Everyone saying just buy a boat. I have a 15’ full fiberglass saltwater boat and id trade mine in a heartbeat for a fully rigged up one. Never seen a boat that you can just pull over the waves n start offshore fishing without taking a river access there. You could legit surf waves with em, off shore fish over the break, inshore fish on rivers, and fish all day in shallow flats where the fish love to hide and eat.
It is a great option, I like this market that has been emerging. I built my own Bateau sk14 which is a bit larger than the rover and can take a 9hp. Which is too much power in my opinion for a craft this small, but my 8hp does just fine. price of build plus new 8hp tohatsu was less than a hobie kayak...
Thanks for the video and review Pete. My questions are if you got to do tight turns on it and how it manage them. Did you ever get the feeling that it could flip?? Im very close to ordering mine.
I have only been on the Rover for a few hours. I need to spend the day on one to get a good feel of what it can do. Make sure you water test it first before you order and see how it feels to you.
There are so many other options available at the $3500 and below price point that the Rover tends to look like an over priced niche item. I just don't see it at that price.
i have owned both a Bote Board and a SoloSkiff and I was less than impressed with the Bote board after dropping $3000 into a paddle board. The solo skiff is the way to go, Bote Boards are super fragile, the new "honeycomb" protection shell will never be as strong as the rotomolded polyethylene SoloSkiff. i was so excited when i got my Bote board but ruined the $3000 dollar vessel by simply running into a few rocks when i was flounder gigging, the first day that i had it. The SoloSkiff will take a serious beating due to the composite it is made, it does not track as well as a note board but i would trade the durability of the Soloskiff over Bote Board ANY DAY! I also inquired about the warranty program and Bote Board and they told me to call someone that use to work for them to fix the dings? really? $3000 for a platform and you can't even hold true to your warranty. Solo skiff or go home, i beat the hell out of that thing and it doesn't even look like it has ever seen water much less rocks and the sand i drag it across to take it down to the beach. I trailer my solo skiff and don't have to worry about baking it up on the sides of my trailer. Bote Boards...really???? total gimmick. Go Solo skiff or save up a true skiff don't waste your money on this piece, it won't last more than 6 months, mine didn't last 6 hours and they had NO consideration at all for repairs even with a warranty. Plus the solo skiff has in deck storage, and a cooler that won't run you $300 already built into it. I have my 45 qt yeti mounted on the front of my solo skiff and can stand up on it and cast the fly rod, the Bote Board was less than stable when approaching the bow, i can "hang ten" on my solo skiff and have no issues with balance. Sorry Bote Boards you have lost a lifetime customer simply based on a product that will never compete in the market. I will admit the Bote Board looks "sexier" however after my experience with the two products i will never give up my solo skiff for the lesser of the two. The Solo Skiff is cheaper, stronger, more durable, more functional, and more stable. there is no question to ask when deciding between the two. Solo Skiff....you have a life time customer, can't wait to pick up the next version.
Good review but aren't there are more affordable options out there if you can believe the marketing? Any thoughts on how this compares to say a Solo Skiff or an L2Fish with an outboard? I would really appreciate any input you may have. Trying to make up my mind for early next year.
Soloskiff weighs 50% more, 150lbs. The L2 and L4 boards were not designed for an outboard and cannot handle anything above a 2.5 hp without nose plowing. I bought a Rover, going to pick it up next week!
Do not get me wrong, I like the look of the Rover, It has great eye appeal. I just think it is insanely overpriced for what it is. A thin fiber shell wrapped around a foam core. Solo skiff is $1600 less and if you somehow manage to puncture it you can easily repair it yourself. Bote even says there is a gatorshell option coming later so I question durability. I will admit it looks better than a solo skiff (although the solo looks sleek as well) but marketers have had fishermen falling for looks over results for ages. As for the L2fish boards the videos of powered boards I have seen do not back up your opinion. And they definitely appear to be built to a higher quality level and still come in far below the cost of the foam Bote Rover (which I am pretty sure is pumped out of China) . IMHO. And finally as for the weight. The Bote is 104 pounds. That does not really make it portable. I think you have a non-argument there. Especially when you you add on your gear. Neither the Solo or the Bote are meant to be carried from the parking lot to the surf without an extremely nice dolly (which are available at an additional cost).
