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Anyone running one of these in the Chesapeake? How do they handle in the chop (2 to 3s). I have been looking for a used panga in the 22ft range under 24k(at least 115hp) and have about given up on that. I have done a bit of reading on Pathfinders and they get good reviews. Defiantly a better used market for them. Same great mpg and shallow draft as the trusty pangas but with more fishing room and storage. I realize with their design that being out in 5 footers would not be a good idea, so don't worry about that. I'm just interested to know if they can hack it in the Chesapeake. Looking for a better ride than my buddy's Donzi classic 22. Beat the heck out of us in the chop last summer. I would be fishing and crabbing in the middle Chesapeake mostly. Might take a few trips to Ocean City Md to fish in the bays down there. Maybe even mess around in the Ocean on a nice day. What do you think?
What do I think? Panga - Pathfinder - Donzi Classic ... Never should be together in the same paragraph. That's what I think... There is no way to try to make sense out of it, go get ready for school, the bus will be by shortly.
I;d look for a standard center console. Bay boats arent meant for the Chesapeake Bay IMO. Something with an enclosure (WA/PH) would be best since much of the good fishing occurs in spring and late fall when the weather is sketchy, cold and/or windy. However, Pathfinders are pretty nice boats.
You will want something bigger - like a Maycraft, Sea Hunt or something with some higher side and more deadrise. Trust me on this. I had my Sea Fox out there and while it did OK, I had to pick and chose my days. Some days where I didn't go out, I would have with a slight larger, deeper V, heavier boat. Just my .02...
Pathfinders are great boats.... For the flats and estuaries.
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
I think that you would be much better served in a traditional CC, unless you are willing to really pick your days. The consistent tight chop you will find will make your time on the water very uncomfortable in that style boat.
Pathfinders are great boats but the low freeboard can tend to take water in a very short steep chop and make for a wet day. Most here go for higher sides as it is cold (water in the 40's and 50's) when we get the bigger migratory stripers. Nothing worse than being wet when the winds are blowing and the air and water are cold. Heck I am such a ninny, I have a pilothouse
I have a 2004 Pathfinder 2200 that I use strickly in the Chesapeake Bay. Great fishing platform since I can go anywhere I please whether it's shallow or deep. You have taken advice from others who do not own a Bay Boat. The freeboard is low and it's one of the driest CC I have ever been on. I don't know about other brands but for Pathfinder it is a very durable boat. Go on to their Forum and ask and you'll find lot's of guys offshore in their 22's on a regular basis. If you can't get past the low freeboard thing than I suggest a Jones Brother or Parker.
hdrunk5 - 3/19/2008 4:16 AM ........Looking for a better ride than my buddy's Donzi classic 22. Beat the heck out of us in the chop last summer. ................
I was on gw204's Grady White Sailfish last fall out of Solomons Island and when trolling in the steep short chop of the chesapeake we took water a couple of times over the bow and into the walkaround as we came down off of one wave into the next. I have experienced this on my Maycraft and my Pro-line 231 too. A Grady Sailfish has a HUGE high bow and is made for offshore use. Granted it was rough but low free board and the Chesapeake dont mix when the current bucks a stiff wind. I have no experience fishing a bay boat and wouldnt want to on a rough day in the early spring or late fall--- just me.
Afish, my buddy is telling me deep v. May have been his poor captain skills. Glenn's reply was consistent with what I had been reading on the net before posting. Most found Pathfinders to be great shallow, good deep, and awesome when it came to mpg. And that is the boat I'm looking for. Hence the Panga comparison. Guess I will check out that Pathfinder forum. thanks all!
I've got an 18ft parker that has a fairly low freeboard and its not a problem for me...
I don't fish when the conditions are putting waves over the bow, I've got friends who
I can fish with when the weather is like that but now that I'm getting "older" I don't fish in
that type of weather. My parker weights about the same as the 22 pathfinder, the only thing I suggest is curtains and trim tabs....I've got the tabs and the curtains are being started
on this week...
Good luck on whatever you decide.
Guys-
Pathfinder make a 23 CC http://www.pathfinderboats.com/boat-...4&t=1593868533
It's not the deepest vee on the market but if you drift fish/light tackle or live bait-its a great choice
I had a maritime and just moved up to the pathfinder-and no place has worse chop than buzzard bay here in MA!
Wow! I thought Pathfinder only did bay boats. Looks like an awesome boat with a lot of little thing that make it fishing friendly. I would certainly fish that model on the bay in a heart beat
Too bad the nearest dealer is over 130 miles away from me to check one out.
Irocincally enough I saw one of those Pathfinder DV's going down I264 here in Va Beach yesterday, I had to look twice myself.
But as said above, the Bay Boat in the Ches Bay is a BAD idea.....trust me, I tried it for 2 seasons....ended up pounded, wet and almost always pissed off cause I should have just bought a regular CC instead (Boat was a new 06 Sea Hunt 22BX) the boat itself was great, for its intended purpose.......the Ches Bay was NOT its intended purpose.
This is my first season in my new ride, sailfish 23.....totally different ride, and makes for much better fishing days.
Ive heard nothing but good things about the pathfinder, but I would seriously think twice about it for a year round boat here in the Bay.
Good luck in your search
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2001 Grady White 265 Express
I dont think a bay boat is the right choice either but if you like to fish both skinny and sometimes deep and can only afford one boat then you dont have a choice. If you get the 22' pathfinder just make sure its the model with the 25" transom. I think pathfinder makes both 20" and 25" transom heights in the 22' bay boat. As a 24' bay boat onwer i can tell you that you wont able to do much more then 3' ers and when in 3's you are crawling and wouldnt want to do it for very long. If i had to have a bay boat for what you are asking id probably pick the triton 24lts or the Hydrasport 23 bay bolt as they both have very good reviews in the slop. Skeeter just changed its hull in my model from a 17 degree deadrise (which is what i have) to the new 20 degree deadrise.
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Pathfinder 2200v - good for Chesapeake? 
). A little more free board for the colder months on the bay..
