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Kind of ready to bite the bullet and buy my last boat ever. With this the boat I need will be capable of fishing shallow to deep, calm to very rough 4ft maybe 6 ft. waves in Canada. I would have top of market trolling motor and electronics' (Garmin looks good) and would love 2 15 ft minn kota Talons. With the shallow to deep want the choices get shallow I am looking at flat boats some kind used on the ocean(Carolina skifts?) but am looking for any input from experience.
Any of the Vexus dvx class boats..
DVX22 | Vexus Boats | Aluminum & Fiberglass Fishing Boats
DVX22 | Vexus Boats | Aluminum & Fiberglass Fishing Boats
They are some sweet boats!
While those style boats are nice, they draw more water than the 10” a Hewes Redfisher would, and many go skinnier than that. I have a flat bottom Carolina Skiff and it’s a good boat but has it’s downfalls. Trying to find one to do it all is a tough bill to fill. The weight and depth of V makes them perform in the rough water but doesn’t go skinny. A modified V used to start with a V in the nose and transition to almost flat at the transom. This works well in different conditions. Learning your limits is essential. My skiff has no dry storage or live well, both make a good boat that much better. Just some input, good luck in your search.
heavy water needs a big center console deep V fiberglass in my opinion .
shallow water is a different boat for the most part .
not sure myself on boat choices for you , but i imagine the boat for you is where you will likely fish the most often .
if you spend the cash on a large long bass boat it might do the job of both
For my style of fishing, I have my dream boat already. It’s a Lund Mr Pike 16 1/2 foot deep v model. It’s made to handle shallow or deep water. I’ve had it bluegill fishing in 2foot water and walleye fishing Lake Erie in 60 foot. I’ve had to handle waves over three feet on Kentucky Lake also. Only drawback is being able to fish three people at a time. Two is ideal. These boats are made to last. I ordered mine new back in 2004 and the hull is still in excellent shape. I highly recommend this brand for all purpose fishing.
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Good looking boat.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaunc
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I can’t think of any boat that will do it all. The closest I can think of would be a 21 foot glass boat. They will handle some waves and can go fairly shallow
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I’ve worked my way thru several boats over the last few years and hope I have my last boat. It’s an Excel Storm Cat 230 with a Suzuki 250SS engine, 112Terrova I-Link, 2 Helix 12 Mega SI/DI, Helix 10 DI/GPS, Garmin 126svUltraMap, Livescope, Humminbird Mega360, Millennium SpiderLocs , custom rod rack, etc.
The boat is great for up to 6 fishermen, handles ROUGH water, drafts about 12”, and runs 50mph+. I got tired of standing at center consoles even though I loved the room.
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I’m with you! A bigger glass boat 21’ or so possibly a ranger but doesn’t have to beQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike1234
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I run a 16.5 FT. Lund Fury tiller with a 40 HP Merk 2 stroke. I use the boat for Walleyes( back trolling). ,Panfish and all around fishing. This is a good two man boat I can load by myself and the IPS hull handles medium rough water well. On occasions I have fished three but two people is the best.
The motor pushes the boat 32 mph with one person and drops to 28 mph with two people.
It is nice to have some hop end when making 18 to 28 miles one way trips up in Canada.
I haven't found my best boat yet, but I keep on buyin' and tryin'. Don't really matter that much anyhow 'cause boats don't catch fish but do allow you to "style and profile" as my pal CP says.
I think you're describing a 22' bay boat. Goes shallow, handles big waves well, casting deck, trolls well. Heavier glass ride. Fish for any species. Maybe one of the most versatile boats ever. The one I've got will do all that and has enough bow flare to keep you dry.
No boat will do it all. No boat will handle shallow and "very rough" well. A flats boat certainly won't, it doesn't have enough freeboard. A skiff won't, the flat bottom will beat you to death. A bay boat is one of the most efficient compromises, but if there are 6 footers I'm at the dock.
Attachment 387475We’ve enjoyed our Lund 19’ for the past few years.
I sure love my current boat. I'd change plenty like going to a 4 stroke, Better TM and electronics. Bigger bimini and a custom cover. Eventually I'd like to ditch the carpet for the vinyl stuff.