Everyone buys for different reasons, and price can definitely be one of them, but when it comes to durability you can either have fast and lightweight, or strong and heavy. The Rover is the lightweight option and Bote makes the highest quality boards on the planet. They don't make anything cheap that could cause them a lawsuit. I bought the Rover because it's lightweight and the motor rack slides right out so I can easily load it on the roof of my car by myself, just like my 97 lb kayak. There's no way I could load a 150 lb Soloskiff on my roof racks by myself without serious effort and possibly damaging my car. Here's a Soloskiff owner review from Microskiff.com: "I bought mine with the intent to transport using my pickup. Im used to kayaks - have been doing this with my Pro Angler for years. Im youngish and reasonably fit. The Solo, imho, is significantly more challenging to load/unload alone. Ive seen the videos and tried to do it similarly. Wasn't easy. Bit the bullet and got a trailer." www.microskiff.com/threads/negatives-of-solo-skiff.43908/ Additionally, the Soloskiff is only rated for 5hp and there is a known problem with the plastic transom flexing and needing to be reinforced with metal bracing. "The cheesy plastic transom flexed when I put the motor in gear." That was from another Soloskiff owner on the same page: www.microskiff.com/threads/negatives-of-solo-skiff.43908/ As far as repair, fiberglass repairs are just as easy as ABS plastic. Anyone with RUclips can do it. I repaired many surfboards as a kid, some of which had major damage, and when I was done you couldn't tell anything ever happened. Finally, both the L2 and L4 boards nose plow through waves because the front of their board is the same height as the back. Waves come right over the front of the board in between the cat hulls. This is a major problem with their design and adding an outboard will only make them nose plow worse. A rider in medium chop will get soaked as waves funnel right over the center of the board. If they simply raised the front of their board and created more of a bow the water could not come straight down the front.
With all do respect 911 tech, if you're going to make public posts about a product, please educate yourself. The Rover is comprised of 5 layers of fiberglass material, two of which are proprietary blends that add incredible strength. The current build is actually just as strong as gatorshell, but their other products are going the gatorshell route so in time it only makes sense for the rover to use that manufacturing process as well. The core is EPS foam which adds to the fact that it is unsinkable. Solo skiff and L2 fish are hollow which means puncturable and sinkable. All of these products are certainly repairable. Regardless, they are different types of products for different uses. I've also had many products manufactured in China and that is no longer synonymous with bad quality. The iPhone, the highest quality and most used device in the world, is manufactured in China. So these implied negative statements due to China are not founded on anything. As someone else stated, the L2 was retrofitted with a mount that will not take more than a 2.5hp motor making it a very different product. Also, weight is important when add a motor, it needs to weigh a certain amount to ride safely. With that said, it is portable and can be operated by a single person, albeit it is heavier than a standard paddleboard.
How fast was it going with both of you on it? I weigh 240 and was considering purchasing one, but want it to be able to go at least 12mph with me on it.
I did not have a GPS on me that time. I think that you should do 12 mph. If you are thinking of getting one, make sure you do a water test and if you can test others like Solo Skiff.
Palm Beach Pete I'm trying to find somewhere to test one, but not having any luck near me. I'm also looking at the Solo Skiff, but really liking the Rover.
“All the testing we’ve done and never flipped one.” Wow. Flipped mine the first day. Not good with a 4 stroke motor. Gotta do a top end tear down if it’s even salvageable. Cool boat but I’m not sure an outboard is a good idea.
