Getting back in the center console boat.

Hey yall, a lot of yall know me or of me. I used to run a black/white bay stealth for a few years. I sold that boat and bought a Grady white with twin F150 yamahas about three years ago to fish out of. That boat was a good boat but I wanted a better, newer boat with diesel power to fish off shore more.
This past April, I bought a Carolina Classic 25 diesel. After a couple months I've discovered that I just can't use the boat as I intended. I also must have at least one other person to help with loadin/unloading. The boat is heavy, big and just too much so I've put it up for sale.

All that to ask this. I've looked at 22 PureBay from Bluewave, Sportsman 22, Epic22 and a couple others. The one boat that captures my attention the most is a Key West 230 BR with Yamaha F250 and t-top.

I guess ild like to see if anyone on Texasfishingforum, runs one of these boats or knows anything about them? Any comment are appreciated. This is not meant to turn into a boat bashing thread but any helpful criticism is well welcomed.
I'm ready to get back into a boat that I can use alone if need be. Of course striped and hybrids are my main target.
Thanks
Captjohn

Fished a few Center console boats with generous friends and by far the best was the Sea Hunt. Fit and fisnish far superior to others I have seen.

That Pure Bay is pretty rank. Custom black & tan would be sick.

Well I am not an expert on the Key West. But I have heard several good things about the Sportsman boats. They also offer Yamaha power which I have had ALOT of experience with and all of it is positive. I haven't heard much on the Epic. I have rode in several Blue waves and this would be my last choice of the 4 you listed. I have not been in the new "Pure Bay" but Blue wave seem to have a poor finish and cheap components, as well as a wet ride. I have a lot of experience with the Majek, Skeeter, and Ranger center consoles, all of which are Very nice. Try to test drive a few if you can. And look at the layouts and storage. I feel like everyone looks for something different in a boat, ie speed, ride, storage, size... etc. just find the one that best fits your style of fishing can't go wrong with Yamaha power IMHO.

Have you seen these?

http://www.crevalleboats.com/

Buddy of mine was looking at the same boats you are referring to and decided on a crevalle after seeing one at the boat show!

I have a 2015 22sc Epic they now have a 25sc. Nice ride and plenty of room. Contact ken@funnsunboats.com. No matter which one you go with I sure you will enjoy it happy boat shopping

I LOVE the look of the Keywest boats but have never been in one. Wow! Those Crevalles are SWEET! Didn't look at $ but it looks like I'd need to sell my soul to be able to afford one, but a guy can dream.

I love my Majek Redfish line but its a tough run on a big choppy lake. It's great for shallow water bass fishin and of course, for back water bay systems.

If you go to the boat for sale forum on here there was a guy who was out at Bob Sandlin selling a really sweet center console Robalo that looks like its rigged perfect for striper fishin.

I believe the founders of Seapro and Key West went to bed and now they are Sportsman. Paul Rogers is a great guy who can hook you up with the Sportsman . 214-668-8467

There are so many good CC boats out there I can't decide either. So that puts us in the same "boat". Lol

Check out the sweet CC Robalo for sale in the boats for sale section !!

Contender 25' cc bay boat http://contenderoffshore.com/thefleet.php?bid=30

sea hunt is no.1 in the country for nothing.only the best parts and hardware,.

Well, I researched every single word I could find, these last few days, on the key west 230. Another boating forum, that is pretty big on boating, has no negative feedback on the key west. Also good reports on the seahunt and Robollo. Of course, many others are written about.

I looked hard at the Epic, at the Dallas boat show. I kept looking it over thinking, I've seen this boat before. Come to find out, it's built in Vivian Louisiana using the bay stealth hull molds. At least on the 22'. That's the boat I was running from 2005-2013. Had a good ride and little problems besides normal wear and tear.

I just want a little higher quality than that boat and I believe, tomorrow, I'm putting a deposit on a Key West 230 BR out of Conroe,(closest dealer to dallas) Yamaha f250 xa.
I do not need a jack plate as I seldom want to run that shallow and it's already got a T-Top from the factory. Everything I read about it is good reports. Ride, quality parts, foam filled hull, trim tabs, 19* dead rise at transom to help the rough ride. General happiness with the owners and supposedly very good customer service at the factory.
I hope to never need anything from the factory but who knows?

Should I pull the trigger, I'll be posting pics and back out on my home lakes, cedar creek and tawokoni and waiting, like everyone else for Texoma to go down a little.

Thank yall for you opinions and for not bashing any boat.

Captjohn

I like my 24/7 sportsman. Taking it to the gulf this weekend.

Thanks Radny. I really loved the looks of the sportsman. And the history behind them. I actually went and pulled the trigger on the 230 BR KeyWest this morning. Gonna pick her up on Friday. Getting pretty excited to be back in the center console game.

Now, with all that room on the dash, I got to decide what electronics I want. I have an 898csi on my Grady and I have hade it a few years. Not at all impressed with side scan but like the color fish finder. I may go with the Humminbird1159 HD. And just be happy with that. Lol

They are good boats. I almost bought one myself a while back.

Well, I did it. I went and bought the Key West 230 BR with T-Top and a 250 Yamaha.
Look out, The Rat-bass-turds are back in the game.

Sharp looking boat. Congrats!

Now for the electronics and an I pilot

Update on the Key West 230 BR;

Took her out, yesterday, to Cedar Creek lake. To start the 10 hr break in period. Fist off, it's a dream pulling and launching this boat after dealing with the bigger, heavier offshore rigs. Kept the rpms under 2000 for the first hour putting around the lake. Then during the second hour we pushed her up to planing speeds, carrying between 3000-4000 rpms. The jake was choppy as all heck, from the multitudes of wake boats but the key west handled it great. (19* dead rise at transom is a blessing.)

After the second hour, per the book, we ran her up to WOT a few times getting around 55 mph at 5800 rpms. Half tank of fuel and four grown men at close to 200 lbs each.

Boat did way better than expected and I am thrilled to say the least. I'm headed to Cabelas today, to find a Humminbird 1159 to mount in the console. The side scan I rand before just didn't really impress me and for the money savings, I can't justify the 1199 Humminbird.

We just saw you out there!! Looking good and it's a great looking boat...but the question is were you marking any fish?!

Nice rig, congrats. I went thru the break in process a couple weeks ago on mine, the 2000 RPM session was spent with the wife looking at the houses on the lake and saying " I like that one" about every third house.

Lol, thanks for the accolades. (Big word of the day) no, I didn't have any way to mark fish yesterday. And I found out today, I don't have room for an 1159 Humminbird. Guess I'll go with the hds. 9 gen3? Thoughts?

Sea Hunt or Sportsman.