School me on boats

justjeepin86

justjeepin86

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Long post warning
Maybe not the best place to ask, but i know we have some coastal anglers here.

Ok, i really have a hankering to buy a boat for the coast and to run around in the lakes around here. Most importantly for the coast in the backwaters. Occasional trips a few miles with slick water.

Looking at bay boats for that reason. I need a shallow draft while being able to get out and cover a little water too. Hopefully a 24' Boat, but may work with a 22.

The hard part is the budget. I have no idea how much i want to spend. Would probably put down a sizable down payment and finance the rest. Looking from the mid 20's to about 40. I have done plenty of looking on the hull truth about different brands and you can tell the ones they say the best by the resale value.

I'm really more concerned about boat knowledge in general. Types of things to stay away from and/or make sure that i check out. Any engines to stay away from. How many hours on an engine is ok.

The higher end boats seem to be towards the middle or high end of my budget with a late 2000's boat. I see others that i can get in that are newer, for the same price. Obviously, electronics, nice trolling motors, and power poles add to the price. I want all of the above.

Any advice would be appreciated. I know it's a broad topic.

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My recommendation will vary depending on your primary use.

for mostly salt water, back bays and creeks with shallow draft, I’d opt for a skiff. More about this later...

for running the ditch, the bay, and some near shore fishing, a bay boat may be the ticket.


If you plan to use the boat mostly in saltwater and an occasional lake trip, a skiff may still be your best bet. If you are splitting it 50/50 with fresh water and salt water, then a bay boat may be your better option. It really just depends on your intended use.


Personally, I’m not a fan of the bay boat. It’s OK at most things but doesn’t excel at anything. The good thing about a good bay boat versus a skiff is that it will get you to 80% of the areas a skiff will but doesn’t beat you to death.

most bay boats I’ve seen, even the high $ ones, are wet. With the shallow dead rise and little to no flair, your going to get wet. A skiff will be a rougher ride but you will typically be dry at your destination.

Parker makes a good bay boat but again, it’s a wet ride. And at $50k for a 19’ boat, I wouldn’t want to be wet.

there have been some good technology with quality skiffs recently. A good and affordable dry and good riding skiff is in your budget. I’d look at a Bayrider. For a bay boat or a skiff, 24’ is huge. I’d look at 22’ max. Otherwise the draft and size will keep you from getting where want to go.

if you want a true, bare bones, light, low draft skiff, a Carolina skiff is hard to beat. It’s super light and you can get about anywhere with it. An 18-20’ version is about as good as you can get. No frills with it and it’s a rough ass ride, but it’s affordable and light and will get you in the shallows where others can’t.

another good option for a skiff or a bay boat is a Jones Brothers. That would probably be my choice on a skiff.


Pioneer and Blackjack are good bay boat options but your going to pay for it. Scout and tidewater are more affordable and still good.

I have a 24’ deep vee off shore boat. The only time I take it off shore is, fishing. 99% of the time I run it on the ICW and cruise the sounds and bay and beach it at the sandbar with the family. It’s a great all around boat but am very limited with it in the shallows chasing specks or reds. I can only get about 3’ comfortably and 2’ if I’m beaching it or trying to find my way through sandbars. I do like it because it’s relatively dry and a hell of a safe boat. It can take waves like any other big off shore boat. It rides so smooth, it eats up 2-3’ waves like they aren’t even there. My wife thought she wanted a skiff for going to the sandbar with friends and family, until she rode on a skiff (Jones brothers) and was quickly reminded how rough they ride compared to the deep vee hull.

as for outboards, I have no idea. My boat is a 350 I/O. Sorry.
 
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A skiff is going to beat you up if you plan on being on the ICW, anything with some sort of V will be better. If you've been on thehulltruth then you've already found the forum with all the knowledge. Also check out iboats
 
B ust
O out
A nother
T housand

I have owned all kinds, Ski, bass, runabouts, cuddy, off shore, pontoon. (still have a pontoon and bass boat) They are like everything else, folks will have their opinions about each style and brand, motor, two stroke, 4 stroke, ect. My advise once you find one to fit the bill, is to have it checked by a reputable boat service place, especially compression check on all cylinders. I have many great memories from being out on the water with family and friends, even though there is nothing cheap about boat ownership. good luck.
 
