lnorris

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I'm looking for links or ideas on how to make a RC boat that can take a fishing line out and drop it. Mostly this is done to be able to get to deep water by the dams in this area.

The boat needs to be simple, fairly cheap, and able to handle semi-rough and fast moving water.

And ideas?

lnorris

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Ok, I did some more searching around and I found this link;

http://www.catfishin.net/

Check out the "Dam Boat" page. The funny thing is the page is about dam fishing in Oklahoma. Go figure.. I think you can even buy them pre-built from the Tulsa store Wings and Things (918-745-0007).

In any case, hope it might help you out also.

Thanks.

Cactus.

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My advice is go for some sort of impellor, any kind of open prop could find you getting tangled up

lnorris

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Might also try one of those anti-weed devices around the prop. The ones that are kindof a grated half-circle around the prop.

Ron Olson

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www.rcboatmodeler.com has a jpeg movie on their site featuring an R/C fishing boat.

jtrew

Inorris, I recommend that you do some checking on the 'bait boats' made primarily in Europe. The ones that mentioned rough water at all said not to use the boats in waves over 6", or in swift water, so it doesn't sound like they would handle the water below a dam or powerhouse. The dam boats I've seen used on the Arkansas River were made from a large block of styrofoam with a 12v trolling motor for propulsion. A radio-controlled rudder was used for steering, and when you wanted to drop your bait, you simply pulled it off the boat. Of course, it wouldn't be that hard to add a radio-controlled dump. One of the guys at http://www.catfish1.com has built one and posted information about it. If you'll go to that site and fill out a profile similar to the one required for this board, you can do a search of the site to find the posts. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any problems at all.

Salsa

I remember hearing about an RC boat that used a trolling motor and car battery to do that job. Sorry I don't have any references.

Don

jtrew

The ones I've seen made of styrofoam can be made for about $100-$150, plus motor and battery, depending on how fancy you get with the radio controls. Actually, I've heard of some guys making them without radio controls, and using a line to control them. That would only work on calm water, though.

If you want to get really fancy, here's a link:
http://www.catfishin.net/damboat.html

Zac Price

All these ideas are good ones. I used a block of styrofoam, and trolling motor, and car battery. For the forward and reverse, I used an aluminum plate with the servo in the middle of two 12v momentary switches. Now I use a 51" deep vee hull I build with an electric motor and a motorcycle batt. I use regular gas hardware but convert it to take an electric motor. It is also easily switched to gas to "play". For the bait I attach a short pole to the boat, with a close pin glue to the top. A quick tug and it releases. Also with electric, you can tie your line to the boat with 2lb test. This way you can move it and fish at variable depths.

Email me for pics.

[email protected]

TinyTsmith

are guided by rod&reel .. a stiff one with a big enough reel to hold about 350 yds of 50 lb test big game ... the drawback to the manual type is that you have to reel them back because they normally don't come back under their own power. you can see the manual type at
http://www.catfishin.net/boat

I use my R/C damboat in the lake. I'm also working on setting it up with a sonar/fishfinder and remote camera to send a picture back to me of the structure and fish population that's under the R/C boat. it'll also help me drop my line as near to structure, as well

jtrew

Tiny, judging by the pictures I've seen of your boat, I would have to describe it as the Rolls Royce of bait boats. I can look, drool, and admire the quality, but still not be able to afford one. I'm hoping to retire in about a year and a half, and maybe then I'll have the tiime to build one from styrofoam, using an old trolling motor I have. Am I right in thinking that there is no way to steer the manual boat? I would mostly use a bait boat at Dardanelle Dam, below the powerhouse, when the spillways are closed. I would anchor 100 yards below the dam (legal limit) in the calm water, run the bait boat up to the dam in the calm water, then along the face of the powerhouse. There are 12 openings for the turbines, and very few people can cast far enough to reach 11 or 12, so the fishing is much better there. Obviously, I would have to have some way to have the boat change directions.