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Bay Boat Recommendations #10791208 04/23/15 07:26 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 310
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Bombela Offline OP
Angler
OP Offline
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 310
My brother and I finally have a little boat experience we recently sold our 1st aluminum boat and have come to great love inshore fishing. We are now looking for an inshore boat but here is where the problem lies, we dont know what manufacturers are good and which are bad. I have zero experience with saltwater rigs; we will NOT consider getting a brand new (although it would be nice lol) because we are still in school so that would put too much pressure on our backs with school tuition and all other expenses of life. We are looking for a boat that is 20' and up in length that we can inshore fish maybe do a little flat fishing if the boat specs allow it. The towing vehicle will not be a problem. I do know that my brother wants/needs a jack plate to allow us to get into shallow spots. We will also be using this boat here in our local lakes such as Lake Texoma , Lewisville, Benbrook etc. So our question for all the saltwater gurus out there what manufacturer is good and which have a bad rap. Also I have heard bad things about Mercury engines what are yawls experiences with them? I had an Evinrude 115hp on my boat and it ran like a champ for being 1992 model. All opinions are welcome.

Keep in mind I want to be realistic I want to stay below 20,000 I know this might mean not all the luxuries such as jack plate etc. but I just want to get an idea of what brands/ models to look at and what not to look at. I dont care if the boat is not the newest thing, just as long as its a good durable boat.

As always thank you for your time


-Bombela

Last edited by Bombela; 04/23/15 07:30 PM.
Re: Bay Boat Recommendations [Re: Bombela] #10792715 04/24/15 11:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
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Pat Goff Online Content
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,637
Good news and bad news.
Good news? You have a lot of choices. Bad news There's a LOT of choices.

You are talking the talk of the uninformed, that's ok, we're all born ignorant, it's not a sin. So, let's help you get some real definition on what you really want.

Bay/flats boats are built to their environment, so you see a total different hull depending on what part of the coast you fish, From the north in Pt. Arthur, you see kenners, skeeters and champions, because the water is deep and rough. Get to Matagorda and they start to change to less deep/rough to shallow tunnels, down to Port Isabel and you need all the shallow ability you can get. So what's "shallow"? To a lot of people it's 18", to me it's 2" so where are you going to use this sled?

What makes it run shallow will also make it run hard in choppy water, your first compromise.
HOW do you fish? Stake it out and wade? Pole? Drift flats? Anchor and drown meat?
How many people do you really need to take with you?

Advice: Figure out what you're really going to do in it 75% of the time and buy what works best for THAT, and let everything else compromise, if you think you can get something for everything you'll end up with something that does nothing well. That's a fact.


Pat Goff
Seadrift TX
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Re: Bay Boat Recommendations [Re: Bombela] #10793639 04/24/15 05:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,319
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Matt M Offline
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,319
Look at the epics at Rockwall marine


Matts Marine Service
903-450-3539
Re: Bay Boat Recommendations [Re: Bombela] #10793798 04/24/15 06:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 342
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Don G Offline
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 342
A little more than you are wanting to spend but Fun-N-Sun in Hurst has a new 2013 Skeeter SX-200 listed for 31K. I recently purchased an SX-220 from their Cleburne location and am totally pleased with the boat as well as the staff at Fun-N-Sun.


Don G
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