Yeah, that thing needs wheelie bars, with a 115 on the back[:0]
That is a seriously good looking aluminum boat 
I’m partial to wood, but that is nice!
quote:
The trailer under that boat is as impressive as the boat!
Thanks. I had it custom built in FL to exactly fit the boat.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Capt. Fritz, pm sent to you about the oyster roast boats.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Yeah, that’s not my or anyone I knows aluminum boat, so I can’t vouch for its handling with the 115. It was built by AAD Custom Boats (http://aadcustomboats.com/) in Peoria, Illinois. I’m always daydreaming about the perfect backwater boat as well, and this is the closest I’ve found to what I’d like. I’m a commercial clammer and oysterman, so my needs lean a little more toward utility than comfort and storage, but it looks like AAD builds everything custom to order. They have pictures on their website of everything from commercial skiffs to fully decked bass/inshore boats.
A few years ago I took part in a river cleanup along the Illinois River with a group called Living Lands & Waters (http://livinglandsandwaters.org/). LL&W runs a fleet of 30-foot skiffs of a very similar design to this one. These boats were impressive with how much of a load they’d carry.
I have been thinking about the same thing for a long time. I have my eye on an old early to mid 90’s 17-19’ bass boat that will handle up to a 150. Strip the hull down like you did the mojo (maybe not quite that far), replumb all the pumps with saltwater grade stuff and replace all the hardware with new SS hardware. Yank out all the carpet and cover the decks in something to give some traction. Put in a center console and redo the gelcoat in white. If you don’t get too fancy with it and the hull is in good shape when you start, it would be a good budget all around inshore boat.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Except that it won’t be self bailing or likely have the kind of flotation you would want to travel harbors and bays. Self bailing deck could be incorporated into a bass boat hull, but you could probably start with an older Hewes or Maverick hull and have a lot less work involved for the same money.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Yeah, it would definitely have to be self bailing, throwing a cast net without a self bailing boat sucks!
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
My dad and I gutted a glasstream runabout hull and turned it into a center console that we fished offshore in when I was young.
Then, we took some kind of old boat found in a junk yard and gutted it and turned it into a rough water shrimp baiting rig.
Tiller handles on boats make them highly maneuverable. It helps a lot if you have a grab bar to kind of rest an extended handle on during straight runs…
Offshore with a tiller handle will ruin your shoulder, but in flat water it’s no problem. Bigger problem is one of the big ones without electric start!
[:0]
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Luke 8:22-25
quote:
Originally posted by tigerfinI have been thinking about the same thing for a long time. I have my eye on an old early to mid 90’s 17-19’ bass boat that will handle up to a 150. Strip the hull down like you did the mojo (maybe not quite that far), replumb all the pumps with saltwater grade stuff and replace all the hardware with new SS hardware. Yank out all the carpet and cover the decks in something to give some traction. Put in a center console and redo the gelcoat in white. If you don’t get too fancy with it and the hull is in good shape when you start, it would be a good budget all around inshore boat.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
A bass boat works just fine. Remove the carpet if you’re going to be throwing a cast net. If you really want to do it right, put on a hydraulic jackplate. You have the front and rear casting decks the OP mentioned, as well as one or two livewells.
I’ve done a ton of saltwater fishing in a bass boat, and haven’t had any problems.
16’-17’ Side console Jon boat with a 40-50hp engine and a platform up front for storage and casting. A polling platform might be nice too.
Gigging in the skinniest of water with no worries of scratching the bottom.
Fishing anywhere inshore but a bad day in the harbor. “Bad day” varies depending on the user/captain. I’ve gone across Bulls Bay with waterspouts in the bay.
Light weight and easier to push off a bar or poll than any other boat. Probably gets the best gas mileage out of any boat (not sure).
Easiest clean up and least maintenance.
Comes prepainted for hunting.
Generally on the cheaper side of boat cost.
First, Most, Biggest
I want to catch them all
I’m kind of torn between a Jon boat or a skiff. Other than appearance, why would one care if the bottom was scratched? All things being equal, I would think the semi-v hull of say a Carolina skiff jv model would handle a bit better than a Jon boat and you wouldn’t have the hot aluminum in summer thing to deal with right?
With all of the good points made previously in this thread, my 18’ McKee deep V is about as good for all around inshore and some offshore as you can get. It drafts 12", but there aren’t many times I wish it would float shallower. Also I’m very happy with how it handles the slop when I’ve had to do so. It will do a whole lot more than what I put it through and it does easily enough where every time I got the itch to buy a bigger boat, I just can’t justify doing so.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Several thoughts: The 17 ft. size boat is a good tradeoff. I once had a Welcraft 17ft. center console, and it was a great all around boat. A boat that size is light and easy to trailer and launch/retrieve.
