So right now I have a Boston whaler 13 with a Suzuki 25hp tiller. I’m 6’3” and 300+lbs and it’s very uncomfortable and unstable to fish out of especially with another person. My two options so far are pick up a Carolina Skiff JV15 or 17 ($5800-$7000) and put the Zuki on it or I found a 2012 bulls bay 151 with a Yamaha 40 tiller, power pole and I pilot ($9700). The bulls bay is honestly over budget but I could make it work. Anyone have any experience with either? I love the look of the bulls bay but I’m not sure about it with my size and another person fishing.
Hi redfisher. I’m 5 9, 155 and that whaler would be tippy for me. Forget about fishing standing up with 2 people.
IMHO for 5800-7000 you can get a lot more than just a carolina skiff hull. And with 2 big guys and gear, the 17 will struggle with the 25hp. For that $, you should be able to get either of those with an engine as well.
If you are looking to get really skinny every time you go, the bulls bay would be a good option. But for you being a big guy, and concerned about stability, you may want to look at something in the 16’-17’ range with more beam. And for $5800-9500 you should be able to find something nice, with a decent engine.
If you’re willing to drive, Beaufort/Hilton Head, Jacksonville, Myrtle Beach Craigslist would be a good place to look. When purchasing this way, you will probably want a sea trial or a mechanic to look it over.
Again, all IMHO. I’m by no means an expert. Just my two cents. Hope this helps.
Key West 1720 - Charleston
Pathfinder 2200 - Savannah
First and most importantly does any of them come with a Yeti… If so you knowo which one to buy.
Not being mean or joking but in the world of weight and performance there is a old saying about the 350lb guy that comes in and buys all the aluminum and carbon fiber to save a few lbs… Point is dont focus on something that doesnt make since for you. It can be a bad@$$ skinny backwater boat but its not gonna feel or perform good when 300lbs is sitting on the transom or jumps to the back corner to land a fish. Idk about the bulls bay but most designed skinny water skiffs are very weight sensitive with low overall weight capacity. With your size your gonna be best off with a boat about 3 times your weight capacity just for comfort and performance. Motor gas gear 300, you 300, your buddy 300 equals 900lbs. Most skinny flats boats dont have that kind of capacity but the skiffs do.
Any true tech/polling\skinny skiff will be easily affected by weight. I gained like 30lbs over the last few years and can feel the difference in performance. But i was already right at the edge of load vs performance and my seat is pretty far to the rear which also makes the weight more impactful on my ride. Now i have to position my gear forward for best performance.
Ive had a 13ft boat like a whaler with a 25 2 stroke and been in a 16 skiff with a 25 4 stroke and 17 skiff with 50 4 stroke honda. The 17 is underpowered with a 50 4 stroke, at close to 3/4 of the recommended capacity its performance fell greatly, at full capacity it was way underpowered. The 17 is also considerably harder to pole and control in winds. The 16ft was a bare hull with 25 suki 4 stroke and it would do about 25 to 30 with a 6 gal tank, a little gear and 2 big boys, i was near the 230s and the other guy was probably 270 to 330 but he had at least 40lbs on me. I would say about a 600lb load plus motor and fuel. It had no issues with weight draft, acceleration, rpms. Plenty of room for two big guys.
A 15ft skiff is the best of the 3 in my
Not sure if it’s sold yet but there is a 167 Cayman in the swap shop for $9400
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=179272
I have a 151 center console and fish 2 out of it no problem (not your size, but there is a lot of room). Can’t beat the ride for a boat that size. It is a well put together little rig.
“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations,neither are you here to live up to mine” Peter Tosh - I Am That I Am
My 16’Alumacraft w/25 Yammy 4stroke does just fine in the creeks and flats. Have taken her out in the ocean on calm days-been caught out in some rough stuff. Just slow down; she will get you home.
New, she cost me around $11K; that included about $1.5k of custom work, motor and trailer. She’s quite stable, dead rise very small.
Recommend widest beam; mine’s about 4’ at the water line.
Have had max 770pds of people and gear on board loaded for beach fishing and she pulls along at 25mph.
There are always Jons for sale.I’ve seen them listed from near nothing to big bucks.
You have plenty of choice in the Jon market.
Don’t have to mortgage the house to get a boat that will do the job around here.
She catches fish just as good as those expensive water bugs I see all over the place these days.
