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Will
Bluegill
Username: Will
Post Number: 114
Registered: 2-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 3:37 pm: | 
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I have started looking for a bay boat. I have never owned a coast boat and am looking fof suggestions on what a coast but should have on it (for example...live well, bait well, etc.) How shallow do you really need to run? What brand?
Vegatarian: Indian Word for Bad Fisherman
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Atthewall
Crappie
Username: Atthewall
Post Number: 339
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 9:02 pm: |
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Center console, 18+ft, helm seat doubles as an ice chest and forward of the console you have a live bait well.
Anchor, windscreen, and a big old fat Coast Guard racing stripe.  |
Picou
Lunker
Username: Picou
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 8-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 12:01 am: |
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Skeeter and Triton make some really nice bay boats. Wes and I took a test ride in a skeeter last year and it was very nice.
 Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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Will
Bluegill
Username: Will
Post Number: 116
Registered: 2-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 9:23 am: |
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I was looking a Triton the other day and they seem to be set up nice. I will definiltly have to look at the Skeeter.
Vegatarian: Indian Word for Bad Fisherman
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Dean
Bluegill
Username: Dean
Post Number: 228
Registered: 4-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 9:53 am: |
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If I didn't have the Ranger I would look real hard at the Skeeter. Currently I DO NOT RECOMMEND RANGER!
For me -I look for:
10-12in Draft
How well it will handle rough chop
Locker Drainage
Livewell Drainage
At least 2 livewells (1 recirc / airiated)
Storage for Life Jackets, Rods, Tackle, etc..
Drink Holder on Console
Room to mount electronics
Flotation in the event of torpedoing in rough seas.
IMPORTANT - Study your warranty and the dealer reputation.
Engine HP needed to get to 50 - 60mph.
Go 4 stroke
Pay attention to the deck and how easy it will be able to clean
Washdown system
The way it looks
Functionable for your type of prefered fishing
Personally I wouldn't have anything less than 21ft for salt water
If anything else comes to me I will let you know. To me, the best way to get info about a boat is to go to the other dealers and tell them what you are thinking of buying. They will be the first to tell you some of the downfalls of their competition.
I did a lot of research before I bought my Ranger. I did miss afew points but the Ranger is far superior to my Sea Pro that I had before and better than my Bay Quest as well. IF - My Ranger is just a Lemon, I would stick with Ranger. Only time will tell - Ranger is building me a new boat and standing behind their product. Everyone suspects I got a lemon.
Try to get the dealer to give you a test ride on a choppy bay. Nothing compares to the bay - NOTHING - I don't care what they say!
Remember that to get shallow you have to give up comfort because the hull has to flatten out faster.
Take your time- do your homework - save yourself the headache of buying a boat you cant stand.
I decided and will stick to it - Completely foam filled is the first and most important thing to me. It provides weight, safety, stability, and better performance.
Good Luck! Hope I helped out a little!
All In A Days Fun!!!
 
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Will
Bluegill
Username: Will
Post Number: 117
Registered: 2-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 12:34 pm: |
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Dean, thanks for the info. That helps a lot. Luckily I am in no hurry to buy a boat. I will probably wait until winter to actually purchase the boat when the sales are down and I can squeeze them a little more.
Vegatarian: Indian Word for Bad Fisherman
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4rodsfishing
Minnow
Username: 4rodsfishing
Post Number: 40
Registered: 2-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 6:56 am: |
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Go to the boat shows, that ways you can check out all different types of boats at one time. So then you would not have to drive to all the different dealers. Like Dean said, do your home work before purchase and take your time. If you have a little woman, take her along. She may want to purchase a big boat, like mine did. |
Bigun
Crappie
Username: Bigun
Post Number: 367
Registered: 8-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 8:07 am: |
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Depends on size and how much want to spend. The Blazer Bay 2220 and 2420 series are some serious cadillacs that will handle just about anything you want to do. I'm currently running a 2220 with a 4 stroke 200, a 22 Baystealth with 200 Yamaha and a 24 Baystealth with 225 Mercury for the different companies I fish for. The Baystealth is not a bad riding boat but a lot cheaper made. The 24' baystealth is a great riding boat. For 18-19' boats I've heard nothing but awesome talk about the Kenners. Never ran one though.
I've been known to pinch a tail or two in my life!
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Big_p
Moderator
Username: Big_p
Post Number: 402
Registered: 7-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 12:39 pm: |
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Will,
The boat you see in my avatar is a Sea Pro 21ft with a 150 Yamaha. We test drove one in Temple and dang near bought it. But with everything on it we wanted it was $36,000. The bought we wound up buying we bought from a guy in Spring for $20,000. He had it and had only put 10 hours on it so it was still practically brand new. It runs in 11" of water, came with trolling motor, fish finder, and a bimini top. The only thing we didn't get was the t-top but we could put on later if we wanted to and come out way ahead still. I found it in the boat trader. Just keep your eyes open and you will find a good deal. I wouldn't hesitate to take the boat off shore if I was brave enough to go anyway. It runs real good in heavy seas. Only thing about running shallow with it is everywhere I have been in it to run shallow theere was sea grass. It plugs up the pea hole real bad. If I was getting in water that shallow I would drop the trolling motor and go. |
Dean
Bluegill
Username: Dean
Post Number: 231
Registered: 4-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 9:50 am: |
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Will, I forgot to mention - go offshore a few times and hook into some kings and stuff and be sure you do not get cought in the same trap I am in. I have a bay boat but want to fish deep water. The deadrise at the transom helps determine how well the boat will handle big water chop and seas. Again - sacrifice draft for performance.
Went off shore yesterday - It was awsome!!
All In A Days Fun!!!
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Will
Bluegill
Username: Will
Post Number: 122
Registered: 2-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 12:06 pm: |
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I have a friend who has a boat that is for offshore, and I have an open invite to go whenever. He goes about every weekend. The wife is the one that loves to fish the bay and doesn't want to go to the deep water. But thanks for the heads up. Very good point to keep in mind if you like the deep water.
Vegatarian: Indian Word for Bad Fisherman
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Hotrods
Minnow
Username: Hotrods
Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2005 - 2:14 pm: |
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I have the 18" Kenner with a 90 hp SW Merc. I love the boat but not the dealer I bought it from. I think I would go for the Sea Pro |
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