I need some advice on a bait boat purchase.
My lake is dominated by them and I'm being left behind not using them.
The first question is; Would you buy used or new? Is the warranty worth the extra expense?
Second question; Is there much difference between spending £1000 and say £3000?
Final question. Is it better to buy an echo in the bundle (if buying new) or buy one seperate?
Thanks
My lake is dominated by them and I'm being left behind not using them.
The first question is; Would you buy used or new? Is the warranty worth the extra expense?
Second question; Is there much difference between spending £1000 and say £3000?
Final question. Is it better to buy an echo in the bundle (if buying new) or buy one seperate?
Thanks
In reply to Post #1
My advice - get a basic Actor Plus Compass and have a play; if you need to add a sonar get a Deeper and have another play - once you get the hang of it decide if you want to splurge your hard earned on a more premium boat with even more of the trimmings. . . (GPS / Better Sonar / Autopilot / Camera Kit / Bait Spirals etc) . . . welcome to the dark side
My advice - get a basic Actor Plus Compass and have a play; if you need to add a sonar get a Deeper and have another play - once you get the hang of it decide if you want to splurge your hard earned on a more premium boat with even more of the trimmings. . . (GPS / Better Sonar / Autopilot / Camera Kit / Bait Spirals etc) . . . welcome to the dark side
In reply to Post #2
Thats what ive done until i decide what boat i want. It arrived today and im really impressed with it, miles better than i was expecting. Perfect size for what i need. Love the motorised stainless hoppers on the actor. It makes the nd2 plastic hoppers look cheap and nasty. I like tinkering with things so bought some machined balanced cast aluminium propellers from baitboat mods for it and a nice bespoke angling bag.
Thats what ive done until i decide what boat i want. It arrived today and im really impressed with it, miles better than i was expecting. Perfect size for what i need. Love the motorised stainless hoppers on the actor. It makes the nd2 plastic hoppers look cheap and nasty. I like tinkering with things so bought some machined balanced cast aluminium propellers from baitboat mods for it and a nice bespoke angling bag.
In reply to Post #2
I get your logic but a deeper plus Compass boat is circa £750. Would I not be better off getting an RT4 for say £1600 which looks better build quality?
I get your logic but a deeper plus Compass boat is circa £750. Would I not be better off getting an RT4 for say £1600 which looks better build quality?
In my opinion if this is something you can see yourself use a lot then buy the best boat with the most gadgets you are comfortable buying. Simple as really. A boat on its own is pointless without a good sonar at least so you know where you are dropping your bait. Things like GPS/autopilot is nice but not necessity (mind you saying that i wouldnt want a boat without it lol).
Same goes for things like hopper size for amount of bait you want to drop, speed of boat pending size of lakes you are fishing etc. Like everything else in life you get what you pay for and if you foresee yourself using it then buy something decent if you can afford it that is. The plus if good tackle also keep their value a lot better if you do want to sell down the line.
Just my pennies worth
Same goes for things like hopper size for amount of bait you want to drop, speed of boat pending size of lakes you are fishing etc. Like everything else in life you get what you pay for and if you foresee yourself using it then buy something decent if you can afford it that is. The plus if good tackle also keep their value a lot better if you do want to sell down the line.
Just my pennies worth
In reply to Post #5
Thanks Bud.
Thanks Bud.
In reply to Post #4
I dont think i would buy any expensive boat like an rt4 second hand as to much to go wrong and they can turn into a money pit to fix. Will use the actor for a while and see how i get on with it.
I dont think i would buy any expensive boat like an rt4 second hand as to much to go wrong and they can turn into a money pit to fix. Will use the actor for a while and see how i get on with it.
In reply to Post #1
I think you need to let us know about the water you are fishing and why you think a bait boat is such a necessity. I certainly would not be spending 1000s on an all singing all dancing boat on most English waters.
I think you need to let us know about the water you are fishing and why you think a bait boat is such a necessity. I certainly would not be spending 1000s on an all singing all dancing boat on most English waters.
In reply to Post #4
A new Actor plus Compass (standard model) is £399 - a Deeper Pro+2 is £250 - and those are RRP prices. Look around on FB Marketplace and I reckon you could pick up both for half that money . . .
