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Right now I have a 14x48 riveted jon boat with a 25 hp. I really love this size boat because it fits MOST of my fishing needs. Great in the small rivers here north of the lake and I can take it to Buras and fish the shallow grass beds (for red fish) on the west side of the river where most people can not get.
The problem I have with it is I can not fish the east side of Buras or anything out of Venice because I am affraid to get into the river with this boat. It is also very scary fishing Hwy 11 in Lake Pontchatrain if the wind picks up a little.
So since my motor is old and I do not trust it more than a mile or so from the dock now I need to upgrade and was considering getting a whole new rig rather than just buying a motor for my present boat.
The boat I want would have a 25 to 50 hp motor but would rather stay on the 25 end. Speed is not even a consideration. Draft 6" or less water so I can still get into that shallow water where the red's hide and most can not get to. But would be a little safer so I could fish other places like the east side of Buras or the rocks at the mouth of passes or the Mississippi river. It would never go off shore not even on calm days. This boat will be used for fishing ONLY.
I have looked at
The older Boston Whaler in the 13 to 15ft size. I have even considered the new 130 Super Sport on sale right now for $9995 but this boat just does not trip my trigger.
The Alumacraft MV16AW with optional side console. BREAUX & DAIGLE MARINE in Pierre Part has this boat with a 50 hp for around $9000.
The J and JV series of Carolina Skiff. In fact I am kind of stuck on the JV15CC right now.
All of these boats might fit my needs but they really do not seem much more than what I have now and I am affraid I will not be happy because I did not get much more than what I have now. They are bacislly all 14' flat bottom boats and I have that.
So help me pick a new boat.
1) What is the smallest boat you would feel safe in fishing the rocks at the mouth of the Mississippi if you could pick your days to fish?
2) Am I looking for the best of both worlds and will not find such a boat?
Thanks for your help
John
PS I am not a 2 boat person so do not even go there.
A 13'-15' ANYTHING is too small for the mouth of the river and IMO it's bare minimum for the lake except on the calmest days.
This is what I was thinking also and is the reason I asked.............
What is the smallest boat you would feel safe in going to the mouth of the river or crossing the river at buras to fish the east side.
I can pick my days to go when the wind is down but also do not want to go to small and be unsafe.
Carolina Skiff does make a JV17 that has the same draft as a JV15 and is rated at 50hp so this may work for me.
What I am trying to stay away from but am afraid I need to move up to and you will suggest is the JVX series or some other Bay Boat in the 18 or 20ft size. With these we are talking a lot heavier boats; bigger draft and 70 to 90hp to push them along.
John,
I have a 16' Mckee center console. It is very wide and has a shallow draft of 9" when fully loaded. I have a 90 on it which is plenty. You could go smaller on the engine easily. I chose it over the whaler 17 because of floor space and storage. It is a very stable and great to fish out of. It's not the smoothest ride on the planet, but coming from a flat boat you'll think you went to heaven. "jaxed.com" is a great place to look for used boats. That's where I found mine. If you go used, just don't believe anything the seller tells you. Might be worth getting a survey on the boat to keep you from getting a money pit like my son got.
Mike
__________________ They weren't biting at all.....then they slacked up.
If you are looking for something to get in where reds lurk, fish the lake on good days and fish Venice marsh I would look at a surface drive mud motor and boat. I fish 95% of the time in a 17' Gator Trax boat with a 35hp Mudbuddy. Great for getting in the ponds where the reds lurk
I am not sure how well this suits your needs, but it fits the criteria you mentioned. It is a good deal if you are looking at new boats. I know the owner and he is a great guy. He bought it to play on with his kids, but he doesn't have time and it doesn't really suit his needs.
I would say a 17-18' gator trax boat with the 45 magnum vangaurd hyperdrive sport would be right up your alley(they even make a 60 HP now). You would never have to worry about getting stuck or hit the lower unit on something, could set it up for bowfishing, and if you duck hunt hell slap a boat blind on that sucker.
we just got a 17' G3 gator tough series aluminum boat for work and it's a great little boat. it came with a 50 and it's pretty quick. Doesn't draft much water either, we've been in about a foot of water with the boat and only thing we had to do was trim the motor up. they aren't too expensive either
I would like to thank those that have responded to my question.