16’ Alumacraft Mod V Hull Jon Boat
25hp Yammy 4 stroke
Any opinions on the jv15? I’m sure it won’t be too underpowered but will it handle weight well? I’ve never stepped foot on a Carolina skiff, only my 13 whaler, my old 14’ hydro craft (stinger or scout mold), my buddies 18’ Hewes red fisher and a few offshore boats. The dealer talks them up like they are ultra stable but why would he talk bad about his products then again. I don’t care about a rough ride, just needs to be stable and capable of taking a little chop or a wake from a yacht on the icw with out capsizing. I’m starting to not really want to spend more than $7000. That’s a lot of money at 22 hahaha.
The smaller Carolina Skiffs are TIPPY at best… for a big dude as yourself you likely won’t enjoy fishing in one. I’m 5’10" 160 and it almost tips when I have to grab the rail to get around the console…A friend of mine has one we fish out of and there’s not enough room to sneeze on the boat to be honest… he has owned it for almost 3 years and is in the market to go a little bigger as we speak.
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
Would a j16 be any better than the others? Just trying to get the most bang for my buck and Carolina skiff seems to be the most cost efficient and I see crabbers using them which makes me think they can candle a ton of weight.
I would imagine it would be a bit better every foot you go up, would have to be! Keep in mind those crabbers are running 20ft plus skiffs… maybe someone will let you join them for a ride and you can check one out yourself soon
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
A 16’ or 17’ will be much improved over the 13 BW and my choice. Being a big guy you need width and length in a boat. I had a J16 with 25 Yami. Wish I still had it. We fished and shrimped out of it. I would not call it tippy. Throwing a 8’ net off front with 10k wind and 1.5’ chop was a challenge but, due to waves not because it was tippy. The 25 is a min on that boat but, would work for 2 people. Would be better with 30 or 40. I had to run 2 props on mine. A 10.5p for normal and fishing and a 9p for 3-4 peeps and gear when shrimping or camping. It was tough and got in skinny water good. Rides way smoother than a std metal jon boat in chop. Like any jon or skiff going crossways into wind in a chop and you gonna get wet. A CS J16 and your Suzi and I think you would like it and not spend as much.
J Ford
Don’t overlook the Jon boats. I’m 300# and son is 220#. 16-17 Diracraft is great. Especially w a 40.
We think the beam spreads our weight out so it floats very shallow. Trolling motor won’t work.
Very low maintenance…
We had a 17 and it was super stable.
DRMajor
Don’t overlook the Jon boats. I’m 300# and son is 220#. 16-17 Diracraft is great. Especially w a 40.
We think the beam spreads our weight out so it floats very shallow. Trolling motor won’t work.
Very low maintenance…
We had a 17 and it was super stable.
DRMajor
The new skinny flats boat IMO are uncomfortable as crap in any chop. Look for an old Key West Stealth. I had one for years. I could do the dance of the seven vails on the gunnels and it was never tippy. And I am 300# and my buddy is 260 and with it loaded down it drafted 8-10”. Mine had a 130 Yamaha 2 stroke on it. I turned 60 and went with the boat I have now and love it.
Good luck!!
2015 201 Bay Scout
150 Yamaha
Like this one
https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2006-key-west-1760-stealth-103498720/
2015 201 Bay Scout
150 Yamaha
I love my Stealth too! It’s been a great boat to own!!
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
I use a 17’ Carolina skiff( standard flat bottom hull) as a work boat for pushing my smaller barge and dock building- it absolutely will be fine with 2- extra large people in it, standing and casting. And with a 70 hp, 12 gallon gas tank, a variety of work tools, and a couple people floats easy in 1 foot of water.
I also have a 19’ sea pro bay boat with a 150 that will do the same thing, you can get an older one with a 115 for less than 10k every day and also fish the jetties and nearshore reefs.
I Have a Stealth and love it, but they are getting harder to find. I think the real Low Country workhorse is the Key West 1720. They are all over the place for a reason: they are big enough to get you there comfortably and small enough to get in the narrow creeks and shallow water. And they are easy to find in the $6-10k range. Easy to maintain and much more stable than a 13-15’ whaler or micro-skiff. They commonly carry 90hp which would be perfect for you. If I didn’t find the Stealth I’d probably be in one of those with no complaints.
X2 on the key west 1720. I really enjoyed mine. Safe boat with a good layout.
Capt. R. Killin
21 Contender “Killin Time”
About the 1720… how long was the whole rig while trailered? I have a 21’ garage to work with and would put the breakaway tongue on there. Not sure if that would buy me enough room though.