5 Things I HATE About My Tiny Pontoon Boat | Pond Prowler

[@GreysonRoberts]

Check out the new tiny boat talk blog and podcast! saltbossboating.com

[@monzsterman]

I cut holes in my Quest Angler 10 and put in cup holders. They also come in handy to throw stuff in like tiny bluetooth speaker, old plastic baits, trimmed line. Best mod I made. Those black hooks under the seats on the right side are for teathers that you hook to the seats to keep them with the boat incase it's capsized or blow out while driving, which I have had happen.

[@unboxinghype813]

I just found this channel. I’m about to jump down this pond prowler loop hole and your channel has the content I need

[@raymondwilcox4997]

I love your videos. They contain a lot of good, useful, information, and are well edited. I have a '95 Pond Prowler that I call a 9' although it's a little short, (8'11") so it's probably technically a 8', and the drain scupper is in the bottom, as it should be. I bought it about 3 years ago at a garage sale of a girl I dated in high school, and her husband, for $50. It has no title, so I can't register it, so I can't LEGALLY use even a trolling motor on it on public waters in Texas. I tracked down the father and son who had it registered in both their names, but they live 60, and 90 miles from me, and aren't communicating with each other, and the dad has no desire to file for a lost title, and they sold it SEVERAL years ago, so I have been poling it in shallow water, and using a kayak paddle in deeper water. I don't go far, or fast, but I still catch fish. Im not on KZbin yet, but I'm on TikTok. I won't give out my username without your permission. Now, on the scupper drain situation, although we shouldn't HAVE to, it is easily resolved by drilling a hole through the bottom, spraying expanding foam in between the floor and the outer hull, allowing time for it to cure, then redrilling it (to remove the expanded foam), then installing the scupper fitting, using marine grade silicone around the top of the floor hole and the bottom of the outer hull hole. Install the nut, tighten it down, and you're good to go. With no motor, when I go by myself, I don't even install the plug. If water comes in, it's minimal, and if it starts raining, it just flows out. Once, I had a wooden dow rod in it, and got caught in a torrential downpour. I put up my beach umbrella that I had JUST modified for the day before, and it worked great, but when I went to pull the wooden plug, it had swollen and wouldn't budge. I had to bail the way out, then knock it out from beneath, after I loaded it up in my Ford Ranger Edge stepside, which is how I haul it. The bed isn't wide enough, but the bed-liner has notches for 2x4's, so I cut some to fit, and load it up on them, with only about 7" of the boat IN the bed, and the rest sitting high and proud.. 😆

[@GreysonRoberts]

Thanks for the tip. If you haven't noticed already, mine isn't registered either due to title issues. I don't recommend you run it illegally, but I do and totally understand your situation. It should NOT be this hard to enjoy a little plastic boat.

[@VHGbham]

Ty for the video! Considering a mini and really appreciate the time you took to address a lot of this stuff.

[@GreysonRoberts]

Glad you got some value!

[@drjekelmrhyde]

I'm going to get one of these boats, but I'm going to make sure I get some Gator patches for the front and rear for it. It seem like everyone on here drags the heck out of these boats on concrete boat ramps.

[@GreysonRoberts]

I used to, now I just slide it in and out of the water with my utility trailer barely in the water

[@raymondwilcox4997]

A dolly is relatively easy to design and make, and saves the boat and your back.

[@robertstafford6306]

What size drain plug or do you even need a drain plug on those boats

[@hammerdown3876]

appreciate the video. Coming from kayaking and modding those and then graduating up to a Seadoo Fishpro Trophy with a Minn Kota Spotlock and livescope, Im wanting to rig out one of these 2 man boats for smaller bodies of water (non powered) where I cant take the fishpro or where a 2 man boat will be more practical than 2 kayaks for the wife and I. I use the minn kota quick attach for my trolling motor so I can easily switch it from the seadoo to another boat. im wondering how I can rig up a bow mounted spotlock on this 2 man. Would you recommend a front mount on this boat or rear mount? I drive with the remote (might look at getting a pedal for it though) so steering it from anywhere on the boat is not an issue.

