The Four Wheel Drive Of Boats? 2024
retiredbosn reply :
I'm in the market for a new boat, and I think I'm going to get new instead of new to me this time. I would love to be able to afford a boat for each type of fishing I do or want to do. Not the case. So I'm looking for the four wheel drive of boats. The go anywhere do anything type. If I lived on the great lakes it would be a deep v, multi species type rig. But I live in SC, to me the lakes are large, I'm an hour from Clark's Hill, Murray, and the Santee Cooper chain. 2 1/2 from the coast. I need a platform mainly for the lakes, occasional salt but not off shore. Need to be able to pull the kids on tubes. 90% of the time it will be used fishing the lakes, I'm thinking a modified v-hull aluminum with an outboard at least 100hp . What are your thoughts?
J Francho reply :
I'd go deep-v for all that duty. Some thing at least 18'.
slonezp reply :
Budget?
retiredbosn reply :
Around 30
slonezp reply :
Sea Ark boats are built like tanks. Them and Xpress are rated for higher hp than most of the other tin modified v's. Lowe Stinger has the biggest front deck in it's class. Ranger and Triton are the same hulls but the Ranger has a few more bells and whistles.G3 seems to have a decent rep. There are a lot of deep v "crossover" boats that might fit the bill as well.
If I was in the market for a new tin "do everything" kind of boat, I wouldn't hesitate on getting the Ranger VS1780 and max it out with the Etec 135. I looked at one at the boat and fishing show a few weeks ago and I was impressed. 8' rod box and 97" beam. Seating for 4 when your pulling the tubes and the rear seating folds down into a deck.
barroncooper reply :
Pro gator all the way! Look me up!
Way2slow reply :
If 90% of its use is going to be fishing, I would have make it a bass boat. I've skied, pulled skiers (even three at one time) pulled tubes and zip sleds behind mine. The only drawback is seating capacity. In Ga, you either have a spotter in the boat watching the skier, or a wide angle rear view mirror, not many places to mount a mirror. A fish and ski would be your next option. Never seen one of those the windshield wasn't in the way and have always thought they sucked as a fishing platform, but a bass boat can suck as a family boat.
Also, you throw a couple of people in the boat and a big skier behind the boat, you might want a little more than a 100hp, or a spare, smaller pitch prop to use on the family fun trips.
An 18.5-19' bass boat with a 150 can ride three in the boat, just not ideal seating, and pull a skier. A F&S will provide proper seating, but you might have to change your fishing some.
Fisher-O-men reply :
I do all of the above with a Fish n Ski. Mine is an old Glastron. It is built on a Bass Boat hull. Somebody must still make this hybrid.
retiredbosn reply :
Cross saltwater off the list. I hate fish and skis, had one no bow. I can't wrap my mind around flipping off of the multi species set ups, the gunwale comes up past your knees. I guess what I'm saying is I know I have to compromise like I said 90% will be fishing lakes, much of that alone. My son will accompany me the most, especially as he gets older. Pulling tubes will be the hardest work, if they want to ski we will use my uncles ski boat.
J Francho reply :
Get a 20' bass boat. Lol.
Tim Kelly reply :
Tuffy x-190 or skeeter MX series.
slonezp reply :
The tuffy is a mice boat but its over the 30k.
retiredbosn reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 2:25 AM, slonezp said:The tuffy is a mice boat but its over the 30k.
Didn't you get s new multi species deep v within the past few years? How are u liking it?
cadman reply :
I bought a Ranger 619VS in 2007. I love my boat I can fish everywhere any bass boat can. The only thing is that boats like mine are not speed demons. If you need the speed, don't buy a multi-species glass boat. My boat fully loaded with a 225, 9.9 kicker, Terrova bow mount, filled live well, three batteries with two people will max out at about 54 mph max on a calm day. I still love my boat even if I'm not the first one at the spot.
