I was looking at this for years before deciding to buy it when it was on sale. Like many other people, I ignored all of the bad reviews and thought that I could just return this if I wasn’t happy. This product is almost impossible to use without scratching something, the moment you start operating it then things start going wrong. In my case, the base station got lightly scratched because the wire spool they include is very slick and the station will slide right off.
For the fisherman, this thing looks great on paper. But this is a terrible fishing tool and will only disappoint you. The bait release mechanism is a terrible design and the fishing line will rest directly under the vertical motor. If you get any slack in your fishing line at all and then try to descend, the motor will suck up your fishing line every time (trust me). And on top of that, you will lose the ONE bait drop that is included with this.
Customer support is rude and unhelpful. I reached out for more information about using the bait dropper because there is very little information about it on the internet. Replacements are expensive and hard to get, and it are very easy to lose. They offer no advice on how to prevent losing it. It seems that they designed it this way in hopes of getting some recurring revenue on this item.
The documentation is spotty and doesn’t give you enough info on important things. The internet is full of videos that make this thing look great but they aren’t real. It’s a frustrating product to use and the manufacturer doesn’t seem to care about supporting customers at all.
All in all, I had such high hopes about this fishing drone but I was terribly let down. The bad reviews are true and I don’t advise that you buy this. If you just want to fish then you can get a fantastic bait boat for this price and it will actually work. This is a product packed with features that don’t work and probably never will.
Update (1/1/2023): I wanted to update this after taking this out again with some improvements to the reel for the tether cable (I put the tether cable on a spinning reel on a cable caddy). I also decided to not try using it to fish so that I could just focus on controlling it. Unfortunately this still disappoints me even though I have it every chance I could.
My biggest concern was the fact that after about three minutes of cruising around, the drone completely quit responding to movement controls. The camera feed and other controls still worked but the drone just wouldn’t move. I made sure that the motors were still unlocked and tried turning the controller off and back on. Ultimately I had to gently pull it in with the tether cable.
After getting it out of the water I noticed that the tether cable had gotten loose on the drone. I’m assuming that this happened while I was cruising around because I went in circles. I may be being a bit harsh, but that is just a terrible design. I know that when I put it in the water, the cable was very gently but firmly hand tightened just like the user manual suggests. If I had let this sit in the water for much longer, I’m guessing that this would have completely loose from the tether and it would have been gone forever.
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From the manufacturer
PowerRay Use Cases & Features
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Underwater VideographyThe PowerRay will allow you to explore a new world under the surface without even getting wet! Our 4K video and 12-mega pixel camera allow you to capture beautiful cinematic scenes as you dive below the surface. |
Fishing VisualizationEver wonder what it looks like when a fish takes your bait? Now you can visualize it in real time and get to learn fish behaviors with the PowerRay. |
Boat InspectionKeeping your boat in tip top shape is really important. The PowerRay provides a first-hand look at any boat from beneath the surface. Need to check your prop’s, hull or mooring lines, the PowerRay can do all of this and more. No need to hire a diver again when you have the PowerRay. |
Treasure HuntingHave you ever dreamt of fining hidden treasure or wanted to explore around a sunken ship? With the PowerRay you can do both. With a range of up to 230 ft and diving capabilities of 98ft the treasures of the world are waiting for you! |
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Commercial InspectionThe PowerRay has many uses and one of the biggest would have to be commercial inspections. From piers to drain pipes this amazing ROV tool can help any professional who does work from beneath the surface. With tons of use cases and a product that is reliable and easy to use, the PowerRay is the perfect work companion. |
Marine ResearchThe PowerRay was born a true Marine biologist. This product has already helped on many scientific research missions. From Shell fish farms to exploring great white shark behaviors, this product is very useful in underwater research. Exploring marine life has never been so easy and accessible. |
A Fishing Technology Tool (For PowerRay Wizard Only)Use the PowerSeeker fish finder sonar and magnetic bait drop to locate and place bait at any desired position. This will enable and help monitor control of your entire fishing experience. |
Experience FPV Technology (For PowerRay Wizard Only)Optimized ZEISS VR ONE Plus - the PowerVision edition of these Goggles has taken first steps into the underwater world of first person views. The ZEISS goggles offer you a brand new underwater experience in immersed first person view. |
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| PowerRay Explorer | PowerRay Wizard | PowerDolphin | |
| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | $489.99 | $449.99 | $499.99 |
| Type | Underwater Drone | Underwater Drone | Water Surface Drone |
| Communication Cable | 165ft | 230ft | Wireless up to 0.5 mile |
| Bait Drop | - | ✓ | Not applicable |
| PowerSeeker | - | ✓ | incl. in Wizard Version |
| VR Goggles | - | ✓ | Not applicable |
| Carrying Case | Briefcase Style | Wheeled Case | Storage Bag |
Reviews with images
PowerRay submarine drone
The Power Ray is a pretty cool integration of tech and has a very good hi-def good camera. It comes in a nice case with all the parts packed in.To operate it, the clearer the water the better, and having an unobstructed area is helpful so's to avoid the cord wrapping around things. Launching from a boat is ideal because you don't have to deal with surf and surge.For me, the easiest way to control it so far is with the included hardware joystick with a 10.5-inch tablet fixed to it. This is easier than trying to see it on the small phone screen, or with the included VR goggles (which work with your phone inserted), and I found the joystick is easier than the touch-screen controls.The cord isn't a problem as I thought it might be... it provides a strong WiFi signal to the powerful and responsive motors (using a pretty clever app), it doesn't get in the way, and it serves as a safety leash in case you were to somehow lose track of it.The up/down motor in the center is open to water flow, so you have to avoid getting seaweed, grass or debris in it.It's not completely obvious how to activate it, operate it, and use the footage once you have the account set up, app installed etc. You do have to do some reading and figure stuff out.I'd recommend practicing in a swimming pool where you can see it very clearly and learn to control it.
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
Kenneth M.
Great product one of the best water drones
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2020Style: ExplorerVerified Purchase
Chris R
Defective or broken
Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2019Style: WizardVerified Purchase
Chris R
Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2019
Images in this review
It's OK, Does not allow for finger print scans and the screen cracked.
Some Damage.
Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2023Style: WizardVerified Purchase
It's OK, Does not allow for finger print scans and the screen cracked.
Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2023
Images in this review
Sacha canow
Line tangles badly horrible buy
Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2019Style: WizardVerified Purchase
