Boat for rough water

[stevesecotec02]

Iam looking to purchase a 2nd boat for bigger bodies of water. I have started fishing the chesapeake bay tributaries more and even the bay itself and on rough days its a wet ride on my alumacraft mv1648. My first thought was a fiberglass 17-18' center console but im wondering if their would be a suitable tin for my needs. I know lunds are used a great deal on the big lakes but there isnt a dealer anywhere nearby. Looking for either a center console or a side console with a full windshield and something that will pair well with w 90-115hp outboard. Anybody run a seaark with a 15deg hull or one of the alumacraft deep vee boats and stay dry in a 3' chop? Any other recommendations or should i just go fiberglass for my needs? I want to purchase new and stay under $25k.

 

[bobberboy]

My brother had a 17.5' Crestliner w/70hp Suzuki. It was a side console with a windshield. I was never in it on any really big water but in my experience it wasn't afraid of waves. I guess the freeboard is the trick but I don't know what it was on that boat.

 

[Captain Ahab]

I used to run a 19' SeaNymph (Lowes) with a deep V and set up as a CC w/ a 90 hp in both the Chessie and DE bay


Handled the steep chop really really well and was overall a great hull design


You will see lots of them used up on the Flats (Port Deposit - Turkey Point areas) as well as on the great lakes

It was a fairly dry boat overall as well

 

[stevesecotec02]

Thanks for the suggestions I will have to look into those. I would rather get a big tin than a fiberglass boat because its easier to take care of and easier to power.

 

[overboard]

There are plenty of deep v tins that should meet your needs. I would also take a look at the Alumacraft deep v's.
Some of the guys on "walleye central", that fish the great lakes, seem to like them.

 

[earl60446]

Many of the old starcraft islanders were good big water boats, lots on lake erie and lake michigan where I have fished a lot. You can get them with I/O or outboard in 18 up to 24 ft or so I have seen. Good prices to be had on the old ones too, a 20 fter with a 4 cylinder I/O would be sweet.
Tim

 

[ccm]

Something at least 18ft and deep v. There are lots of factors that make a boat good for rough water. Hull design, seats ( style & placement for shock absorption ), & an out board of suitable horsepower for the boat. My dads boat a 19'6'' Skeeter SX 200 is a terrible rough water boat because it doesn't have a deep enough v it's too modified & doesn't slice through the waves that well. Also there comes a point when no boat is a match for rough water ( when things go from fun to scary ) so a little common sense will go a long way.

 

[stevesecotec02]

Went and looked at a few boats Ranger,G3, and war eagle. The rangers were nice but oit of my price range. G3 had one boat that seemed intersesting. It was a 1966 dlx its only a 6deg mod v but had 28" tall sides and a center console. I could see this boat doing double duty in the smaller waters and on the bay/susquehana flats and allow me to sell tjhe current rig. The war eagle had a 15deg v hull or a 12deg mod v depending on model and looked nice but got kinda pricey for an aluminum boat once you added all the options that came standard on the g3. Gonna go check out a alumacraft Bay model this weekend and see how it stacks up the specs on alumacrafts site dont say much.