Nothing is cheap about boats, but neither is wheeling.

I think my wakeboard boat is cheaper to run for a year then 3 weekends of wheeling lol
 
Check out the Xpress bay boats. This one is only 18’ but they make them up to 24’. It is very versatile and rides well.

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My dad always did this, and I have followed it too: Always save up and pay cash for a boat. No financing. Your "monthly payment" is the fuel, repairs, toys, storage/dockage etc. Too many people finance a nice boat, then can't afford to use it.
 
rockcity said:
My recommendation will vary depending on your primary use.

for mostly salt water, back bays and creeks with shallow draft, I’d opt for a skiff. More about this later...

for running the ditch, the bay, and some near shore fishing, a bay boat may be the ticket.


If you plan to use the boat mostly in saltwater and an occasional lake trip, a skiff may still be your best bet. If you are splitting it 50/50 with fresh water and salt water, then a bay boat may be your better option. It really just depends on your intended use.


Personally, I’m not a fan of the bay boat. It’s OK at most things but doesn’t excel at anything. The good thing about a good bay boat versus a skiff is that it will get you to 80% of the areas a skiff will but doesn’t beat you to death.

most bay boats I’ve seen, even the high $ ones, are wet. With the shallow dead rise and little to no flair, your going to get wet. A skiff will be a rougher ride but you will typically be dry at your destination.

Parker makes a good bay boat but again, it’s a wet ride. And at $50k for a 19’ boat, I wouldn’t want to be wet.

there have been some good technology with quality skiffs recently. A good and affordable dry and good riding skiff is in your budget. I’d look at a Bayrider. For a bay boat or a skiff, 24’ is huge. I’d look at 22’ max. Otherwise the draft and size will keep you from getting where want to go.

if you want a true, bare bones, light, low draft skiff, a Carolina skiff is hard to beat. It’s super light and you can get about anywhere with it. An 18-20’ version is about as good as you can get. No frills with it and it’s a rough ass ride, but it’s affordable and light and will get you in the shallows where others can’t.

another good option for a skiff or a bay boat is a Jones Brothers. That would probably be my choice on a skiff.


Pioneer and Blackjack are good bay boat options but your going to pay for it. Scout and tidewater are more affordable and still good.

I have a 24’ deep vee off shore boat. The only time I take it off shore is, fishing. 99% of the time I run it on the ICW and cruise the sounds and bay and beach it at the sandbar with the family. It’s a great all around boat but am very limited with it in the shallows chasing specks or reds. I can only get about 3’ comfortably and 2’ if I’m beaching it or trying to find my way through sandbars. I do like it because it’s relatively dry and a hell of a safe boat. It can take waves like any other big off shore boat. It rides so smooth, it eats up 2-3’ waves like they aren’t even there. My wife thought she wanted a skiff for going to the sandbar with friends and family, until she rode on a skiff (Jones brothers) and was quickly reminded how rough they ride compared to the deep vee hull.

as for outboards, I have no idea. My boat is a 350 I/O. Sorry.
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rockcity said:
My recommendation will vary depending on your primary use.

for mostly salt water, back bays and creeks with shallow draft, I’d opt for a skiff. More about this later...

for running the ditch, the bay, and some near shore fishing, a bay boat may be the ticket.


If you plan to use the boat mostly in saltwater and an occasional lake trip, a skiff may still be your best bet. If you are splitting it 50/50 with fresh water and salt water, then a bay boat may be your better option. It really just depends on your intended use.


