Which boat do I need?

[CD2]

I've been away for a while, and the last time I was here I was fishing out of an 18.5 foot Excel aluminum boat with a 90HP Suzuki four stroke on it.

The motor was great, but that particular vessel would beat the gear off the boat and rattle my fillings loose when the water began to get a little choppy. It was a ROUGH and WET ride once the water began to white cap, thus my max speed would drop at times to 5 MPH when riding into the rollers. I fish lakes on the TN River chain mostly, so these aren't Great Lakes type waves, that particular boat just sucked in anything other than fairly calm water.  This was the old boat.



I might be back in the market for a new boat soon, and the array of choices is almost too much.  I will never fish a tournament, so I have no need to go super fast.  My main needs are to have a boat that rides well (and dry) in choppy water, is big enough for two people to comfortably occupy the boat all day, and has enough motor that I can get around at 50 MPH or so.  I'll add whatever trolling motor and electronics after I get the boat. 

I plan to buy new, because the number of people I trust to maintain a machine properly is very small.

Does anyone have a suggestion on what brand of boat I should be looking for?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Are you looking to get back in a tin boat or glass? Budget?

[CD2]

My thought was that a glass boat would provide a better ride...but that's based on things i've read, and the few times I've ridden in one.  A few years ago I was out with a buddy who owned a Bass Cat and I was very impressed with the ride.  I'm not partial to brands though, I just want a good boat that will perform well under a variety of conditions. I imagine I'd be quite happy with a 150 HP or lower motor.

Hull design certainly plays a big part in the ride quality, and that little Excel I had was not exactly designed for rough water.  It was great when things were calm, but if there were white caps, all the cables would get bashed out of the sonars.  My fuse panel even got knocked off the hull.

[coldfront]

quick question:  I see you mention you fish mostly TN river chain lakes.  but are located in south florida?

I used to run a ranger RT178 (75hp).  and here on the TN river, we get 'good current flows' and standing waves set up nicely at times.  nothing large.  rarely have I been out on the lakes here with more than 2 foot waves.

that old ranger was a mod semi V.  flat bottom at the stern.  yep, it got a bit rough at times.

new boat is the vexus 1880 (115 hp).  the 'pad' stern rides much much smoother, better.  lou runs pretty much the same boat but down in florida, so am guessing he's been out in much rougher water than me (I mainly hang out on Chickamauga, Nickajack with occasional forays over to Guntersville) and can speak to that experience.

the vexus 1980 would also be a good choice to look at. 

I am a tin guy.  there are pros/cons to tin vs glass, but my college buddy who spent a weekend in my boat thought it rode very similar to his old 2002 ranger 18.5 footer...

never want to talk $$$ cause basically, the boat is just the starting cost.  'nicely equipped' means a lot of different things to different folks.

I put a 12 inch Helix in the console (yes it fits) and a 12 inch helix up front.  also went with a 112lb trolling motor (36 volt system - yes, the batteries all fit in the back compartment)...

very versatile boat.  fishes great.  rides great.  typically 'cruise' spot to spot at 40 -44 mph (GPS) at about 5200 rpm.

AND it fits in my garage.

not cheap.  know lots of guys who would tell me 'you coulda got a lot more glass boat (used) for the money',  but like you, I didn't really want to 'reward' someone else for their short term abuse of a used glass boat.  if I had to buy used, it would definitely be tin.  I've seen how folks around here use their glass boats.

plus, those used boats?  generally come with lower end electronics.  the stuff that you really USE more and longer when you're out on the water. 


if you want a ride in the vexus 1880, can arrange that.  but it would need to be around chattanooga, tn...

[Pat Dilling]

There are dealers offering some pretty good inventory reduction sales right now.  That's for boats that they have in stock.  I have a 2021 Nitro Z19 that rides great.  It's little brother, the Z18, has the same hull design and I would think it also rides well.  Plenty of storage and comfort in both of these models.  We have had our Z19 for exactly 4 years now and are very happy with it.  Good luck with you search!

[D.W. Verts]

Wow. I sold boats for almost twenty years, and I really don't have an answer for you. Where Kurt prefers metal, I prefer glass. I dig a 150 engine (my 200 rarely sees over 45 mph), but I sure wouldn't want less than an 18' boat. I like the stability of the larger boats (mine is an old 20') as much as the ride. I live at Lake of the Ozarks. There is no bass boat big enough for this place.

Nitro's will be the best price. BUT, that comes with it's own "challenges". Bass Cat? Maybe the best built boat in the world. And VERY pricey.

I used to tell potential customers, and probably ran a few off because of it, that it's way more important that you get a DEALER you can work with and trust, than it it is to fall for a bunch of glitter and gold. Man, I hope this helps, and the best of luck to you.

Dale

[caddyjoe77]

probably the best thing for you to do would be get out in a couple models.  I htink they key is to not rush yourself and make a decision too hastily. 

if you are on the TN river i would lean harder towards glass or the newer aluminum as they are almost like a glass boat. 

an 18.5 footer or so should fit you good.  In the bass cat family that is a sabre or a Pantera/PII

the good thing for you, is there are many options available.  I would take my time and consider how you fish -- are you more of a pitcher/flipper or a TM burner cranking kind of guy, the nose layout is super important.  On my cat, even though my puma is shorter than my old Phoenix, I am much farther forward which makes it a lot easier to skip jigs and pitch/flip for me.  YMMV 

[loomisguy]

There are a lot of great boats out there these days. I've had a Lowe stinger Champion, Ranger, Triton.

I would have kept the Triton had it not been destroyed in the tornado this summer.
I now have a Skeeter ZX 225.I dig the layout and it's super stable. But everybody has different expectations. The reason caddyjoe and lots of other guys like  Bass cat is the same reason I don't, I always felt like I was walking the plank being so far forward.
Look at as many as you can and you will know when the one that fits comes along

[CD2]

Lots of great responses, thank you.  It gives me exactly what I needed, intel from people who have been there and done it.  THanks.