[14 of 17 customers found this review helpful]

KL Industries WaterTender 9.4 Review

Not bad for a car-toppable boat!

"I recommend this boat for those with a clear idea of what this boat's capabilities are, and for those not afraid of the water. If afraid, get a bigger boat! This is NOT a boat for open water, unless you are experienced with little boats and know the weather forecast. Even then, I'd still recommend staying near shore in any big water.I bought mine with a 5 HP Mercury 2-stroke, and when I'm alone, with battery, anchor, cooler, tackle, etc, it planes nicely and goes 15.5MPH according to the GPS. (I weigh 225lbs) Unfortunately, with a second person, it does NOT plane, and only reaches 6-7 MPH at just above idle.Even so, it gets outstanding gas mileage either way. I've run mine for several hours at various speeds on about 1.5 QUARTS of gas. Also, due to the generous width, it is surprisingly stable, even with two people on board. Also, it is not bad at all in chop or crossing wakes. I'd recommend making a bailer from a bleach bottle, just in case. You WILL get some water in the boat somewhere along the line.I highly recommend buying the clamp-on wheels for transport, as they make it MUCH easier to move and load alone! I love that I can put it in the back of my truck and take and launch it anywhere in minutes. Great little boat to explore new waters with!First I mounted a anchor roller, which is GREAT! Saves a LOT of hassle when anchoring or pulling. I also siliconed a couple of plywood plates to the plastic to avoid drilling holes, and mounted a Lowrance GPS/Fishfinder unit and vertical rod holders. Also, I found some trolling rod holders that mounted in the oarlock holes, which is very helpful when fishing. My little boat is now a rigged little fishing machine!I might consider a 10-12' jon boat as an alternative.Even so, mine is seeing lots of use. And unlike the tin boats, it's maintenance free, whis is a big plus in my book!Hope this helps give you a realistic view."