Possibly still one of the most divisive topics in carp angling, bait boats will always remain a bone of contention for some. Love them or hate them, they are here to stay, and growing in popularity. However there can be no denying, that they can contribute in a hugely positive way to your own angling, accounting for extra fish on the bank.
They can come in at a huge cost however, which many might not be able to afford, however, in this blog, we are going to look at the boats that offer the best bang for your buck.
The first on our list is a newcomer, and one to rival to Waverunners Atom in size, the Ridgemonkey Hunter 750 comes, not only rivalling the Atom in size but also in performance.
First off, we need to address the size, the Hunter is tiny, but packed full of features, whilst capable of carrying a 1kg payload, despite weighing only 2.5kg itself! Incredibly lightweight at just 2.5kg including two lithium polymer batteries, and its compact design is ideally suited for all anglers, it is ideal for anglers who fish short sessions on a multitude of waters, from canals to small pits, or those who may want to use a bait boat but decide against it due to having to walk a long way with their gear. The small size and low weight of the Hunter 750 mean that it is not only easy to transport, but it’s equally as simple to deploy.
It’s the first ever fully top-loading bait boat, meaning that there’s no longer any need to fiddle around underneath and insert your baited rig into the hopper from below, thanks to the clever design of the bait delivery system.
Two twin motors provide propulsion up to a range of 200m, controlled by a clever single-handed IP55 water and dust resistant remote, that has been ergonomically designed with a rubberised grip, and features an easy-to-use thumbstick 3 buttons interface, making it extremely simple to use. The remote is charged via USB-C and has an LED power meter.
The boat has a built-in, highly visible battery power meter you’ll never be unsure as to how much power you have left. Two lithium polymer batteries are supplied as standard, and another industry first is the ability to charge the bespoke RidgeMonkey batteries via USB-C which have an average charging time of 2.5 hours per battery from drained to fully charged. Being charged via USB-C means that you can use our Vault Power Packs to recharge while on the bank.
This boat may be small, but its features are mighty!
PROS
- Very small and lightweight
- Lithium batteries
- Single hand controller
- USB C rechargeable
CONS
- Limited carry weight
- Reduced range for large waters
RIPPTON - CATCH X PRO GPS BAIT BOAT
One of the newer boats on the list, this time, coming from the boys at Rippton Angling! For those not familiar with the name Rippton, then you soon will be. They are fast growing in reputation by combing hardware and software into their products, not least with this the Catch X Pro GPS boat which offers Hydrobat fish finder, and with it a lot of boat for your money.
So let's start with some of the features, firstly what is the hydrobat I hear you ask? The Hydrobat Fish Finder links to your phone via the free-to-use app, up to a range of 300m and enables you to scout and map the lake bed, telling you depth, water temp, and fish location, very similar to the Deeper Pro 2. It also offers a range of modes from quick scanning and mapping to accurate mapping for different circumstances, so you can keep it as simple as you like for short sessions, or as detailed as you like with bathymetric maps of the lakes you might wish to campaign on.
As part of the mapping, the boat will automatically record fish locations, where the fish icon is triggered within the app, as well as being able to save and log the spots you find for use later, to make getting the boat back to the spot quick and convenient.
The remote is one-handed with a built-in holder for your phone, allowing you to toggle and use features within the app, or hold the rod still whilst placing the rigs. By just pressing two buttons on the remote or tapping the button on the app, the boat automatically calibrates itself on the water without effort. A single press of the home button will automatically return the bait boat to you. So, in the instance that you get a bite whilst controlling the boat, you need not worry. It’ll navigate itself home while you play the fish. In the case of a low battery, the boat will also automatically return home, giving you peace of mind.
The bait boat itself is finished in stylish black carbon fibre and weighs in at 5.4kg. The boat runs off an 8,000mAh battery, giving you a run time of up to two and a half hours, whilst an upgraded battery is also available in a 13,400mAh size to give you up to three and a half hours battery life for those who might be doing longer European sessions.
Two independent hoppers with one independent hook release, and a carry capacity of 3kg, propelled by two high-performance 7,000rpb industrial engines complete the package and means that you really are getting a lot of boat for the money.
PROS
- GPS and Fishfinder included
- Free App software and update
- Single hand controller
CONS
- Only one model
- Slightly heavier and larger than some others
Navigator Mini
Our second newcomer onto this list, this time from the very reputable guys over at Global Fishing. The Navigator Mini offers a host of features much the same as its larger Navigator brother but comes in under a thousand pounds. However whilst it may come in under the thousand pounds for the starting price, you can build either into your chosen requirements. should you prefer?
You have the option of which handset you prefer, including a range of fish finders, from Raymarine DragonFly Pro5 to the full range of Toslon Fish finders including the TF520 and TF740, giving you complete control over the boat spec.
Offering a high-performance engine, powerful servo motors for the hoppers, futuristic LED lighting and battery indication make the ‘Navigator a very versatile and strong bait boat. Further to this its small compact size and 11-volt lithium battery enables a run time of up to 3 miles!
In addition, Globalfishing offers a 3-year warranty on the ‘Navigator range', so should you ever have an issue they've got you covered. Not that you should, the hull is manufactured from 4mm thick shockproof ABS, with CAD design appearance, making this boat both stylish, as well as strong, and capable of taking on any water home or abroad.
PROS
- Small compact size
- 3 Year warranty
- Customisable
CONS
- Higher price point
Toslon X Boat
The last to our list is the Toslon X Boat, and this really needs introduction due to its soaring popularity in recent years making it one of the best boats on the market.
The standard boat comes in at just over a grand, however, it earns its place on our due to its user-friendly nature, reliable performance and the option to upgrade it as you go.
Much like the Navigator range, you have a range of fish finders, and GPS packages available, which can be added to over the life of the boat. So if you can't quite afford the Rolls Royce fish finder just yet, you can add it at a later stage, simply by contacting the guys at Total and arranging the upgrade to be carried out and fitted. You can go standalone fish finder, such as the TF520, and add x pilot GPS autopilot systems at a later stage, or go all in one fish finder, GPS, autopilot with something like the TF740, with its high definition echo.
The boat itself comes with flysky handset, offers two motorised hoppers, and is supplied with a pair of 12v lithium batteries, capable of giving 6 hours worth of run time, propelled by twin motors. If you upgrade the props to the brass propellers, you can not only increase the speed but also the run time of the boat. This means, if you choose to send the boat out fully laden, (she can carry 5kg), then you have no need to worry about not having enough power when you are trying to hit those 300m spots! Should you choose to go to those distances, then spotting the boat will not be an issue, as the super bright LED Lamborghini esk front and rear headlights are easy to spot.
This boat not only looks incredible, but packs the performance to boot, and is capable of taking on any boat around!
PROS
- 5kg Carry capacity
- Customisable
- 6-hour run time
CONS
- High price point
- Larger size, although not heavy