I am really scared of buying a gator trax; G3; or any other alum flat boat. I do not feel it would be much more than I have now so I just as soon buy a motor for my boat.
I did go by Ascension Marine last weekend to look at the Carolina Skiff. The J series was nothing more than a fiberglass version of my boat. They did not have a JV but did have a 16" JVX CC. Nice boat and it only has a draft of 4 to 8". That fits my 6" target.
I am also going to go by Boat City and look at the Key Largo. While I would rather look at the 160 they have the 168 in stock.
So many boats to choose from. Might just wait till the boat show comes around in Jan so I can see many differant boats at one time.
I would like to thank those that have responded to my question.
I am really scared of buying a gator trax; G3; or any other alum flat boat. I do not feel it would be much more than I have now so I just as soon buy a motor for my boat.
I did go by Ascension Marine last weekend to look at the Carolina Skiff. The J series was nothing more than a fiberglass version of my boat. They did not have a JV but did have a 16" JVX CC. Nice boat and it only has a draft of 4 to 8". That fits my 6" target.
I am also going to go by Boat City and look at the Key Largo. While I would rather look at the 160 they have the 168 in stock.
So many boats to choose from. Might just wait till the boat show comes around in Jan so I can see many differant boats at one time.
Since you are looking at 16 Key Largo's, I would be sure to check this one out. The owner is meticulous about everything and the boat has only been used a few times. Also, I imagine there is some more wiggle room with the price.
Right now I have a 14x48 riveted jon boat with a 25 hp. I really love this size boat because it fits MOST of my fishing needs. Great in the small rivers here north of the lake and I can take it to Buras and fish the shallow grass beds (for red fish) on the west side of the river where most people can not get.
The problem I have with it is I can not fish the east side of Buras or anything out of Venice because I am affraid to get into the river with this boat. It is also very scary fishing Hwy 11 in Lake Pontchatrain if the wind picks up a little.
So since my motor is old and I do not trust it more than a mile or so from the dock now I need to upgrade and was considering getting a whole new rig rather than just buying a motor for my present boat.
The boat I want would have a 25 to 50 hp motor but would rather stay on the 25 end. Speed is not even a consideration. Draft 6" or less water so I can still get into that shallow water where the red's hide and most can not get to. But would be a little safer so I could fish other places like the east side of Buras or the rocks at the mouth of passes or the Mississippi river. It would never go off shore not even on calm days. This boat will be used for fishing ONLY.
I have looked at
The older Boston Whaler in the 13 to 15ft size. I have even considered the new 130 Super Sport on sale right now for $9995 but this boat just does not trip my trigger.
The Alumacraft MV16AW with optional side console. BREAUX & DAIGLE MARINE in Pierre Part has this boat with a 50 hp for around $9000.
The J and JV series of Carolina Skiff. In fact I am kind of stuck on the JV15CC right now.
All of these boats might fit my needs but they really do not seem much more than what I have now and I am affraid I will not be happy because I did not get much more than what I have now. They are bacislly all 14' flat bottom boats and I have that.
So help me pick a new boat.
1) What is the smallest boat you would feel safe in fishing the rocks at the mouth of the Mississippi if you could pick your days to fish?
2) Am I looking for the best of both worlds and will not find such a boat?
Thanks for your help
John
PS I am not a 2 boat person so do not even go there.
Reno Boat Works on Pass Manchac right next to Midendorff's ... have him custom build it for you ... they build "lake skiffs" 14-foot and up. I've seen a couple of the 18-footers on the water and that would seem like the logical step up from what you have and would serve all of you needs. The ones I've seen were power by a 90 HP, but anything from 50 HP on up would probably get the job done if you don't have a need for speed.
Help me pick a new boat 
never seen one around here 
