Ideal Fishing boat

[reeldeal3]

I was just wondering what kind of boat would be a sweet one from your point of view. Would you get a small boat or a bigger boat to handle waves better?

[huntingfool43]

25 ft. Sylvan Off Shore. Aluminum bouces a little more in the rough water but lighter to trailer than glass.

Steve

[ESOX]

Never was much of a fan of Trackers, but that new 21' Tundra has really caught my eye. I'd be interested in taking one for a test spin on LSC when she's a bit blown up. I need more room, Three adults or 2 adults and two crumb snatchers is a bit much for my 17'6".

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Paul, that Tundra is a sweet boat.

The best boat to get is one your wife will let you get.

[ESOX]

You've got that one right Mike. And my wife thinks we need a bigger boat.:)I guess I look at boats as casting platforms rather than transportation/ trolling machines. I will troll, but I prefer standing on the bow deck being proactive. Now I just have to convince the wife that cuddy cabins are a waste of a good casting deck.........

[Jason Adam]

38' Tiara Open - Extended Hardtop - Twin Diesels - All the electronics that Raytheon offers - and a half dozen digi-trols... When I grow tired of that, I'll move up to the 60 some foot Hatteras class. :D

[Gone Fishing]

Geeez Jason, my dream boat would be a 27 Tiara Open but if you get that 38, give me a call. I could chip in for fuel but I don't think it would even prime the injectors. Actually, a friend bought a 38 Pursuit this year. Man, what a ship! I've taken a tour but I get to fish a couple Salmon tournaments with him next year. If the wind blows like stink, at least I won't be fishing on my knees with a life jacket on like I was last year in the Blue Water.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Jason and John, you guys are talking yachts not boats. You guys are too rich for my blood.

[Gone Fishing]

Hey Walley Mike, I guy can dream, can't he? I would love to get a used 27 Tiara but the darn price tag is so high. I talk about it form time to time but my wife just laughs at me so it isn't looking real good. I guess I was just dreaming out loud.

[Foxy Carp]

I agree with Jason Adam and Gone Fishing. Tiaras are sweet boats. They are made right in Holland which leeds me to think that they are specificly for Great Lakes use. I went on a charter baot last year that was a Tiara. It was a 31 open. The captain was not sure if we should go out on the water due to the 4 to 6 foot waves. We went out ay way and when the boat was on palne, not a wave could be felt. If you closely inspect them, you will find that everything is stronger than it needs to be. They never break though. A 27 might go for 150,000 to 200,000, new, but they will hold their value better than most any other boat.

[Jason Adam]

When I bought my 26 this year, I was looking at some older 26 and 27 Tiaras and Pursuits, but I couldnt find the one I wanted for the right price(They hold their value Extremely well). They are the nicest boat out their until you get into like the Cabo's, Carolina Customs, Blackfins and such..

[Jason Adam]

That was not a 26 Tiarra BTW...:(

[ESOX]

I've seen a couple of these out on the lake. Might not make a bad second boat........
http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/Products/FishBoats/29TE.htm

[STEINFISHSKI]

I'd dream for a LUND offshore model with Twin outboards for safety and speed, and a 4 stroke kicker for trolling. Fully wired GPS mapping software, big graph, speed & temp at ball, 4 digitroll riggers, Berts rodholders, and too much time and tackle to ever use it all. lol

Reality is getting mashed in my 14' Smoker when the day changes on me. I'm usually calling trips after 1-2 footers unless its calming or blowing down. But I'm catching fish along side the biggest boats on the good days.:D

[TimT]

This is a very tough question. The best boat for waves isn't necessarily the best fishing boat for you. While a big honkin' Carolina or Tiara would be awesome to fish from, you're really bound to one port. That 25' Sylvan is a very good recommendation. You'll need a stout vehicle to pull it, but you're mobile for sure. There's other good boats for great lakes fishing... Trophy, Sport Craft, Hydra-sports and several others. What's perfect for me, isn't perfect for you. We all have different needs. I want to be able to troll for salmon when the weather cooperates and fish lake nepessing on the weekends the wind is blowin' too hard. Can't do both with a boat over 21'. Most people stay off the water when the waves are over 4' foot, anyway. (I fished 6-8 footers a year ago spring, out of lexington in my Lund Tyee 1950.) My tastes are changing a little bit. My next "Perfect" boat will have room for a family of four to stay a couple of nights in, as well as comfortable enough to take a cruise to different ports in. The more I think about it, I believe the perfect boat comes in pairs.;)

[WALLEYE MIKE]

John, its nice to dream but I try to keep my dreams in the realm of possibly coming true. I dream of a 23ft Starcraft Islander. A 150-$200,000 boat is just too big. I did however dream of marrying a 6ft. blue eyed blond. Didn't happen. Got 5ft 3in brown eyed brown hair, but she's a 6ft blond in my dreams. LOL

Tim T, I think boats should come in pairs also. One for inland and one for the big water.

