Looking for a New Boat

[SGPopp]

I currently have a 1995 Skeeter S-1850. This is my first boat that I bought with no intentions on keeping more than a couple of years. I knew that it wasn't exactly the boat I wanted but it would get me on the water and help me determine what I really needed in a boat. Now I know what I need I just need some help finding it.

I live in Green Bay, WI and have a cabin in the UP. The boat needs to handle the bay but small enough to get on and off smaller lakes up north. I like to fish but I am not a fisherman. My kids are young and like to bobber fish for blue gill. They love it. I also troll the bay for walleye on occasion and bass fish up in Door County.

What I'm finding with my current boat is it is too much a fishing boat. I knew that when I bought it but I find we are using the boat more for pleasure that I thought we would. I need a boat I can fish out of but maybe not a fishing boat.

I'm aware of the Ranger 1850 (which I love), Triton 192 Allure, Nitro 290 Sport, Triton 186, etc., etc.

I would like some input from others if they know of any boats, likely from pleasure craft manufacturers that I might be interested in. I want to thoruughly exhaust all my options when looking a boats and don't want to leave any stone unturned. Any input is greatly appreciated.

[Mpower]

Be sure to at least check out some center consoles. I was in a similar situation...my old boat was purely a fishing machine but i wanted something more comfortable for the family and something for pleasure cruising. I still use the boat 80% for fishing. Needed to handle big water but easy enough to lake hop up at the cabin.

I narrowed it down to a reata and a scout cc...handsdown the wife prefered the cc. (having a head on board was a big plus!). Thus, i have a family friendly cc in the driveway. It still has plenty of rod and tackle storage, huge live well, bait well, fish box and a nice open transom trolling. Great for trolling, not so great if you cast a lot.

[1860Angler]

I would say Ranger Reata 1850 or Skeeter WX 1850. Maybe a Lund Tyee Tyee 186 GL?

[REW]

SG,
Check out the Glastron boats.
My neighbor has a 20 foot glastron - seats 10.
With its 350 hp GM I/O - it will snap a half dozen skiers up in a couple of boat lengths.

If you want to catch a few fish, you can certainly do that as well.

This is a glass boat that runs 55-60 mph, starts and runs like a car, sips gas, is so quiet that you never hear the engine, only the wind and the slap of the waves on the hull.

The best part is that new it sells for 28K, and it is very easy to get a boat that is only two or three years old for 15-18K.

Good luck
REW

[SGPopp]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Be sure to at least check out some center consoles. I was in a similar situation...my old boat was purely a fishing machine but i wanted something more comfortable for the family and something for pleasure cruising. I still use the boat 80% for fishing. Needed to handle big water but easy enough to lake hop up at the cabin.

I narrowed it down to a reata and a scout cc...handsdown the wife prefered the cc. (having a head on board was a big plus!). Thus, i have a family friendly cc in the driveway. It still has plenty of rod and tackle storage, huge live well, bait well, fish box and a nice open transom trolling. Great for trolling, not so great if you cast a lot.

That's an interesting suggestion and one I hadn't considered. We keep looking at deckboats that actually make some sense for us but buying a deck boat is like buying a tan minivan. It just looks like you've given up on life. I went to the Scout website and looked at the 187 Sportfish. There is one in stock at a dealer a couple of hours from my house. Might be time for a road trip.

[SGPopp]

Originally Posted by REW

SG,
Check out the Glastron boats.
My neighbor has a 20 foot glastron - seats 10.
With its 350 hp GM I/O - it will snap a half dozen skiers up in a couple of boat lengths.

If you want to catch a few fish, you can certainly do that as well.

This is a glass boat that runs 55-60 mph, starts and runs like a car, sips gas, is so quiet that you never hear the engine, only the wind and the slap of the waves on the hull.

The best part is that new it sells for 28K, and it is very easy to get a boat that is only two or three years old for 15-18K.

Good luck
REW

I found a Glastron that I like, GT 200 SF but the website doesn't offer many pictures. The closest I can find one in stock is a Rapid Marine. To far of a drive from GB.

[mh454]

Glass:
Ranger Reata
Skeeter SL series
Lund Tyee GL (open bow vs. closed on Fisherman GL)

Aluminum:
Lund Crossover
Tracker Targa V-18 Combo
Crestliner Sportfish and Super Hawk

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by SGPopp

That's an interesting suggestion and one I hadn't considered. We keep looking at deckboats that actually make some sense for us but buying a deck boat is like buying a tan minivan. It just looks like you've given up on life. I went to the Scout website and looked at the 187 Sportfish. There is one in stock at a dealer a couple of hours from my house. Might be time for a road trip.

Also check out robalo. The r200 was on my short list and there is a dealer near milwakuee. I chose the scout because it was a lighter and i figured it would be easier to tow and launch solo.

Lol on the deck boat comment! Agreed!!!

The 187 is a really nice setup!

[Kdawg1966]

Originally Posted by SGPopp

but buying a deck boat is like buying a tan minivan. It just looks like you've given up on life.

You just gave me a good belly-laugh. I'll have to put that one in the 'ol memory bank for future use.

FWIW, I looked at most of the boats on your list (also the YarCraft) in 2010 and bought a Skeeter 1850. All of those boats are very nice boats and should fit the bill, but I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I fish big water (mille lacs, winnie) most of the time but also get out on some smaller local lakes and it's exceeded my expectations in every way. Good luck.

[SGPopp]

Thanks for all the replies suggesting all the "1850" fish and ski walleye boats but what I'm really looking for is options outside of that box. I know about those and have been in them all. I want to know what else is available that I'm not thinking about.