Thread: Perfect Crappie Boat

Bill if you would delete my last post on "Never Caught a Citation Crappie." Ment to start a new thread, no post there. I've had everything from 12' Jon boats to 22' center console. As most of you know I now fish out of a 17' nitro. I'm planning on retirement in two years so I'm thinking about getting something which doesn't take everything out of me fishing for a day. The nitro seats are down on the floor almost. Hard as heck to get up from. Trolling motor is hard to put out and get back in. Thinking about a 17' or 18' Triumph boat. Center console with captain chairs not a bench at the console. Trolling motor needs to be power for put out and retract. Want a switch on console for this and also one up front. Anyone think of anything else?

AC

Its deleted Andy. You might want to look very closely at the different types of rod holders people now use. Pictures are great but they don't tell the whole story. Seeing them installed makes a big difference. For instance when I first seen the Black Widow Ultra, I thought they were great and got a set. While they are very well made they have a tendency to get in the way because of the way they stick up. Drift Master are the same plus they rust. So far I have found that Callshy's (I think Bee Ready are similar) are much better for me. Get in the seat behind them and its much easier to tell which you will like best.

Andy, I am taking a look at a Carolina Skiff JVX side console series. You can get one with a front casting deck or what they call a step down front deck where the pedestal seat base is down on the true floor and looks wide enough for double seats in the front. They don't draw much water and because of that, takes less horse power. The 18 feet model is rated for 75 hp but runs around 40 mph. You can get rails mounted around the thing for putting rail mounted drift master rod holders all over it. It has no carpet to have to keep clean and has a captain style chair at the console. Just hose it out and ready to go again. here is the best part. The model I described only runs brand new around 15 grand. That ain't too bad for a new fiberglass ride. These boats are built for salt water fishing too. That is perfect for our area IMHO. Want break the bank on gas either with the 4 stroke and lesser HP.

Don't know about the trolling motor but with a step down deck, You would not have to bend over so much to pull the motor up. CF

Bill and CF great info. Will look into both.

AC

Andy, this place is in Richmond next to Greentop. Lots of boats to look at. They have good prices but it is an AS IS deal. You need to check things out well. It is a good place to climb around on boats and see what might suit ya.

They have one skiff with a big motor. There are multiple center consoles to see.

Commonwealth Boat Brokers and King RV

Click on Boats for Sale.

I agree with CF's skiff idea. You get a lot of boat for the money. Coming from a bass boat, the only thing you will miss is all the storage. Skiff will handle big water and yet still able to launch and get into small places.

My only advice is to really think about the center console. You are used to a bass boat where you set low and have a console and windscreen to keep most of the wind off you. A CC, you sit up and catch all the wind. With dual seats at the helm, both you and your partner have almost half of your body sticking out the sides of the console/windshield. It offers very little protection and during cold weather, that wind sucks the life out of ya. I have been around a lot of CC's with my catfish buddies. They are just not for me. Everything you have to do in the boat, you have to go around the console.

If it were me, I would get the side console with a medium height windshield. Then just let your passenger take care of himself. A large thick coat and turn around backwards for the ride in cold weather.

If I had to have only one boat, I would have a hard time deciding between a 19-20' , extra wide skiff or a medium sized deep v boat with a full, walk-thru windsheild. The windsheild is nice for kids, wives and feels like life saver on frosty mornings.

There is a boat on the above site that I came very close to buying as my family boat. The Sea Pro 198 DC. Still fish out of the front and back, plenty of cockpit for gear, coolers, kids and a small gas heater. V to handle the big water, and not to big to fish small waters.

Anyway, look a lot before you decide. I got very tired of the CC always in the way.

Good luck.

Dayton

Test link

Good input Dayton. I know exactly what your talking about when you say on a cold morning not being completly behind the console. I was going to look into maybe having some kind of extension for the console sides which could be removed or folded back to give more protection if I did go that route. Could be too much trouble. You also hit the nail on the head about storage. I bet I have 200lbs of gear stowed away on the boat. Thanks

AC

AC, I've been thinking about getting rid of my bass boat too.

I love the speed but I don't like not having "sides" on my boat. There's been a few times while fishing that I've tripped over something on the deck and almost gone overboard because there's no sides on a bass boat. Plus if you take any wake over a foot, you really have to hold on tight. One time we had a little get together tournament (6-7 boats max) on the James in January. We had to break ice at the ramp to get the boats in. I was in the barge pits and stepped on the trolling motor thinking I was going left and went right...when you're body's not expecting that it throws you way off balance....the only thing that kept me from going into 40 degree water with 4 layers of clothes on is that I caught hold of my pedestal seat and collapsed onto the deck.

Yea, so I like racing down the river at 60mph but I also want something that can handle a little rougher water and something I can striper/catfish out of without sliming the carpets.

I think I'm looking for a 16-18' center console with a bow mount trolling motor and casting deck. My dad JUST sold his 19' maycraft, which I'm kicking myself over. If you go over to bassjons.com classifieds they have a good looking center console over there for $5,500 (90hp) but it's a 15' boat which is a little short for me.

AC, this is a picture of that boat I was talking about.

It really is a nice price if it's everything it says it is...$5,500 for this boat isn't bad at all, it's just a little short in length for my preference



Two 12 gallon tanks,60 HP Evinrude Motor w/ power tilt/trim;Fish finder
Great lake/river/bay boat
12V trolling motor plug, Front/rear seats,Storage compartments,12 gallon live bait tank

ekim22 for 5,500.00 that seems like a steal for someone. Like you, I would want something alittle bigger. Thanks for the picture.

AC

Sigh.....I'm about to cry...

Instead of fishing, I went furniture shopping with my wife.

Another $2,500 today and I coulda drove that center console home.

You do the math on how much I spent.

I muttered "merry christmas" to her as we drove away