what would you want in a new boat????

[snowdriver]

i know this is kind of a generic ? but what does a person want in boat,how big,type of top,ease of handling,options that work and make sense,if you were to build,what would you do????:what:

[Starfish]

That's WAY too generic! The answer is that there's no single answer. There are as many preferences as there are fishermen, and there are different answers that fit different techniques. Every choice on a boat is a compromise. The only way to answer the question is to fish multiple techniques and places in multiple boats until you find out what works for YOU.

My personal preference is a 21' aluminum boat with a tournament walleye layout, not because of tournament fishing (I don't) but because I like a walkthrough windshield and lots of storage space, a big livewell, and a great big outboard because I have a need for speed. It gives me a lot of flexibility for multispecies and multitechnique presentations because I fish salmon, steelhead, and walleye with occasional bass or others. I sometimes flatline troll, downrig, bobber fish, boondog, sidedrift, backbounce, diver fish, or cast. I use canvas and heater when it's cold or raining and open top when it's not. I run a T8 kicker and TR1 autopilot for trolling, and a bow mount electric motor for bobbers or drifting or casting.
And of course there's always the drift boat for small water.
And I could sure use another boat for saltwater/TUNA fishing!

Like I said, the question isn't "what does a person want in a boat,", the real question is "what do YOU want in a boat?"

[12pulls]

Can't really know until you have been out, doing the type of fishing you are planning on doing, in various models and makes. Then you can make a choice. BTW, you most likely will be wrong in some area after you own it for a while.

[fish-on-bend]

I agree with whats been said. I owned 3 boats over about 20+ years and gradually got my "wish list" together and had FishRite custom build me what I wanted based on how I fished and how I wished I could fish. Heres my current "dream boat." I've had it for 2 1/2 years, it does everything I need it to do and its been on the water about 125 days.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_01861.JPG (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/60409/size/big/cat//ppuser/8168)
I had them build pull-up pedastel seats for the back and bow, great for working the electric motor and casting/bass fishing etc ; locking rod storage under the gunnels, a locking storage/fish box in the floor, perfect place to store the canvas and downriggers.
There are very few weeks that it stays at home. Its a 12 month a year machine.:D
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0236.JPG (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/67817/size/big/cat//ppuser/8168)
In a couple years it may no longer fit my needs. Who knows?

[snowdriver]

thats a nice boat,and what all has been said is the same thoughts i have had,no one boat is going to do it all,eventually you will come up against something where it wont work as well as you would like,like everything i got to figure out what i want and find the best compromise

[Tinman]

Freshwater or salt? What kind of fishing? What is your budget? How many people do you want to take along? How much time do you have to learn boating and navigation skills? How important is comfort vs. functionality?

As far as building your own, don't do it to save money. You'll spend as much, or more, as on a factory boat, and the resale value is far less. In today's economy look to picking up a good used boat at a bargain price.

[RiverJohn]

There are indeed a bazillion ways to equip a boat.

Here are my few Fav's...

Offshore bracket - way more room to fight a fish !
TR-1 autpilot - trolling can be so precise and easy
Windshield & top capable
Easy on plane hull design
4 stroke outboards
Smooth Trolling motor

Things I would not do without ever again.

[Road Rage]

I don't think anyone builds the boat I want.


21 to 23 feet
8' to 8'6" beam
moderate to deep V
Off-Shore Bracket with 200hp Suzuki main
15hp 'Zuki kicker with e-start/tilt & TR-1
wide helm area (not walk-around/Trophy style)
cuddy cabin with marine head and small sink (10-gallon freshwater tank)
stand-up height helm
fish box/es above water line (in transom?)
Dual Cannon Mag15HS d/r's.
Rag-top
back-to-back style co-pilot seat
helm "bucket" seat, add'l bucket seat aft of helm seat
bait well, wash-down pump, dual windshield wipers
Lowrance electronics; sonar(x2), gps, radar, vhf
Fold-down radar arch with "rocket launchers"
80-gallon main fuel tank
20-gallon reserve tank
electric trim tabs
H/D tandem axle galvanized trailer with s/s disc brakes
Closest I've seen is a SteigerCraft, but they don't have a very tall free board. I also really like Shamrocks, with their inboard/keel-drive power train.

