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The Carplounge RT4 sits in a strange place: it is both the most sophisticated bait boat you can currently order and, for a lot of anglers, the easiest one to overspend on, especially once you start comparing real bait-boat range and battery life against manufacturer claims.
The current RT4 V4 launched in early 2021 and moved the platform onto Carplounge's Digital SmartBUS, integrating parts of the system that older generations handled separately. It is not simply a refreshed hull; the V4 generation changed the autopilot, sonar, battery and accessory architecture. That matters, because most older reviews you can still find are based on pre-V4 boats and do not describe what you would actually order today.
This review focuses on the current generation. It covers exactly what a 2026 V4 Black Edition includes, how the V3 used market compares, which accessories are genuinely useful, and where the far lighter RidgeMonkey Hunter 750 becomes the smarter purchase. It is not a spec recap—it is an ownership-cost and use-case analysis.
This is for carp anglers on large or unfamiliar waters who need repeatable spot delivery, sonar mapping or long-range bait runs, and for anyone trying to decide whether an integrated premium bait-boat platform is worth carrying and maintaining.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Carplounge RT4 V4 Black Edition |
|---|---|
| Hull | Fiberglass-reinforced ABS trimaran |
| Dimensions | 630 × 400 × 240 mm |
| Boat weight | 6.3 kg without batteries |
| Propulsion | Twin water-jet drives |
| Bait capacity | ~2.5 L per hatch / ~5 L total |
| Receiver | 2.4 GHz |
| Power architecture | Two 4S Li-ion batteries; SmartPWR ecosystem optional |
| Autopilot | Carplounge Autopilot V4 |
| Sonar | Raymarine Element QHD CHIRP, DownVision, SideVision, HyperVision |
| Manual range | 300–400 m under optimal conditions |
| MappingRange+ option | Advertised 500–700 m radio connection |
Quick verdict: The RT4 V4 is a serious mapping and bait-delivery platform for large waters, not a simple rig-dropper. Buy it for repeatable GPS spot returns, depth mapping and integrated sonar. If you primarily need to carry one rig a modest distance, a compact bait boat like the Hunter 750 does that with less weight, less complexity and far fewer things to fail.
Carplounge RT4 — Overview & First Impressions
The current generation RT4 is not the boat that most existing reviews describe. The V4 platform launched in early 2021 as Carplounge's shift to a Digital SmartBUS architecture, which can address up to 89 BUS devices and integrated bait-spiral control that older boats handled with a separate board. The hull remains a 630 × 400 × 240 mm fiberglass-reinforced ABS trimaran with twin water jets, but the control stack changed: Autopilot V4, Raymarine Element QHD sonar, DownVision, SideVision and HyperVision, plus optional RealVision 3D and Structure Mapping Pro.
The current Black Edition also uses a Flysky FS-I6 Tel 2.4 GHz handset, while the original 2021 V4 manual specified a Jamara FX6 Pro. That handset change happened without a new V5 label, so a used V4 and a new V4 are not automatically identical. Buyers comparing boats should check the actual handset, battery system and sonar bundle rather than assuming every V4 ships the same.
The jet-drive architecture is worth understanding before anything else, because it removes exposed propellers and conventional steering servos. Our jet drive vs prop guide explains where that helps most: around weed, line and snags. Carplounge uses magnet-splint and twin-jet steering, which eliminates the servo and rudder mechanics of prop-driven boats but does not remove every moving part—the hatches and release mechanisms still actuate.
Specs & What's in the Box
The table above covers the core dimensions. What follows is the current Black Edition configuration as Carplounge lists it, without optional upgrades.
- Raymarine long-range echo sounder
- Carplounge Autopilot V4
- 3D Mapping
- Raymarine Element RT-QHD 7CH CHIRP display
- DownVision, SideVision and HyperVision
- Flysky FS-I6 Tel 2.4 GHz handset
- V4 transmitter box with tablet holder, tripod and charger
- Carbon-matt / BlackLine exterior
- Red left-side LED, green right-side LED and purple rear LEDs
- 2 × extra-low-noise brushed motors
- BASIC PWR softpack battery system as standard
- SMART PWR 15Ah Plug&Play PowerCase with BMS as the upgrade battery choice
- Optional RealVision 3D
- Optional V4-DLX Structure Mapping Pro
The battery choice is a buying decision, not an afterthought. The current 15Ah SmartPWR battery is specified at 14.8 V nominal, 15,000 mAh and 222 Wh, in an IP67 hardcase with BMS, automated cell balancing, deep-discharge, overvoltage and short-circuit protection. Each pack weighs about 900 g; installing two gives 30Ah of combined capacity. The basic softpack option is lighter and simpler, but lacks the hardcase protection and integrated management.
