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Starting to think about a new boat. It's been 2 1/2 yrs since I sold my last Erie boat (a Grady White 226 walk around). I've always had a cuddy boat for Erie and I have a little 16 ft side console I use for the local waters.
But now I want to own just one boat. I want something that I could launch and load myself on the local Pittsburgh ramps (which generally suck) and also take out on Erie for smallmouth or perch (my two favorite species to fish for on Erie) when the weather's nice. Maybe even run out a little deeper if / when the weather's nice. I guess I'm looking for the closest thing I can get to the best all 'round "do it all" kind of boat. The more I think about it, a 20 ft center console seems to be the best compromise. Perhaps maybe a 20 ft dual console. No less than 18 degree deadrise (preferably 20 degrees), self bailing, and a decent amount of freeboard. For instance, a Grady 20 foot center console.
What's everyone's thoughts, opinions of 20 ft center, or dual console on Lake Erie?
I have taken a few waves over the bow in all my years of Erie fishing, but I also used to chance going out when the weather's marginal. I wouldn't foresee myself doing that anymore. Lol, getting too old for that crap.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
I'm in Cleveland and I have a 1993 21' Pursuit walk around. It's trailerable with plenty of freeboard and self bails. The cuddy cabin can sleep two and has a portable toilet. The cuddy does sacrifice some forward fishing room, but the aft area is quite roomy. I like the fact I can go to the islands (PIB or Kelleys) for an overnighter plus I can keep my gear stowed on the boat in the cuddy. Gradys are also good Lake Erie boats.
__________________ Todd
Little Miss Magic
1993 Pursuit 2150WA |1993 Yamaha 200TXRR | Garmin GPSMAP 230 | Lowrance LMS-350A | Fusion MS-RA-200G | iPad 2 3G with Navionics
I have a 2003 25' Proline center console for sale that I use on Lake Erie. Plenty of boat for Erie and plenty of room for family outings on the river. I load and unload it myself not as easy as a little bass boat but still not difficult.
I'm in Cleveland and I have a 1993 21' Pursuit walk around. It's trailerable with plenty of freeboard and self bails. The cuddy cabin can sleep two and has a portable toilet. The cuddy does sacrifice some forward fishing room, but the aft area is quite roomy. I like the fact I can go to the islands (PIB or Kelleys) for an overnighter plus I can keep my gear stowed on the boat in the cuddy. Gradys are also good Lake Erie boats.
Yeah, I did like the cuddy for being able to stow my gear and lock it up on the occaisions that I would rent a transient slip. But I'm probably going to be doing Erie trips less than I did in the past (It's 145 mile drive one way). Locally, a cuddy would be more of a hinderance. I was in Baltimore for a wedding last weekend, and the day after, I stopped at the Bass Pro Shops down there. They had a 21ft Mako CC that had some nice storage in the console, and even extended under the floor in front of the console. I could lock my rods and downriggers in that space. But I'm not looking to buy new.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
Be careful guys, I have a 36 ft. Trojan and the Lake can give me trouble, and I do watch the weather.
Ditto!
I know SeaTow is not in our area, but their new iPhone app is awesome for providing all weather and marine conditions in one app. You don't have to be a member to use it.
__________________ Todd
Little Miss Magic
1993 Pursuit 2150WA |1993 Yamaha 200TXRR | Garmin GPSMAP 230 | Lowrance LMS-350A | Fusion MS-RA-200G | iPad 2 3G with Navionics
I've been fishing lake erie for the last 7 years or so with an 18' dual console McKee Craft. It has full foam flotation and is much like a whaler. I don't like going out in anything over 3' but have been caught in 4 to 6's before and felt safe. I do have over 20 years experience on the lake though. I've taken it on 40 mile runs to Wheatley for steelhead and ran to the weather buoy off Vermilion from Mazurick's (20 miles).
Just my opinion but I've never been a fan of center consoles for lake erie. You get a good ride due to helm being located further aft but you also have little weather protection ( T top/windshield vs bimini with front and side curtains) and the fact that the helm is further aft, reduces the amount of cockpit space available for trolling.
Lots of good boats in the 20' range but I'd stick with a dual console myself.
__________________ " Life is just a leap of faith- spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape"
I have a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman CC in western L.E. I choose not to chance it going out on a marginal day and so far have not been caught in adverse situations. 1-3 footers are not a problem. It's self baling so I don't worry too much about over the bow waves (which only happen on occasion if I am dropping or pulling anchor standing at the bow). With a little common sense and the fear of getting caught in a wind shift or storm you'll be just fine with a 20 footer. Pick and choose your days.
my first Lake Ontario salmon boat was a 20' center. I loved the boat, but seriously got into some jams once in a while.
I used to keep a close eye on the weather, but like anything else, we would always push our luck.
Hell, you can catch fish in a canoe on the great lakes if you don't mind waiting for the weather to be nice, so the size is always relevant to your comfort and how many days you want to fish.
Here's my biggest complaint on the center though, the lakes are awfully cold, and the wind spray would be a game changer for me. I've had many days where I was the only one having fun because I was behind the little center curtain...
Now that I have a little girl with me most often, no way I'd take her on that thing. It was a guys boat for sure.
I know what you guys mean about the lack of weather protection on a center console. But I have seen some pretty nice canvas configurations on center console boats with T tops. Enclosures that would seem to keep the wind and spray off you even on a center console. Granted, it'd probably cost one or two grand to get something like that custom made at a canvas shop.
My biggest concern with the CC (or dual console) is the safety factor. Specifically, not having a closed bow for a wave to break over. I've been running my own boat on lake erie for 16 yrs. In that time, I did have a wave break over the bow twice (it was on different days). But I used to go out in weather that was somewhat marginal.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
I know what you guys mean about the lack of weather protection on a center console. But I have seen some pretty nice canvas configurations on center console boats with T tops. Enclosures that would seem to keep the wind and spray off you even on a center console. Granted, it'd probably cost one or two grand to get something like that custom made at a canvas shop.