Personally, I’m not a fan of the bay boat. It’s OK at most things but doesn’t excel at anything. The good thing about a good bay boat versus a skiff is that it will get you to 80% of the areas a skiff will but doesn’t beat you to death.

most bay boats I’ve seen, even the high $ ones, are wet. With the shallow dead rise and little to no flair, your going to get wet. A skiff will be a rougher ride but you will typically be dry at your destination.

Parker makes a good bay boat but again, it’s a wet ride. And at $50k for a 19’ boat, I wouldn’t want to be wet.

there have been some good technology with quality skiffs recently. A good and affordable dry and good riding skiff is in your budget. I’d look at a Bayrider. For a bay boat or a skiff, 24’ is huge. I’d look at 22’ max. Otherwise the draft and size will keep you from getting where want to go.

if you want a true, bare bones, light, low draft skiff, a Carolina skiff is hard to beat. It’s super light and you can get about anywhere with it. An 18-20’ version is about as good as you can get. No frills with it and it’s a rough ass ride, but it’s affordable and light and will get you in the shallows where others can’t.

another good option for a skiff or a bay boat is a Jones Brothers. That would probably be my choice on a skiff.


Pioneer and Blackjack are good bay boat options but your going to pay for it. Scout and tidewater are more affordable and still good.

I have a 24’ deep vee off shore boat. The only time I take it off shore is, fishing. 99% of the time I run it on the ICW and cruise the sounds and bay and beach it at the sandbar with the family. It’s a great all around boat but am very limited with it in the shallows chasing specks or reds. I can only get about 3’ comfortably and 2’ if I’m beaching it or trying to find my way through sandbars. I do like it because it’s relatively dry and a hell of a safe boat. It can take waves like any other big off shore boat. It rides so smooth, it eats up 2-3’ waves like they aren’t even there. My wife thought she wanted a skiff for going to the sandbar with friends and family, until she rode on a skiff (Jones brothers) and was quickly reminded how rough they ride compared to the deep vee hull.

.
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My father in law has a 21ft dlv Carolina skiff. The main reason i don't want a skiff is the ride. They suck bad. Can definitely get in those easily for the price range. I will be more in the open bay towards cedar island, north river, and around the port at morehead. That's likely to change as i fish more. I fish with a guy that has a 24 bay rider bay boat and i like it a lot. I get what you are saying about staying dry. There is a fine line on that. I appreciate the input.

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I love our Blackjack 224, it is a fantastic riding boat for it's size and design. Bay boats typically do not have a lot of seating though so keep that in mind if you're more family focused. The low gunwales can be a little disheartening if you have little ones riding with you.
Skiffs beat me up too much to ever appreciate them, you feel every ripple in the water.

Depending on what type of fishing you like to do you might not want a T-top, and settle for a Bimini for family cruising.
Get the biggest motor the boat can handle.
I rarely turn on my depth finder, I'm more concerned with having a good radio (although I couldn't even tell you what "good" is)
I've always carried two anchors, one for bow and one for stern. Never felt like I needed a power pole, but it would be convenient.

Your boat can never be too big for the ocean, but it can be too big for a lake. 24' is getting too big for my liking at Kerr Lake.

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Edit: I mean VHF radio.
 
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Definitely spend the extra money to get the biggest motor rated for your boat, OR best suited to your boat. What I mean by that if your looking for a used boat someone has tried every combo out there. For instance my boat with a 90 will run 33 with a 115 it runs 33 with a 150 it’s max rating it runs 35. This is avg from several people of each combo over a bunch of different conditions. To me the 90 is more fuel efficient and only gain 2 mph the 90 was a better option for my setup

For you having an movable jack plate may be nice for shallow fishing.

Also try and see if you can go out with anyone willing to take you to try boats you like.


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justjeepin86 said:
My father in law has a 21ft dlv Carolina skiff. The main reason i don't want a skiff is the ride. They suck bad. Can definitely get in those easily for the price range. I will be more in the open bay towards cedar island, north river, and around the port at morehead. That's likely to change as i fish more. I fish with a guy that has a 24 bay rider bay boat and i like it a lot. I get what you are saying about staying dry. There is a fine line on that. I appreciate the input.

