Bass Hunter Bass Baby

FlatsNBay · September 15, 2019, 06:20:38 PM

I just picked up my Bass Hunter Bass Baby boat. She's 8' long. The previous owner kept her in his boat house and rarely used it. When he did use it, he just paddled around with no motor.

I need to clean it up, get a trolling motor and battery and register it. I'll probably do a few things to it as I go including new seats and a depthfinder. I may consider adding a deck but that would add a considerable amount of weight.

A couple of things that I noticed about the Bass Hunter is that it's built very solid. It's much tougher and heavier than the Bass Tracker Bantam that I had years ago. It is also much wider and has some nice compartments and cut outs along the sides. The hull has very deep grooves that I suspect will help in tracking and prevent the back of the boat spinning in the wind. The 2 wheels on the back of the boat are bigger than expected and will help in dragging it to remote launches. It comes with a drain plug on the floor.

Here's a few pics. More to come after I clean it up and make improvements.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Capt. BassinLou · September 15, 2019, 07:03:47 PM

That's awesome!! You have to register an 8ft boat that's not being trailered?

FlatsNBay · September 15, 2019, 08:18:43 PM

With a trolling motor, yes you do.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Capt. BassinLou · September 15, 2019, 08:34:28 PM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on September 15, 2019, 08:18:43 PM
With a trolling motor, yes you do.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Thanks!!

BarryFL · September 16, 2019, 05:57:27 PM

You should bring it to the classic. Hell, you could probably win just fishing the canals in Lee's neighborhood.

~Barry~

FLO GROWN · September 16, 2019, 06:54:16 PM

Those things are awesome!! I had one for years, absolutely loved it!! Got in some sweet spots with it,enjoy bud!!!

Capt. BassinLou · September 16, 2019, 07:02:15 PM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on September 15, 2019, 08:18:43 PM
With a trolling motor, yes you do.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Coming back to this topic, do these boats have HIN's in order to be able to register them?

FlatsNBay · September 18, 2019, 06:41:11 PM

Quote from: Bassinlou on September 16, 2019, 07:02:15 PM
Coming back to this topic, do these boats have HIN's in order to be able to register them?

Yes, the boats have an HIN and a title.

Capt. BassinLou · September 18, 2019, 06:49:35 PM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on September 18, 2019, 06:41:11 PM
Yes, the boats have an HIN and a title.

Thanks again Flats.

zippyduck · September 18, 2019, 06:57:45 PM

Lou,

Any watercraft with a motor of any type has to be registered. Its a coast guard thing that is enforced by the individual states.
My canoe is registered because it has a trolling motor on it.

FlatsNBay · September 19, 2019, 08:19:38 PM

I scored a good deal on a Minn Kota trolling motor. Brand New in a damaged box at Amazon Warehouse. I got the boat all cleaned up and ready to go!

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Bassinkorea · September 19, 2019, 08:28:09 PM

Congrats on your purchase

Quote from: FlatsNBay on September 15, 2019, 06:20:38 PM
I need to clean it up, get a trolling motor and battery and register it. I'll probably do a few things to it as I go including new seats and a depthfinder. I may consider adding a deck but that would add a considerable amount of weight.

Personally, I wouldn't add the deck, as you mentioned it will add extra top heavy weight, and it appears the floor in the boat is already quite high.

FlatsNBay · September 27, 2019, 02:13:55 PM

I just finished up my first trip in the boat. I have a few thoughts and observations.

The boat is much heavier than I thought. I had about a 200 yard drag down an overgrown grassy road. Even with the wheels, it flat wore me out. I'm in decent shape and try to work out regularly and it definitely was a lot of work. I had the boat loaded down with the battery, trolling motor and gear in order to only make one trip. The next time I'll make multiple trips back and forth to the truck.

The 30 lb. Trolling motor did great and pulled the boat along just fine.

I really like the rod and tackle trays in the boat. I could easily fit a 7' rod in the boat. I brought only 2 rods and will probably bring 3 or 4 next time.

The plastic seat was comfortable enough for a half day trip. I may keep it in order to try and keep the weight down.

Standing up in the boat and fishing was great. The boat balanced well and I was never in fear of losing my balance or tipping.

I found a nice large crate that fits a 3700 size box or two in it perfectly along with PFD, little cooler and drybox.

Overall the Bass Hunter is much sturdier and solid than my former mini bass boat from years ago (Bass Tracker Bantam).

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Capt. BassinLou · September 27, 2019, 02:37:15 PM

Great setup you got there Flat's. Now you got me thinking.... Not good!!

Bassinkorea · September 27, 2019, 10:01:45 PM

Nice feedback Flats, glad it worked out nicely

Jacobguy · September 28, 2019, 07:27:00 AM

Awesome fishing vessel! Looks great!

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

FlatsNBay · February 01, 2020, 08:59:42 AM

After I've had quite a few trips under my belt, I have a few more observations.

Dragging the boat minus the trolling motor and battery is manageable. I now can do it in two trips. The rods tackle and gear don't add much weight.

The rod trays are really good and have a nice lip on them to prevent you accidentally knocking a rod overboard. I've done that a time or two years ago with my Bass Tracker Bantam.

I can very easily bring 4 rods with me and they don't get in the way. A 7-6 flipping stick will just fit in the boat.

2 people in the small 8' boat worked pretty well. We were both fishing finesse spinning gear which made fishing much easier.

Standing in the boat was super stable. When fishing by myself I prefer to stand and never once felt like I was going to fall in.

I decided to keep it simple and not add on any extras at this point. I wanted to keep the weight down for my long drag to my launch site.

Exploring new lakes has been a blast.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Capt. BassinLou · February 01, 2020, 09:14:16 AM

Great to hear the Bass Hunter has worked out for you. It's kept you from losing your

while you have been boatless for all this time.

Lipripper · February 01, 2020, 03:36:11 PM

Thanks for the update and glad it's working out for you.

Capt. BassinLou · May 03, 2020, 05:04:48 PM

Flats, circling back to your Bass Hunter, what model of MK did you end up purchasing? Is it an Endura or Endura Max? 55lbs thrust or less?

FlatsNBay · May 09, 2020, 07:07:02 AM

I've got the Minn Kota Endura 30 lb. It is more than enough. I couldn't imagine needing anything bigger. I have it bow mounted and never need to put it on high to max it out even in 15 plus mph wind.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Capt. BassinLou · May 09, 2020, 07:36:57 AM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on May 09, 2020, 07:07:02 AM
I've got the Minn Kota Endura 30 lb. It is more than enough. I couldn't imagine needing anything bigger. I have it bow mounted and never need to put it on high to max it out even in 15 plus mph wind.

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Thanks Flats!!