, but make sure you have the parts.
If you’re as clumsy as me, you’ll be relieved to note that if you cut your Universal Sonar 2 sonar cable ony our very first trip, it’s easy to fix. First, pop off the head of the unit with a screwdriver. Then unscrew the old one and screw the new one in.
Conclusion – The Minn Kota Terrova Remains the Best Thing On My Boat
If you haven’t tried one of these trolling motors, you owe yourself to. Yes, there are some other options like the Ultrex which I compared in this post, but the Terrova is reliable and battle tested. Heck, my first one lasted a decade of heavy use before I had to replace it.
As long as we don’t have chip shortages or shipping issues in the future, you can pick up a Minn Kota Terrova wherever trolling motors are sold. While I had to have mine and drove a few hours to get it before they ran out of stock, I would have much preferred to let Amazon do all the heavy lifting. What are you waiting for? Buy one now!
In all seriousness, click on that link and buy it now if you see it in stock… As of writing, Minn Kota is still showing supply chain issues on their website. You do NOT want to go a season without a trolling motor!
Thanks,
John Paxton
Mini Pontoon Boats: Small Vessel, Huge Possibilities
Once in awhile the internet shows you something truly cool. I was researching an article to figure out the best small boats for families when I stumbled across mini pontoon boats. I had never heard of these before, but after doing some research on them, it became clear that they deserved an article all of their own.
Mini pontoon boats just might be the perfect small fishing boat for a family. While there are other great options out there like Gheenoes and even the simple row boat, a tiny pontoon boat is going to let you take your kid out with no concerns whatsoever of tipping (assuming you aren’t crazy as to when you take it out).
In this article I’ll discuss why these small pontoon boats offer such huge value. I’ll share some stats among some common models, talk about how much they cost, and discuss their versatility. After reading, I think you’ll share my opinion that these mini aluminum pontoon boats are worth significant consideration when you choose your next budget family fishing boat. If you’re handy, some manufacturers even offer mini pontoon kits for you to build on your own!
Why Buy a Mini Pontoon Fishing Boat?
People buy mini aluminum pontoon boats for a variety of reasons. Some have small farm ponds that they want an affordable boat to toot around on. Others use them for maintaining waterbodies (they provide a stable, dry platform for work on a fountain for example). Some municipalities also favor them for search and rescue operations as there’s room for a driver, diver, and rescued person.
While all of those are great reasons to buy a tiny pontoon boat, if you’re reading this article, you probably want to use one of these little pontoon boats for fishing. I’d wager if you’re a regular of the blog, you probably want to take your kids out on them too. If you’re looking for a small, affordable fishing boat to take kids on, these are definitely worth a closer look. To understand why, let’s consider your other options.
A Look at Other Small Boats
Miniature pontoon boats aren’t your only small boat options. You can also consider rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and gheenoes. Each has their advantages and disadvantages that I’ll explore.
Advantages vs. Rowboats
Having fished off of many rowboats in my day, I can tell you two right now that they have two significant disadvantages when compared to pontoon boats: they are difficult to move around in, and noisy when you do.
While you can find rowboats that are relatively stable (especially larger ones), it’s tough to find one that is easy to move around in. Most rowboats have a few rows of bench seats and their floor doubles as their hull. This means that the floor is angled, often ribbed, and not that easy to walk on. When you do attempt to walk on a rowboat, it tends to be very noisy, and all of that noise goes directly into the water as, again, you’re stomping on the hull.
A pontoon boat, in contrast, is probably the easiest boat to walk around on that’s known to man. You’re basically walking on a flat rectangular surface. If you’re careful, you can walk quietly and get to whatever you need to access much easier in a tiny pontoon boat than in a rowboat.
Do Rowboats Have Any Advantages over Mini Pontoon Boats?
The one place a rowboat is probably going to beat a mini pontoon boat is price. Rowboats can be purchased used on Craigslist very cheaply. They’re unsightly and take up a lot of space. Once people want them gone, they’ll often list them very low. Just act fast!