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I run my boat out of Atlantic Beach and it gets used up and down the ditch, sounds, Beaufort inlet, Shack, and the ocean on a regular basis. That inlet can get real rough at times, even in seemingly nice days. Having a good safe boat you trust is key there. A boat that beats you up (like a small skiff) limits what you can do and handle.

The Carolina skiff boats can really beat you up. The Bay Riders are a skiff but a much more innovative design. I fished one of those out of Emerald Isle for a couple years and it wasn’t bad for being a “skiff”. Even took it off shore a few times when the weather was good.

someone else mentioned it earlier and I’d agree, bay boats typically lack in seating. Not an issue if it’s 2-3 guys fishing. But if you bring the family, they may not enjoy it as much as they could.


I have found this out with our boat... screw what you want, get something that the family enjoys and you can use for what you like. If the family enjoys it, it will never be seen as a burden. If the family doesn’t like it, well, it’s demise is pretty much already determined and only delayed by you and your family’s tolerance level of the “guys” boat. :lol:
 
orange150 said:
The difference there is probably time to plane. The larger engine probably planes out quicker and easier with a bigger load.
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That’s possible. Mine planes extremely fast now with the correct prop. Probably 15-20 seconds from sitting still to full throttle to up on plane. BUT my boat isn’t a skiff or bay boat which could also play a role into how it acts with each motor combo. I’ve also had just me in it and it loaded down with 4 people and a weekends worth of camping gear and it came onto plane dang near as fast as with me.


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justjeepin86 said:
Long post warning
Maybe not the best place to ask, but i know we have some coastal anglers here.

Ok, i really have a hankering to buy a boat for the coast and to run around in the lakes around here. Most importantly for the coast in the backwaters. Occasional trips a few miles with slick water.

Looking at bay boats for that reason. I need a shallow draft while being able to get out and cover a little water too. Hopefully a 24' Boat, but may work with a 22.

The hard part is the budget. I have no idea how much i want to spend. Would probably put down a sizable down payment and finance the rest. Looking from the mid 20's to about 40. I have done plenty of looking on the hull truth about different brands and you can tell the ones they say the best by the resale value.

I'm really more concerned about boat knowledge in general. Types of things to stay away from and/or make sure that i check out. Any engines to stay away from. How many hours on an engine is ok.

The higher end boats seem to be towards the middle or high end of my budget with a late 2000's boat. I see others that i can get in that are newer, for the same price. Obviously, electronics, nice trolling motors, and power poles add to the price. I want all of the above.

Any advice would be appreciated. I know it's a broad topic.

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Click to expand...

Do you mean "occasional trips a few miles.."or off shore ? I would want a deep V for 2 reasons anyway. You can run offshore when it's decent and you can run inshore w more comfort when the wind kicks up and tides change. With a skiff your gonna have days when you don't want to go because it's choppy inshore or head back early because the wind and waves pick up and you know your going to go slower and pound to get back. Skiffs are fine when the water is flat,not much fun w white caps or when the IC is crowded, and big boats w big wakes. I've been on 19'20'21' 23' CCs and some duel consoles. Parker, Sea Pro, Sea Fox, Grady White,Cobia etc.
The best riding boat from all of them IMO was a friends 2003 Maycraft 2300 CCX. Very nice ride in any sea and a much smoother ride when it got shitty.I think the bracket made it ride like a longer boat and several guys said it had a ride better than the 25's they had been on.That boat was the smallest boat I never doubted about going 45 miles out and back because it could run back pretty fast and smooth if it got snotty.
 