Pros: jet propulsion with no exposed props or steering servo, integrated GPS autopilot and sonar mapping, large 5 L total bait capacity, 36-month factory warranty, modular upgrade path.
Cons: heavy at 6.3 kg before batteries, complex electronics, premium segment, jet intakes can still ingest gravel in shallow water, early-V4 software reports require buyers to check the actual current configuration.
Verdict: the RT4 V4 is an integrated platform for serious use; it is not the easiest or cheapest way to drop a rig.
Build Quality & Durability
Carplounge builds each RT4 to order and puts it through an 80-point lake test before shipment. New RT4 and RT7 boats carry a 36-month factory warranty. Those are meaningful durability signals, but reliability needs nuanced treatment.
The jet system avoids exposed propellers and steering servos, but "jet drive equals indestructible" is false. The current V4 manual warns against running the jets in less than about 30 cm of water because of their strong suction. Independent long-term testing documented gravel ingestion after launching at full throttle in very shallow water, and the 30 cm minimum is the direct response to that failure mode. Sonar operation needs roughly 50 cm.
Early-V4 owner reports from 2021 mention autopilot faults, software safety shutdowns and rear voltage-display failures. Those are launch-era reports, not a verified current failure rate. The same caution applies to support times. Carplounge's service page quotes 4–6 days of workshop processing elsewhere as a broader 5–15 working days, and both figures explicitly exclude shipping. UK owners have reported longer door-to-door waits during peak periods, so workshop time and actual turnaround are not the same metric. The defensible conclusion is mixed but improving, not simply good or bad.
Performance — Jet Drive, Autopilot & Mapping
Jet drive on the water
The twin water jets provide strong directional control and eliminate the risk of line wrapping around props. That is a real advantage around weed and vegetation. The trade-off is suction: the intakes move a large volume of water, so sand, gravel and debris can still enter if you launch or run in water that is too shallow. Keep the boat in at least 30 cm of water before applying throttle, and do not treat the jet platform as debris-proof.
Autopilot, GPS and mapping
Autopilot V4 supports manual tablet-based control, a route planner, waypoints, actions assigned to waypoints, saved routes, saved fishing spots, boat and tablet position saving, map overlays, raster and non-raster depth-data recording, depth mapping, and manual handset override.
That last point matters more than it sounds. The manual deliberately retains the handset as an emergency backup, and one 2024 owner described an autopilot excursion toward a dam wall after an apparent satellite-signal loss. GPS autopilot is a precision and repeatability tool, not autonomous-navigation insurance. The basic handset range is 300–400 m under optimal conditions; the optional MappingRange+ antenna is advertised at 500–700 m and should not be confused with the stock system range.
Batteries and runtime
The V4 architecture supports both legacy 4S softpacks and the SmartPWR ecosystem. The current 15Ah SmartPWR pack is 14.8 V / 15,000 mAh / 222 Wh, weighs about 900 g, and carries UN38.3-certified BMS protection. Two packs provide 30Ah installed. For repeated mapping, long sessions and large-water use, SmartPWR is the most defensible upgrade. For basic bait delivery, the lighter basic packs are easier to carry and charge. See our RC boat battery guide for LiPo and Li-ion storage and charging specifics.
Carplounge RT4 vs RidgeMonkey Hunter 750 — Head-to-Head
| Attribute | Carplounge RT4 V4 | RidgeMonkey Hunter 750 |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | Twin water jets | Twin prop motors with weed guards |
| Hull size | 630 × 400 × 240 mm | 410 × 265 × 155 mm |
| Weight | 6.3 kg without batteries | 2.5 kg including batteries |
| Bait capacity | ~5 L total | 1 kg top-loading hopper |
| Documented range | 300–400 m handset; 500–700 m with optional antenna | 200 m |
| GPS autopilot | Autopilot V4 with route and waypoint control | No equivalent GPS mapping stack |
| Sonar | Raymarine Element QHD ecosystem | Optional integrated Echo sonar |
| Power | 4S Li-ion; SmartPWR 15Ah BMS batteries | 2 × 11.1V 5Ah USB-C batteries |
| Portability | Large and heavy | Major selling point |
| Complexity | Very high | Relatively simple |
Check Price on Amazon for RT4 · Check Price on Amazon for Hunter 750
The Hunter 750 is not a scaled-down RT4. It is a compact, top-loading bait deliverer with twin prop motors, weed guards, cruise control, and an optional integrated Echo sonar with a 3.5-inch IP66 monitor. Its 2023 revision added cruise control and improved battery-compartment seals and hopper pin durability, so early 2021 complaints about steering, hopper release and water ingress should not be applied to the current model without checking the revision. If your fishing is one-rig-at-a-time on ordinary waters, the Hunter 750 is lighter, simpler and substantially less expensive to own. If you need mapping, waypoint return and long-range repeat drops, the RT4 is the only one of the two that can do it.
