Rippton Catch X Mini

How well is the Rippton Catch X Mini built?

The carbon-effect shell is sharp, durable, and easy to wipe down after a session. The single-piece ABS hull is sealed against spray, and all access points (battery, charging port) are cleanly recessed.

The hopper lid and rig slot are simple to use and avoid the fiddly threading common on many boats. You can load bait, place the rig, close the lid, and drop with one hand, a huge benefit when fishing tight or solo.

The remote control has a smartphone mount for using the app in tandem and is USB-C rechargeable. Build feels solid, and the thumbstick is well-calibrated. Lights are subtle but bright enough for tracking the boat in low light.

One of the most underappreciated features that I love is “anchor mode”, which holds the boat in GPS position at your spot, allowing you to sort rods and line without worrying about drift.

How does it perform and handle?

The Catch X Mini is one of the easiest bait boats to handle out of the box. It weighs just 2.8kg and has a tight footprint (48cm x 31cm), yet it feels stable in the water and handles light to moderate wind without issue.

The prop-driven motor is quiet and responsive, with enough torque to stay accurate even when the hopper is full.

Manual control via the joystick is smooth and intuitive, but the real value is in the cruise control and autopilot modes, which take pressure off your hands during bait delivery. Cruise control helps straighten out longer runs, while GPS-guided return-to-home is spot on.

In calm water, the battery delivers close to the full 2-hour runtime. In chop or with sonar connected, that drops slightly, but it's more than enough for most short to medium sessions. The hopper drop is snappy and central, placing bait and rig in a neat pile.

Is it good value for money?

At around the £700 mark, the Catch X Mini delivers a truly smart bait boat experience in a size that fits in a standard rucksack. For anglers fishing day sessions, canals, or pressured UK venues where mobility is key, it’s a brilliant option.

You don’t get a sonar in the box, but the integration and scanning tools are already there. Add your preferred sonar, and the full mapping experience is unlocked. For this combination of portability, tech, and ease of use, it’s excellent value.