Post by: Nice Racks on January 29, 2017, 05:32:30 PM
Post by: 10Key on January 29, 2017, 08:53:45 PM
Post by: Thenewguy on January 29, 2017, 08:54:32 PM
Post by: bullfisher on January 29, 2017, 09:36:46 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 29, 2017, 09:57:08 PM
Post by: bassquatch on January 30, 2017, 07:56:13 PM
My first loan was a new bass boat when I turned 18. I fished mayfield and tapps like it was my job. This was back before they were considered bass fishing destinations. While a traditional bass boat is great platform, I found myself in a walleye style boat within a few years. I've bought and sold plenty of boats since then but for northwest bass fishing I'd have to give the nod to a higher sided walleye platform like a lund.
:yeah: Good logic in this post! Especially if you will be primarily fishing the bigger waters. I have an 18.8' Ranger aluminum RT188 bass boat and while it does it's job exceptionally well I would have to be dang careful if the wind kicked up at Potholes or Banks!
Your price range would put you in about a 10+ year old fiberglass bass boat and you would want to take your time and shop until you found one that was well cared for to avoid potentially costly gel coat repairs.
The deeper V aluminum boats have a lot to offer in an overall package for sure! If you see yourself as a shallow water angler and think you'll want to predominately pound lakes under 1,000 acres with the occasional "big water" trip than boats like the RT series form Ranger are hard to beat! The Tracker's with the Revolution hulls are decent in the rougher stuff but their overall build and layout turned me off.
The best advice I could give you though is get one and don't look back! I regret absolutely nothing about any of my bass boat purchases! :twocents:
Post by: LeviD1 on February 02, 2017, 09:30:07 AM
Post by: NW SURVEYOR on February 02, 2017, 10:45:16 AM
I bought an aluminum 20' Starcraft new in 2004 for just about $20K with an electic motor and GPS.
The boat have a nive V and doesn't draw to much water.
There is plenty of room and it handles rough water like a champ.
These boats were made for the Great Lakes and they fit in nicely here.
Lake Mayfield and Roosevelt can kick up and the extra freeboard is nice.
It will also do double duty as a way to get the family on the water swimming, tubing etc.
They are light, easy to trailer and launch by yourself.
This is not a riverboat, but it hanldes Seiku better than any sled Iv'e seen out there.
The gunnels are designed for Downriggers with plenty of storage.
I did have a tough time convincing the wife that the Starcraft "FISHMASTER" was not a fishing boat.
But she bought into it and we are both happy.
Good Luck.
Rob.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on February 02, 2017, 01:26:11 PM
Post by: Alchase on February 02, 2017, 02:29:17 PM
Post by: JDHasty on February 02, 2017, 02:33:12 PM
My first loan was a new bass boat when I turned 18. I fished mayfield and tapps like it was my job. This was back before they were considered bass fishing destinations. While a traditional bass boat is great platform, I found myself in a walleye style boat within a few years. I've bought and sold plenty of boats since then but for northwest bass fishing I'd have to give the nod to a higher sided walleye platform like a lund.
I agree. I used to bass fish a lot back in the 1970's -> ~ 1992 and I vote "Walleye Boat" config and by a wide margin.
Post by: NW SURVEYOR on February 02, 2017, 04:10:52 PM
To each his own.
I have seen a lot of sleds heading for shore at Seiku when it gets nasty.
We can stay and catch fish without getting beat to hell.
Although this is somewhat of a Walleye Boat, it is designed for the Great Lakes which certainly not ponds.
Couldn't be happier.
Post by: 10Key on February 04, 2017, 07:26:40 AM
Post by: Thenewguy on February 04, 2017, 07:53:02 AM
Post by: 10Key on February 04, 2017, 08:20:22 AM
looks good to me, in the sound you will want a kicker motor though- i find the minn kota just doesn't do it
Absolutely, we aren't salties, so we are set :)
Post by: Nice Racks on February 04, 2017, 01:38:39 PM
Post by: 10Key on February 04, 2017, 02:50:53 PM
The reason the deep Vs are harder to maneuver in tight spaces is that they catch wind as they are higher off the water and they usually have a windshield, another thing to catch the wind. The trade off is that in a deep v, you sit in it, not on it (feels safer and better for kids) and they handle big water better (in general, a good captain makes a difference).
We bass fish ours in lake WA, sammamish, potholes, columbia/snake, Roosevelt, Stevens...you get the idea.the only time I find myself dreaming of a bass boat is when we are trying to pitch and skip docks, spot lock on your trolling motor helps a bit.
Post by: NW SURVEYOR on February 04, 2017, 02:58:44 PM
Plenty of room inside and plenty stable.
As for maneuverability I have never had a problem.
Make sure that you don't skimp on the Electric Motor.
The wind CAN be a factor on bigger lakes.
I regularly fish alone with no problems.
We also fly fish for Smallmouth with two guys, no problem.
I have a plywood platform all the way across the back (Over the IO).
This is padded for the wife and kids to lay on.
With the swim ladder it's great for recreational boating.
The platform is easily removed and does not require that I remove the 8HP Yamaha kicker.
Later,
Rob.
Post by: BigGoonTuna on February 05, 2017, 02:19:16 PM
i've owned 2 smoker craft alaskans over the years, can't beat the low cost of ownership and overall practicality of one of those.