Respectfully...This is no longer really a kayak...not as stable as a normal keeled boat....can't use your feet with fins like a pontoon....can't go down rivers with oars like a toon...too heavy....2 people at most...can't sit down...not likely to do well in a surf launch...needs a trailer....for the price, a motorized Zodiac is a much better choice...you get an A+ for innovation tho...good luck...Inflatable Pontoons (that also can be motorized) are the most versatile single man fishing craft on the planet. Take the motor off and run class 5 rapids ($2200 Steelheader Toons). Can be used in bays, ocean, rivers. Maneuvering or stealth trolling while using your feet separates a toon from all the competition. Kayaks, bass boats, valco....
David MrFishGadget yeah I bought an x life save inflatable with trust worthy 15hp motor for 700 bucks and it does everything fairly deep sea fishing even skiing for 80kg or less people.
Palm Beach Pete yes, it looked like the other guy had one of those lanyards but I could be wrong. I think it is a great idea and i just recently found out about them.
In some ways I get it but seems like the world keeps looking for the easy way of everything in life like the kids movie Wall-E. At this point I like the way I feel after paddling for 6-9 hrs fishing even if it limits my area and time I can cover. It does look like a nice product though but just not for me.
Darren Turner yeah cause flying on a board that small is safe enough to make any of these points valid lmao. If you nick a sandbar or flip at 19 mph you will get yourself killed quick.
I don't see any added value over an inflatable sup-board with an electric engine. Board $250 , Engine $100, Battery $100 Total $450 and also seats 2 people.
Boat not registered, no PDF's, no whistle or horn, the marine patrol would have a field day with you guys, not wearing a PDF is careless, not very professional, and not promoting safety.
Everyone saying just buy a boat. I have a 15’ full fiberglass saltwater boat and id trade mine in a heartbeat for a fully rigged up one. Never seen a boat that you can just pull over the waves n start offshore fishing without taking a river access there. You could legit surf waves with em, off shore fish over the break, inshore fish on rivers, and fish all day in shallow flats where the fish love to hide and eat.
Another great video. Thanks Pete
That’s an awesome setup. I was actually talking to Sean on Friday about the rover at strike zone. If only I had the money to have one.
One day you will.
JL Fishing
If you worried about the warranty just have 2 outboards put on a 6 horse E-Tec Evinrude and you will fly with that thing with you guys
It is a great option, I like this market that has been emerging. I built my own Bateau sk14 which is a bit larger than the rover and can take a 9hp. Which is too much power in my opinion for a craft this small, but my 8hp does just fine. price of build plus new 8hp tohatsu was less than a hobie kayak...
Sounds like a cool setup.
picture?thx
Thanks for the video and review Pete. My questions are if you got to do tight turns on it and how it manage them. Did you ever get the feeling that it could flip?? Im very close to ordering mine.
I have only been on the Rover for a few hours. I need to spend the day on one to get a good feel of what it can do. Make sure you water test it first before you order and see how it feels to you.
Where is the t top and outriggers?
Ok thank you. I just want to see how it will handle and see if it would do fine.
Cool little boat I liked it.
It was fun to ride.
There are so many other options available at the $3500 and below price point that the Rover tends to look like an over priced niche item. I just don't see it at that price.