Disagree with the post about Sonar being a necessity; whilst def useful in terms of swim mapping speed you can still use a boat in the traditional way and at short to mid range (during daylight hours) its arguably as, if not more accurate than using GPS IMO - use a lead to find your spots / clip up to find the range / wrap up on your fishing rod and send out in the boat rather than casting; once you've hit the clip drop the rig job done . . .no messed up casts / no PVA bags falling short / no noise
A new Actor plus Compass (standard model) is £399 - a Deeper Pro+2 is £250 - and those are RRP prices. Look around on FB Marketplace and I reckon you could pick up both for half that money . . .
Disagree with the post about Sonar being a necessity; whilst def useful in terms of swim mapping speed you can still use a boat in the traditional way and at short to mid range (during daylight hours) its arguably as, if not more accurate than using GPS IMO - use a lead to find your spots / clip up to find the range / wrap up on your fishing rod and send out in the boat rather than casting; once you've hit the clip drop the rig job done . . .no messed up casts / no PVA bags falling short / no noise
In reply to Post #1
I feel your pain regards being 'left behind' but I will tell you a couple of stories of late;
I got a boat about three years ago and have used it only twice - its a waverunner sport and I purchased it 2nd hand as was jealous on my expensive syndicate for the reasons you say below. The issue for me was it totally ruined my mindset - I started doing what everyone did and I would say they are now a distinct disadvantage. firstly you find yourself fishing 'where they should be' not where they are. You are teaching them to associate small patches with danger and it takes them about a year to catch on.
I did a week session a couple of weeks ago and thought I would take it - it was screwed and the motherboard had gone. it was a blessing - I fished like I always did, throwing stick, pulting baits, not a slaves to dying batteries of big winds.
On both the lakes I fish, the maximum casts are under 120 yards, and whilst not super competent caster - I can fish fairly effectively 90% of the time. It's easier to move - and whilst i absolutely see their benefit - mine breaking made my recent session.
So if you want one, I would go cheap (ish) no frills, reliable and if you like using a £400 boat - then invest in 12 months.
I feel your pain regards being 'left behind' but I will tell you a couple of stories of late;
I got a boat about three years ago and have used it only twice - its a waverunner sport and I purchased it 2nd hand as was jealous on my expensive syndicate for the reasons you say below. The issue for me was it totally ruined my mindset - I started doing what everyone did and I would say they are now a distinct disadvantage. firstly you find yourself fishing 'where they should be' not where they are. You are teaching them to associate small patches with danger and it takes them about a year to catch on.
I did a week session a couple of weeks ago and thought I would take it - it was screwed and the motherboard had gone. it was a blessing - I fished like I always did, throwing stick, pulting baits, not a slaves to dying batteries of big winds.
On both the lakes I fish, the maximum casts are under 120 yards, and whilst not super competent caster - I can fish fairly effectively 90% of the time. It's easier to move - and whilst i absolutely see their benefit - mine breaking made my recent session.
So if you want one, I would go cheap (ish) no frills, reliable and if you like using a £400 boat - then invest in 12 months.
In reply to Post #1
What are they doing with a bait boat that you couldn't do with a rod from the bank?
What are they doing with a bait boat that you couldn't do with a rod from the bank?
In reply to Post #11
Fishing shallow bays and using the echos to drop rigs into the tiny holes in the weed.
Often takes me 2/3 casts to fish the same spot if I even know it's clear.
Have tried chods last season and get hammered by the coots.
Fishing shallow bays and using the echos to drop rigs into the tiny holes in the weed.
Often takes me 2/3 casts to fish the same spot if I even know it's clear.
Have tried chods last season and get hammered by the coots.
In reply to Post #12
Be careful with boats in weed - the Actors have plastic props and you will def need weed guards; saying that if its heavy they can still get stuck; my advice if fishing to holes in weed is to tie your marker rod line to the boat so you can always retrieve it . . .
Be careful with boats in weed - the Actors have plastic props and you will def need weed guards; saying that if its heavy they can still get stuck; my advice if fishing to holes in weed is to tie your marker rod line to the boat so you can always retrieve it . . .