Recommended Upgrades / Best Accessories
- 15Ah SmartPWR battery system — the first upgrade to justify. IP67 hardcase, BMS, automated balancing and 222 Wh per pack. Two packs give 30Ah installed.
- MappingRange+ antenna — useful only for genuinely large waters or mapping operations. The manufacturer advertises 500–700 m, but do not treat it as necessary for typical UK venues.
- BaitSpirals — create bait trails or multiple small drops instead of one pile. Community opinion is split; choose based on feeding strategy, not as a default.
- Multi-Bait-Spreader — more compelling than BaitSpirals for automated broad-area baiting, but it requires V4 BUS and V4 app compatibility. It does not work on the V3.
- Fast or multi charger plus spare battery capacity — the single most practical addition for mapping or multi-day sessions.
- Protective boat case or pod — warranted by the RT4's size, weight and value.
- Manual handset kept operational — not an upgrade, but the manual explicitly says to keep it available as backup if tablet or transmitter-box control fails.
- LowNoise vs brushless — choose by use case, not by marketing. Older owners praise brushless power in strong wind and waves; others prefer LowNoise for quieter, smoother low-speed operation. The current Black Edition is LowNoise as standard.
Who Should Buy the Carplounge RT4?
Buy the RT4 V4 if you fish large reservoirs or unfamiliar venues, repeatedly return to saved spots, map depth features, or need long-range runs with a substantial bait payload. The integrated Sonar, Autopilot V4 and SmartPWR stack earns its keep when you use those capabilities every session.
Skip it if you only need to carry one rig a normal distance, if you move venues on foot, or if your regular fisheries prohibit bait boats. In those cases, the integrated electronics become dead weight and a liability. Our best RC bait boats guide covers the broader category, and the bait boat setup and feeding guide helps you decide what level of automation you actually need.
Also worth checking: a well-maintained used V3 keeps the core trimaran and jet concept but uses the older BUS architecture, separate BaitSpiral control and older autopilot. It can still perform the fundamental bait-delivery job, but it does not get the V4 SmartBUS, SmartPWR or current accessory ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Carplounge RT4 jet drive safe in shallow water?
No. The current V4 manual warns against running the jets in less than about 30 cm of water because of their strong suction. Debris such as gravel can enter the intakes, and sonar needs roughly 50 cm. Wait for sufficient depth before applying throttle.
Q: Does the RT4 V4 have GPS autopilot?
Yes. Autopilot V4 supports route planning, waypoints, actions assigned to waypoints, saved spots, saved boat and tablet positions, map overlays, depth-data recording and depth mapping. A manual handset override remains available as backup.
Q: How much bait can the RT4 carry?
Each hatch holds approximately 2.5 L, for about 5 L of total capacity across both hatches. That is substantially more than a compact 1 kg top-loading hopper boat.
Q: What is the difference between the RT4 V3 and V4?
The V3 uses an older BUS architecture and requires a separate BaitSpiral control board or retrofit. The V4 integrates BaitSpiral control into the Digital SmartBUS, adds SmartPWR battery integration, the V4 app and autopilot, and supports the current Raymarine Element QHD ecosystem. The V4 Multi-Bait-Spreader does not work on a V3.
Q: Is the RidgeMonkey Hunter 750 a better buy?
It depends on the job. The Hunter 750 is far lighter at 2.5 kg including batteries, simpler, easier to carry, and much cheaper. It carries 1 kg and lacks GPS autopilot or an RT4-class mapping platform. For basic rig delivery it is often the smarter buy; for repeat spot return and depth mapping, the RT4 is ahead.
Q: Does the RT4 come with a warranty?
Yes. New RT4 and RT7 bait boats carry a 36-month Carplounge warranty. Carplounge quotes workshop processing times of 4–6 days where possible, but shipping time is excluded, and owner reports indicate longer door-to-door waits during peak periods.
Conclusion & Final Verdict
The Carplounge RT4 V4 is a leading integrated bait-boat platform, but it is not a universal recommendation. Its case is strongest when the autopilot, sonar mapping and SmartPWR battery system are used regularly: repeated GPS spot returns, depth mapping on unfamiliar water, long-range runs, and large bait payloads. Used that way, the weight and complexity are justified.
If your fishing is simpler, the same budget buys a much lighter and easier package elsewhere. The RidgeMonkey Hunter 750 handles ordinary bait delivery with less to carry and less to fail. The RT4's own used V3 generation offers a cheaper entry into the same hull and jet concept, but gives up the cleaner V4 ecosystem.
For more on the category, see our best RC fishing boats guide, the bait boat hopper and line release explainer, and our radio range troubleshooting guide if you plan to run at distance. If you have decided the RT4 fits your fishing, → Check the current price on Amazon.
