Opinions needed!!

[BobJJr01]

OK i boaters, here's your chance to voice an opinion on boat brands. I'm new here, just signed up so some advice/opinions are needed. I'm searching for a fish and ski....more fish than ski I guess. So I'm thinking I want to stick with a good bass boat brand. I've looked at the usual players but haven't had any other than a ranger in the water. The fact that my buddy and I can stand on the edge of a ranger is a must (we're both big guys). So I guess the question is......will the other big brands offer the same stability? I can get a bigger newer boat for the same cash as smaller older ranger, but is it worth it? HELP!!!!!!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Opinions needed!!

I have had a procraft (which fell apart) and moved to a ranger which was great and even had an aluminum fisher but still was not a ranger. My friend has an older glastron.....once again ranger wins.

A bass boat is just that. They have the potential to pull a skier but really are not as comfortable as a recreation boat. A bowrider is more comfortable and better for recreation.

Probably should be looking at a larger center console or larger fishing boat made for trolling. You have to go pretty large to match the stability of a wide bass boat hull.

Boat shows are coming........ if you want a bass boat....hang out at a bass tournament and talk with the fisherman.

You have allot of research and shopping ahead.

Welcome to iboats

 

[PeterC4]

Re: Opinions needed!!

You can fish out of almost any recreational bow rider. It may be harder to tow water skiers and kids tubing, or taking a family group for an outing in a dedicated fishing boat. You will have lots of options to consider. Good luck.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Opinions needed!!

The Ranger Reata is a very capable fish and ski platform and priced better than the Ranger 600 series Fisherman line,...

Startos makes some comparable boats I think the 385 and 386 are the model numbers that one should look for,..

Where are you located????

That can make a difference in the used market,...

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Opinions needed!!

If you plan on fishing open water a bass boat is not a good choice.

 

[BobJJr01]

Re: Opinions needed!!

Thanks for the input so far, advice from those who've been there is priceless. I'm in central WI, a lot of deep v types around and the guys that swear by them. This rig is going to be used primarily for fishing ( I'd go 80/20 fish to fun) but my wife insists there be proper and safe seating for the kids. Tying them to the pedestal of the butt seat up front isn't an option...ran it past her with no luck, hence the fish and ski. Any thoughts about a '95 Astro 20 ft FSX?
Thanks again

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Opinions needed!!

That Astro is more for play in my book. I used to fish hardcore for bass and the more open the layout the better...... go ahead and fight a prize winning lunker bass around the windshields/consoles/and navigate your way between them.

You will like my next suggestion but your wife will not.......... get 2 boats !!!!

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Opinions needed!!

My stepfather caught a ton of bass out of a 17 ft FSX and even won a fee tournaments. He beat the crap out of it and if held up well. I had a Nitro 188 Sport for a while and did more play than fish so I traded it on a bow rider. The biggest problem when it came to bass fishing was rod storage and front deck space. So when you go to look at one take notice of those things.

Most bass boat based fish and skis follow the same formula so most are pretty similar. You may want to add the Skeeter SL 210, Triton FS and Escape, and the Nitro 288 and Z7 Sport to your list.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Opinions needed!!

In central WI there should be no shortage of decent used deep v's,........

The older Skeeter 1850 is popular and a good fishing rig,..

The big problem with the "ski" type boats is most have the euro transom that makes mounting a kicker difficult,...

Do you plan on any trolling in the future??

 

[BobJJr01]

Re: Opinions needed!!

Its funny you mention that Bob......about 6 weeks ago I acquired a 20ft pontoon that needs a fresh face, runs good but she's not pretty ('87 bass buggy). That's what started all this actually, boat shopping in WI in winter is easier said than done!! Its become a matter of fix the pontoon up or get something more all purpose, easier to move around, faster, and the kids are old enough to want to tube/ski ( 9 and 14) I was already asked if they can ski behind the pontoon ( its got a 25 merc) In fact, I'm of the opinion that 2 is better than 1! Which brings me back to square one....I know I can stand on the edge of a ranger.....but what about the other big bass players? Do they have the same ability as the ranger? I think I might have an impossible question without lining them up on the water!!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Opinions needed!!

Any of the big 3 aluminum fish/ski hulls should meet your needs, Crestliner, Lund, Alumacraft. Plenty stable and will meet your fun needs too..... I guess I wouldn't rule them out unless you're set on 'glass.....

