Newbie needs advice!

[TommyC]

I’m currently in a 19’ Triton Fish and Ski w/ 200 etec and am in need of a bigger boat. I bass fish primarily but also like to troll for hybrids/stripers. The problem I have with my current boat is my “wife”. I bass fish a couple of days a weeks but during the summer we spend a good bit of time out on the lake tubing. My wife is constantly griping about how “small” our boat is and I guess I don’t blame here since she has to hold the tube over the side of the boat cause there aint no other place to put it. So…..I’m thinking a 22’ or maybe a 24’ bay boat might be a good option. At this point I am really interested in either a Ranger 2200 (any pictures anywhere), the ranger 2180 or Champion bay boats’. It’s a pretty pathetic reason but the main reason I like these 2 bay boats is due to their rear seating. Plus if the champion bay boats ride anywhere near as good as the champion bass boats then they have to be a decent bay boat option. One question I have is if any of ya’ll know if any of the bay boat mfg’s make a big pad to cover the front deck. I’d score some serious brownie points with my better half here if anyone makes a big pad for the front deck. Also any other pointers would be much appreciated on who makes the best “dual purpose” bay boat. The other issue I have “due to cost” is that I want to find a good boat where a 225hp is adequate power which I’m afraid will rule out the 23’ bay boats. I’m also hoping to spend no more than approx. $42k. I like my triton but it just doesn’t appear in the pictures that they offer much in the way of “rear seating”. Thanks much for any input!

tom

[greyg8r]

Hmmm, maybe one of the big flats boats would serve your needs. Big, open front deck where you could old a tube flat, low gunwales and shallow draft for bass fishing. And flats boats are light and need less power than heavier center consoles and walkarounds. I would imagine a 22' flats boat and a 225hp would be fine.

Do a search for flats boats on this forum.

[whsyrdddy]

I wish I had your problem......my wife hates the boat

[msumoose]

That reason is in no way pathetic...one of the biggest decisions for my father when he bought his bay boat was the rear seats. If the Admiral ain't happy, no one is happy. He ended up with the VIP 2380. He uses it for the exact same uses as you will. We have bass fished, red fished, trolled for stripers, and even caught King Macks offshore of Gulf Shores on calm days. Next week he will be visiting here and fishing for Tarpon out of it. Bay boats are extremely versatile, and if I did not want to go offshore all the time, it is what I would have.

BTW there is no better recreational ski/tubing boat than a big bay boat. It leaps on plane, and with tabs can throw a small or big wake for jumping or what not. Dad had a seat pole receiver installed on the back deck and when in ski mode uses it for a ski tow bar. It works GREAT!!!

[TommyC]

I had not really thought about a flat boat but myother main concern would be how flat boats handle rough water. The lake we are on recieves heavy boat traffic. As a matter of fact after this past holiday weekend I should have beefed up my onboard supply of dramamine. It was so rough this weekend that I feel like I may need a kidney transpant.....probbaly call the doc later today to schedule...lol. Anyway, I figure a good bay boat would make for much more comfortable excursions on the busy weekends. Besides the champion and ranger 22' bay boats are there any other bay boat mfg's that have good rear seating or some sort of deck pad package? Thanks again.

tom

[SCAngler]

tommy both of the bay boat options you are looking at will work with a 225.the question is how fast do you need the boat to go when your bass fishing.i know a good many running 24 'bay boat, with 225's & they are around 50 gps so a 22 should run a little faster.good luck