I went through the same challenge several years back. I ended up running across a great deal on bay boat (at Rogue Motion) and bought it. We stay inshore so it is fine 90% of the time. We beach at the islands a lot and very easy to get family and dog in and out. When we get into harbor or even crossing through Stono inlet when it’s a little choppy (not bad to me but is to her), my wife is very uncomfortable with the boat since she feels like there is little to hang onto and she could easily fly out. That’s been our experience, hope it helps but more of what you’re hearing above. It sounds like you’d probably be happier with deep v and it’s not going to impact your fishability.
Have had 2 bay boats for the last 15 years (Key Wests).
Absolutely love the boats, but now that I am older with up and coming grandkids, I’d feel more comfortable in a CC.
When fishing the jetties, near shore reefs, Lake Moultrie, I would like to have the higher sides of the CC.
I’m not as steady on the front deck of the bay boat and will worry about grandkids falling out…
With all that said, I’ll be keeping my 210BR for several more years… 
Heck of a boat worth every thousand $$$ I’ve spent on it.
As stated in previous post, don’t under power.
I have the 150 Yamaha, but would go back with a 200 - 250 if I had to do it over again.
Just my opinion and my choice.
https://freedomboatclub.com/locations/78-Mt.-Pleasant-sc/
https://freedomboatclub.com/locations/78-mt.-pleasant-sc/boats/
You can use a different boat every day, inshore, offshore, your choice.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
quote:
Originally posted by TazJust my opinion and my choice.
https://freedomboatclub.com/locations/78-Mt.-Pleasant-sc/
https://freedomboatclub.com/locations/78-mt.-pleasant-sc/boats/
You can use a different boat every day, inshore, offshore, your choice.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
I think you meant you can use a different boat every day etc. … but for only a half day. There are time restrictions on the boat use.
Stella Blue
Ok, my point is you’re not restricted to one boat. I have found that rules have minor variations with some locations since franchises are individually owned. Some clubs require 2 reservations for Saturday or Sunday but you can still get the boat for a full day if it’s available. When we travel I usually reserve one or two boats a week and not always a fishing boat.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Just got rid of a 23HPS Pathfinder. It had a stepped Hull. Very good for small chop and running Offshore on a calm day. Notice I said calm day. If you run offshore a bunch, you need some deadrise that’s 23 degrees or better. I’ve had both types of boats and the bay boat is the most versatile. Don’t have either type now. Going back to inshore and harbor with my new boat. Boat show was awesome. Saw a 27 foot Tidewater bay boat with a double stepped hull and a 425 Yamaha hanging off the back. Impressive.
John
Boat clubs are for suckers. That being said, sea trial a bay boat with the wife to make sure shes 100% against it. When my wife met me I had a 16ft Lowe and a 16ft Hewes so when I bounced around from a bay boat to a bigger flats boat back to a bay boat lower gunnels weren’t nearly as big of a concern as a leaning post and cooler seat. Ive got a 3 yr old now that fishes with me on the bay boat now and the gunnel height isn’t a concern what so ever, it certainly wasn’t a concern to my daddy tooling through hobcaw creek and the wando in a 15ft jon boat back in the day. That 21 bay reef or 228 seapro will handle anything the harbor or jetties can throw at it also.
quote:
Originally posted by lrobaloJust got rid of a 23HPS Pathfinder. It had a stepped Hull. Very good for small chop and running Offshore on a calm day. Notice I said calm day. If you run offshore a bunch, you need some deadrise that’s 23 degrees or better. I’ve had both types of boats and the bay boat is the most versatile. Don’t have either type now. Going back to inshore and harbor with my new boat. Boat show was awesome. Saw a 27 foot Tidewater bay boat with a double stepped hull and a 425 Yamaha hanging off the back. Impressive.
I drooled over that boat myself! I don’t know why you’d want a single 425 over twin 200-250s but it made it so much more awesome.
John
The reason for not having twins on that boat was the transom isn’t wide enough.
John
I was wrong…I looked it up on their website and they do have twins on one…my bad.
quote:
Originally posted by lrobaloThe reason for not having twins on that boat was the transom isn’t wide enough.
John
I was wrong…I looked it up on their website and they do have twins on one…my bad.
It’s kind of like having a twin turbo V8 vs a naturally aspirated V10. The turbos make a lot of sense but it’ll never be as awesome as a monster 10 lol.
I saw it, Irobolo, too big to fish shallow, to small to fish offshore, it was a whole lotta boat though. I think once you cross that 24/25ft threshold the bay concept loses its attractiveness. And its got to be the right hull in that 25ft size or it becomes to dang big.
