jbozzelle

Guys,

Looking for recommendations on a boat that would be used to fish offshore out of Venice, LA and out of Tampa, FL. Needs to be able to make those long 100 mile run out to catch tuna or drop for grouper snapper etc. Here's the few things it MUST have. Please make suggestions...

30' max length
Twin outboards
Fiberglass hardtop
300 gallons of fuel (probably a stretch)
Cant exceed a height on the trailer of 13'6"
Max beam of 9'6"

Been in a Grady White 26' Cat for years so unsure what is really out there for monohulls. Thinking of a monohull simply because a cat sits higher on the trailer. And the boat would be towed from Tampa to the Keys and from Tampa to Venice.


What's out there on the market, both new and used, that would fit this criteria?

antib551

31 Prowler

Who Me

You aren’t really narrowing it down much. There are easily dozens of makes and models that meet those criteria. I suggest you add a few more things to your criteria to narrow the field. I would start with budget.

jbozzelle

Biggest problem with a cat is the overall height while on a trailer. and this one would be trailered a good bit from Tampa to the Keys and Tampa to Venice. From my understanding Florida doesn't bode well with oversize loads and permits are a hassle.

We currently have a Grady White 26 cat and it's almost over 13' high on the trailer...

jbozzelle

Well, coming from a 26' Grady White cat we know really nothing about a monohull and what's good/bad and ugly out there. A bigger cat seems out of the question due to the height and beam and Florida not being too keen on towing over the limit. Boat will be towed a good bit from Tampa to the Keys and to Venice.

Twin Vee 26

31 twin Vee is not 13’6 on trailer. I can’t complain about mine. Not the flashiest boat she sure fishes good.

redfishray

Ocean Runner 29. I just sold mine and loved it. Checks all your boxes.

wstanford277

Grady White 306 Canyon is close. If 30’6” isn’t too long or 290 gallons is enough fuel it checks all the other boxes.

Yankees49

2006 Rampage Walkaround 30ft

critt77matt

Contender 31 open or 27 open(they have changed names the 27 open is now their 30), SeaVee 290 or 310/320, Whitewater 28 w/bracket or the 32, possibly a 32 sea craft or fountain in your range.

Southern_Fish

Cape Horn 31
Seahunter 31
Yellowfin 29
Regulator 28/31
Everglades 295cc
Onslow Bay 27
Seavee 29

I am sure you'd be able to find one of these boats for sale in the used market. Get used to using a bladder as most of the boats in this size range are going to be limited on fuel capacity, but all are very capable offshore boats.

I think you will find cats to be too wide in this size range. Gradys tend to also be very beamy in this size range. Also, personally, i would opt away from any kind of significant cabin or express boats and go with a pure CC. You will really eat into your fishing space and a cabin in this size range tends to not be too functional, especially if you lack a generator.

jbozzelle

Can you by chance get a height measurement? Currently have a 26' Grady White cat. Not wanting to go monohull but the height restrictions were pushing us that way...

jbozzelle

Thanks for all of the responses. I appreciate you guys just throwing out suggestions. That's what I was really needing and it's a few boats I never thought of.

The Grady White cat is currently a cuddy and we'd like more fishing space, although an express would be nice to get out of the weather if needed or for sandbar trips.

HTJ

For my money the Contender 30ST is the Cadillac here, fast, fishy and with great economy/range. Will do a floater trip easy with no bladder

critt77matt

calcutta 263 for a trailer-able cat will need to get a fuel bladder for your wants. they will have a 31-32' soon but 11' beam not trailer friendly

whitewater 28' with bracket. 250 gallon option for fuel. or the 32' still has an 8'6" beam for trailer. FYI 8'6" is legal trailer width w/o permit, most 30' boats are 9'6" beam or more.

both of those boats have a wait of 1-2 years, but resell is good if you change your mind

other great boats have been named as well. at what point do you just charter a boat instead of towing? I don't think i want to pull my boat all the way to Key West from Mississippi, the fuel savings alone would help pay for the charter, plus I could fly instead of drive... Also for me I could ride a bigger boat to my destination instead of towing from the MS we can go behind Chandelur island and into baptiste collette bayou and you are in Venice, LA. Or ride the inter coastal to Orange beach or Pensacola.

jbozzelle

Thanks for the info on the Calcutta. We'll look into that. Regarding the trailering versus chartering. The boat will stay in Tampa most of the year and get used there regularly. It'll go to the Keys a few times for long weekends or a week here or there with free lodging and dockage. Same with South LA. So once you consider all of that chartering is the more expensive option.

SordTools

The best trailerable monohull that money can buy in that class would be a yellowfin or a contender. A cheaper alternative would be to go with a 31 cape horn, which is still an incredible boat. You just have to pick your budget and that would determine the boats in your range, lots of good ones to choose from!

Brudda94

Best boat money can buy. You can work with the factory to have lots of options. Factory and customer service are best in the business!