I've started looking for a new boat to replace my ageing Anatec Catamaran. Xboat or the RT4 seems to be the one which come up a lot while searching but also seen the ND bait boat 2 which is around half the price with an auto pilot and sonar.
Does anyone have one of the above and care to give me your honest review?
Does anyone have one of the above and care to give me your honest review?
In reply to Post #1
I can only give you my experience based on the Lake Reaper and RT4 Elements. However, I did plan to buy the ND2 once I'd sold the Reaper.
The Reaper, for me, was an okay boat but definitely didn't satisfy what I wanted which was reliability. I did have a Deeper Chirp attached to it and even though I had the upgraded handset that was allegedly compatible, in hindsight, it made it incredibly unreliable to the point where it would lose signal only 50/60/70 yards away. I say in hindsight because I used my pals Reaper the other week and he hasn't got a Deeper fixed to it and worked a dream. Just hasn't got the tech that I want. Navigating the boat seemed painful almost zig zagging to get to a desired location. Anyway, sold it only a few weeks of owning it to buy an ND2. They had issues with delivery of stock because of some pandemic thing
so got fed up and looked into alternatives.
Settled on an RT4 V3. Then realised I wanted the new V4. Upgraded my order twice. Received it the other day, finally and must say, for the money, I'm a bit underwhelmed. I'm a tech geek which is why I went for the V4 however it hasn't even got the playback feature that the Deeper has
Apparently it's due for a “future release”. That aside, it is a fantastic bit of kit. It's drive ability on the water is something else. And when they finally release the RealVision (paid for) update, which is 3D rendering, that's when it's next level. I bought it purely for this. Although it's a bit of rip off that it's a paid upgrade for a boat that costs close to £4000 after a couple of add ons.
So it all depends on your budget and how much you intend on using it. I'm guessing if your upgrading you may intend to get some use out of it. Perhaps test out whatever it is you're looking at first.
I can only give you my experience based on the Lake Reaper and RT4 Elements. However, I did plan to buy the ND2 once I'd sold the Reaper.
The Reaper, for me, was an okay boat but definitely didn't satisfy what I wanted which was reliability. I did have a Deeper Chirp attached to it and even though I had the upgraded handset that was allegedly compatible, in hindsight, it made it incredibly unreliable to the point where it would lose signal only 50/60/70 yards away. I say in hindsight because I used my pals Reaper the other week and he hasn't got a Deeper fixed to it and worked a dream. Just hasn't got the tech that I want. Navigating the boat seemed painful almost zig zagging to get to a desired location. Anyway, sold it only a few weeks of owning it to buy an ND2. They had issues with delivery of stock because of some pandemic thing
so got fed up and looked into alternatives. Settled on an RT4 V3. Then realised I wanted the new V4. Upgraded my order twice. Received it the other day, finally and must say, for the money, I'm a bit underwhelmed. I'm a tech geek which is why I went for the V4 however it hasn't even got the playback feature that the Deeper has
Apparently it's due for a “future release”. That aside, it is a fantastic bit of kit. It's drive ability on the water is something else. And when they finally release the RealVision (paid for) update, which is 3D rendering, that's when it's next level. I bought it purely for this. Although it's a bit of rip off that it's a paid upgrade for a boat that costs close to £4000 after a couple of add ons. So it all depends on your budget and how much you intend on using it. I'm guessing if your upgrading you may intend to get some use out of it. Perhaps test out whatever it is you're looking at first.
The X Boat is huge.... and I mean HUGE.....makes the RT4 look small and is a massive overkill for the vast majority of UK waters IMO.....having said that it's a very reliable boat with a large capacity.
ND2 is a perfect size for UK waters and reviews are good. The boat can be bought in its basic form for just £550 then it's up to the individual what extras you want....you can have it with a chirp installed and range extended or if you are only an occasional boat user, keep the chirp as a separate unit on their bespoke arm off the back of the boat.....you can buy a wifi range extender from ND or Fisheye do one which runs straight off your tablet/phone which is much more compact. If you want auto pilot you can buy this "in app"....you can use the app anyway to mark your spots.
ND2 is a perfect size for UK waters and reviews are good. The boat can be bought in its basic form for just £550 then it's up to the individual what extras you want....you can have it with a chirp installed and range extended or if you are only an occasional boat user, keep the chirp as a separate unit on their bespoke arm off the back of the boat.....you can buy a wifi range extender from ND or Fisheye do one which runs straight off your tablet/phone which is much more compact. If you want auto pilot you can buy this "in app"....you can use the app anyway to mark your spots.
In reply to Post #1
I have the ND1 bait boat with auto pilot and its the best boat I have ever had.
I have the ND1 bait boat with auto pilot and its the best boat I have ever had.
In reply to Post #2
Sounds about right, ime CL have the tendancy to release a boat as soon as they can already with the knowledge it's not as good as it could be but it will be updated. I've really liked my RT4's but a honest opinion.....
I've had a Chirp Autopilot RT4 with high power motors, the motor controllers could wake the dead, think the chaps on the next lake asking me if I'd heard the wierd howling in the night (might be different now but also reported by others).