Here's a link to a 2000 brochure for Lund. Maybe scroll thru it and see if there is something that floats your boat(pun intended). The other Big 2 will have the same styles.....

http://www.lundboats.com/pdfs/old-catalogs/2000.pdf

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Opinions needed!!

WI, kids, fishing, ski/tube~~~ bass boat? Stand on a gunnel?? ~~~ probably 4 or 5 fat guys could stand on the gunnel of my EdgeWater 205! Think Al Lindner cannot be wrong. Buy a Lund, the Baron would be overkill for you but is the best tin boat made.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Opinions needed!!

For Bass boats, the Rangers are hard to beat. Champions are also in that same category, at least for me...It's what I learned to wake board behind...had the power for skiing/tubing/wake boarding (200 Mariner XR4). If you wanna go fast the best is Stroker Bass boats; however, not as fun at speed with any waves; very stable fishing platform however...my buddy and I were both over 200lbs and had no issues with buoyancy on his Stroker (with 300 Mariner Mag)?

Sounds like a fish-n-ski may be more your speed...watch out for the tinny's here on iboats...they're a bit "cultish"..."once you go tin, glass is a sin!"

 

[achris]

Re: Opinions needed!!

A good fishing boat you can also ski with.... That's like asking for a hard-core off-road 4WD that's also great at the drags.... Not going to happen. Boat builders and buyers have been looking for that holy grail forever. The hull characteristics for each are diametrically opposed.. So any boat claiming to do both will be a compromise on both. You may find a boat that claims it can do both, but it will do neither properly, it will be (at best) average at either.

I'm with Bob_VT, get a boat for each....

......watch out for the tinny's here on iboats...they're a bit "cultish"..."once you go tin, glass is a sin!"

I've had both, and each are good at what they do best.... But neither will do what the other does... Like everything else, anything claiming to be all things to all men, is compromising on everything. Do you want the best, or do you want a compromise? Your choice.

Chris.......

 

[rallyart]

Re: Opinions needed!!

The very best part about asking for opinions is that, if you ask enough people, someone will tell you to do what you wanted to anyway. It takes out all the risk because either you were brilliant from the start, or it's that other guys fault.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Opinions needed!!

The very best part about asking for opinions is that, if you ask enough people, someone will tell you to do what you wanted to anyway. It takes out all the risk because either you were brilliant from the start, or it's that other guys fault.

X 2!!! :laugh:

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Opinions needed!!

WI, kids, fishing, ski/tube~~~ bass boat? Stand on a gunnel?? ~~~ probably 4 or 5 fat guys could stand on the gunnel of my EdgeWater 205! Think Al Lindner cannot be wrong. Buy a Lund, the Baron would be overkill for you but is the best tin boat made.

Having owned the smaller version of the Baron (Lund) my Tyee model was extremely stable and didn't cause the boat to list when big guys were on one side or the other. I really regret selling that boat, ended up with a lesser quality tin (Spectrum) and while it is a decent fish/ski style boat, it doesn't compare to Lund. To me if only one boat is the path, I would stay away from true bass boat style boats. They don't offer the functionality I need, I am on some big waters, and need wind and water protection, thus a walk through FULL windshield. Have fun deciding what is best for you.

 

[BobJJr01]

Re: Opinions needed!!

all of you maybe right....I maybe crazy!! Sounds like picking a boat is like picking a hunting dog, reach in and grab one!! Just for the record......Al Linder and Babe Winkleman are never.....never wrong

 

[Teamster]

Re: Opinions needed!!

all of you maybe right....I maybe crazy!! Sounds like picking a boat is like picking a hunting dog, reach in and grab one!! Just for the record......Al Linder and Babe Winkleman are never.....never wrong

Al runs a Mercury powered Lund,............

And Babe runs a Evinrude powered Polarcraft,.....

A friend of mine was a Polarcraft factory sponsored angler on the FLW Walleye tour back during the hay day,.....They build a very nice boat,........

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Opinions needed!!

That is the sad part-- go Yamaha if a choice is given.

Al runs a Mercury powered Lund,............

And Babe runs a Evinrude powered Polarcraft,.....

A friend of mine was a Polarcraft factory sponsored angler on the FLW Walleye tour back during the hay day,.....They build a very nice boat,........