Tiny Pontoon Boat vs. Canoe
Canoes take all of the disadvantages of rowboats vs. mini pontoon boats and amplify them, in my mind. It’s dangerous to attempt to stand and walk in any canoe, as they can tip easily. Even if you could, where would you go? A canoe places you in one spot to fish from regardless of what is necessary.
Again, all the reasons that make these small pontoon boats great compared to rowboats are going to apply two fold against canoes. Mini pontoon boats offer more space and a better fishing platform by far.
Mini Aluminum Pontoon Boat Advantages of Canoes
Canoe advantages over mini pontoon boats are going to be two fold. First, they too can be had very inexpensively. Even a brand new (basic model) canoe will be less expensive than the most affordable miniature pontoon boat, but there’s a great chance one can find one for cheap used, as with rowboats.
A canoe’s second advantage over a mini aluminum pontoon boat is going to be its stealth and ability to get into skinny water. A canoe will weigh much less and present a significantly lower profile. While it’s possible to use a push pole with a mini pontoon, the canoe is going to be easier to use in situations where stealthy presentations in shallow water are key.
Mini Pontoon Boat Kits
Some manufacturers offer mini pontoon boat kits so you can build your own. For example, Pond King offers a 4×8′ mini pontoon boat kit in four stages of assembly. This can be yours for as little as $1,199 if you’re handy, or you can have them do most of the assembly and get into this for $2,199. These aren’t bad prices at all for a boat that’ll carry 650lbs.
If you own a small pond and are buying one of these mini pontoon boat kits for that, you also have to factor in the savings you would have spent on a trailer. There’s no reason you can’t build one of these right next to the water and launch it there, which makes this an even more affordable option. The Pond King Rebel has quick connects on it that allow you to easily build it right next to the shore, which might be a good option if you don’t have a trailer. Their other modular options are going to require tools, though if you own the pond at least, you can still build it outside.
Finally, mini pontoon kits are just a great way to spend some time with your kids. If you invest in one of these, for years you’ll hear your kids talk about “the boat WE built” with pride. The low cost of ownership, ability to build it “on site,” and the pride of building it yourself makes these mini pontoon boat kits by Pond King a great deal.
Photo provided with permission of www.pondking.com
Best Mini Pontoon Boats
Which mini pontoon boat is best for you will depend on your circumstances. If you’re looking for a true mini aluminum pontoon boat, it’s hard to argue with Pond King products as they offer boats that are indisputably tiny. Some of their competitors small pontoon boats are arguably “real” pontoon boats. That can work if you just want one to fit in your garage but if you have a specific application (like using it in your own farm pond), they might be too big.
I’ve gone ahead and researched how much these mini pontoon boats cost for you as well as some basic stats. Here’s what I was able to find. Bear in mind that when it comes to price this is usually a starting value. All of these tiny pontoon boats come with multiple add on options that are going to increase the price (and usually enhance the experience).
Note that there’s no precise definition for what constitutes a “mini pontoon boat.” I decided that 12′ deck length would be my limit. Anything over that and I’m hard pressed to call it tiny any more. Maybe someday I’ll write an article about slightly larger ones (what would you even call that? “Miniature small pontoon boats?) but for now, I had to draw the line somewhere!
