Obvioulsly, I'd love to have a Sea Ark. But, I'd only be able to stomach buying a used one, and even then, it would have to be a deal. I've also been looking at G3's, but they're in the same neighborhood as a SeaArk. I looked at the Xpress 20 footer, and the Excel 21 footer as well as the Lowe Catfish 20. I'd really like something with a big live well, in case I ever wanted to enter a tournament.

Been really leaning towards either the Xpress, or the Excel. The Excel does have a really thick construction, and seems like it would be tough, but, I've seen some guys getting on up into some pretty rough looking water with an Xpress too.


Any other brands I'm missing I should consider? I looked at the Blazer line, but they really don't offer the options I'd want. But, they are a killer deal for the money.

Have you looked at alpha cats? 22 and 24 foot models.

My other suggestion would be to get what you want and then have a custom live well built to your specs. I like glass boats myself over tin. I’m surprised one of the boat companies haven’t made a glass boat with the catfish type layout and a deeper V. That would be one I might actually look at/consider for the next boat.

Have you looked at the Crestliner Commander?

I have been looking at a bigger boat myself, 18 or 19 feet. I currently have a small 16 foot deep V, and it does well for its size, but something bigger for more stability and passengers would be great. Bigger boats over 20 feet are more of a handful launching and loading, so 18-19 feet looks like the sweet spot for me. I mostly fish on my own.

The center consoles look great, but as I have my rigs out the back I need to be able to sit comfortably and watch them. Most of the center consoles only seem to have a forward facing seating/bench, not ideal. The deeps V's have seats that reverse, but I dont fancy all that screen protection in the summer hear.

The perfect boat? Center console, 18 feet length, ability for the seat to face the rear (option) and a deep water type V hull.

Any ideas?? (oh yeah, and cheap - lol - well under $40K).

I have been looking at the Creastliner Commander 1850 and 2050. Deep V Aluminum, the helm is pushed forward like the old Falcon Guide Boats so there is a lot of room in the back to fish. Live well is small and that would be an issue if I tournament fished but I think I could live with what they have since I only keep eaters and done see myself needing a big live well. They come priced with a good size engine and a trailer, not like Tracker where the advertised price is the boat with a 20 HP motor and no trailer. I love my tracker but I don't think it is right to advertise them that way. I think the 1850 comes with a 115 HP and this years model is $42k. Smokercraft makes one similar but it is much more expensive.

I bought The War Machine for 18k and spent around 14k rigging it the way I want. It can handle anything the lake throws at us. Big Texoma rollers, shallow water in the spring, rain, wind, and August sun! Heavy bay boat is the only boat I will ever own after this. Safest boat I’ve owned and it’s made a serious Catfishing Battleship. Those aluminum SeaArk, Express, and Excel Catfishing boats are really nice but you will take a serious beating on big water and if you continually take them on big water they will come apart at the seams. We fish ocean like conditions at Lewisville, Texoma, and Twok quite a bit and the Heavy Bay doesn’t bat an eye when we get out in it and make long hard runs in the rollers. I absolutely love The War Machine!!! 🍀🍀🍀

One thing I've noticed, that I have yet to figure out is, a couple companies offer a bowfishing specific boat. In those they usually have a live well that's twice the size of the fishing specific models. Is it just me, or does that not make any sense? On the G3 Gator tough 20, they have a 31 gallon live well in the fishing model, but a 65 gallon in the bow fishing model. I guess it's because they have a larger front deck, and can fit it. Just don't see the reason for a big live well, in a boat where you're going to kill the fish anyway.

Chris I'm with you on the Sea Ark, Excel, etc. They all start out as a glorified jon boat and for that reason I'll never own one. They ride rough even when the water isn't. I like my Deep V for the same reason you like the Bay Boat.

Tim’s boat was very comfortable to fish out of for sure👍

Anyone around here do custom live wells? I could do it myself, but would rather have someone do it. I could expand my search dramatically if that's the case. I have a portable one I made out of an aluminum truck bed tool box, but man it's bulky and really gets in the way. Would be so nice to have one built in and not have to sacrifice deck space or walk around it all day.

Which boat do you have Tim? Too many Rum and Cokes since the get together....I don't remember. LOL.

Z, I have a Tracker V16 WT. I will never have a boat without a windshield. I am spoiled by that. I would like the next one to have wipers though. It takes big water well and it fishes two people fine. Anything more than that and it gets crowded. I would like something bigger but a Deep V aluminum fits me very well...

I was looking at the 20WT Tracker, but I guess they don't make that one anymore....it had a 52 gallon live well. I also looked at the 19, but it only has a 31. I do like the fact that you can get a bimini with a complete enclosure. That would be awesome on those really cold days.

The only issue I have with the Tracker is the way they cut up the back with the casting deck to make storage space. If you look at the Crestliner it is all open to the back, no raised casting deck. The boats are priced about the same but the Crestliner comes with a trailer for that cost. I think the Crestliner would be a better choice for me. I was wrong about the Tracker pricing. I think that might be sun tracker but the 2021 Targa 19 is listed at $41k with a 150 HP and trailer. Crestliner is $42k with a 115 HP and Trailer. Something else I've noticed, the Tracker has a wider beam. 102" vs. 94" on the Commander. The Targa has a 47 gallon fuel tank and the Crestliner is only 33 gallons.

I have had and continue to have very good service from my Tracker. I know they are looked at as a low end boat sometimes but I can tell you I fish that thing hard and it has always preformed. My only issue with the tracker when I look at them is the rear casting deck. If I can get past that, I think I might have to look at another Tracker...

not that I know of around here, but there's a guy in KS or MO that does them. I'd have to go back and find his name. They are pricey, but look very well built. And built to your spec.