i have owned both a Bote Board and a SoloSkiff and I was less than impressed with the Bote board after dropping $3000 into a paddle board. The solo skiff is the way to go, Bote Boards are super fragile, the new "honeycomb" protection shell will never be as strong as the rotomolded polyethylene SoloSkiff. i was so excited when i got my Bote board but ruined the $3000 dollar vessel by simply running into a few rocks when i was flounder gigging, the first day that i had it. The SoloSkiff will take a serious beating due to the composite it is made, it does not track as well as a note board but i would trade the durability of the Soloskiff over Bote Board ANY DAY! I also inquired about the warranty program and Bote Board and they told me to call someone that use to work for them to fix the dings? really? $3000 for a platform and you can't even hold true to your warranty. Solo skiff or go home, i beat the hell out of that thing and it doesn't even look like it has ever seen water much less rocks and the sand i drag it across to take it down to the beach. I trailer my solo skiff and don't have to worry about baking it up on the sides of my trailer. Bote Boards...really???? total gimmick. Go Solo skiff or save up a true skiff don't waste your money on this piece, it won't last more than 6 months, mine didn't last 6 hours and they had NO consideration at all for repairs even with a warranty. Plus the solo skiff has in deck storage, and a cooler that won't run you $300 already built into it. I have my 45 qt yeti mounted on the front of my solo skiff and can stand up on it and cast the fly rod, the Bote Board was less than stable when approaching the bow, i can "hang ten" on my solo skiff and have no issues with balance. Sorry Bote Boards you have lost a lifetime customer simply based on a product that will never compete in the market. I will admit the Bote Board looks "sexier" however after my experience with the two products i will never give up my solo skiff for the lesser of the two. The Solo Skiff is cheaper, stronger, more durable, more functional, and more stable. there is no question to ask when deciding between the two. Solo Skiff....you have a life time customer, can't wait to pick up the next version.
I am looking to do a video of the Rover and Soloskiff together. Head on head and do a review. Thanks for your feed back.
What did you end up doing with it?
I thought the guy in the black hat was going to bust out singing Mr Jones and me
When are you going to do the Rover vs Solo Skiff comparison video?
I was unable to line it up where I could get them together.
+Palm Beach Pete What do you think? This worth the money?
It is not for me. I am looking to do a review of the Solo Skiff and Rover side by side. I still like to paddle.
Palm Beach Pete Thank you for the response! Looking forward to that review!
Thanks Pete!
This thing with a small electric would be amazing.
Yes, it would.
Good review but aren't there are more affordable options out there if you can believe the marketing? Any thoughts on how this compares to say a Solo Skiff or an L2Fish with an outboard? I would really appreciate any input you may have. Trying to make up my mind for early next year.
I have not been on a Solo or a L2Fish with a motor. I am looking to do a review of them together soon.
Soloskiff weighs 50% more, 150lbs. The L2 and L4 boards were not designed for an outboard and cannot handle anything above a 2.5 hp without nose plowing. I bought a Rover, going to pick it up next week!
Do not get me wrong, I like the look of the Rover, It has great eye appeal. I just think it is insanely overpriced for what it is. A thin fiber shell wrapped around a foam core. Solo skiff is $1600 less and if you somehow manage to puncture it you can easily repair it yourself. Bote even says there is a gatorshell option coming later so I question durability. I will admit it looks better than a solo skiff (although the solo looks sleek as well) but marketers have had fishermen falling for looks over results for ages. As for the L2fish boards the videos of powered boards I have seen do not back up your opinion. And they definitely appear to be built to a higher quality level and still come in far below the cost of the foam Bote Rover (which I am pretty sure is pumped out of China) . IMHO. And finally as for the weight. The Bote is 104 pounds. That does not really make it portable. I think you have a non-argument there. Especially when you you add on your gear. Neither the Solo or the Bote are meant to be carried from the parking lot to the surf without an extremely nice dolly (which are available at an additional cost).
Everyone buys for different reasons, and price can definitely be one of them, but when it comes to durability you can either have fast and lightweight, or strong and heavy. The Rover is the lightweight option and Bote makes the highest quality boards on the planet. They don't make anything cheap that could cause them a lawsuit.
I bought the Rover because it's lightweight and the motor rack slides right out so I can easily load it on the roof of my car by myself, just like my 97 lb kayak.
There's no way I could load a 150 lb Soloskiff on my roof racks by myself without serious effort and possibly damaging my car.
Here's a Soloskiff owner review from Microskiff.com:
"I bought mine with the intent to transport using my pickup. Im used to kayaks - have been doing this with my Pro Angler for years. Im youngish and reasonably fit. The Solo, imho, is significantly more challenging to load/unload alone. Ive seen the videos and tried to do it similarly. Wasn't easy. Bit the bullet and got a trailer."
www.microskiff.com/threads/negatives-of-solo-skiff.43908/
Additionally, the Soloskiff is only rated for 5hp and there is a known problem with the plastic transom flexing and needing to be reinforced with metal bracing.