My 19 footer, trailer, motor, and hull is less than 3000 lbs. It seats 7, skis, does shallow and handles rough water (not 6ft seas, YIKES!). The front deck is enormous with 2 seats. The only problems with mine are that it catches wind, storage is minimal, and doesn't have air conditioning.
Oh and its already complete with CDC decals!
As for a last boat? I'll never stop looking and dreaming about boats. Attachment 387481
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Every boat will be a compromise at some point. Best is to own several, then pick which you will use for todays use.
And that just covers the inshore fishing.
Chaunce might well use his Lund for fishing lake Erie, but there will be lots of days he wont, or wished he didnt.
I think I bought the last one for me to. Does everything that I need it to and can fish for whatever I want to. Rides good in rough water also.
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Ranger 1880 Angler
I think I bought the last one for me to. Does everything that I need it to and can fish for whatever I want to. Rides good in rough water also.
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Ranger 1880 Angler
Best believe I won’t be going out on Erie unless the forecast is 2 ft or less. I’ve got caught out there by quick changing winds before. Learned my lesson. Boat handled it but me and my buddy prayed all the way in to shore. South wind three to fives are no fun on the big lake, no matter how far from shore you are.Quote:
Originally Posted by yobuck
PSHAW!! Ya'll aint seen rough till your on Lake of the Ozarks on July 4th and its a Saturday ;)
I'm not afraid of big open water, but I'm terrified of taking any boat I can afford into it.
Went fishing in the gulf this summer. I was shocked at the tiny boats headed offshore in 3ft swells. They certainly didn't have that much freeboard.
I have a lund rebel 16.5 footer and love it. I had a crestliner fishhawk 17.5 footer several years back. I love the deep vees. Safe for grandkids and wife, ride well, and fish great. The only other type I would consider is the new aluminum cc bay boats. I think they may be good as well, but have never owned one. Bought a new Carolina Skiff 20 foot with a 140 on it and did not like it. Bought it for my last boat and ordered it like I wanted. Too big and heavy. Hard to control and terrible in the wind. Beat you to death. I know there are those out here that love them, but not for me. Sold it in about a year and gave someone a great deal. Guess that is why there are so many boat builders, so many fishermen with different taste.
I have to say that I like Chaunc and ETfish’s boats. I had a 16’ Lund years back with a tiller 35 Johnson and while I liked the boat, and it never leaked, it had round chines and I spent the day rocking left to right and my back couldn’t take it. The newer metal boats with reverse chines are a different animal and I would like to try one of those before I bought it. Next boat will be 19’ or more. My Bumble Bee was 18’ with a skinny nose, one of the things I would have changed on it. A very comfortable boat in many places and conditions. It would go fast enough in rough water that folks would be reaching, trying to find the chicken rail that I didnt have. I like a lot about the tracker 19’ with a vinyl floor and a 115 on the back.
I would stay away from a carolina skiff.
The only thing that will do what you want is a bay boat. The boys in the gulf of Mexico have perfected these boats that can fish the flats and go offshore 30 miles in 3 and 4 ft rollers. Many have tunnel hulls. Look up 2coolfishing and there are lots of discussions and boats for sale.
If I wanted comfort I would look at the ranger reata and FS models. 102 inch beam and full windshield.
This is of course just me spending other peoples money! But we are just dreaming right?!
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Been looking for a Lund or simular style boat for over a year. I wanted a deep V, 18 foot boat for the big water lakes that we long line troll and occasionally spider rig on. Comfort, stability, and the ability to troll multiple rods from the back was a must. I came across this one owner, garage kept, litely used Stratos 386. Its a 2008 that looks brand new with an Evinrude 150 ETEC. Its the perfect boat for the fishing I do and it makes a nice boat for the wife and I to enjoy a few summer cruises and dinner runs on the lake.
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Very nice boat Eddie.
We were between a 19-20’ Lund Pro-V or Ranger Fisherman when we found a 2006 Ranger 619VS locally. I love the stability on big water and the open rear cockpit for moving around while trolling cranks or jigs out the back. She’s a heavy rig to tow but that adds to overall stability. Upgraded to a 36v TM system and added tracks to the gunnels to add/remove accessories and rod holders easily. The only real negative is that’s it’s a real pain to jump into if you don’t have a courtesy dock at the ramp and you have to beach it, which I just don’t do anymore. I didn’t think I would own another glass boat again but the layout is perfect for my style of trolling.
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