Post em'

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Congrats on your new boat !

I've got a similar rig. I've had numerous boats including a
nice center console. But for versatility I came back to a tiller
steer jon boat. I can approach more types of fishing that
I like to do with this type of boat. I fish the river, I still fish
for catfish, I have a trolling motor mount on the front and
the back for bass or crappie, I have downriggers that I can
attach when I want to get on some stripers or reds as a tiller
is hell on wheels for boat control, I have some brackets
that mount on the gunwales for night fishing lights. I have
a bimini top for it for hot summer days. This rig is a high
performance, low maintenance fishing machine.

I have a DuraCraft 1660SV with a 40 HP Tohatsu. I originally
had a 30 HP on it, but it didn't push it quite as well as I wanted,
so I switched it out for a 40 and it's just right. I think you will
be good with a 40. Just pitch the prop right and she will do
the deal.

I wouldn't mind having an 1860 on some days, especially if I
have more than 2 in the boat. But most of the time I'm just
happy as can be with my rig. I just finished putting a new floor
in mine.

Let us know when you get yours out on the water.

Waiting is a biatch. I remember waiting for mine. Krap,
it was in the spring too. Hang in there !!

P.S. The great Buck Perry never had a boat with a "steering wheel"
and he could kick EVERYONE'S arse on bass fishing or anything else.

+1

Craigslist is a good place to start. That's where I found my G3 CC DLX and I'm happy with it. I just put a T-Top on it and with the Yammie 90 it still does 30mph@ 4000RPM and around 40 @ 5000, so considering the wind resistance of the top, that's not bad.. I'm not a speed demon and I don't see a need to run all out. I have more time than I do money.

Congratulations! Hold your head high and be proud. I started out with a 14' Lowe Lake Jon and caught a lot of fish with it. The fish don't care what you are in. I would have been proud to have had a boat that nice.

Here is my ugly old boat. The first photo is before I got rid of the steering wheel. The second photo is after I removed it to open up room. Since this photo I moved the throttle back, made a better tiller for the motor (it took me three tries to get it right) and made some better rod holders. The boat is dirtier than normal in these photos but then again it is never fully clean it seems.

I agree looking for used, now is a good time too. Lots of good deals to be had if you look around. I found mine at a dealer, but I was trading one in as well. The motor didn't even have any paint knocked off it, '09 model. Craigslist is an good place to look, gives you ideas on prices too. I'll try and get some pix up this weekend, gonna make some mods hopefully soon, making a canopy for it!

I think having one custom built is the way to go. I had one built it is 20 foot long with 100 inch beam 80 inch bottom 32 inch side walls and it was only 7 grand got less than 12 in it with a tandem trailer and a good 115 honda.

I have a 1860 with 60hp Merc.Does double duty as both my fishing and hunting rig. If yours has the receiver track in the gunnel and I believe it does. This lets you use it to mount all sorts of goodies and keep them off your floor.I'll take some pics and post later today.

First pic is where we started and goes from there.

Theres a mint low hour 2006 Lowe FM 16.5* DeepV in TFF classifieds ..........
Theyre nice........