Maybe you can do this with 'graphics,' or maybe you're 'graphicly challenged' like I am and can only use words, but would you design your perfect catfish boat for me. Lets use an 18'-22' boat. It can be any fiberglass, aluminum or pontoon boat. What would choose and how would you rig it? If you have the perfect boat please describe it and/or show pictures. This will be for fishing mainly on lakes, and possibly up tributaries a short way. thanks, capt david

a submarine so I can go find them cats.......

really I like them 18-20 foot Aluminum Walleye boats all them fellars up north around the Great Lakes use-or them 20-23 foot Sturgeon boats them fellers in Oregon/Washington run.... 'except I want a catfish worthy live well........

http://www.lundboats.com/boats/2011-aluminum/2150-baron-boat
or

EXPRESS YUKON 19.5 if it had a big livewell in back this would be my choice....eXpress's site is down.....


or something like this:



http://www.clemensmarina.com/details.php?id=569

http://www.clemensmarina.com/details.php?id=592

My new neighbor has the perfect boat for me. It's a 22 or 24 foot Fishmaster CC.

custom weld boats would be an awesome catfishing boat....they use them up on the snake river in idaho catching big sturgeon. lots of room and handles strong currents and waves--lots of power. i could see driving one of those bad boys on t-wok!

them custom weld jetboats would be alotta fun.....
or these:

I'd like one of these http://www.willieboats.com/raptor.htm
Notice the thickness of the aluminum bottom and sides. Plenty of room.

When fishing on a larger lake, and maybe up the main river or tributaries but not very far, what would be the advantage of an aluminium boat over a fiberglass one?

I have always been a bigger fan of aluminum boats, mainly because in also a duck hunter and I know how hard of hits they can take on sunken logs and trees without much damage. Just don't hit some rebar that is barley sticking out of the water. It will put a nice hole your boat.

Thanks
Kody

I have always been a bigger fan of aluminum boats, mainly because in also a duck hunter and I know how hard of hits they can take on sunken logs and trees without much damage. Just don't hit some rebar that is barley sticking out of the water. It will put a nice hole your boat.

Thanks
Kody

fiberglass gives better ride but aluminum is tougher

I don't think there's any advantage. Fiberglass does have a gelcoat that chips off when you hit rocks or gravel. The aluminum just scratches. Neither one will do well when you run over a steel T-post. Aluminum is nosier and hotter in the summer. If you're trying to keep fish alive in a livewell, better have that aluminum livewell insulated really good. When it's 95+ with bright sun, aluminum absorbs a lot of heat. From a maintenance standpoint, I can patch fiberglass, I can't weld aluminum. For me, the bottom of most fiberglass boats is designed for lift (more efficient) and a smoother ride. When drifting, flat bottom boats tend to drift much faster and don't track well in the wind. Those step hulls on fiberglass boats are designed that way for several good reasons; track well, lift, stable ride, cut the waves with the bow.

I have a old hurrican that works for me.good for catfish,crappie,highbreds&sandbass and sometime gar. mel petty

Yep deckboats best of both worlds love my old alum. Lowe

Saw this on craigslist a while back - pretty impressive but seems to be a little underpowered.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/2701592097.html


I've also looked at these

http://www.redneckairboats.com/Home_Page.php

I would like to be able to rig up a hammock for slow bite times.....