New fishing boat

[cmu]

Am beginning search for new fishing boat, and I have learned that every boat dealer will give you the line that this is the best or this is what you need. Would like to find 18- 22 ' boat that can fish lakes, but go on Columbia or Puget Sound, Ocean Shores for salmon. Need to be able to get out of weather, but don't want complete cabin to get in the way of fishing. Am hearing about Hewes, North River, Woolrich, Willie Boats. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[dragonfly]

hewes and northriver is like going from vw to bmw as far as build. don't get me wrong they are both good boats just different calibers. I would include thunderjet also. if you don't need it this year I would wait for the boat show, first part of jan and be able to look at them all side by side. dfly

 

[SuperD]

I'll try to soften the reality a bit by establishing that there is no perfect boat. After seeing them all, you'll find a compromise that seems suited best for you. Then the customizing with your own touches begins. Addressing the boat style, you really have to pick a hull design that fits the majority of the fishing you do and realize that there are hulls that meet your other uses but just be varying degrees of "less than ideal" for those uses. I am really fond of the Rogue Coastals and is my win the lottery boat choice. I think Boulton could also be a very good fit for you.

 

[DLM]

I also would suggest Boulton. Your customization is almost limitless and you cut out the dealer experience. Mike is very easy to work with.

 

[mrmike]

We hit on this topic a lot SuperD hit it right correctly there is no such thing as a perfect boat. When in are boats we troll a lot make sure your kicker motor isn't mounted on your off shore bracket if this is the type of boat you purchase. I looked at Thunder jets/North River at one time and didn't purchase them because of there design of there off shore bracket. They then cut out a piece on there off shore bracket so the kicker was directly mounted on the stern this problem had been corrected as one can't always use his TRI SYSTEM to navigated with or use a 3 ft extension to manually steer your boat . I just finish the last two weekends fishing out of Florence for Salmon in rough seas in turbulent water I fished on my kicker 90% of the time in or at the jetty with out the correct set up one doesn't belong out there. Hope this helps

 

[cmu]

We hit on this topic a lot SuperD hit it right correctly there is no such thing as a perfect boat. When in are boats we troll a lot make sure your kicker motor isn't mounted on your off shore bracket if this is the type of boat you purchase. I looked at Thunder jets/North River at one time and didn't purchase them because of there design of there off shore bracket. They then cut out a piece on there off shore bracket so the kicker was directly mounted on the stern this problem had been corrected as one can't always use his TRI SYSTEM to navigated with or use a 3 ft extension to manually steer your boat . I just finish the last two weekends fishing out of Florence for Salmon in rough seas in turbulent water I fished on my kicker 90% of the time in or at the jetty with out the correct set up one doesn't belong out there. Hope this helps

Thanks, now I need to figure out what the offshore bracket is and what the TRI SYSTEM is. That's why I'm asking you guys before I buy

 

[SuperD]

An "offshore bracket" is when the motors are mounted behind and below the transom rather than directly to the transom.