I think the perfect size is 19 to 19.5 feet. It is small enough to get in and around docks easily, but still long enough to take rough water well. Also, a 19 foot boat will provide plenty of storage room and allow for at least a 200 hp engine. Something like a Ranger 519, Champ 198, or Bass Cat Pantera would be a great tournament boat.
Again, I would stick with the Yamaha or Merc. I have had all three and I wouldn't mind buying another Yamaha or Merc; the Evinrudes I had always had problems. I have heard good things about them recently though.
Gambler is good but I am not sure why you would buy one. If you want true speed, there are only two real choices.

I'll take my 221 Elite Champion Merc 225 EFI Quick & Dry

For me personally I wanted a 19' boat with at least 200 horses for less than 30K that would give me more capability than what I had and matched the colors that I wanted. I found one at a dealer down near Beaumont. Previously I had a 15' Quachita jon boat then a 15 foot 86 King Fisher with an 80 Merc. My Dad has a Ranger and it is immaculate. But I didn't want to wait 16 wks and pay 5K to 8K more for a name. We have been a Merc family so even though I think Skeeter builds a good boat I didn't want the Yami that came with it. I am very happy with my choice for it is what I wanted. I don't sit around wishing that I should have bought a (fill in the blank). I think all of the boats are good boats and some excel in different categories than others. As someone said before there are tradeoffs with any boat relative to another. To be generally happy about your choice you have to decide what you can live with and what you can live without. Then close your eyes and do it then go fishing.

Going to be Bass Cat getting a new one this Saturday. had a Champion before. It will be hard to beat that ride.

I like any of my buddy's boats. They drive, tow, and run the front...I just sit back and enjoy.

I drive a Ranger.

Champion Fishabilty?! I will put the 200 and 210 Elite up against any boat on the market for FISHABILITY. "Billy Bobs Texas" size dance floor front and rear decks, endless storage, great riding VWING hull sets flat in the water when your fishing and you cant make it rock walking around from one side of the boat to the other. I'm at 240 and I can't make it rock.

The Fishabilty, Ride, High Speed Handling and Finish are hard to beat. Strap on a 225 or 250 Pro XS and you can stick your chest out, you have one of the very best rigs on the water. Thats 30 years of running them all talking.

350v...

BassinBoy, check out the BassCat Cougar. Take one for a ride. I think you will like the ride and the layout of the boat. BassCats are very solid boats and have tons of storrage.

Well with todays technology and smarts, there are so many good boats out there. Boat owners are going to tell you, you need to look at the boat they have. I own a Cat and would say the same thing, YOU NEED TO BUY A CAT.

What you really need to do is test drive as many different boats on the market that interest you. Drive them in both calm and rough water. When you are in the drivers seat, make sure you are comfortable and can control "THAT" particular boat at all times. When you are on the trolling motor, make sure you can handle the pedal postion and deck space for hours upon hours, because you will be up there a lot. Go to the dealers and look over as many different brands and models to find what is going to fit "YUOR" needs as a fisherman. Look at the storage of the boat, will it be enough for all your gear? How about the layout, is it going to be easy for you to get around? Do you legs fit under the console?
There are many questions you need to ask yourself as well as the dealer when you go to purchase that special boat.

To me costumer service is very imporant and that is one reason I bought my BassCat. By far they have the best customer service out there and BassCat Boats won JD power and awards the last few years.


If you have any questions feel free to shoot them my way.

Good luck with the new boat

How many of these seven pages did people say that they would choose the type of boat that they actually own? Betcha it's about 90% of them!!! People are funny!

Thats not funny, thats just logical. I would say that most people that responded picked the boat that suited their needs the most and that is what they would recommend to others. Just plain simple logic. They chose what they liked and are passing the information on to someone else looking for a boat. Now he has to decide what will work best for him.

funny? i have to agree with ezbassin. I guess it is funny as well, guys would say the same for their truck? if they did not like it, they would get a another one. I do like my basscat.

The one's that are payed for!!!!

My friends Bass Cat. It always has beer, any bait I may want to tie on, full of gas, and has a full time trolling motor oporator, and all it cost me is a little miller lite, and lunch and breakfast.

Champion fishability is great.The older models were narrow at the beam and they tended to rock a little while sitting still The 206 was the start of the wide beam and is a very stable platform.Like everyone says, you can't beat the ride.I have heard go things about the new Ranger 520Z.I have yet to ride in one but i understand they are fast.I have owned a Ranger and was a quality boat but it was a rough wet ride.I can not speak for the 520Z.The Z21 & Z20 series is a beautiful boat, but do not have a comfortable ride.It boils down to what you are after-speed,affordability,or comfort.