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AC Man
Posts: 6,977 Admiral
Help Me Pick A New Boat For The Big Bend Area....UPDATE!
AC Man
Posts: 6,977 Admiral
Post number 37 revived this nearly 3 year old thread. You can help him out and see what I did after that.
I haven't posted here much lately, but been around since the get go when there was only about 10 members on BB. Learned a lot about the area since then coming from Ft. Lauderdale 28 years ago.Since I have been here I have owned everything from a POS 17 ft skiff to a 36 Contender and everything in between except a metal boat with a jet foot. Love them too, but I think you gotta be a two boat owner at least for me to own one since that would limit my interest.
So this time around I am trying to decide between a new Carolina Skiff 218 DLV shallow draft with a 115 hp with a ton of room,rolled gunnel, and a used high end 24 Bay boat with a 300 Yamaha that I have my eye on. Equipped with twin 12 ft power poles, I pilot, all the bells and whistles.
I have owned two 23 bay boats. Problem in this area is I couldn't go shallow, and I couldn't go offshore for grouper without getting beat up.
I guess I answered my own question. The bay boat is sexy, but I cant stand the thought of beating up the motor or hull in this area on rocks and oyster bars, although I would love to go further offshore and east coast trips.
The new skiffs ride much better than the old flat bottom models and I would feel safer further offshore with the high gunnels. At this point I'm done with way offshore for now. Been there done that at $4.50 a gallon.
So in a nut shell, I wanna run the Wac river to Homosassa and at least fish the points and bay for redfish and out to maybe 35 ft.for grouper in the summer and shallow in the winter.
What say you?
I haven't posted here much lately, but been around since the get go when there was only about 10 members on BB. Learned a lot about the area since then coming from Ft. Lauderdale 28 years ago.Since I have been here I have owned everything from a POS 17 ft skiff to a 36 Contender and everything in between except a metal boat with a jet foot. Love them too, but I think you gotta be a two boat owner at least for me to own one since that would limit my interest.
So this time around I am trying to decide between a new Carolina Skiff 218 DLV shallow draft with a 115 hp with a ton of room,rolled gunnel, and a used high end 24 Bay boat with a 300 Yamaha that I have my eye on. Equipped with twin 12 ft power poles, I pilot, all the bells and whistles.
I have owned two 23 bay boats. Problem in this area is I couldn't go shallow, and I couldn't go offshore for grouper without getting beat up.
I guess I answered my own question. The bay boat is sexy, but I cant stand the thought of beating up the motor or hull in this area on rocks and oyster bars, although I would love to go further offshore and east coast trips.
The new skiffs ride much better than the old flat bottom models and I would feel safer further offshore with the high gunnels. At this point I'm done with way offshore for now. Been there done that at $4.50 a gallon.
So in a nut shell, I wanna run the Wac river to Homosassa and at least fish the points and bay for redfish and out to maybe 35 ft.for grouper in the summer and shallow in the winter.
What say you?
Replies
What? And have a nervous break down running that expensive boat in this area.:grin Anywhere but here. I agree an amazing boat.
....and a second mortgage! They are total boat **** though. I agree with AC Man, not in this area with all the underwater hazards.
I'd make sure you take a ride on a choppy day in a DLV - while they do have a semi V up front, the transom still has no deadrise and they will still beat you to death compared to a bay boat. What's your budget? You can get a real nice decked out Bulls Bay for a lot less than many other name brand boats, they are very well built and using a proven hull.
We're in the same boat - or lack of one actually. :grin
Those two choices make it easy for me - the Skiff. For a variety of reasons - high gunnels (a benefit for oldsters and youngsters alike), roominess - comfort, ease of moving around, near-offshore capability on a good day - days of going out on a 'bad' day are long gone anyway.
Though I might question the 115 as being underpowered (without research can't say for sure), speed doesn't impress either - I get tickled at the 'youngsters' who proudly proclaim 'my boat will do 50-60'. My response - Oh really? Where?
Our sons, 30-40 age group, talk down the CS, talk up the bay - our age group who own the Skiff's love them. Awesome 'problem' to ponder.
Gausebuilt was a joke because as we all know there is really no boat that will effectively fish Waccasassa and 35 miles. I fished Waccasassa with a airboat for years and I have never seen a boat that could really get back to the fish that can run out 35 miles. AC you know there is no perfect boat. Remember there is ankle deep water at the markers in the winter.
I had an Action Craft 1720,, which I loved.....sold it due to my age and use a guide exclusively.
He runs a Carolina Skiff and calls it an Air Boat without an aircraft engine......he runs really shallow.
The older ones always looked like total junk but I had to double take on the first few new ones I saw!
Sassawhaler the 222 is an Auquasport hull, the proline flat backs are 24' and an awesome choice, but will either need to be rebuilt or will be an already rebuilt.
Young makes fine boats, and Rob is a good dude.
This area really is a 2 boat or compromise. I run a Tremblay and it does everything I want, plus I have a little flat bottom skiff I can beat up and not worry about for tooling around close to home and winter time fishing. It's a very efficient cost effective 2nd boat as I barely burn a few gallons and am only a few thousand in to it tops. Both my boats combined are less than a 1/4 cost wise of today's bay boats that are worth a chit. I'd decide on where you are going to be spend a majority of your time and go from there, and at the end of the day go with what makes you happy. Oh and have friends with boats on the other end of the compromise
That hull is not a flatback. The last year for a flatback is 1971. The hull advertised will not run anywhere near as shallow, particularly with all the weight added. Still a nice boat, but a light flatback will run in 9" or less while this one will probably be more like 15". The 20 and 24 Prolines are also good boats for the area. There's a 20 for sale in front of Aquapower in Inglis.
Here's an Aquasport that might be worth a look if you have the patience for a restoration.
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/5714621263.html
Exactly what I want for my next boat.
I'm personally considering the SeaArk or express aluminum 22' bay series but they are equally as hard to find fully equipped used under $25k. Both have good storage and rear seating for passengers. I never venture more than about 10 miles out, so long runs in chop wouldn't be a huge concern for me.
To me the big skiffs just look like bathtubs. But I'll admit the new ones have come a long ways. I've seen guys like Capt Ed build some very nice custom fishing platforms from the older Carolina's.
Realistically though if space isn't a problem. One could probably buy a 20-24' used deep v for offshore and something like a ghenooe, john boat, or small skiff to cover inshore. That would cover both bases better and with a smaller investment most likely. After rereading this I realize I'm more undecided than you...
Yankeetown Rental https://www.vrbo.com/619425
Yep, you just spelled out everything as I see it. Except Fishmike. Their is no excuse for what he thinks.:grin