Trout Boats
- This topic has 33 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated Apr 7, 2008 at 3:02 pm by
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Hey guys –
I have the boat bug pretty bad. My trip this week to Bass Pro didn’t help any. I learned Bass Pro will finance a boat for 12 years at 10% on a simple interest loan. That means a $7,000 boat would average about $80 a month, but you could make big lump-sum payments and cut years off the end of the note.
I could handle $80 a month, or I will be able to after I replace my car this summer. This has changed my perspective on boat buying quite a bit – instead of saving up for an older beater for $2-3k, I’d prefer buying new, making payments, and throwing money at the boat when I can to pay it off quickly.
Which raises the ultimate question: which boat?
Here are my needs as I see them:
1) Boat must be able to handle shallow water fishing (i.e. 6″ or less draft) for trout in tailwaters, carp, and the occasional marsh trip for Georgia redfish.
2) Boat must be able to safely handle generators capable of 6,000 cfs+. That means about a 25 horse outboard is necessary.
3) Boat must be durable enough to handle bottom scraping, and it would be a plus to be rowable for drifting runs a la Alaskan sleds.
4) Boat must be reasonably fuel efficient.
Here’s what the boat doesn’t need to be:
1) Big enough for three anglers: 2 would be fine.
2) Flashy
3) Fast
I would like the boat to eventually have a poling platform, but it doesn’t need to start with one. I’d like to buy only one boat.
So, with those things in mind, here’s what I’m eyeing, in order of how likely I am right now to get it.
Tracker Grizzly Welded Jon
That is the 16′ version. It would probably run about $8300 (before shipping) with a trailer and 25 horse Mercury 4-stroke motor. It would have a center console, decks, rod storage, and a trolling motor mount to keep the trolling motor (another eventual) out of the way of the fly line. Bass Pro has these in stock now.
The other version of the Tracker I’m eyeing is a special at the Macon Bass Pro. It’s the same boat, but 14′ long, lacking the deck in the bottom (it has exposed ribs). It’s a side console but everthing else is the same. They want about $7,000 after shipping. I think the extra 2 feet, the bottom deck, and the center console are worth the extra $1300, but I don’t know how much the shipping for the 16’er would add.
The advantage of this boat is durability and resale value if I need to dump it. Jon boats hold their value for years, although the engine would depreciate. I would certainly buy used if I could find a way to finance it.
Carolina Skiff J16 Bass Boat
Advantage here is customization. I could get a poling platform built in at the shop, do without the center console and rails, and keep it simple.
Two problems are cost (I don’t know how much this boat would be, but I have heard in the $7k-9k range) and durability. I am a little afraid a southern tailwater would eat the fiberglass.
Custom Gheenoe
This boat is basically my dream craft, but it has its issues too. First, it’s expensive. The package above would probably be $12-14k new – a lot for a glorified canoe. Second, it’s small. Third, it’s also subject to damage in tailwaters. On the other hand, this boat is very tricked out for fly fishing and would probably draw me down to the marshes a lot more often.
Supreme
Finally we have the Supreme. This is the boat Mike Anderson swears by. I have fished out of his and it is very nice. My concerns here are size (22′ long is too long for my garage, so I’d need storage). Also, the boat is expensive – probably $10k with a 25 horse outboard, which might be underpowering one of these. Durability in shallow tailwaters is something of an issue, though Mike deals with it well.
Finally, in order to really take advantage of this or any of these craft, I feel like I’d really need a 40 horse jet outboard. It isn’t out of the question for me to get whatever boat I buy paid off in 2-3 years and then go looking for a jet. I’d certainly rather have one to begin with, but you’ve got to factor the loss of packaged deals in to that equation. Does anyone know if boat dealerships will switch out engines for a jet or roll the cost of buying one on your own into the note? Sounds like a stretch to me.
