Which boat to buy?
Missouri Fishing
Oct 29, 2022 12:40:35 #
Oct 29, 2022 12:41:17 #
Oct 29, 2022 12:43:09 #
Oct 29, 2022 12:44:22 #
Thanks Tablerockbass. Loving the life in Mossouri. And Appreciate your knowledge.
Nov 2, 2022 16:46:23 #
woodguru
Loc: El Dorado Ca
JPS Doc wrote:
The decision as to which boat to buy is not easy. ... (show quote)
I always have to laugh and roll my eyes about the "advise" on issues like this, what is "the best". The reality is that there are a lot of people that believe what they have and like is "the best", when it suits them the best but would be out of it's element in different conditions.
You said something that says it all, "...many of the locals say it should be a walleye type boat", there is a reason to listen to them, they have been there and done that. I know bass boat fans will argue, but bass fishing is typically a fair weather activity, of course there are deviations. Trout fishing is great in the fall and winter, conditions get harsher. With a V hull you'll have options of a front and/or rear casting deck, seat, and live well up front through a pass through windshield, no matter how nice the day seems they often go to hell at the end of the day and you just want to get back...that's when the drier, less windy, smoother ride through wind and chop comes in. It's amazing how much nicer the full windshield is than the double cockpit ones a bass boat has.
Engine wise keep in mind what bigger horsepower is all about, and that it goes through a boatload more gas. I was shocked when I realized that the new Mercury 115 I got will toast 20 gallons of gas in five hours. Go to a 150hp and the tanks are 30 gallons versus 20, and you won't get much more running time out of it. My boat will do 45+ but I don't go over 35 in chop and wind getting back, 150hp would rarely come in handy for anything except an occasional blast on calm water.
Nov 2, 2022 17:06:02 #
Woodguru. Great advise. I saw in one of your posts that you own a Lund. Would you buy it again? I assume you have one of the Deep V fishing boats from your comments. And what waters do you fish? Tahoe?
Nov 2, 2022 18:05:34 #
woodguru
Loc: El Dorado Ca
JPS Doc wrote:
Woodguru. Great advise. I saw in one of your posts that you own a Lund. Would you buy it again? I assume you have one of the Deep V fishing boats from your comments. And what waters do you fish? Tahoe?
I would, I am sorting out an issue with the dealer about what I say is the wrong engine shaft length (20" versus 25") that affects performance in that the prop is not deep enough in the water by two or three inches. I think the dealer programmed in a rev limit of 5300rpm as well where it should be over 6000, they are going to adjust that as soon as I get it broken in.
I'm a horsepower/speed freak, but I'd have to say the Mercury 115 is a fantastic running engine, so far I've run it at about 35mph at 4000rpm and that gets me where I want to go on a lake...I've been running it wide open as part of breaking it in, but as soon as it is I mostly use the trolling motor.
We fish Berryessa a lot, that's a good sized lake, and several of the lakes in our area within an hour and a half.
If you are mostly fishing you'll want a trolling motor that has auto pilot and spot lock, the auto pilot frees you up to rig and fish versus piloting the boat. The first time we used the Terrova was in a h
The model I got is the Lowe 1775 Fishing Machine, some of the Walleye designated models may be an even deeper hull for big rough water. Smokercraft, Crestliner, Tracker, Lund make similar 18ft boats, I found that the way they are set up can have differences...decks, live wells, rod lockers, and storage can have differences that seeing the boats and getting a feel for how they are set up can help you decide which would be best for how you like to fish.
Nov 2, 2022 20:20:47 #
Fish1
Loc: Lehighton PA
I been on the St. Lawrence River in bad weather on a 21 foot ranger bass boat heading up River with 2 foot waves and I was soaked ringing wet in about 20 seconds. I have a18.5 foot sylvan expedition deep v with the walk through windshield and I can go up River in the same conditions and it’s smooth and dry. Good luck with your decision and tight lines.
Nov 3, 2022 00:11:44 #
woodguru
Loc: El Dorado Ca
Fish1 wrote:
I been on the St. Lawrence River in bad weather on a 21 foot ranger bass boat heading up River with 2 foot waves and I was soaked ringing wet in about 20 seconds. I have a18.5 foot sylvan expedition deep v with the walk through windshield and I can go up River in the same conditions and it’s smooth and dry. Good luck with your decision and tight lines.
It makes the difference of a very different half hour or more getting back where you are going doesn't it?
Nov 3, 2022 12:33:46 #
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