If you are seriously talking about a striper/hybrid boat a center console is the best option, anything else is a compromise.
A barge is a barge, and a deck boat is not a striper boat.

I have a 20' blue wave and love it. It is bare bones though. No rod storage and no place for the girls "my wife" to layout. I love my blue wave for the amount of fishing space it has and the way it handled rough water. My next boat will be a blue wave striper edition. Another good boat is an xpress aluminum center console.

I have a 20' blue wave and love it. It is bare bones though. No rod storage and no place for the girls "my wife" to layout. I love my blue wave for the amount of fishing space it has and the way it handled rough water. My next boat will be a blue wave striper edition. Another good boat is an xpress aluminum center console.

I have a 24ft Century Inshore and love it. Handles water very well, Has ton of storage and lots of room. Also has a head for the kiddo's. I don't know if it is the best but its right up there with the best of them. I really like the shearwater boats as well.

So true I have a Fish Master made by Travis Boating. I looked at the Blue Wave at Plano but The 20 ft fish master with 125 merc wish I had gone with thhe 22' with the 150 mer any way it had more to offer that the Blue Wave for me. Dont think they are sold any more though.

Kayak

No registration fees.
No trailer. Haul it in the back of the truck.
Launches just about anywhere for free.
Draws 3.5 inches.
Humminbird PiranahMax 180 (90� coverage)
5 Gallon fresh water bait tank (116 GPH inflow)
28 quart cooler
Mirage peddle drive.
26 oz Carbon Kevlar paddle.
Trolling rod holders.
Storage fore and aft.







All these caught this year and not to mention a boat load of Hybrids up to 8.9#.
Over 400 fish caught this year.

+1 on the Wellcraft

Ok for redfish also:

I really like the shearwater boats. Smooth ride lots of room quiet. I have fished from a lot of boats and this is my fav.

My criticism of most center console and/ bay boats is that they build the front and rear casting decks and storage so big that there isn't much room behind the leaning post for a shad tank and to fish with downriggers. Buying a bigger model doesn't get you additional space behind the cleaning post. The North Texas built Falcon striper boats pushed the center console way forward so that there was LOTS of room behind the console for a shad tank and for clientbseating, down riggers etc. They were pretty heavy and I don't know if they still build them anymore. Used ones trade at premium prices.

I wonder if 10 years later everyone still feels the same about the best striper boat.

What new advances have been made in the last 10 years since this post started?

First of all, any boat is better than no boat. Free is a good start with me, but center console if its 100% dedicated striper fishing boat.

Perform the Ben Franklin approach to fit or dispel your needs vs wants ! Interpolate intel from this thread and make a decision. Keep in mind as you age, your mobility and eyesight can play a major role in your lake of choice and target fish(s).

My take on the best striper boat is still the same as 10 years ago, and it is the one that is paid for!

I still have the same boat , repowered this year with yamaha 4 stroke. I only crappie fish these days,


MO

I love my Nautic Star 231 hybrid. We catch LOTS of striper and white bass out of it and can use it to pull skiers and tubes as well. I figured out how to configure the front livewell to hold bait consistently.