slonezp reply :
Its like driving the 4x4 of boats. Lund stopped making the predator. I've had 3 unsolicited offers to buy it. All were more than I paid and all were turned down. Its probably exactly what you are looking for minus the price tag. Recon boats makes a nice glass multispecies which sounds close to your needs. I'm not sure what the 19 footer runs but the 21 with a 250 starts at 50k
RustyShackleford reply :
Anybody saying Ranger is right. For your lakes, it get's no better. Granted, you'll get some weird looks pulling a tube behind the undisputed king of bass boats, but it'll keep the ball and chain happy.
retiredbosn reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 2:47 AM, cadman said:I bought a Ranger 619VS in 2007. I love my boat I can fish everywhere any bass boat can. The only thing is that boats like mine are not speed demons. If you need the speed, don't buy a multi-species glass boat. My boat fully loaded with a 225, 9.9 kicker, Terrova bow mount, filled live well, three batteries with two people will max out at about 54 mph max on a calm day. I still love my boat even if I'm not the first one at the spot.
On 2/19/2015 at 2:47 AM, slonezp said:Its like driving the 4x4 of boats. Lund stopped making the predator. I've had 3 unsolicited offers to buy it. All were more than I paid and all were turned down. Its probably exactly what you are looking for minus the price tag. Recon boats makes a nice glass multispecies which sounds close to your needs. I'm not sure what the 19 footer runs but the 21 with a 250 starts at 50k
Alright Gentlemen, here is my question, the nearest experience I have to a multi-species is a Monark made 21 footer that I operated in the Coast Guard, it was classified as a utb (utility boat), from the bow to the water was definitely farther than I could reach. So in the multi-species boats how far is it to the water from the bow? I am assuming you have to net your fish, is that correct? Things I like about the ms boats, I can stand or nearly so while operating, makes life good on my back. Negatives are small casting deck on bow, less than five feet from console to end of bow, distance from water line to bow to gunwale, and small casting deck on stern for whoever is fishing with me and finally that huge windscreen (I'm extraordinarily bad about hooking it on a cast).
The small bow and aft casting deck were the reasons I was thinking a true modified v, the bow is high enough to handle the weather I would fish in, but not so far that I couldn't reach the fish. A multi specie would be nice as there is a 2014 used one close by 25 hours on motor, price less than 20, but it is a Tracker 18 footer. Thanks for all the input so far, I really appreciate your insights.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Have you considered a center console since you have back problems. That would allow you to stand while driving. It would be a saltwater boat used mostly in fresh water. Their are a lot of them out there.
retiredbosn reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 6:15 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Have you considered a center console since you have back problems. That would allow you to stand while driving. It would be a saltwater boat used mostly in fresh water. Their are a lot of them out there.
Yes sir, I have; they're real popular here with the striper fishermen. Is that what u are using on the great lakes?
Dwight Hottle reply :
No I have a Starcraft STX 2050 tin boat. But I do see a few 18-24 center consoles on Erie being used by locals. I'm sure you could find a hull that has the proper dead rise & freeboard for your liking since there are so many made. If standing makes for a better fishing day for you that might be the ticket. I stand all day while fishing except to sit when driving on plane. Your other choice could be a multispecies boat with a big tiller and stand while driving. But that might be a younger man's game.
cadman reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 4:58 AM, retiredbosn said:Alright Gentlemen, here is my question, the nearest experience I have to a multi-species is a Monark made 21 footer that I operated in the Coast Guard, it was classified as a utb (utility boat), from the bow to the water was definitely farther than I could reach. So in the multi-species boats how far is it to the water from the bow? I am assuming you have to net your fish, is that correct? Things I like about the ms boats, I can stand or nearly so while operating, makes life good on my back. Negatives are small casting deck on bow, less than five feet from console to end of bow, distance from water line to bow to gunwale, and small casting deck on stern for whoever is fishing with me and finally that huge windscreen (I'm extraordinarily bad about hooking it on a cast).
The small bow and aft casting deck were the reasons I was thinking a true modified v, the bow is high enough to handle the weather I would fish in, but not so far that I couldn't reach the fish. A multi specie would be nice as there is a 2014 used one close by 25 hours on motor, price less than 20, but it is a Tracker 18 footer. Thanks for all the input so far, I really appreciate your insights.
