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Boat size requirements for tournaments?
#12430840
09/18/17 04:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 283
lumberjack
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 283 |
I was told that most big tournaments have minimum sized requirements on boats to enter. I have only fished working mans tournaments and that was 20 years ago. Looking to buy a boat that my dad an I could enter a few big payout tournaments. (No intentions of winning just the excitement of "maybe").
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12430903
09/18/17 11:46 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 463
P_102
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 463 |
Can't speak on the rules but you should be fine at 18', 150hp. As always, bigger is better with more comfort and more stable ride/platform. P_102
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12430904
09/18/17 11:47 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,431
SteezMacQueen
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,431 |
I think it doesn't matter, as long as it's capable of carrying two anglers safely.
The only restriction I know of is 250hp max on some trails.
I have fished the opens a few times, and have been in as small as a 18' boat.
Eat. Sleep. Fish.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12430909
09/18/17 12:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,946
joebass2
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,946 |
Haven't seen a length limit, but have seen some in the past that required typical steering (not stick steering). Most require a functioning live well system and a kill switch for obvious reasons.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12430911
09/18/17 12:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 496
popcork
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 496 |
What Joebass just said is pretty much spot on.
Last edited by popcork; 09/18/17 12:11 PM.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12431086
09/18/17 02:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,183
coachallentca
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,183 |
what Joebass2 said. I have an 18'8 boat and never have had a problem fishing tournament. The only thing is the bigger the motor the faster you get to your spot but having a big motor will not help you put fish in the boat.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12431102
09/18/17 02:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 64
Canny
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 64 |
Around here I have seen tournaments with a 17 or 16' min. This keeps folks with small flatbottoms from going places they shouldn't on Rayburn and getting into trouble safety wise. As mentioned above the bigger the better that way you are better equipped to handle various weather conditions and rough water if it may occur on tournament day.
Cross her eyes, and dot her T's
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12431107
09/18/17 02:14 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,051
BMCD
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,051 |
I have seen 16' min, cuz that is prolly not safe for a draw type tournament. But all you have to do is read the rules. I'm sure a working livewell is the first thing.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12432099
09/19/17 01:36 AM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,487
meP2too
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,487 |
usual requirements active livewell, kill switch, no stick stering, no tiller steering, no jet drives, motor hp must not exceed coast guard rating. never seen a length restriction. i started tournament fishing in an old skeeter sd 80 (15'-4") that was fun on ray roberts running from marina to upper end of isle du bois.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12433161
09/19/17 08:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 635
El Skeeter
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 635 |
This is where, Size doesn't count, LOL, fished a 45 boat average trail, the points champs 2 years running fished out of a 16ft Bass Tracker III with a 40 Mercury. So much for our high performance ,latest electronics, Power Poles, Yamaha 250's, etc. Mine included Best of Luck!!
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: El Skeeter]
#12434067
09/20/17 02:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112
daddystog
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112 |
EL Skeeter, Back in the early 80's they were having tournaments almost every weekend on a state lake I fished in mississippi, I didn't have a boat so I made me a Trolling Motor mount that would fit the 15' John Boats you could rent at the Lake, You should have seen the looks I would get at the ramp when I would pull up and start rigging up 1 of those rental John boats with my home made Trolling Motor , Swivel seat and Big Old Igloo cooler I had made into a livewell Was almost as priceless as the look on them big boys with the Top of The Line Bass Boats faces at weigh in when I took there Money
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12434084
09/20/17 02:45 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112
daddystog
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112 |
Lumberjack, if your planning on Fishing the big open water reservoirs around you Find you a good used 21' Ranger, Champion or Triton Don't worry about who it will out run but how well it will handle rough water You'll fish a lot better in a boat that is comfortable when the weather gets a little rough
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: daddystog]
#12434363
09/20/17 07:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,431
SteezMacQueen
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,431 |
EL Skeeter, Back in the early 80's they were having tournaments almost every weekend on a state lake I fished in mississippi, I didn't have a boat so I made me a Trolling Motor mount that would fit the 15' John Boats you could rent at the Lake, You should have seen the looks I would get at the ramp when I would pull up and start rigging up 1 of those rental John boats with my home made Trolling Motor , Swivel seat and Big Old Igloo cooler I had made into a livewell Was almost as priceless as the look on them big boys with the Top of The Line Bass Boats faces at weigh in when I took there Money You should have took their money and bought a boat.... That's what I did after my first year fishing Bass opens.
Eat. Sleep. Fish.
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: SteezMacQueen]
#12434570
09/20/17 09:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112
daddystog
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,112 |
That is exactly what i did, Started out with a 16' Ouachita and worked my way up, My last boat was a 21' Triton XHP with a 250 PRO XS
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Re: Boat size requirements for tournaments?
[Re: lumberjack]
#12434823
09/21/17 01:31 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 283
lumberjack
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 283 |
Thanks for the replies guys! Money is not the issue it's a cost vs use analysis. I would probably only fish 10-20 days a year so 20-50k on a boat makes no sense whatsoever.
Last edited by lumberjack; 09/21/17 01:32 AM.
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