Hey Guys,

We're buying a house on Tawakoni and I need a boat. I've done some research and for what I'll be doing (hybrids/stripers, some bass and crappie, some family/tubing/skiing), I'm getting a deep V aluminum boat (Lund probably). My question is how long a boat do you think I need? I'm looking at a 17' but I've had some tell me nothing shorter than 18'. I'm not a guide. I won't be fishing every day. That said, I would like a boat that I can safely fish out of if the wind is blowing 20 mph. Let me know what your opinions are. I'd appreciate it.

Matt

To have room for family and to handle rough water on Tawakoni I would certainly go over 18'....20' would be better. I used to have a 16.5' double console and it was just too small even for 3 of us plus skis, tubes etc and was scary if caught out in big waves. Upgraded to 19' and huge difference.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11741673/1

This one should work.

I'm not a big fan of aluminum anything, especially if you're worried about waves

I have always wanted one of those. I just don't need it when I fish with my kid and occasionally the wife. Nice rig you have for sure.

For the OP, I think 18'-20' deep v will be fine. I have been on Twok in 25 MPH wind and seen 18' deep V boats do ok. I have also seen 16-17' fish and ski boats having a bad day in that same wind. I actually followed one to the dock once to make sure they made it in ok. They didn't know I was keeping an eye on them, but they were having a rough go of it. They looked like two drowned rats when they docked, and the bilge pump was still pumping 5 minutes later.

I love my aluminum boat!

Skippy--what area were your buying the house? We've been looking the past month or so. We need a waterfront house. We've got an 18'deep-v aluminum boat. Handles great!

Handles great because it can fit in your hand.

I'm jelly about the lake house.
Lund's are some great boats. I've had the pleasure of fishing a few self guided trips in Alaska and that's all that the lodge had, 18ft v hulls. Very popular up there.

I got caught once crossing a large body of water with rollers that could of been 4ft at a diagonal trying to get back to the lodge. That was the only time it was a little scary.
I would go with a 18ft for the HP rating and capacity.

I run a 21' CC skeeter and still manage to take em over the front sometimes
you can get out of any wind on that lake, just don't get caught on the wrong side

I have a 22' CC fiberglass and love it. I think the weight makes as much of a difference on ride as anything. I would advise to get the largest boat you are comfortable with handling and can afford that is practical. Like a lot of things, you don't usually hear of folks saying they wish their boat was a little smaller. Especially if you are primarily going to target open water fish.

Get the biggest boat you can afford. You'll never regret it. Tawakoni can get rough really quick and you do not want to risk danger to your family. I highly recommend a center console deep V for what you are wanting to do. Skeeter, Mako and Blue Wave are all good rough water boats. Like the previous poster said no one ever wished their boat was smaller.

18-19 feet is a good compromise for a lake fishing boat. Especially if you're going to be launching & fishing by yourself alot (might have to be able to manhandle the boat at the ramp once in awhile).

My center console is an 18 footer. Have never felt unsafe out on the local lakes, even in some truly horrific weather.

Go to Holiday marine and look at what Matt Carwright has and ask him if he would consider something other than wha t he has.

I've had 2 separate experiences on that lake. I did have a 20 foot skeeter, and got caught up north (north of the bridge) one day, and a 20 mph south wind kicked up. I was concerned even with that big boat trying to get back to the ramp. took it slow, and it still beat me to a pulp.

now, I have an 18'8" ranger aluminum. Tawakoni can get extremely rough very quickly, and although it's a great fishing boat, I would not even think about getting on that lake if the wind was going to get above 15 mph. my aluminum boat moves pretty good in small whitecaps, but the waves that I saw that day with my skeeter would have been tough (especially if the waves are hitting you on the side).

bottom line, for Tawakoni, as someone else said, buy as big as you can afford.