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I’ve got a little 17’ Scout with a 90 four stroke Yamaha. Handles the chop awesome for its size, and I’ve fished in 3’ of water with the motor trimmed up. Got the bimini instead of T-top. It’s more shade for the family and gets out of my way for fishing. There’s 5 of us and we cruise comfortably with a leaning post, cooler seat in front of the console, and a bow cushion. It’ll do 30-34mph with all of us, drinks, and fishing gear. Great on gas as well. Sides are high for small kids, and you’d be surprised at the room for a 17 footer. I feel like I can move around on it easier than my old 21’ wakeboard boat without stepping over people.
 
mommucked said:
Do you mean "occasional trips a few miles.."or off shore ? I would want a deep V for 2 reasons anyway. You can run offshore when it's decent and you can run inshore w more comfort when the wind kicks up and tides change. With a skiff your gonna have days when you don't want to go because it's choppy inshore or head back early because the wind and waves pick up and you know your going to go slower and pound to get back. Skiffs are fine when the water is flat,not much fun w white caps or when the IC is crowded, and big boats w big wakes. I've been on 19'20'21' 23' CCs and some duel consoles. Parker, Sea Pro, Sea Fox, Grady White,Cobia etc.
The best riding boat from all of them IMO was a friends 2003 Maycraft 2300 CCX. Very nice ride in any sea and a much smoother ride when it got shitty.I think the bracket made it ride like a longer boat and several guys said it had a ride better than the 25's they had been on.That boat was the smallest boat I never doubted about going 45 miles out and back because it could run back pretty fast and smooth if it got snotty.
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I mean occasional trips. More than likely, very occasional. Just to the AR's that i can see boats at from land. Maybe trolling for some Spanish down the beach. Yeah, i would be very selective about when i would head out of the inlet.



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Wes said:
I’ve got a little 17’ Scout with a 90 four stroke Yamaha. Handles the chop awesome for its size, and I’ve fished in 3’ of water with the motor trimmed up. Got the bimini instead of T-top. It’s more shade for the family and gets out of my way for fishing. .
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Yeah, t tops are nice, but i don't want one. We fish the shallows with 3 people. It's a bitch to fish the middle with with at t top in the way. I definitely want a bimini.

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For occasional trips near shore to ARs, most any boat is fine. With a skiff or bay boat, your going to have to pick your days and the inlets can get rough. Deep vee, as long as its not a hurricane, your good. :D

A couple/few years ago I had my Albe 242 trolling off of Ft Macon for kings for a few hours. It was nice and calm coming out and fishing. Weather turned to crap quick. The inlet, well, it was the roughest I had ever been in. Rolling through the breakers and waves, 65’ Hatteras beside me topped out and went in the trough and completely disappeared! Same with me. Drove hard through the trough and up the back side of the waves, which was twice the size of my boat. It was the most nervous I have ever been on the water. No way I would want to do that again in anything, let alone a small boat!

point is, weather and conditions can change quick, even on nice days. I would t ever go out the inlet on anything smaller than my 24, especially with changing weather. Get a boat that is safe and can handle what you expect and then some. I was surprised in both good and bad ways that day.
 
justjeepin86 said:
Yeah, t tops are nice, but i don't want one. We fish the shallows with 3 people. It's a bitch to fish the middle with with at t top in the way. I definitely want a bimini.

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X2. I have a T top on my boat. It’s nice when trolling and using the outriggers, but inshore fishing for reds or specks, Ive broken more rod tips than I care to remember.
 
Nobody has mentioned it in my skimming, but a jack plate for what you’re taking about doing opens up more places you can go with a bay boat. Personally I’d do a bay boat with a jack plate. I fished a lot in the sound and creeks of the last two years around swansboro and all up and down the ICW. You’re going to be limited on seating, and I agree the T top is nice for the shade, storing rods and what not. But if you’re not standing clear or half drunk you may snag it casting. But a bay boat with a jack plate on plane will easily go the same damn places a skiff will. Personally I hate a skiff, beat you to death and the ICW can get choppy as hell with enough traffic in it.