[@GreysonRoberts]

That’s a very cool idea and great question. It’s been a debate for a long time and I’ve tried both. Honestly with it on the stern it’s more out of the way so I can fish off the front. But that’s just me, trolling motors are usually designed for the bow but like I said I prefer stern of these vessels. Lots of folks much prefer bow mounted. I rarely see ipilot on these so I am very excited for you to do that!

[@kylesmith3211]

How well does water and stuff drain with that foam on the channels on the side?

[@GreysonRoberts]

Very well! It can drain in the seat tracks too.

[@grumpysgarage7276]

Is there flat surface to add kayak tracks.

[@GreysonRoberts]

Yup, all along the interior!

[@seanytoyguns8638]

Where did you get those camouflage wraps from?

[@GreysonRoberts]

Amazon! I linked my exact build in the video description

[@vinceh5163]

Biggest gripe is the sorry design of the 2 piece construction without proper L channel locking instead they have stupid flat no overlaps and use staples and very cheap adhesive. This is eventually what allows water into hulls.

[@raymondwilcox4997]

I'd recommend marine grade calk around the seam to address their poor choice.

[@truecrimson1]

I would run gear track through the the cup holders, and the entire long oval sections. Scotty, Ram, Railbalza pretty much everybody makes a decent cup holder that you can attach to a track. Coming from the kayak world and having drilled holes in kayaks for over a decade, I am surprised the pond prowler community hasn't taken up gear tracks and a lot of other kayak mods.

[@GreysonRoberts]

I read your comment last night and forgot to respond. You’re absolutely right! I looked into it and I’ll be adding those. Thanks for the tip!!

[@truecrimson1]

@@GreysonRoberts You're welcome. You had about talked me into a pond prowler. I even talked to my wife about getting one as we were planning to sell some kayaks this year and buy her a new one. But then I checked the weight capacity, and the two of us exceed it.

[@Budboss420]

@@truecrimson1 that weight capacity gets exceeded I think for 80% of people. I’ve seen 1,000+ pounds a lot on Facebook. Heck, we pass it when we’re fully loaded! I don’t pay much mind to it, haha.

[@truecrimson1]

@@Budboss420 Thank you. That's good to know. In kayaks weight capacity is serious and most companies "over estimate" it. Stability decreases as you get closer to the weight capacity. So a 250 pound guy will get a kayak with a 275 weight capacity and think either that kayaks are just unstable or kayaks are not for him. If he had just gotten a kayak with a 350 or 400 pound capacity he would have been fine. Pelican lists the capacity of their bass raider as 600 lbs, whereas Bass Pro/Cabelas lists the Pond Prowler as 525. So if we end up getting one I will probably try to find a Pelican. I like the look of the 12 foot plastic boats a lot, but their weight capacity is even lower.

[@raymondwilcox4997]

​@@truecrimson1, considering the fact that the 8' Pond Prowler has a total weight capacity of 515 pounds, it makes me think that the 10' should EASILY handle 600+ pounds, but they like to be conservative in order to cover their butts. Also, they USED to be rated for a 5 up outboard motor. The 40# max trolling motor rating has to do with the stock wiring for the bow mounted trolling motors, due to the amperage draw for that length, and gauge, of wire. It has nothing to do with the transom strength, so you can use whatever size you want on the stern transom, as long as the battery is in the rear. I would recommend a LiFePo4 battery, if budget allows, due to the weight difference, and they're way cheaper in the long run.

[@Big-G-man85]

So if you drill into the plastic do the screws stay in tight without a nut on the back of the screw? And how thick is the plastic?

[@raymondwilcox4997]

Many use pop rivers, as you can see in many KZbin videos, or Stainless Steel, course thread screws, like wood screws, pre-drilled on the small side, so they're tight, and use a drop on marine grade silicone to ensure a watertight seal. The plastic is thick enough for MOST applications, as long as you don't get excessively rough with it, like tying off a clear to tightly to a dock in rough water, or a storm, or trying to anchor up in water that is much rougher than you should be out in. The boat can probably handle rougher water than is comfortable, IF you are experienced and know what you're doing.