My biggest concern with the CC (or dual console) is the safety factor. Specifically, not having a closed bow for a wave to break over. I've been running my own boat on lake erie for 16 yrs. In that time, I did have a wave break over the bow twice (it was on different days). But I used to go out in weather that was somewhat marginal.
Where do you put in in PGH? Southside?
__________________ Assault Squadron NINE
River Assault Division NINETY-ONE-1966
Harmarville, on the Allegheny river. Just below lock #3. I live in Plum Boro and can be launching at that ramp about 20 minutes after I leave my driveway. Right now, I'm just using a 16 ft Starcraft side console.
I haven't launched at the southside ramp since the mid-90s when I had my 18 ft Starcraft Islander. But after I sold my Islander, I bought a couple 22 ft cuddy's back to back (a 22 ft Proline, then a 22 ft Grady) that I only kept (and used) at Erie. I never felt comfortable launching those boats at the rivers, plus it was too much hassle (and expense) towing then back and forth, to / from Erie.
The southside ramp is pretty nice from what I remember of it. From what I recall, it can get crowded on the weekends. The ramps on the Allegheny aren't too good. They're very steep, and they don't have the docks in for most of the year.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
Harmarville, on the Allegheny river. Just below lock #3. I live in Plum Boro and can be launching at that ramp about 20 minutes after I leave my driveway. Right now, I'm just using a 16 ft Starcraft side console.
I haven't launched at the southside ramp since the mid-90s when I had my 18 ft Starcraft Islander. But after I sold my Islander, I bought a couple 22 ft cuddy's back to back (a 22 ft Proline, then a 22 ft Grady) that I only kept (and used) at Erie. I never felt comfortable launching those boats at the rivers, plus it was too much hassle (and expense) towing then back and forth, to / from Erie.
The southside ramp is pretty nice from what I remember of it. From what I recall, it can get crowded on the weekends. The ramps on the Allegheny aren't too good. They're very steep, and they don't have the docks in for most of the year.
I used to have a 191 Islander i used on Erie. Went out of Walnut Creek and North East ( Safe Harbor) There were times i didn't think the boat was coming back down off the top of the wave.
__________________ Assault Squadron NINE
River Assault Division NINETY-ONE-1966
I ran walleye charters on Erie for years until the late 90s. Best boat for that was a 24' cuddy. Chartered on good days and filled the freezer on 6 footer days. If rarely or never taking water over the bow (I've had it coming over 3 sides more than once) you are not on Erie very often or out far enough to catch 6 to 8 limits of walleye. Since I moved to SE NC I bought a CC- a 17' that I'll take out in the Atlantic 20 miles. Would never do that with her on Erie!
I have had no problems with mine. I don't go out when it is rough - anything more than 2' and I go to work instead. The couple times I had to make a short run across from the Peace Bridge to the Small Boat Harbor in difficult conditions the boat did fine. I primarily fish for smallies though - and I really like the casting deck up front for early season. The rear deck is still fishable with the T-Top but casting is a bit more difficult. I do troll a few times each year for Salmon on Ontario - if I was doing that more I'd have a cuddy for sure.
I ran walleye charters on Erie for years until the late 90s. Best boat for that was a 24' cuddy. Chartered on good days and filled the freezer on 6 footer days. If rarely or never taking water over the bow (I've had it coming over 3 sides more than once) you are not on Erie very often or out far enough to catch 6 to 8 limits of walleye. Since I moved to SE NC I bought a CC- a 17' that I'll take out in the Atlantic 20 miles. Would never do that with her on Erie!
Try and tell that to a Fla fisherman. They think they have all the bad water.
__________________ Assault Squadron NINE
River Assault Division NINETY-ONE-1966
Try and tell that to a Fla fisherman. They think they have all the bad water.
I fished Lake Erie for a long time and ran a charter boat there for 9 years. I've put more time on the Atlantic because the season is longer and she is much less troublesome. Erie can go from glat to 6' in 30 minutes or less. There will be 2 crashing 6' whitecaps under a 24' boat. In the Atlantic there is more warning and more time to react to a coming storm-- 6' are often rollers and 4 - 8 seconds apart. I usually started fishing 33 miles out of Geneva Oh in a 24' or 26' boat. That is big enough to hit the Stream at 60 - 65 miles on the Atlantic and fish overnight. My 17' goes out 18 - 20 miles now and I know better than to take it more than 1 - 3 on Erie.
Unless you are willing to fish in hunting gear center consoles are good for about 8 weeks a year max up here IMO.
I tried both center consoles and fully enclosed walk arounds before purchasing. I bought the walk around and extended my seasons by months. C/C's are great but are more for the warmer climates. Been out in some pretty chilly weather the last few weekends and would never know it. That on top of like the other poster said how rough and nasty it can get here would make me consider a different style like a W/A for fishing. alot of people really who have not been on erie do not understand how nasty it gets and how hard it is to navigate the nasty close waves. My grandfather worked for a shipping company years ago in the port of cleveland and said many of the saltie and laker captains would much rather navigate on the ocean than erie for the very fact of how close the waves were together, making it tough for navigation. Therefore, consider that and consider something with protection from the elements.
Last edited by CrankTroller; 05-02-2012 at 05:12 AM.
I have a 20 foot dual console and although I love the boat it has its drawbacks both as a pure fishing boat and it’s a little small for the great lakes. I’d go with the CC for just fishing and I’d say at least a 22 footer.
20 ft center console on Lake Erie ? 
