Looking at these boats...I want a dry running boat, in both freshwater or Saltwater

Also looking at Keywest Bayreef and SeaPro SV2100CC


Any comments???

We just got a 2004 Fishmaster bay boat. Made by Kenner. 19', center console, 115HP motor. Bought it in Abilene at Travis Boating Center. We have had it since Feb. and we love it! We do most of our fishing on freshwater, but are headed to Rockport next Friday.
This is a great boat for either.

I've heard lots of good things about the
Key West. Saw one at the Dallas boat show, looked
good.
Everything is a compromise, buy the boat that
fits your fishing style.
good luck
MO

Thanks for the suggestions.

I needed to hear those that have boats, to get their experiences. Most everyone on this forum fishes freshwater, but I know that the same type of boat, mentioned originally, can bay fish too.

I have been in a Ranger 2180. Very smooth ride, but limited seating for 2 adults plus driver. I like the rear bench seat from Sea Pro and Boston Whaler, where you can seat two-three adults comfortably. I would like to take 3 to 4 adults out fishing at a time. I know that there is a seat in front of console (1 adult), the leaning post for the driver and maybe one other adult (1 adult) on most of the center console boats. But then you have other boats, that have jumper seats, or bench seats accross the back of the boat, that convert to fishing platforms. This is the kind of boat I am looking for.

Thanks again...

Bullfrogs. Can you let me know how that Fishmaster works out in Rockport? I have the 18' Kenner and have been wanting to drag it down there.

Only recommendation I have is buy all the motor you can afford. An under powered boat sucks.

I've got the BayStealth 2180 and it is far from a dry ride in rougher water. Most all true bay boats are going to be that way due to the way they are made...low gunnels, shallow draft etc. Built for shallow, semi-calm, bay type conditions. There is quite a difference in "bay" boats and other "center console" boats.
Just my .02

The Kenner line is tough to beat, from standpoints of both price and performance. Bill Kenner introduced the "Carolina Flare" hull design years ago, and it has been copied countless times. It is, I maintain, as dry-running a hull as you will find on the market anywhere at any price.

I run a Kenner Vision 2103, and ran a rolled-edge 21 prior to that ... both great boats.

The Sea Pro is also an excellent boat ... I have a friend who has been running one for years. Ditto for Polar; Capt. Wayne Vinton ran one a few years ago and let me handle the helm a time or two, and I was extremely impressed.

Don't overlook the Skeeter line of saltwater hulls, either ... salt or fresh, the Bay version is a GREAT hull. My friend Capt. James "Frenchie" France of Oak Island Lodge on Trinity Bay (at Anahuac) runs a 22-footer, and it is an awesome rig.

Pathfinder and Maverick are proven hulls as well.

Man, there are just a whole lot of choices out there, and you'll have to find the one that you like best. Pay particular attention to the console configurations/deck layout/dry storage/rod holders/livewells, etc. ... "little stuff" that isn't so little.

I have not run a Bay Stealth, but friend Larry Mason of Pasadena bought one a few months ago ... a 22 ... and loves it. He just took it offshore, and came back with a glowing report. He got his from Boat Superstore; 4444 Nasa Rd. One. If you go by there, ask for B.J. Stampley and tell him I sent you.

Hopefully, he won't hold that against you for long:-)

I wrote a piece last summer (August) issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine about choosing a bay boat that you might find useful. If you would like, I will save it as a MS Word attachment and send it over your way.

Good luck in your search, and take your time. It's a buyer's market, and there are some great deals out there.

If I can help, let me know.

Good boating, and good fishing ...

Boz

Hey, I went ahead and e-mailed you that feature manuscript from TPW Magazine. Hope it helps.

"Mo" makes an excellent point ... EVERY BOAT INVOLVES SOME DEGREE OF COMPROMISE.

It's like monfilament ... every good "all-purpose" fishing line out there combines, but to some degree compromises, the primary elements of shock resistance, stretch, castability, tensile strength, diameter, etc.

It's like I tell saltwater fishermen about tunnel hull boats. If you really need a tunnel, you really need one. If you don't, you REALLY
don't.

Forgot to mention, the Key West is an excellent hull, very high-performing and well-made. Lake Conroe fishing guide Butch Terpe runs a Key West, and says he wouldn't have anything else.

Lastly, if you are wavering between and 18-19-footer and a 21, it's almost invariably best to just go with the 21. There are a LOT of 19-footers on the market that were traded in a year after purchase by guys who wished, very quickly, they had instead opted for the larger hull.

Then again, those pre-owned year-old 19s can be some great buys.

Again, if I can help in any other way, I will. Just drop me an e-mail at larry@blacksalty.com.

Best,

Boz

Hey, I went ahead and e-mailed you that feature manuscript from TPW Magazine. Hope it helps.

"Mo" makes an excellent point ... EVERY BOAT INVOLVES SOME DEGREE OF COMPROMISE.

It's like monfilament ... every good "all-purpose" fishing line out there combines, but to some degree compromises, the primary elements of shock resistance, stretch, castability, tensile strength, diameter, etc.

It's like I tell saltwater fishermen about tunnel hull boats. If you really need a tunnel, you really need one. If you don't, you REALLY
don't.

Forgot to mention, the Key West is an excellent hull, very high-performing and well-made. Lake Conroe fishing guide Butch Terpe runs a Key West, and says he wouldn't have anything else.

Lastly, if you are wavering between and 18-19-footer and a 21, it's almost invariably best to just go with the 21. There are a LOT of 19-footers on the market that were traded in a year after purchase by guys who wished, very quickly, they had instead opted for the larger hull.

Then again, those pre-owned year-old 19s can be some great buys.

Again, if I can help in any other way, I will. Just drop me an e-mail at larry@blacksalty.com.

Best,

Boz

get a dargel great for skinney water i have a 14ft and go to south padre and have a blast get a 75hp not much gas room but i take a extra add the tower and get in the 4" water get the big reds

Robsco, what do you consider rough water? I have the BayStealth 2030 and have been in some 3 to 4 ft chop and have yet to get wet.

Forgot to mention Shoalwater. I ran in Capt. Jim Onderdonk's big vee-hulled tunnel a few weeks ago on Baffin, and in some pretty rough water, and it was amazingly dry and smooth. You can contact Donk via his website, www.pocolocolodge.com.

They also have a nice 21-foot "cat" style flats boat, but I wouldn't recommend it ... or any other flat-hulled scooter-type hull ... unless you are going to regularly run in shallow and protected water.

Boz

hotrods, (or anyone who wants to know!)

Our 19ft Fishmaster (by Kenner) did wonderful this past week at the coast! It runs really great and and we all stayed dry, except the day I put the plug in the wrong hole! haha Even then it ran really good and we had it loaded! Anyway, I would recommend this boat to anyone! I say that because, I haven't been around boats very long, and they still kinda scare me. But I felt really safe and comfortable in this one even when the waves were coming over the bow! So I am really impressed with this one.

Bluewave

don't forget to test drive your intended in coming out of shallow water after shutdown. I have had two different tunnel hulls with jack plates and plenty of power. I could run in 9 to 10 " of water when up on top with and occasional bump on the skag but when I shut down I needed 15" to 18" to get up and out. Many a time I had to revert to the buddie on the bow and the hard left full power auger up and out