Pretty much every boat now has all the creature comforts if you want to pay for these options, so this should be a non factor. Even the hardcore fishing boats have comfy seating, back rests, etc.
You need to decide if you want to fish inshore or offshore because a deep v center console will ride better in a chop but drafts more. A shallow drafting boat will have a flatter bottom (ie. a bay boat) that perform much better inshore but not as good in a chop or in the ocean.
I personally would not take a 20-22 foot boat past the nearshore reef, but people take them far offshore all the time. A 22 ft boat can be a miserable experience in the ocean if the seas kick up. For the size boat you are looking for, I’d go with a bay boat because inshore fishing is really good around here and you can still fish the jettis and nearshore reef on calm days. Plus, you are less weather dependent inshore and can fish a lot more. With a 22 traditional center console, you’ll have to pick your days to go in the ocean which means less time fishing. Deep V center consoles really limit the inshore spots you can fish.
In my opinion, bay boats are much more versatile and I’m a big fan of the 22 Pathfinder. Key West, Tidewater, Sea Hunt, Sportsman also make good bay boats but are not in the same class as Pathfinder. Sea Pro use to be a solid boat and not sure if the new ones are the same quality because they have new ownership. Sea Pro sold their very popular 19 mold to Tidewater (I think). I’ve fished on that boat a lot and it is a nice layout.
Definitely get a T Top and the folding stern seats that you can walk on when fishing but sit in when cruising are really nice.
Also, tell your wife to get over the port o potty and I can tell you from experience this will never be used because it is too cramped of a space on smaller boats. Plus, you’ll store gear in the center console and you’ll have to remove all of this to use the bathroom.
My boat came with a porta potty. I told the dealer to remove it before I picked up the boat, “but it is included in the package,” he said. I don’t care, get that stinking thing out of my boat. One of my better decisions.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
Heck I took the potty out of my Bertram and transformed the head to a tackle storage locker! To much trouble to clean and pump out! Use a 5 gal bucket if you cant hang over the side! Love the AC tho.
I’m not sure how much room you have, but I would look at a 24’ bay boat. That would give you a wider beam for offshore the few times you go, and the chop in the bay. I had the same problem, I had a 20’ cc, and wanted a new boat, but not another cc. I found after alot of research there are two differnt types of bay boats. The tournment style which has a lower sides, where as standard has a higher sides. I have two five year olds and went with the higher side sport model. What I bought was not what brands you were looking at, it was the Nauticstar 2400 sport 102" beam, with a yamaha f200 i-4 four stroke, wich I already had. If it wasn’t for my 2 4 year olds, I would have bought the tourment series with the lower sides wich I’m glad I didn’t now. The extra length, and width helps glid through rough water, and the higher sides, unless the wind is up we don’t, get sprayed, which can happen in any style boat. Like it was said before don’t under power, if it wasn’t for the little ones, and already having the motor I would have gone with a v-6. One thing I would recommend is to order your boat the way you want it. We bought ours at the boat show, and we put what options we wanted on it, and saved a bunch of money. There is no need in paying for things you don’t need ,and not getting what you want because that’s what they have on the lot. Sorry if spelling is wrong, no auto correct
I knew a guy that tried out the porta potty’s in the bigger center consoles on the friday of the boat show back in the day. Crazy mofo.
After being released, a lot of fish die, but a lot of them live also.
I went on an inshore charter last week in Florida. The guy had a 21ft tidewater. I was mighty impressed how well it did in the chop. It was pretty windy.
Check out the 219FS Key West.
19*/24* “stepped” hull.
After looking at KW/Sportsman/Tidewater/Seapro/Seahunt/etc for YEARS… we stepped on all of the above at the boat show and the wife fell in love with the 219FS. Well that sold me. Also we have a 10 month old so it HAD to be a deep V cc, not a bay (which is what I had been looking for).
Also, of those in the 20-23ft range, that 19* dead rise at the transom was the most aggressive for this size I think. Look into it.
edit: Also one more… we spend a lot more time going through the harbor and the ICW than up creeks so we need something that’ll cut through the rough, so keep that in mind.
2002 Key West 1900CC
Surprised there’s no mention of Pioneer or Bulls Bay or Avenger since they’re local companies as well. They’re as good as any mentioned and in many cases, better. Granted, Avenger only offers a 24’ and a 25’ as of right now. I wish they’d hurry up and get the 22’ on the market.
“You don’t always know where you stand till you know that you won’t run away.” ~Slipknot
It’s not talking crap if you can back it up…and nothing can back it up better than facts.