| Manufacturer/Name | Deck Dimensions and Weight | Person Capacity / Weight Capacity | Price (where available) | My Thoughts |
| Pond King Rebel Modular Mini Pontoon | 4 x 4′ 150 lbs | 1 person / 400 lbs | $1,649.00 | Good for one person who really wants stability while standing and fishing. It might be a little unwieldly without a trailer. Yes, 150lb should be doable but when you consider its size it could be tough. |
| Pond King Patriot Mini Two Man Pontoon Boat | 4 x 8′ 220 lbs | 2 persons / 650 lbs | $2,799.00 | You’ll likely need a trailer for this one unless you and your fishing buddy are very strong. |
| Aqua Cycle II | Length not provided 286 lbs | 4 persons / 800 lbs | $5,238.00 | This has an interesting paddle propulsion system and is the first mini pontoon boat that can fit a 4-person family. Pond King is a dealer, though they don’t manufacture this boat. |
| Kennedy Paddle Boat | 6 x 8′ 280 lbs | 4 persons / 500 lbs | Not provided | Comes with a nice sun top / bimini top. Much higher quality and utility than plastic paddle boats. |
| Kennedy Electric Mini Toon | 6’4″ x 8′ 305 lbs | 2 persons / 450 lbs | Not provided | Allows for a 40lb thrust trolling motor. Ships with a small Minn Kota trolling motor with a remote control and foot pedal. |
| Kennedy Outboard Mini Toon | 6’4″ x 8′ 295 lbs | 2 persons / 450 lbs | Not provided | A range of motors are offered up to 3.5 HP. |
| Pond-Tini 10 Series | 6′ x 10′ Weight not provided | Not given / 1100 lbs | Not provided | Pondtini make legitimate mini aluminum pontoon boats. These are not toys. The 10 series and up even come with a livewell! |
| Pond-Tini 12 Series | 6′ x 12′ Weight not provided | Not given / 1100 lbs | Not provided | Again, this is a substantial boat. It’s pushing it to call it a “mini pontoon boat” at this point. It has pretty much everything you’d need at a compact size. |
| Sunray 12 Ft Sundeck | Length not provided 1100lbs | 4 persons / Not provided | Not provided | Comes with options such as blue tooth speakers and a porta potty making it a good boat to relax on with the family. |
| Sunray 12 Ft Fisher | Length not provided 1100lbs | 4 persons / Not provided | Not provided | Seems to replace bench seats of the 12 Ft Sundeck with 4 individual swivel seats allowing everyone to fish. |
| Pondcraft Boats | 6′ x 10′ or 7′ x 12′ Weight not provided | Not provided/ 1,000lbs to 1,600lbs | $5,865 to $7,265 | Interestingly, they offer a wholesale dealer special with 4 boats unpainted for $19,820. I’m not sure if this would be honored for anyone, but if so, this could be a great way to start a small fishing camp. |
| Hotwood’s Lil’ Sport | 5′ x 10′ 355lbs | Not provided/ 900lbs | Starting at $4,210 | A simple but effective rig. There’s no real bells and whistles but you get a lot of useable floor space for the price. |
| Hotwood’s Alumasport 612 | 6′ x 10.5′ 560lbs | Not provided/ 1,050lbs | Starting at $6,000 | All aluminum construction is 11 degrees cooler than wood in the sun. Can be equipped with a range of options like a canopy. |
How Much are Mini Pontoon Boats?
Mini pontoon boats can be purchased for well less than $10,000 new and in some cases less than $3,000. The larger the “miniature” pontoon boat, the more expensive it will be. If you’re looking for a tiny, one-person pontoon boat, you’re going to spend considerably less money.
These are fairly niche boats so you might have a hard time purchasing them used. I didn’t know they existed until I poked around the internet looking for topics to write about. All the same, if you do find one used, consider reading my article on how to buy a boat for your family without losing sleep. You might turn an already great deal into an amazing one.
Conclusions
Miniature pontoon boats are a type of tiny watercraft that offers some big possibilities. They make a much more stable working platform than canoes or even rowboats which is important, especially if you like to stand while you fish. They tend to be quite affordable, with some of the smaller options rivaling the (new) cost of rowboats and other small watercraft. Some even present a fun DIY option as there are certain companies, like Pond King, that offer mini pontoon boat kits for purchase.
While these tiny pontoon boats won’t work for everyone, they are an interesting choice and a viable option for many. You should certainly check out some of the websites I’ve provided on this post and see if these boats would work well for you.
Thanks for reading,
John Paxton