Whenever somebody asks me if I have a boat, my response usually starts off with “Well, yeah, but it fits in the back of my truck.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my boat. It is representative of me in the sense that it does what I need it to do and it is not more than it needs to be. You won’t see me shooting rooster tails on Table Rock or thumping some bass (not largemouth, the musical term) while pulling a wake boarder at the Lake of the Ozarks. It seats one person comfortably or two people uncomfortably. It is the perfect small boat to fly fish out of and doesn’t take up much space in my garage. It’s perfect…for me.
In the water, loaded with gear, and ready to go fishing.
I probably need to contact the manufacturer to see if I can get on the Bass Baby payroll because I am pretty sure I have sold a few while talking to some curious strangers at the local boat ramps. I have been approached by dozens of people and they all ask the same two questions: 1. Where did you get that? 2. Are those wheels on the back? Respectively, I got it at Rogers Sporting Goods in Liberty, MO, and yes, those are wheels in the back.
Photo ops are a little limited in such a small boat with one person.
In most full size pickups, the boat will fit between the wheel wells and
will need to be strapped in the back with the tailgate down.
I bought this particular make and model for a few different reasons. The first was that it was only six hundred bucks. I have no idea what they retail for now, but if anything ever happens to my current boat, I will be buying another. Another reason is the wheels. They make getting down boat ramps and into farm ponds easy, especially when I am fishing alone. It also fits in the back of my full size pickup between the wheel wells. And while I have to leave the tailgate down when it is loaded, a couple or ratchet straps do a nice job of keeping it secure. The overall dimensions I believe are a little over eight feet long and a little wider than four and a half feet. These proportions ensure that the boat is really stable when I am standing in it as well as providing extra room for tackle. Finally, it is powered by a trolling motor. I never have to worry about getting gas, changing spark plugs, or any of that other boat maintenance that would get on my nerves.
On its side, the vessel doesn't take up much space in the garage.
On a wooden frame that has wheels on the bottom,
the boat can be moved around to its storage location.
Obviously, there are some drawbacks but they are few. I DO NOT put this boat on any of the big lakes in the state. I don’t want to run out of juice for the motor and get stranded because paddling this sucker is a labor intensive undertaking. I also don’t want to get capsized when Roman Craig from The Great Outdoors comes blasting by in “Suck My Wake”. I’m not going to be breaking any speed records with a forty five pound thrust trolling motor either. Lastly, if I want to go fishing with three people then someone is left walking the bank…and I own the boat so it ain’t me.
So that’s my boat and I love it. If you are ever in the market or are considering buying one, feel free to email me. I don’t have any allegiances or profit from any sales; I just know how many fond memories it has helped create for me and is a quality product that I think you would enjoy if your applications are similar to mine.
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