texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,565
TexDawg 119,511
Bigbob_FTW 94,879
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,259
Bob Davis 81,478
Mark Perry 72,280
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,815
Posts13,934,987
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Looking for input on my last boat purchase #12338405 07/14/17 01:07 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
M
Monkeypuncher Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
M
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
I'm looking to buy my last boat as I'm retiring soon. It will be used for fishing only, mainly catfish, crappie, whites, and occasionally bass. I live on a shallow cove at Cedar Creek, so lm looking at aluminum. I will be fishing alone 90% of the time, so 18-20 feet is my choice. I'm mainly concerned with be able to get up from the driving position easily. My bass boat was just too low. Any suggestions?

Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12338455 07/14/17 01:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,159
ShinerInTx Online Content
Extreme Angler
Online Content
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,159
I would look at a Lund type boat, also aluminum center consoles.


[Linked Image][Linked Image]
Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12338679 07/14/17 03:31 AM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
B
Bobby Milam Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
B
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
I'm thinking about keeping my bass boat but also buying a cheap pontoon when I retire for when I want to be comfortable and not climb out of my seat in the bass boat. A center console would be nice and easy to move around in.

Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12338986 07/14/17 01:29 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 31,153
H
HasBen Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
H
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 31,153
Given your comments, I would be tempted to look at something like this configuration. Easy up and down, good visability, lot of room. Lots of options out there.

https://xpressboats.com/bay/


"Nothing spoils a good story like the arrival of an eyewitness."-Mark Twain
Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12339019 07/14/17 01:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 25,659
T Bird Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 25,659
Center console all the way.


Okie by birth, Texan by choice.
[Linked Image]
USAF "Thunderbirds" Alumni 1985-1989




Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12339024 07/14/17 01:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
M
Muzzlebrake Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
M
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
Ranger RP190 CC is a nice rig. SeaArk Pro Cat is a Cadillac but with the Cadillac price. Built like a battleship. http://seaarkboats.com/boat_models/view/63
I really like the big Pro Cat 240. http://seaarkboats.com/boat_models/view/58

Last edited by Muzzlebrake; 07/14/17 01:56 PM.

From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."

Then He made the earth round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!

Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12340311 07/15/17 02:03 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
M
Monkeypuncher Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
M
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
Thanks for the input. You all have hit the boats I'm looking at. Really like the seaark, and the center consoles.

Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12341273 07/15/17 08:16 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,507
CHAMPION FISH Online Happy
TFF Celebrity
Online Happy
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,507
2 guides on Tawakoni run those Xpress boats. They look pretty durable.


[Linked Image]
" Success is a ladder you can not climb with your hands in your pockets."

www.pro-cure.com
www.falconrods.com
Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12344961 07/18/17 01:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,991
S
Stump jumper Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
S
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,991
I saw lots of Express center console bay boats for sale when I bought my Champ. I heard that the Express CCs ride rough in a chop. Of course when you retire you can pick your days but still may run in to one like Saturday on Twok. I limited my choices to a 22 bay Skeeter then Champ and Ranger. There was a real nice Skeeter 20 in Granbury but I think it sold. Check Craigslist and boat trader daily. The good bays go quick. Also check Houston and Beaumont but you have to be careful is salt water use.


2200 Bay Champ/200 Mercury Optimax
2017 Tundra TSS 4x4 Crewmax 5.7L
Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Stump jumper] #12345353 07/18/17 11:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
T
TCK73 Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
T
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
Sea Ark would be my choice out of the ones you mentioned. Xpress makes a nice boat, but I have welded several of them back together when they crack in different areas.

Re: Looking for input on my last boat purchase [Re: Monkeypuncher] #12371332 08/03/17 08:48 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
M
Monkeypuncher Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
M
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 175
Update: thanks for all the input. I decided to buy the Excel 21catfish pro. It fits my needs perfectly.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3