"The cheesy plastic transom flexed when I put the motor in gear."
That was from another Soloskiff owner on the same page:
www.microskiff.com/threads/negatives-of-solo-skiff.43908/
As far as repair, fiberglass repairs are just as easy as ABS plastic. Anyone with RUclips can do it. I repaired many surfboards as a kid, some of which had major damage, and when I was done you couldn't tell anything ever happened.
Finally, both the L2 and L4 boards nose plow through waves because the front of their board is the same height as the back.
Waves come right over the front of the board in between the cat hulls.
This is a major problem with their design and adding an outboard will only make them nose plow worse. A rider in medium chop will get soaked as waves funnel right over the center of the board.
If they simply raised the front of their board and created more of a bow the water could not come straight down the front.
With all do respect 911 tech, if you're going to make public posts about a product, please educate yourself. The Rover is comprised of 5 layers of fiberglass material, two of which are proprietary blends that add incredible strength. The current build is actually just as strong as gatorshell, but their other products are going the gatorshell route so in time it only makes sense for the rover to use that manufacturing process as well. The core is EPS foam which adds to the fact that it is unsinkable. Solo skiff and L2 fish are hollow which means puncturable and sinkable. All
of these products are certainly repairable. Regardless, they are different types of products for different uses. I've also had many products manufactured in China and that is no longer synonymous with bad quality. The iPhone, the highest quality and most used device in the world, is manufactured in China. So these implied negative statements due to China are not founded on anything. As someone else stated, the L2 was retrofitted with a mount that will not take more than a 2.5hp motor making it a very different product. Also, weight is important when add a motor, it needs to weigh a certain amount to ride safely. With that said, it is portable and can be operated by a single person, albeit it is heavier than a standard paddleboard.
Rated for a 9.9 on Bote’s website
Yes, it changed from the time of this video.
How fast was it going with both of you on it? I weigh 240 and was considering purchasing one, but want it to be able to go at least 12mph with me on it.
I did not have a GPS on me that time. I think that you should do 12 mph. If you are thinking of getting one, make sure you do a water test and if you can test others like Solo Skiff.
Palm Beach Pete I'm trying to find somewhere to test one, but not having any luck near me. I'm also looking at the Solo Skiff, but really liking the Rover.
Send Bote a Email and see if they can set something up for you.
I can only see someone running into a sudden sandbar and flying off the board into their death lmao😂
It could happen.
Yeah, cuz that would kill you 🙄 on fucking water.
Rofl totally possible
That thing is so sick! Straylow!
It is cool, I need to try fishing off of it.
What's the price of one of those
“All the testing we’ve done and never flipped one.” Wow. Flipped mine the first day. Not good with a 4 stroke motor. Gotta do a top end tear down if it’s even salvageable.
Cool boat but I’m not sure an outboard is a good idea.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you are able to salvage it.
will it handle a 70 Horse ?
GREAT VIDEO. I FEEL I GOT TO KNOW U A LOT BETTER BUT I WANTED TO SEE THE DAMM BOARD DUMMY.
This things makes sense for basically no one. Its just a really expensive toy.
Nice!Keep up the Good work!
Thanks
cool! it's incredible !!! thumbs up
Thanks
What is the limitation that only limits it to a single person fishing?
It would be hard to fish two on it but you could.
Maybe I missed something. Where do you sit down?
It is made to stand on but you can put a cooler and sit.
Would you be interested in reviewing a Twin Troller?
Most everything I review is a type of paddle water craft. It looks cool.
I can understand that but for fishing, why paddle if you don't have to?
I get a good workout without going to the gym.
will the rover handle open ocean??
I would not. I don't think it would hold up.
4k without being rigged up and no motor is nuckingfuts
It is not for everyone.
Suckers!! Lmfao
You could buy a twin troller for that with motors
soloskiff is a great alternative choice
Its just money. Just a piece of paper most people will blow on food anyways .