[@Big-G-man85]

@@raymondwilcox4997thank you

[@vinceh5163]

Those eyelets are for strapping things such as rods with bungee chords. However, you need to add wall hooks ,the self-adhesive type, and very inexpensive.

[@raymondwilcox4997]

Those eyelets are also for putting a leash on the seat frame to ensure the seats aren't lost in the event of them falling out while on the water, or in transit..

[@BigRedcowgaming]

Can you do a review on the tractor supply pontoon prowler it should be under $700 ❤

[@larrys7998]

Pretty sure in Fl .. you put a trolling motor on it, it has to be registered !

[@vinceh5163]

Water drained solution :keep a large sponge soak it up drain it out ,and becomes multi function as you can use to wipe down deck.

[@gnikmi]

saw your other video.. I am buying one .

[@GreysonRoberts]

Do it! Got mine used for $300

[@dougaranda6187]

I haven’t found any use for the rod holders. They’re completely in the way when fishing. I agree, all the molded in stuff on the sides are useless. Just a little more thought would’ve resulted in a more usable interior, with no real additional cost. But, it’s a cheap boat, so a person can customize without worrying about ruining its value.

[@GreysonRoberts]

Absolutely! I mod mine with no fear. If I bust it, I’ll get another used hull for a couple hundred bucks! I see people just want them gone for as low as $50 around here!

[@raymondwilcox4997]

​@@GreysonRoberts, yeah, but registration can definitely be a problem.

[@phils6733]

I have a bass raider 10…love it, I do like how the prowler has higher side walls so rods or other things can fall off the sides…I would put the trolling motor in the fron and batteries in the back…steering is way better and you’ll be using way less power to move around the body of water you’re in.

[@raymondwilcox4997]

The gauge of the stock wiring running through the boat is the whole reason for the max trolling motor rating of 40#. Anything larger, and you run a strong chance of damaging the wiring. I would highly recommend a resettable CIRCUIT BREAKER, of the appropriate size, over a FUSE, very close to the battery end, regardless of whether your using the stock wiring or not.

[@SHMIDTEY]

I just got a pond prowler 10! I was actually thinking of offsetting the seats to the sides to make the tiller easier to work, rear to the left and front to the right, with 2 people it should balance ok, and since it handles weight on the gunwhale so well i think it would be ok

[@tonyb-50]

Is that an 8 or 10’er

[@GreysonRoberts]

10. I believe the 8 has a different shape

[@tonyb-50]

@@GreysonRoberts cool. I have the 10’ Raider

[@raymondwilcox4997]

​@@GreysonRoberts, and only 10 pounds difference in overall weight capacity, which doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

[@cutmemick4949]

Most fisherman run the trolling motor in the bow

[@GreysonRoberts]

I used to and it’s better. Wife doesn’t like to drive up front and I don’t want to turn the trolling motor head around every time

[@VHGbham]

Depends on the boat, water, weight, and intended use. Lots of minis with rudder trolling motors have much better maneuverability with the motor on the transom.

[@raymondwilcox4997]

I grew up on shrimp boats. Boats are generally designed to be propelled from the stern. Trolling motors are generally used on the bow for fine tuning your position, or for short, stealthy moves, not for going longer distances. Many use a small trolling motor on the bow, and a larger one, or a small outboard motor, on the stern. Electric trolling motors aren't designed for speed, regardless of the pounds of thrust. The advantage of a stronger trolling motor is noticed when fighting current, winds, and waves, but top speed difference in calm water is minimal.

[@rocksolid8643]

5:50 Pause bruh 😅😂

[@handlehandleton]

Can't even pee from one of these boats without looking like you're challenging other boats on the lake for territory.

[@GreysonRoberts]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@raymondwilcox4997]

A pee bottle comes in handy, and the ladies can either sit on the side, or, for more privacy, and small camping toilet with a bucket under it, and an emergency poncho can do wonders.

[@toxic_shroom]

No one buy one of these. They are junk. Just get a real boat

[@raymondwilcox4997]

😂😂😂, your name says it all.

[@toxic_shroom]

@@raymondwilcox4997 it's the truth. Don't like it lump it