Re: Fish and Skis.. Anyone got one? Got a few questions
I bought a 17.5' fish and ski very similar to what you are talking about at the beginning of the summer and I'm loving it so far. The first thing you need to be aware of is that the term "fish and ski" is used very loosely on craigslist and to some degree in this form. To me, it means these type boats that are built on a bass boat type platform, but with a different seat configuration. I see a lot now of just bowriders with a trolling motor, and they call it a fish and ski. So my comments are based on the type of boat that I have, which I think matches what you showed in your link.
I was thinking of getting a bass boat, but also thought my family might like to some skiing and tubing. So I figured these type boats would be ideal. There are a LOT fewer of them for sale than you find bass boats, so that makes it a little harder to find them. Mine is on the smaller end of the scale with a 115HP motor and rated at 4 people, although I confess that I've been out with 5 in the boat if I'm going to pretty much have one in tow for the day. So my comments are based on a very full boat with a smaller motor than you are talking about getting.
From a fishing perspective, this boat only draws about 17" of water and with an outboard, you can lift the whole motor out of the water for fishing in the shallows with the trolling motor. Given that type of hull, you'd think it would handle terribly when out in the water cruising, but it actually handles really well and takes wakes and bumps quite well. I was very surprised by that, as many bass boats I've ridden in don't. As far as actual fishing goes, you will find that the platforms are a bit smaller than a real bass boat and you have less storage space for rods and such. But for me, I am fine with that. I'm not doing tournaments, I'm just going out with my kids for a few hours and its the best fishing setup I've ever had.
From a watersports perspective, I was a little worried based on what the former owner told me, although he had very young kids and hardly ever used the boat. But since I've had the boat, we've done water skiing (combo and slalom), wakeboarding, and tubing. Kneeboarding I've not done, but that should be easier than any of these because its a wider board and you go pretty slow. I'm about 190 and can get up on 2 skis, but not been able to get up on 1 behind it yet... but I'm sure its me and not the boat. I've pulled up a 170 pound guy deep water on slalom and a 225 pound guy on a wakeboard and combo skis. We've also had no trouble pulling a 3 person tube.
The biggest negative is that the space is tight. For that reason, I bought a really good inflater and I deflate all our towables and stow them in the holds in the boat when we aren't using them. For what we are doing with the boat, the space is not that big of a deal to me, although if we keep using it to the degree we are now I may look at getting a similar boat in a 19-20' size that has a 6 person capacity. I am not sure I want to do that because this boat fits neatly in my garage and is so easy to deal with.
As far as the wake and wakeboarding, I can't really say that the wake is good or bad. The kids are having fun with it and getting some air. We are pulling from a harness on the stern, so they aren't going to be getting much air anyways. I've looking into a ski pylon to get the rope up a little higher for wakeboarding, but I have no intention of getting a wake tower. On this boat I think it would look kind of ridiculous and not sure it would be real safe. I did put on a 4 blade prop to help me stay on play at slow speeds, but the wake isn't much different with that. I'm sure if you plan to be an advance wakeboarder, then you'd want something with a tower, and I haven't ever seen a fish and ski with one on it. They do make portable towers that are roped up to the bow, but I am not sure they'd work well in this type boat because there isn't a lot of space.
If you have any more questions, let me know. To me, this is an ideal boat configuration.
Edit - By the way, I paid $4,500 for mine and it was garage kept and in excellent condition for a '93. Original carpet and seats and all.
