I am interested in a 19' +/- center console that will be used on DFW area lakes and Texhoma. We fish about 95% of the time and every once in a while pull a skier or tube. What brands and models should I be lookign at? Brands with DFW are dealers are prefable.

I've had a couple of Kenners in the past and I'm partial to them. They don't run exceptionally shallow but they bust chop fairly well, economical and reasonably well built. They were better when Kenner still owned them. They are now owned by Tracker. Nitro and Mako CC's (both also owned by Tracker) use the same hull and are virtually the same boat.

Bill Kenner started a new line of boats with K2 which has the Frontier line and Blackjack line. Both are very nice.

I hear good things about Pathfinder, Sea Pro and others that I cannot think of right now. If running shallow (1ft or less) isn't your thing then I'd go with a v-hull and no tunnel. Not even a pocket tunnel.

Ditto on the Kenner/Mako. They ride dry, are reliable and the price is right.

Nautic Star is one you might want to look at too. There are 50 good CC boats out there now.

But if I had the money, it would be K-2's Blackjack or a Boston Whaler. You cant go wrong with a Kenner/Mako, though. Just make sure you put AT LEAST a 115hp outboard on a 19 footer. Some will try to sell you a 90 for it to cut costs...dont do it...you'll be sorry.

That's good to hear about the Kenner/Mako. I was also wanting to look at the Blue Wave and Triton this weekend. Most all of the 19 footers are rated for 150 HP max, is 115 enough?

Shallow water isn't a concern, if I am shallow it's with the trolling motor only.

Do not buy a boat with a motor less than the max hp. rating. You will regret it from the day you buy it to the day you sell it. I have heard good things about these boats:

http://www.seaproboats.com/interface.html

The Kenner VX ( not vision) 19 is fast with a 115 on it. But bass boat guys and center console guys have different views as to what "fast" is. 45 Mph is fine for most CC guys.

A 150 optimax on a 19 Kenner Vision will scare you ! ( unless you have 4 fat chicks in it with you) The VX series in a 19 is rated at 125 HP.

Just dont put a 90 on a 19 footer. If it runs 32, you'll be lucky.
A friend of mine has an 18 foot Nautic star ( a liner boat) with a 90 Optimax. He had to really go small on his prop to get a decent hole shot...and now his top speed is about 32 or so.
In short....it's a pig. All he needed was a 115 and it would fly. I know, because he had another prop on it and it ran 40 with the 90 HP..but took forever to get on plane.

Well I would agree on the engine part you are better to spend the extra money now so you will stay happy with it.

I love my kenner one thing to take into consideration is that while kenner and makko are now the same boat for the most part the warranty how ever is not.

Kenner still has the life time hull warranty and the makko has a 10 year.

This was the reason I bought kenner over makko becasue other than that they are about the same.

I agree 100%. Most CC's now have 4 strokes. I had a 19 foot Fishmaster (which was a Kenner hull) with a 140 4 Stroke (highest rated hp) on it and it still had trouble getting on plane with 4 people in it and really had trouble getting a skier up with one ski when the boat was loaded.

If you need good dry storage get a lined boat-my Hydrasport is a "rolled hull" boat and I love it except for the storage. The compartments are not very water tight and I have even tried new lids and that doesn't help. That being said the lined boats are heavier and cost more so just look at your budget.

Can someone explain the difference between a lined boat and a rolled hull?

I have a 22 ft Century.I also fish Texoma several times each year.My advice is do not get a boat under 21 ft if you fish Texoma.In the spring (and during June this summer)when the wind is up ......you will need the bigger boat.

It's called a rolled edge. The liner boats are two piece boats, for the most part. A top and a bottom. So they cut they "edges" straight so the top ( cap) will mate with the hull. The rolled edge models will have a hull and a floor on top of if like a liner boat, but the walls are "rolled out" at the top, so to speak. No cap....just a floor and a deck. Take a look at the Kenner VX for example. That's a rolled edge boat. They are lighter and cheaper. But most dont have much storage, even though some of them are now adding extra storage to the rolled edge models.

There is hybrid of sorts out too. The Frontier ( Built by Bill Kenner). It is a rolled edge boat with a short cap on the front casting deck only....and maybe the rear deck too. But the floor and front casting deck are not a single unit like a true liner boat.

I hope I didnt confuse you too much. Oh....also...many rolled edge boats have wood in them...which, contrary to myths....is not really a bad thing if installed properly.

Rolled edge-rolled hull-whatever-still not lined-i get your point OldFrog...I have had mine for 13 years and been in some big rollers at Amistad and was glad it wasn't 19 foot long-22 feet didn't seem enough then

just baught an 03 22.5 ft Fish Master with a 150 Suz 2 stroke (less than 60 hrs on it). only been able to get out once but it was sweeeet. run 50 mph/ hole shot was good cut the waves good and trolled thru 2 ft of water with the big motor down. compared to my old 19 ft cajun is a whole different ride

Congrats on your new boat. However, begin checking that 03 Fishmaster for leaks NOW and get them handled.