Growing up my dad had a modified V 18ft Parker. It was a wet ride mainly Bc he thought you need to be a full throttle everywhere. He sucked at inshore stuff so we didn’t fish much of that. But we did run out 20-30 miles a few times and even boated a sailfish. Really wish camera phones were thing back then because we had some really good days out there, but you still have to pick your days. I use to love catching bonito and even got a state citation Spanish offshore on that Parker. I’m a fan of Parker boats because they are tough as nails no frills boat for fishing. They also are one of the wider boats with some of the largest beams for the length. However they do ride a little bit rougher.

If you plan on occasionally running out any of the inlets, I’d look for bay boat minimum, and something with a modified V if you plan on doing it often at the minimum. Even then you’d have to pick your days. Remember East winds suck fishing offshore.

Edit: also get a nice trolling motor with a hand held controller. You’ll never really be anchoring up unless your live bait fishing using Carolina rigs fishing for drum. Youll enjoy a nice trolling motor with anchor lock when working the marshes and down the creeks for specs/drum.
 
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Ahhh. My former life!

I had a 16’ High Tide with a 70 2 stroke. Just a fiberglass side console do-all boat for calm water. It would beat the hell out of you in the bay. Wife hated it and I wanted bigger and faster.

Figured since we were in Charleston at the time I’d get a do-everything center console with more free board, more dead rise but still reasonably shallow. Wanted to fish the lakes, brackish, salt, inshore, and nearshore. Wound up with a Key West 2020 with a 200hp Johnson Ocean Pro with a T top. That boat did everything I wanted. Problem was it did everything just OK. It was a jack of all trades but a master of none. Too small for big water, to big for small water, and with the freeboard and T top it was a sail and hard to fish with inshore. Caught a lot of fish with that boat from the lakes to just outside the jetties, but then I got hooked on fishing for Reds. Wrong boat. The boat was awesome at riding around though and could cover a lot of water quick. It would run 55 and chine walk, which looks weird with a y’all boat like that. She was fun. She could take some rough water too and probably saved my ass off the coast of Gtown one day when we stayed a little too long when a Nor’easter was coming. That’s another story.

Next was the boat I wish I’d never sold. Pathfinder 1900v with a 115 Suzuki 4stroke. Probably the only one I’ve ever seen without a Yamaha but the previous owner special ordered it. She was designed at the end of the 2 stroke reign and was made to be paired with a 2 stroke 115 Yamaha. The 115 4 stroke was a little underpowered, but it was still shallow and was a fish catching machine. Fit and finish was near perfect. Maverick is the parent company and they make a damn good boat. With Lenco tabs, I could adapt to about any water conditions, weight distribution, or get the stern up for skinny watter. I sold it soon after I moved inland.

Boats like my old Pathfinder are everywhere now and that type from a good company would be my preference. Quality matters in the rough stuff. It was the “bay boat” model for Maverick I’d say. They bought Cobia too. Just enough dead rise not to beat you, not so tall that you couldn’t fish inshore with a trolling motor, and could still troll for Spanish and Kings and still bottom fish off shore on good days. A boat like this in the 18-24’ range with max rated HP would be my recommendation. The big motor isn’t just for hauling arse though it’s nice. It’s also there for torque to fight the swells and waves heading in and out. Water gets squirrelly and unpredictable around the inlets and jetties. You can’t always keep the bow into the wind. It’s nice to have power to surf or crash the waves and swells when they’re having there own idea of what to do with you.

I can’t believe how expensive boats have gotten.

if you’re new to it, safety safety safety and respect for others. Spend time with experienced owners and learn the ropes. Use the boat ramp for putting in and out as fast as you can and use the “make ready lane” for getting ready, not the ramp. No wake means NO wake. Respect the weather and other people’s property.

I don’t do “glitter boats” and carpet. Coming from the salt and duck hunting in the mud, pleather and carpet suck.

Hope this helps.

I also had a pontoon boat, but that’s not worth talking about for what you want to do.

Boats suck at compromise, so be honest with yourself with what you’re going to do 90% of the time and get the boat for that purpose. Compromise the other 10%.

finally, enjoy that day you buy it and the day you sell it. They’re the best two days you’ll have with her.

Damn I miss the coast! Good luck.
 
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