All that is fine on a coast rig, the great thing is, there's lots of choices. Bad thing is...there's a LOT of choices.

Pluses on a big CC rig (kenner, blue wave, pathfinder, etc) Tons of room, cushy ride, you can sorta do everything in one pretty well. *sorta*

Minus, I assume from your hometown you'll be on Amistad, Ivy, lakes like that most of the time. Troll down, bass fishing. Any of those big bay boats will catch wind like a empty potato chip bag. While they have decks, they really aren't as fishable as a bass boat deck. Ok, not great.

So, that leaves the real hybrids between the two. Lake and Bay, Majek exteme, Storm, the Haynie whatever he calls it..which really are bass hulls that have been streched a bit, and ready for saltwater. I tournament fished out of a 20' Back country in the late nineties when they were part of champion, and absolutely loved fishing off of it. Huge decks, very stable hull, tracked great on the troll motor, and the poling platform was the absolute shizzle for sight fishing bed fish. All the rednecks in their skeeters thought I was lost, had to tell them the poling platform was a wing, then it was cool...

So, in my long winded way, that's the direction I'd head, and your compromises will be minimal.

True dat !

Dont overlook something like a Kenner 19 Vision. With gas prices what they are and engine prices too....a 19 might be a good option. If you arent comfortable running to the close rigs in a good 19, due to wave height, then you arent going to fare much better in a 21....and had best stay inshore....if you think about it.

Here's where guys get themselves all in a bind...

Usually he has a particular task he wants to do, and there is probably a hull built just for that task, sometimes there's a lot.

Then the what ifs start creeping in, what about doing this or doing that, and then the gravy maker steps in and tells the poor guy don't forget about your once a year outing with my uncle Cletus, and he's got a bad leg now, so you *have* to take care of him too, and then my sister wants to use it to pull her next ex husband around on a tube....see where this gets?

Poor dude gets so overwhelmed with the what ifs, he ends up compromising so bad, his main pursuit got lost and his new toy isn't worth two dead flies for anything he really wanted to do.

"stay on target" You'll be much happier.

PM sent

Take a look at the Bluewave Purebay. I bought a new one last Thanksgiving and totally love it.

How exciting! Purchasing decisions can consume a man. When I bought mine, I was looking at all of these brands discussed above. I'd looked at enough older Mako's and learned to stay away from them; most of them had soft floors, gas tank problems, etc... (sorry Mako owners, it's only my personal experience)

I settled for a 17' Boston Whaler with a 90hp Evinrude for my family of 5 (3 kids: 8, 10, 12yrs). It's a light boat that can be towed easily, used as a family boat, bay fishing boat, or good all around boat. I don't do a lot of fresh water fishing. Being that it's a foam filled body, it's storage capability is not good; but that's a good trade-off for me. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

good luck, let us know what you end up with.

I've got a kenner and couldn't be happier. Its very well priced and a smooth and dry ride through choppy water. The only problem I've had is it doesn't get skinny enough but I've learned to work with it. It is easy to trailer and clean and is extremely light and fast. Its very well made. I fish almost completely in saltwater, but have put it in the lakes a couple times and it performs great.

I've got a kenner and couldn't be happier. Its very well priced and a smooth and dry ride through choppy water. The only problem I've had is it doesn't get skinny enough but I've learned to work with it. It is easy to trailer and clean and is extremely light and fast. Its very well made. I fish almost completely in saltwater, but have put it in the lakes a couple times and it performs great.

I have a 22' pathfinder that we use for bay specks & reds along with bass/ hybrid/striper fishing. The boat will float in a little less than 12" of water for driftin the flats & I can run in 15" or less. I DO have a Bobs flats jac jack plate & trim tabs. Plenty of room to fish & play. and the sides are high enough that young 'uns wont fall out (unless they are playin on the decks ) PM me if you want more info.

I have a 22 foot Boston Whaler for sale that is exactly what you describe. Great for the family and I have fished solo out of it with no problem. If interested go to Austin Craigs List where the boat is advertised or contact me directly. Good luck on your search.
Doug C.

email me at scockerham@burnet.txed.net

I might have the boat you need.