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SUBJECT: # 26791: New boat advice?
Submitted by Keller Bay Dude (216.110.85.132) from TEXAS on 8/4/04 5:27:00 PM
I live in Austin, but primarily fish the POC area. I'm thinking about buying a new boat given the questionable quality of many used saltwater boats. Local dealers offer brands like Nitro, FishMaster, and Bluewave at decent prices with engine packages. Is that the way to go for a 19' (125+ hp) tunnel if I'm not looking to spend more than 20k? I hear people spending 40k on 16 and 17 foot boats and am wondering, "What am I missing?".
Are the boats I listed above that bad of quality? Or is there just a cult mentality around the other custom built boats (Pescador, Shoalwater, Majek, etc) and getting the absolute lightest boat you can?
Thanks for any advice...
- 8/4/04 6:58:00 PM
Submitted by
BIllS (68.206.64.31) from TEXAS says Boat Choice
Having owned 5 different saltwater boats over the last 15 years, I finally bought a Boston Whaler. Now I'm spoiled and won't consider anything else. The one I have now is a 1998 model I bought new, and has been as near to problem free as is possible. A pretty major accomplishment in saltwater. Sail and Ski on north 183 carries them. Check out the Montauk 17, Dauntless 16 and 18, and the Nantucket 19. They are more expensive than others, but do a search of Traderonline or Ebay if you want to see how well used ones hold their value when it becomes time to trade up. If you every see me at the boat ramp in POC in my Conquest 23, say hello and I'll give you the Whaler tour. BillS
- 8/4/04 7:46:00 PM
Submitted by
Keller Bay Dude (216.62.201.183) from TEXAS says Funny you should mention that...
My family actually owns a decendant of the Dauntless. A 1960 something 16' whaler with a (new 10+ yrs old) 88 hp Johnson engine. Quality wise, they are incredible. Not so good for shallow water fishing though. Our's starts churning mud in 2 feet of water. I'm looking for something I can get into and out of flats areas with ease + ride 45 min across West Matagorda bay from Lavaca to greens and not get my brains bashed in doing it.
- 8/5/04 8:46:00 AM
Submitted by
BillS (68.206.64.31) from TEXAS says Shallow Boats
Take a look then at the GulfCoast boats, or Trans Boats. Trans are made in Port Lavaca, and it is easy to get a tour of their facility if you call ahead. Both use a clone of the older style Whaler outrage hull in front with a shallow flat, or tunnel, stern. Their design makes them two of the driest riding bay boats out their as the "smirk" molded in the front of the bow does an excellent job of knocking the spray down and away from the boat. Both have websites with pictures of their boat models. BillS
- 8/5/04 12:46:00 PM
Submitted by
Keller Bay Dude (216.110.85.132) from TEXAS says Will have to do that...
I'm going down over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Our place is about 15 min from Port Lavaca, so I will have to take that tour and see what they have to offer. Do they do demos?
- 8/5/04 2:34:00 PM
Submitted by
tbaker (69.15.120.226) from TEXAS says Tran Boats
Tran is located in Palacios actually....unless he's moved and I didn't know about it.
- 8/5/04 11:38:00 PM
Submitted by
Keller Bay Dude (216.62.201.183) from TEXAS says Leaning toward Blue Wave
The Travis Boats and Tracker boats seem cheap to me. Blue Waves are more expensive, but I get a lot better feel for them quality wise. One question for any of you out there with the non-super tunnel version (190 C-Special Deluxe) with the 115 standard v4 Yamaha. Is it good at being able to get up and go quick in the flats? I don't want to get a super tunnel and sacrifice it's handling of chop if their basic tunnel design works good enough. Also... They are putting 4 stroke 115s on as well as 2 stroke. I've heard both good things and bad things about the 4 strokes from a lowend torque point of view. Do the 4s bog down when trying to get out quick?
- 8/6/04 12:23:00 PM
Submitted by
BillS (68.206.64.31) from TEXAS says BlueWaves
You are right about Tran, they are in Palacios, not Port Lavaca. Sorry about that. Blue wave is another good choice and I agree with you about Trackers. My buddy has a Blue Wave that we fish in POC and it is a solid, good running boat. It rides the chop good, though you will get soaked with any kind of crosswind. But that is true for the majority of small center console boats. His is 5 yrs old and has been problem free so far. I think that for the money, they are a good value. BillS
- 8/6/04 1:56:00 PM
Submitted by
Keller Bay Dude (216.110.85.132) from TEXAS says Ok... Going to look at Pathfinder too....
Anyone used or fished from the new Pathfinder 2000-V? I saw it on Maverick's website, and it looks like exactly what I want, albeit a little more expensive. The 19s are a little small, and I didn't want to shell out for a 22. Pathfinder is the only maker I have seen selling a 20. I assume that they are as quality minded as Blue Wave.
- 8/6/04 4:24:00 PM
Submitted by
Keller Bay Dude (216.110.85.132) from TEXAS says 2000 V update
For those of you who don't know, Pathfinder is releasing a 20' (2000 V) this year to go into production and on sale in August.I just found this info. So I will hereby invalidate my previous request for people having used it. :)
- 8/13/04 6:52:00 PM
Submitted by
Ssb (66.150.138.183) from TEXAS says Keller Bay Dude
I am offering our time on the water with real time assistance to you to evaluate your situation. IF you actually are in area of Keller Bay area bring your boat over to Caranahua Bay (Across Bay Port Alto, Tx) (5 minutes) to Southshore Boats. You can run what you have along side our 18 ft texas flat with tunnel and jack to see comparision and utility of tunnel,jack and shallow water design.... AND SEE THE REAL VALUE of any money you could spend on new boat with those features versas staying with what you have. Also we would even help you evaluate just putting a jack on yours? And help you with that, if that be your decision. This approach being hopefully more objective than subjective in nature, plus the evaluation being on your own turf!!!! 7135942827
- 8/17/04 4:47:00 PM
Submitted by
Ssb (66.150.138.183) from TEXAS says keller bay dude
If what you say in another post you really need.... "is some thing to get you to and back from the southshoreline of west matty without beating yourself up" and getting in and out of shallow water when you get there, come test ride our two models of 26'SS shallow water boats. these are multi purpose boats one with a 8 1/2" and one with 6" TRUE standing drafts that handle rough water also. We are 5 minutes from you at keller bay and you will be test riding on your own turf. I am trying to help you to evualate your situation, because we are on your water and experienced your same needs handling shallow and rough water. Thus before coming up with a boat for the water conditions in our specific common area. We have already been down your road!!!!! 7135942827. Lee
- 12/3/04 3:14:00 PM
Submitted by
pepper (70.177.230.115) from ALABAMA says 2002 pathfinder 1900v for sale (like new)
I have a 1900v pathfinder for sale, 2002 model that i got new last may (03) and love the boat but am gonna get a 2200 for the bay. 757 285 6085