Although I’ve been in and out of a lot of boats over the years, I’ve never owned one and I don’t consider myself all that knowledgeable. I am hoping to get some commentary from you guys to help inform me enough to make a good decision. I am committed to getting into a boat of some kind as soon as possible (if nothing else, it will really stretch my fishing horizons in this area by opening up tons of new species and water).
Thanks,
ZachI have to close my eyes when I see the finance options on a boat. It’s just too tempting. That Grizzly seems bullet proof.
I have been toying with the idea of my buying a project boat and learning how to work with fiberglass. Especially after seeing what those guys on micoskiff.com have done.
Every boat is a compromise, what are you going to be doing the MOST of.
Tailwaters do a Supreme, 2000 not the big boat. 9.9hp 4 stoke MercI can run up and down with 2 anglers plus me in 8 units at Bull. 15 is faster and I’m tempted, but I’d reckon the 25 is overkill, especially if you are only 1 or 2 up a lot and the extra weight means you can’t run as shallow
I’d only lean to a jet if your running a lot of very very shallow water or lots of big flow.
You don’t have the same control when drifting as with a prop boat. Yep you can get oars and “drift it”, its been done around here but if you want to drift and still fish yourself one up, you might need to invest .
but I use the motor to maintain drift control etc.
Simple process.Plus the jets are bloody noisy. I can hold conversations with clients even running in mine.
Cheers
SteveI have never owned anything but a kayak but several friends have larger craft.
One has an older Carolina Skiff like the one you mention and another has a 16′ jonboat with all the bells and whistles.
An uncle has an excel mudbuddy that I have used for much what you are saying. It has a tall short motor (that is what he calls it – I do nt know the proper term) and set with a push pole. He has it for Duck hunting but I’ve used it for everything else. You can get it in colors other than the camo… I’m not sure if they have that yellow or not. 🙂
http://www.excelboats.net/boats/mudboats.htm
Zach, practically any outboard can be converted to a jet. All outboard jets (Merc, Yam, Evinrude….) use pumps from OB Jets in California (they just re-paint them). A pretty simple conversion – drop the lower unit, swap out the drive shaft and bolt on the jet pump. I converted my Merc to a jet with no prior experience – couple of hours at most.
Kent - FlyFishGA
First off whatever you do DON’T get a center console, it adds way to much late and takes away too much manuverability as long as your boat is <24 feet and you aren't primarily running strait to get like many many miles on big lakes or saltwater you don't need a center console.
I’d reccomend an 18 foot lowe with a 30 hp jet and oarlocks, light, easy to row/paddle (for a sled jon boat) and can run less than 2 inches of water. Skip the extra seats and frills because its all more weight.
Buzz you need to come down and see what we run in in these Supreme’s LOl
Actually Zach I was showing Joey from Supreme this thread yesterday and he said he could fix up a swing tongue tongue trailer $120. His words were fits most modern garages. After we both stopped laughing he said might fit 22′ would fit 23′.
BTW he was very interested in Mike’s boat. Nice piccies Mike.
Zach,
I would think that you would definitely want to stay away from a center console and stick to a tiller steered boat–especially for running shallow water/tailwaters. You would want to be able to pop the engine up in a hurry when you were to float over obstacles and power trims aren’t that fast.
The Grizzlies are great boats, but so stinking heavy and loud in shallow water.
I’m with you in that a Gheenoe or Riverhawk type boat is about perfect for most of the fishing situations you mentioned. A 16 foot boat can comfortably accommodate three people for getting from spot to spot, but would be tight for fly casting. I want to have one built with facing fold down bench seats (like on flats skiffs that become part of the casting deck) with just enough open space in the center store and remove rods from built in holders, and an ice/storage chest.
Buzz is right about the engine thing, too. I fish a lot with one of my best friends out of his Riverhawk. He has a 9.9 HP two stroke on it which is fine for going down river, but the ride upstream is laborious and sucks a lot of fuel.
Bryan
i have owned a 21 aff arkansas boat with 50hp jet to narrow fished 2 yrs and sold !
next 1756 express prop tunnel jon
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