Respectfully...This is no longer really a kayak...not as stable as a normal keeled boat....can't use your feet with fins like a pontoon....can't go down rivers with oars like a toon...too heavy....2 people at most...can't sit down...not likely to do well in a surf launch...needs a trailer....for the price, a motorized Zodiac is a much better choice...you get an A+ for innovation tho...good luck...Inflatable Pontoons (that also can be motorized) are the most versatile single man fishing craft on the planet. Take the motor off and run class 5 rapids ($2200 Steelheader Toons). Can be used in bays, ocean, rivers. Maneuvering or stealth trolling while using your feet separates a toon from all the competition. Kayaks, bass boats, valco....
David MrFishGadget yeah I bought an x life save inflatable with trust worthy 15hp motor for 700 bucks and it does everything fairly deep sea fishing even skiing for 80kg or less people.
How does it handle in rough water
I would run it in a light chop. I have not tested it in anything close to rough.
And we know why too lol
Wireless kill switch lanyard?
That would be a must have.
Palm Beach Pete yes, it looked like the other guy had one of those lanyards but I could be wrong. I think it is a great idea and i just recently found out about them.
That is definately needed
In some ways I get it but seems like the world keeps looking for the easy way of everything in life like the kids movie Wall-E. At this point I like the way I feel after paddling for 6-9 hrs fishing even if it limits my area and time I can cover. It does look like a nice product though but just not for me.
There are a few that will get it.
How would you compare it too a Solo Skiff? Say speed and stability..
A am looking to test one is a month. I hope to compare the two also.
Does one still need license for this?
You need to register it like a power boat.
No but 2 does.
A G depending on where you live the boat doesn’t need to be register if the motor has more than 10HP
have to use with waders.
yes, if the water is cold.
Berapa ye harga boat ni?
Simpler and more practical,
have a reliable aluminum boat! ..
nice video!
Thanks
This would be cool at willow beach on the co river but for the price I can get a used SeaDoo for that price, go way faster and haul more gear.
True.
Buy a boat for that price fully rigged
gsppuffer youre missing the point.
Darren Turner yeah cause flying on a board that small is safe enough to make any of these points valid lmao. If you nick a sandbar or flip at 19 mph you will get yourself killed quick.
The Rc Master6042 there are loads of things out there that will kill you...
Darren Turner this is one that will do it waaay easier and quicker than other things
The Rc Master6042 people flip 17foot bayliners and shit all the time doing 60 and live you sound like a pessimist
Damn for that price I buy me a boat
Me to.
It seems like it's about twice as expensive than its worth...
Atleast
Bingo!
A 1yr warranty.........seriously?
I don't see any added value over an inflatable sup-board with an electric engine. Board $250 , Engine $100, Battery $100
Total $450 and also seats 2 people.
oh yeah that thing will stuff the hell outta the waves. no fun i pass
This review tells nothing concerning real world fishing experience out of this Bote whether inshore, nearshore, etc.
Yes, I was only able to ride the Rover. Hope to do one on fishing later.
That's so expensive u could buy a big boat
My backyard
You have a nice back yard.
Its cool but 3500 little over priced😰😱
NAA I JUST RATHER BUY ME A JON BOAT 🚣
Good design but the price is expensive ！Boater will prefer to buy a boat because the price is able to buy a small Centre console boat from China！
Not true im looking at one now i dont have a truck n i have no wife bo kids so im fishing by myself everyday
Dumb af Too $$$. You can buy a nice, used real boat and motor for the same money.
Boat not registered, no PDF's, no whistle or horn, the marine patrol would have a field day with you guys, not wearing a PDF is careless, not very professional, and not promoting safety.
You are right.
Жел жоқ, толқын жоқ. Ал толқын болса ше?
Hey Sean is our bote rep wuzup Sean watch my videos, buy bote boards
Nope
if you have to trailer it, its pointless .
You don't need a trailer.
G