[reeldeal3]

Well it sounds like we all have our own oppinion about it! Really like Tiara's alot, though i will never own one but that is ok. I think that Donzi makes some sweet fishing boats too. I like the Fountains!!!!!

[fatboy]

ESOX - I saw that fountain on the river this year and painted on the side it said " FISHIN WITH THE LADIES " and he was !:)

[Icet]

You sure it wasn't "Fishing for the Ladies" Those boats down south are magnets.

[kroppe]

Mr. Topwater,

Here's a little different angle. "Ideal" depends on what you are doing. An idea boat for fishing trout streams is a different craft than Lake Michigan salmon.

I fish small local lakes for bass and pike, with the occasional trip to the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair for walleye and perch. I have an 14' aluminum with 18hp outboard and it is just about ideal for me. I need a few gadgets and rigging items but the basic boat/motor are great.

It is a balancing act between small enough for small/poor launches, big enough for open water/waves, dockage/storage and price.

To answer your original question, it's hard to argue that bigger boats are better for handling waves.

[Getaway]

Walley Mike,
I could make your dreams come true!(Boat wise that is...lol)....I still have my 221v '97 Islander for sale. It's just what you are looking for! I'll even leave it in my heated pole barn through the winter for ya if you want.

I bumped the thread to the top in the buy/sell/ trade forum.

I'm not trying real hard to sell it. The wife is pregnant again so I'll keep her for a couple more years unless someone on this site wants it.

BTW, my dream boat is the same one Gone Fishing wants. Those 27 tiara opens are beautiful. I consider myself in a race with John for one of those boats. May the best man win John...lol.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Getaway, thanks but if I try to make my dreams come true right now, my wife will have me 6ft under and looking for a new husband. LOL

[Rupestris]

kroppe,
I've seen pic's of your boat in the photo gallery. I agree, you do have the ideal boat. Like mine, it needs a M-S.com sticker or two to set it off.

Rupe

[Rupestris]

Splitshot, 60!? 60 is for wussies.:D

Donzi Marine (http://www.donzimarine.com/series/zx/zxdaytonas.html)

http://www.donzimarine.com/series/images/45zx_daytona_pop.jpg



"our ZX Series push the envelope, the Donzi Daytonas rip it wide-open! We took a Donzi ZX and added LAB finished props, extension boxes, Kevlar and E-Glass Composites and ended up with boats capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph."

Anyone care to pitch in for gas?

Rupe

[Steve]

As long as they have a live well for the women Split that's all that matters right? :)

[Rupestris]

D'OH! ya got me there Splitshot.
Rupe

[Cap'nJon]

My 24 foot Monark Pontoon, w/ 90 horse Merc outboard is my Ideal fishing boat. I have the fishermans special, 4 pedestal seats, 2 live wells, fridge, 124 qt cooler, Changing/head compartment. Hardtop w/ a full button/zip canvas closure with windows and screens...'course alot of you are talking about getting U/W and offshore, but have taken it out on the big lakes...Sleeps 6 adults very comfortable and trailers anywhere.

Rupestris...Pretty hard to try and drink a beer at 100 mph. You have to turn the beer around just so it doesn't blow out of the top! Been there, done that on Bernie Little's (Miss Budweiser owner) own T-50 jet powered hydro!:D :D

[reeldeal3]

Hey splitshot, just find a 38 foot racing donzi and just put some down riggers on it. Not only will you fish in style, youll get the babes! And you can get to any fishing spot on the great lakes in no time at all! lol

[Jason Adam]

This summer in Ludington, we are in the municipal marina and we hear this offshore rumbling in(roughly 35', twin big blocks) a guy and his "chic". didnt pay much attention to it. They're tieing up across from us and my budy points out the 2 big jon electrics in gimbal mounts on the gunnels. Too funny. We asked the guy if he gets down to trolling speed, he said yeah, at idle w/ two sea anchors. They next day another couple joined them and the riggers were stashed away somewhere...

[Brian S]

My ideal fishing boat?

A 19 foot Sylvan Excursion.

Big enough for the Great Lakes, yet small enough to take the kids tubing on inland lakes.

Aluminum hull, important since I'll be trailering it everywhere.

Open bow where my wife can play hood ornament and soak up the sun while me and the boys fish out the back.

Yep, thats the boat for me. Just have to wait a couple more years until my son is big enough to steer the boat while I set the downrigger lines. I can hardly wait!