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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4232 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #1
Have you looked at ND2? Easy to use and built in autopilot always available (for an additional £199) when and if you choose to unlock it . . .very stable boat with decent hoppers / lots of pimping kits available / easy to work on and upgrade internals making it perhaps more future proof than Vulcan . . .
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In reply to Post #10
Glad you've decided Steve 
@ Jason, you've got to admit a lot of that isn't relevant.
Your average microcontroller is designed to work for a max of ten years 24/7
A bait boat will never be used for 10 years 24/7. I know circuit boards can and do sometimes deliberately have finite lives, but ther are lots of 20+ year old alarms that are still fine, indeed favoured.
Memories have max read / write cycles.
Again, you'll never get there with a bait boat, imo.
You have a different experience to me with your boat, sad to say but I guess it's luck of the draw.
I presently have my 2nd RT4 and I'd probably buy a Microcat over it nowadays, such is the reputation of CL and their newer electronics. CL told me my RT4 circuit board may be corroded even though the boat hadn't seen water and had been stored for 3 years in good conditions (no not a nitrogen tent...lol) that comment alone destroyed my confidence in their products.
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That seems pretty conclusive - Vulcan it is then - thanks all
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In reply to Post #9
I work in the industry, old electronics non RoHS a lot of the components used on the board obsolete so difficult to rework / repair.
Your average microcontroller is designed to work for a max of ten years 24/7
Crystals age and drift and go out of spec leading to radio gear not working .
Memories have max read / write cycles.
When you get beyond 10 years things start to fail, happened on my technicat.
You can get semiconductors which are designed for the automotive industry which will work for 15 years but I can’t see that happening. The hopper wires on the AT boards tend to go and need replacing.
Then you got the more mechanical thing with plastic changing shape as the age and sealants starting to fail.
And I still believe folk forget their boats / alarms are full of electronics not built to withstand shock and vibration with a lot of the issues caused by the user.
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In reply to Post #7
To play devils advocate, are older electronics a bad thing....RT4 OR 7 endless problems!
Very true Stuart.
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In reply to Post #6
👍🏻thats the problem as you can only go off what experience you have of them be that really good or really bad
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AT boat has 20 year old electronics I wouldn’t touch it unless stripped out with new ESCs, updated led lighting control, new hopper wiring and Flysky radio gear running on lithiums.
For the money the Vulcan wins
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In reply to Post #5
It wouldn't surprise me re the customer service if during Mr Frys reign, hopefully the new owners will get a grip on that!
My Mk3 took a battering, and I mean that, never missed a beat, sad to here of your friends problems 
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In reply to Post #4
I only know two people who have had microcats and they both had loads of problems with theirs and AT’s customer service was appalling.
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If you want new there's only one option but dont be put off the AT Microcat.
I owned a Mk3 for over 10 years and never had a problem, abroad at range and in rough conditions. You do however have to have a ounce of common sense otherwise you might even sink it. Tape up the holes on the front of the hull with electrical tape when in use, take off when not. If using in really rough conditions tape the battery compartments too, the velcro covers you can buy can still let water in. If it's extremely rough dont use the boat.
I also bought the HD but found it a little slow manoeuvring.
Prior to the Mk3 I had the original AT boat, apart from the awkward battery replacement it was bomb proof.
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Agree with Chris, the vulcan is superb for the money, nothing can touch it in that price range. Microcat ancient now and always hearing issues with them. Boatmans customer service is superb if you do get any issues.
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In reply to Post #1
Vulcan for sure much better boat the microcat is a big old boat and sits very low to the water
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Am taking the plunge to get my first bait boat and the options I have narrowed it down to are to get a new Boatman Vulcan for £450 or pick up a cheaper 2nd hand one like an angling technics microcat for around £350. Will be using a deeper as the sonar for both and not bothered about GPS at this stage but wondering which option is best or is there something else I should be looking at? Not fishing massive pits more for waters like Farlows etc. any advice most welcome. Thanks.
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