[Highmark]

Looks like you picked my boat to a tie, with all the goodies I have on it.

one more thing. Top of the line Furuno fishfinder,radar, gps,chartploter.and
VHF radio

HM


There are indeed a bazillion ways to equip a boat.

Here are my few Fav's...

Offshore bracket - way more room to fight a fish !
TR-1 autpilot - trolling can be so precise and easy
Windshield & top capable
Easy on plane hull design
4 stroke outboards
Smooth Trolling motor

Things I would not do without ever again.

[Seefood Man]

Check out these folks. They will build it the way you want.
http://www.pacificskiffs.com/

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/boat_pics_027.JPG


http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/boat_pics_026.JPG

Along with Stevens Marine I was able to get what I wanted.
Pacific has 19', 23', 26' which is the one I have, and they make a 28' as well. All their boats are self-bailing. At least give Julie or Dan a call and chat it up with then. They have a can do attitude.:cool:

[spinnergal]

We have not found the "one" but love all types of fishing-


16ft Alumaweld Guide model drifter
18ft Thunderjet w/140HP Suzuki pump & 8hp Honda kicker
26ft Striper w/225 Honda w/15 hp Honda kicker

But I must say-
now that we've gone salty, it becomes harder to find the time to get to the lakes & rivers, but certainly love having the options.
We'll just continue to go where the fishing is good. Catching is the bonus.

In our early years, we went with the water sports boats for tubing/skiing, but found that we were not willing to spoil the new ski boat with the fish blood on the carpets, etc, so we sold it & went strictly fishing boats--our son was grown by that time. We've never looked back-:wink:

SG:flowered:

[Hellibut]

I don't find your question really too generic. For me it really matters little what type fishing I do. Naturally I want a reliable safe boat that will get me there but having owned 8 boats there is one thing that jumps out at me every time. I had to learn the hard way but the one thing I seemed to never get until now was... THE ROOM TO FISH! If you can't fit 4 big boys in a boat and still move around I don't care what else it has, I don't want it and let me say, length does not equal room.

[12pulls]

A clear title, don't go into debt for a boat, especially in today's era.

[snowdriver]

A clear title, don't go into debt for a boat, especially in today's era.

lol,that is a very good suggestion!!!!:applause:

[baltz526]

a guy needs 3 boats. a 12' to 16' deep V or modified V welded aluminum in camo, with blind and 15 to 40 hp out board. a 18' to 20' summer multipourpose boat, 50 plus hp. and a 30' plus ocean boat. and a huge shop to park them in. at least 3 month a year to use them with the income to afford it. layout of boats is a personal use thing

[bluehewes]

Here's my baby and it's all mine! 21' Wellcraft. This is my 3rd boat and it might be the last boat I ever own.

[croation2]

a good first mate will make any boat work!

[shorthair]

If someone else made the payments then most any boat could be a good one no ?:twocents:

[Lead Bouncer]

clear title

[stream]

Well I think I have it but I might be short one boat

Drift boat 16' Willie
River boat 21' North river
Ocean boat 2901 Striper

But I don't have a jet boat any more I sold it I didn't use it very much

Out of all of them last year was the first year for the 2901 and I used it the most

the picture of my striper is in the bottom of the page and here is my north river

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/members/stream-albums-my-fishing-picture-s-picture376-northriver.jpg

[Pickles]

That depend's on where I am going to be fishing with it! If I was fishing in the salt, I would want a 23+ foot glass boat. If I liked to fish small trib's, then a 16 foot drift boat would be great. I personally like to fish the Columbia river and Drano as well as the occasional lake. So for me my 19ft Thunderjet with my 175 hp sportjet is ideal. It's big enough to fish 3-4 comfortably, and yet fit's in my oversized garage. Also it is a great all around boat that can handle the skinny stuff as well as the rough stuff. Did I mention it has a nice enclosed top to stay warm in on those cold wet mornings. :)