I would never use autopilot again especially when I can't see the boat (supposably a selling point), think rafts of reeds, floating logs, angry swans, or in my case losing signal and it driving into a dam wall (can happen with all boats not just RT4). Autopilot may be useful in open water but no way would I trust it near snags though I suppose it depends if it bothers you going after it.
I now have a basic RT4 with low noise motors. I've chosen not to have a echo in the boat as I may want to use it on a dingy/boat so fo now it's a towable Deeper Chirp.
There are a couple of FB groups for bait boats, I'd have a good look around there. The ND2 gets good reviews as do others and they're a lot cheaper than a RT4 if that's a driving factor, personally I'll stick with RT4's.
Sounds about right, ime CL have the tendancy to release a boat as soon as they can already with the knowledge it's not as good as it could be but it will be updated. I've really liked my RT4's but a honest opinion.....
I've had a Chirp Autopilot RT4 with high power motors, the motor controllers could wake the dead, think the chaps on the next lake asking me if I'd heard the wierd howling in the night (might be different now but also reported by others).
I would never use autopilot again especially when I can't see the boat (supposably a selling point), think rafts of reeds, floating logs, angry swans, or in my case losing signal and it driving into a dam wall (can happen with all boats not just RT4). Autopilot may be useful in open water but no way would I trust it near snags though I suppose it depends if it bothers you going after it.
I now have a basic RT4 with low noise motors. I've chosen not to have a echo in the boat as I may want to use it on a dingy/boat so fo now it's a towable Deeper Chirp.
There are a couple of FB groups for bait boats, I'd have a good look around there. The ND2 gets good reviews as do others and they're a lot cheaper than a RT4 if that's a driving factor, personally I'll stick with RT4's.
In reply to Post #1
If you can afford it get an RT4 but think carefully about what you actually need.
Some examples of mistakes people make when buying them are, as already mentioned the high power motors are total overkill unless fishing The Orient, also noisy as ****. The Futaba handset which is more expensive would seem like an upgrade but it is actually the worst option if you have autopilot. With the cheaper handset you can seamlessly switch between autopilot and handset, with the Futaba you have to restart the whole system
This may have all changed on the v4 but it's worth noting.
You will find lots of good spec v3's for sale because people can't resist the latest gimmicks so sell them on to upgrade, most of them will still be in warranty. For me personally the v3 with the Raymarine Dragonfly is as high spec as you need to go with a bait boat, the latest version with 'side scan' etc is total overkill and having seen one in action it confirmed my thinking.
Once you get used to it the autopilot combined with the Raymarine is a fantastic bit of kit. The 'hold and drop' feature alone is a game changer and there are tweaks you can do to really get the most out of the functions.
If you can afford it get an RT4 but think carefully about what you actually need.
Some examples of mistakes people make when buying them are, as already mentioned the high power motors are total overkill unless fishing The Orient, also noisy as ****. The Futaba handset which is more expensive would seem like an upgrade but it is actually the worst option if you have autopilot. With the cheaper handset you can seamlessly switch between autopilot and handset, with the Futaba you have to restart the whole system
This may have all changed on the v4 but it's worth noting.You will find lots of good spec v3's for sale because people can't resist the latest gimmicks so sell them on to upgrade, most of them will still be in warranty. For me personally the v3 with the Raymarine Dragonfly is as high spec as you need to go with a bait boat, the latest version with 'side scan' etc is total overkill and having seen one in action it confirmed my thinking.
Once you get used to it the autopilot combined with the Raymarine is a fantastic bit of kit. The 'hold and drop' feature alone is a game changer and there are tweaks you can do to really get the most out of the functions.
In reply to Post #6
I've got the X-boat and very impressed with it!
Huge running time with the lithium batteries, holds loads of bait and can be used as single or twin hoppers.
Been out in fairly rough weather and performed great. Got the autopilot and echo too.
It's big though.
I've got the X-boat and very impressed with it!
Huge running time with the lithium batteries, holds loads of bait and can be used as single or twin hoppers.
Been out in fairly rough weather and performed great. Got the autopilot and echo too.
It's big though.
In reply to Post #5
Vossy - have to agree with those HPD motors mate, they are bloody loud on mine and you can hear the boat at 150yards +, especially at the dead of night when it's quiet, the bloody thing is whining really loud.
Whats the low power motors like - i may change over to those if there is a lot of difference in the noise.
Vossy - have to agree with those HPD motors mate, they are bloody loud on mine and you can hear the boat at 150yards +, especially at the dead of night when it's quiet, the bloody thing is whining really loud.
Whats the low power motors like - i may change over to those if there is a lot of difference in the noise.
In reply to Post #8
Chalk and cheese though naturally the trade is speed, very quiet at low speeds similar to my old AT boats, I wouldn't go back to the HP motors unless fishing a big water regulalry, as Chuffy said they have their place.
Chalk and cheese though naturally the trade is speed, very quiet at low speeds similar to my old AT boats, I wouldn't go back to the HP motors unless fishing a big water regulalry, as Chuffy said they have their place.