Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    Guy
    
    I bought the Crawdad end of this summer and love the thing.  Its
    lightweight enough for me to manhandle into my van and onto the ramp by
    myself.  I used a Min Kota 28lb trolling motor and it powered me around
    fine, even in some heavy wind.  I added oarlocks and can row this around
    very easily.  As far as a livewell, there is ample room between the two
    seats to add a big cooler.  I have an areator that runs off the 12 volt
    and it works just as well as any live well I have seen.
    
    In the archived file you'll find a big note on real Crawdad Zealots,
    after owning this one for a couple of months I can see why. 
    
    Brian
    
    

    Guy
    
       I bought the Bantam 3X from the bass pro shop. I picked it up at
    Marine USA in Worcester. I bought a three hp Minn Kota trolling motor
    from Herman's sport shop. The reason I bought the three hp was it was
    only fifty dollars more than the 28 lb thrust on sale. 
    I haven't used the live well yet, but have used the space for a small
    cooler. I have no problem with moving it around by myself. I can easily
    load and unload it from my fullsize pickup truck. It won't fit in a
    small pckup like a S-10 or a ranger do to it's to wide. 
    I love the boat do to it's size and the ease of accessing the small
    ponds around my house.
    One more thing, the only assembly is to screw the swivel chairs to the
    frame.
    
      If you have anymore question feel free to contact me.
    
      Scott
    

    RE: .1
    
    The coleman Pro XT is actually smaller than the crawdad. It looks very
    similar to the Bass Buster. What are they getting (price-wise) for the
    crawdad?
    
    The Coleman Pro-XT goes for $600.00.
    
    RE: .2
    
    When you add in the shipping, what was the final cost?

    RE: .3
    
    The price is $499 plus $100 for shipping. Final cost $599. 

    This bassbuster is that a small pontoon type of bass boat that has the
    two chairs on rails?  I assume th Coleman Pro-Xt is similar?
    
    I paid 275 for my Crawdad (new) from Spags.  If this Pro-Xt is a
    pontoon style I would recommend you look at the Crawdad.  It has a lot
    more room on it.  I looked at the pontoon type boats, but they just
    didn't look as stable as the crawdad.  Neither boat is good on a big
    lake but the higher profile and low gunwale of a Bantam XT, just looked
    less stable in any kind of chop.  Also if I am not mistaken the Bantam
    is heavy (120-140 lbs), I am not sure what the Crawdad wieghs, but I am
    sure its less than that, like I said I can move it around by myself.
    
    Brian

    I almost bought a Crawdad last year but with my limited budget, I 
    ended up settling for a 10 ft. jon boat (I used the rest of the money
    for the motor, battery and charger).  
    
    As I recall the Crawdad weighed 109 pounds.  Since I fish alone a lot,
    the jon boat (65 pounds) was a better move for me, but I think I'll be 
    picking up a Crawdad this spring so that I can take a bassin' buddy
    along every now and then.
    
    It'll be nice to be Admiral of my own fleet.
    
    Paul

    RE: .5
    
    $275.00? At that price the crawdad is worth another look.
    
    About the weight...both the Bantam and the Coleman Pro XT weigh in
    around 120 lbs. And to answer your question, yes, both the XT and
    Bantam are the short Pontoon style with the upright seats.
    
    Does the crawdad have upright swivel seats. Its been a while since I've
    seen one. What are the dimensions of the crawdad? I plan to haul it on
    a little utility trailer as I don't think it'll fit in my Bronco II.
    
    I vaguely remember MVP sports in Nashua had some crawdads. I might have
    to see one.
    
    And I thought this would be quick and easy. Thanks for the prompt
    replies. With the ice almost in, I figure I should be able to strike a
    deal.
    
    Guy
    Guy

    RE: -1
    
    Sorry for the garbled title. The system burped.
    
    
    Guy

    From memory, I think the Crawdad was something like 11' 1" long and was
    48" in the beam.  Also, I'm pretty sure that the standard bench seats
    can be replaced with optional swivel seats...I have seen them for sale.
    
    Paul

    Some more data on the coleman Pro-XT...
    
    They come in both 9 ft and 11 ft. There is a dealer in Fitchburg MA
    going out of business. He is willing to sell these coleman's at his
    cost (at least that is waht he claims). His cost for the 9ft boat is
    $420.00, his cost for the 11 ft boat is $520.00.
    
    I did call MVP sports about the Crawdads. They said they'd be happy to
    sell me one for $489.00 and that is with the bench seats. I guess you
    have to hit it just right to get the $275.00 price. WHoever got one at
    spags, do you remember what time of year?
    
