I'm looking for a new fiberglass center console and would like to receive feed back on quality and experience of brands and models. I don't know a lot about nauticstar, but they make a really nice hull with nice standard options. Open for feed back.

http://www.crocokayak.com/

I hear a lot of good things about nauticstar.

First thing you need to do is figure out what you need. Do you want to run ditches, fish shallow, or both.

A friend of mine has the new Shallowsport Mod V and it might very well be the best all around boat for the TX Coast.
It will get you across a rough bay and keep you dry, and go as shallow as anyone could possibly need. It drafts about 9" and will get up in 12".
At 21' and a V, thats about as good as it gets.

There is a herd of very nice CC's on the market, it's enough to make you completely confused if you're not sure what you want.

There are some A+ builders, and there is some junk getting passed on also. The more you learn about how a boat is built, the happier you'll be with your final decision.

What purpose will your new boat be used in? Mostly lakes with four trips a year to the coast? Or all bays? And if so, which part of the coast?

Further north you go, the deeper the bays, and rougher the water, go south and shallow water performance dictates your decision.

Whatever you decide on, do NOT even consider buying a boat without taking on a thorough test ride. If the dealer balks, you need to walk away and find something else.

The boat would mainly be used at Inks Lake or Buchanan, fishing for whites, stripers, and blacks. I would also like to take it to the coast three to four times a year in the Rock Port or Port Aransas area.

Pat said it right.....there are tons of good CC designs out there...........I would reccommend a high freeboard CC ..........like a Wellcraft, Boston Whaler, Seapro ..............21ft or 23 ft will permit you to take it offshore on a good day.

Good luck

I've got a SeaPro 21 CC with the high freeboard and I'm happy with it. It doesn't have the fit and finish of a Whaler but it doesn't have the price tag either.

I think those Sea Hunts are good looking boats but I have no experience with them.

I have a Nitro Bay 2200 and I like it alot. I use in mainly on freshwater lakes here in Central Texas. It has a 12" draft and high free boards. Had lots of good fishing times in it.

I do the same thing except I fish Lake Belton. Do 7 or 8 Rockport trips a year. After much shopping, I settled on a Bay Stealth 2180 tunnel w/ Yam 200 efi V-max. Belton doesn't rock and roll like Buck but Aransas Bay does. It's not a flats boat but it will run in a muddy 10". It takes about 18-24" of water to get on plane depending on bottom composition. I chose the BS because the tunnel performs great. It doesn't blow out or slide in turns like most tunnels that I've fished out of. The hull is built like a tank.
A buddy has a Nautic Star 2200 and loves it. Super nice boat but he can't follow me on the flats at RP.
Regards, G

I've never been in one so what I'm saying is based solely on what I've read and heard, but if I were looking a center consoles I'd give the Bay Cat a very serious look.

Been extremely happy w/ my Bluewave 19ft tunnel hull. However, you don't want a tunnel if you are going to fish freshwater. The tunnel hull is extremely inefficient and that's tough on the pocket book w/ the gas prices. I would recommend Bluewave especially for the price compared to your whalers.

p.s. I can run down a wet street in my BlueWave

Have had a bluewave since 97.. Just put a jackplate on it.. Been a damn good boat..

who makes the best ?

Actually Earl, you've got just about the best one there is. But you knew that.

In the same league would be the Bay Cat, Pathfinder, Blazer would be close.

What has happened, the bass boat guys are teaching the old school bay boat guys a hard lesson in boat design. Boats that actually handle, ride and don't fall apart are much more desirable than some of the junk being passed off today.