Here is my thoughts on my multi-species boat. When I was looking for my boat, at the time the other two boats that I was looking at was a Tracker Tundra and a Lund. The only thing I wanted more than anything else was to get away from 2 piece rods which at that time is what I used in my other boat. I fish with no bigger than a 6'8" rod, so I wanted to make sure that I could lay my rod and reel flat on the deck without it sitting over the bow. Yes I can lay a 6'-6" rod flat on my deck and a 6'8" between the windows, with out the rods moving, now this is on a 2007 boat, don't know about the new ones. The Tundra didn't cut it. I had to go to a 20 or 21 foot boat to achieve this. The Lund as well had a shorter bow and again I had to go to a bigger boat. If I had to go with a bigger boat, then I was paying the same for my 19'-6" Ranger than I was for the other two at 21'-0". So that sealed the deal for me. Also I liked the rear deck I was able to put on my boat to make it more like a bass boat. Not an option on the Tundra. Finally anything I wanted to add or change on my Ranger, it was no problem. Tundra and BPS did not want to swap items, you buy what they had and if you didn't like it, sell it and put on new. To me that was more of a headache than it was worth. Now as far as bow height to water. The deep "V's sit higher without a doubt. I will also tell you that when it is windy, my Ranger does catch some wind, but my other alum. boat was worse because it was light. Rangers are heavy. So back to the height, I would say there is 10-12" at the bow of the boat, and maybe 8-10 " at the stern. Yes I do use a net, because that is the way I always land my fish. It's really no big deal. Space at the bow and then the casting deck in the back. Finally my boat does have a full windshield. I don't have a problem with it, casting or otherwise. I have never hit my windows casting, and they have never been in the way for me. They do add weight to the boat, however when you are out in March or November by me and flying across the lake, it makes for a much more warmer ride. See pics below. If you want to talk more about this I can call you to discuss.
slonezp reply :
A lot of multi species boats can now be ordered with separate plastic wind shields rather than a glass walk thru windshield. I net my fish. The Lund IPS hull sits a little closer to the water than a traditional multispecies so lipping a fish is doable. Most of the multispecies boats don't have a raised front deck. The Recon I mentioned earlier does as does Ranger and the Predator.
If you have a lot of gear, a center console or bay boat may not be for you. The biggest complaint I hear is not enough storage
RoLo reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 6:42 AM, Dwight Hottle said:No I have a Starcraft STX 2050 tin boat. But I do see a few 18-24 center consoles on Erie being used by locals. I'm sure you could find a hull that has the proper dead rise & freeboard for your liking since there are so many made. If standing makes for a better fishing day for you that might be the ticket. I stand all day while fishing except to sit when driving on plane. Your other choice could be a multispecies boat with a big tiller and stand while driving. But that might be a younger man's game.
Good idea Dwight
The same as you, I only sit when on plane or to re-rig.
Roger
RoLo reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 9:07 AM, slonezp said:A lot of multi species boats can now be ordered with separate plastic wind shields rather than a glass walk thru windshield. I net my fish. The Lund IPS hull sits a little closer to the water than a traditional multispecies so lipping a fish is doable. Most of the multispecies boats don't have a raised front deck. The Recon I mentioned earlier does as does Ranger and the Predator.
If you have a lot of gear, a center console or bay boat may not be for you. The biggest complaint I hear is not enough storage
I've done it both ways, but there's a lot to be said for the open boat.
What a center-console may lack in 'internal' storage it makes up for in cockpit space.
Before the advent of the silly bass boat, fishing and boating gear was usually toted
in dry boxes and wet boxes then stored on the deck in quick & easy reach.
In my bass boat, I have to move stuff to open the locker lid, then grope around in a storage bin.
But at day's end, I still have to unload all my valuables from the lockers, otherwise risk it to theft.
In a center-console or pike boat, we just grabbed the wet box, dry box & rods (done).
Roger
Catt reply :
LEGEND ALPHA TACTICAL with optional mount for a M249!
PAGreg reply :
Legend SS with a 150 jet. I own a starcraft with a jet and there's really no place I can't go. Obviously I'm not taking 5' waves with it, but I can also run in 4" of water. I can't express how great it is to not have to worry about dinging a prop or lower unit.
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