    RE: Stability - someone questioned the stability of the bass buster
    style boat. I've fished and duck hunted out of one and had no problem
    sooting a 12 guage while sitting sideways in one. In other words, I
    found them rock steady. I am sure that they would not be much fun in
    any kind of chop.
    
    I have a friend also in the market for one of these style boats. I
    think we'll try to work a deal so that we get 2 of the 9 ft Coleman Pro
    Xts for 800.00
    
    Guy  

    The stats on the crawdad are right its about 3 1/2 half by 11 ft.
    It weighs close to 100 lbs and you can literally lift the front end and
    drag the thing without any strain.
    
    I bought the last one at Spags for 275 at the end of the summer.  I
    literally beat 3 guys to the gun to get it.  This boat retails at spags
    for 399.  The CD holds two easily can take up to a 5 hp motor and is
    very stabile.  I love this little boat.  Mine has carpet and bench
    seats but Northern Bass has seats on sale for $30.00, you just lift off
    the bench screw on a plywood base and attach the seat.  I don't know the
    Bantam just looks so much more crowded than the CD.  When we go out we
    take a cooler, trolling motors, batteries, two tackle boxes, worm
    lockers, etc etc and still have plenty of room,  I don't think you can
    fit that much on the bantam and still be able to move around. 
    
    Brian

    For a few bucks more (OK, a hundred or so) Whitney's Service in
    Leominster MA has *brand new* leftover 1988 Grumman 12' aluminum
    V-hull boats for $495.  He tells me that dealer cost on the same
    model 1992 boat is over $700.  
    
    Last time I was there, there were only 3 left.  Call Charlie
    Whitney at 508-534-8172.  This is just FYI, I have no financial
    interest in this, but it seemed like a good deal to me.
    
    Rick

    I'll second rick's comment.  Deals can be had on tin boats.  A 14'
    almuminum V or jon can be turned into alot more boat than a plastic 
    boat.  Once you get a tin boat you can nickle and dime yourself into 
    a homemade bass boat.  Nothing wrong with the plastic boats, but if you
    think you'll want to accessorize it to death and add as many ponies
    as possible, the tin boat can let you drain your wallet more.
    
    -donmac - who still has fond memories of STUMPJUMPA - a 14' jon that
    i picked up for a song that was left over and damaged in shipment...
     

    RE: last two...
    
    Hi DONMAC. I did over a 14ft starcraft that I trailer around. In fact I
    visited your place just after I bought it. If you saw my boat, you'd
    certainly recognize many of the features of your own...But I
    fish a lot of lakes that call for something smaller (no ramps). 
    
    A neighbor has a 12 foot v hull but it is too heavy for me to lift by
    myself. I have a marginal back...so light (approx 100 lbs) is good. I
    need to be able to muscle it around myself.
    
    Also because of the same back...I need upright seats. I know that you
    can do that with a "tin" boat, so I gues that isn't a point of
    difference.

    Yeap, I hear ya on wanting to fish lakes without ramps.
    
    Ol' stumpjumpa's hull (a 14' jon boat) weighed 83lbs, I carried it on
    top of a pickup for a year.  I carried all the accessories in the back
    of the truck.  It was nice being able to get into a pond with a well
    equipped boat that "real boats" couldn't get into.  But I got real tired 
    of spending half an hour setting up and tearing down the boat - I got a
    bad back too.  So the following year I gave ol' stump jumpa a larger 
    motor and a trailer.
    
    Then the transom gave out so I got a new hull, a 14' semi-V hull which
    served me well for about 3 more years - this was the one you came up and 
    checked out after I had customized it. 
    
    Small tin boats are light.  The 10' sea nymph jon weighs 63lbs.  I've
    seen 8 footers which are probably even lighter.  If I were in the
    market for a cartopper, I'd check out one of these.  I guess I'm just 
    kinda partial to tin because of all the fond memories I have of ol' 
    stump jumpa.    
    
    However these days for water that I can't get into with my bass boat
    I prefer the simplicity of a canoe.  If there are two of us I'll use 
    our 17 footer, if I'm going solo I'll use our 14 footer if its around
    (it spends alot of time at my cousin's camp).
    
    Someday I'd like to pick up an even smaller solo canoe for 
    floating/fishing small streams or puddles.
    
    Again, I'm not knocking the plastic boats, they work great.  I'm just 
    highlighting my personal preference.
    
    -donmac (ps: you don't have to capitilize it 8^)