I have shrimped out of Johnboats, but it is tough to get all the shrimp/bycatch out of all the nooks and crannies. You find them a few days later by the smell. One reason I like my Skandia is the flat deck has no nooks and crannies and is self bailing. It is easy to clean up after a nightshrimp trip. I sometimes wish it were about a 19ft., as a 21 ft. boat is too big for some uses. But, it has a ton of room for all the junk I take nightshrimping.
A single axle trailer is much easier and cheaper to maintain. Above 19 ft., you need tandems = 4 sets of bearings to repack and 4 tires to eventually replace. Larger boats = more room, better ride in big water, but obviously are not ideal in the upper reaches of fresh water rivers. I think a 17 ft. fiberglass boat is ideal for a variety of uses.
For mostly upriver or flats fishing, the flatbottom boats like the one Cracker Larry has on here would be a good choice. The 18’ McKee deep V mentioned above is another great choice, but would be heavier and cannot go as skinny as CL’s boat or a J16.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
What do y’all think about the layout and capability of a hull like a Mako 18LTS?
http://www.mako-boats.com/boat/gallery.cfm?boat=3733
or Maverick 18HPX-V?
http://www.maverickboats.com/boats/mirage-18-hpx-v/
or Beavertail BT3?
http://www.beavertailskiffs.com/?page_id=119
or ECS Vantage?
http://www.eastcapeskiffs.com/skiffs/vanatge/
What other boats are like the above in design?
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www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
My good friend Raymond, who does my metal and upholstery work has that model Maverick and I’ve fished on it many times. It’s a very well made boat.
I would avoid the Mako, they don’t build them like they used to.
Don’t know anything about the other 2. I’m not a big fan of flats boats really. Too much deck and not enough cockpit space. I’d rather fish in the boat, than on the boat. I feel like I’m fishing from a surfboard and I’m going to fall off. My balance isn’t what it used to be. To each their own:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryMy good friend Raymond, who does my metal and upholstery work has that model Maverick and I’ve fished on it many times. It’s a very well made boat.
I would avoid the Mako, they don’t build them like they used to.
Don’t know anything about the other 2. I’m not a big fan of flats boats really. Too much deck and not enough cockpit space. I’d rather fish in the boat, than on the boat. I feel like I’m fishing from a surfboard and I’m going to fall off. My balance isn’t what it used to be. To each their own:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
That’s true. My perspective on flats boats stability changed in recent years when I’m on a 21-22ft bay or deep V daytime shrimping in what I consider snotty conditions in St. Helena or Bulls, and I look over and see a larger skiff like those above with 4 guys on it and a guy throwing on poles with no problem at all. Saw a hells bay backing into the waves to pull off the poles after letting the net man throw with the wind. Those wider technical skiffs are pretty stable.
What’s more… the shrimp will be running good, but I will be out of water and needing to go anchor in the channel in my boat while they’re still running their poles hard right next to me. Makes you think…
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Luke 8:22-25
I would be able to do all I wanted to inshore with 15-16ft sized rig with 25-30HP tiller up here in Murrells Inlet, but whenever I want to go shrimp in Cowpens or Bulls or something, that’s a pretty long run to make at 28mph and then pretty rough on you if the weather goes bad and you’re 2-3 miles from a creek out in open water. I sometimes still go down to St. Helena where it’s a long run from the ramp to the spot as well. And of course, the shrimp run best when it is rough! So I guess that’s the thing driving any need for a 17-18ft sized rig with 70-90HP and remote steering and throttle. Going offshore in this rig wouldn’t cross my mind because I have Mojo for that.
http://www.sustainablefishing.org/
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Luke 8:22-25
Just got my 17’ Cast and Blast aluminum boat last week and love it. built here in charleston sc too.
There aught to be a redfish in the grass at the end of the shell behind that Cast and Blast!
Lots of great opinions on here about boats. But, it kind of reminds me of discussions about the best deer caliber. The best boat/gun depends on so many factors, and each boat/gun is just right for certain situations. Inshore/backwater narrows it down, but there are still tons of good choices.
I love to talk about boats. I sometimes think my fishing trips are just excuses to mess around with boats and get out on the river. Great discussion!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Your right Spec. Tons of variables to consider. I like the boat that was handbuilt on the first page. Beautiful workmanship.