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Ray

What would be a good boat for around the shallows, hauling my kayaks, anchoring unloading and fishing the flats in them, and then using the boat for slightly deeper water in canals and just beyond the breakers?

How much trouble are these boats to maintain?

Oh, and what do they cost, not a fancy one, but a good, reliable one. I'm not a mechanic.

Thanks,

Ray
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Ray

the troutman · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 316

The possibilities are endless on this one Ray. There are so many flats boats on the market now you could go many different directions. Something with a good, wide beam for hauling your yak would work best, i.e. Shoalwater, Majek, etc. Cost can be from a few thousand for an old dude to 25,000 for a good recent model. Maintaining one is like everything else in saltwater, time and attention to detail. Owning a coastal boat is awesome but know going in there is a committment that comes with the fun.
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Later,

The Troutman

Love em and leave em, otherwise known as Catch and Release!

Ryk2506 · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 7:48 am Post subject:

One boat to consider is a wide welded aluminun jon boat, with the pontoons welded on the back. They are relatively inexpensive, durable, and will run all day on 6-7 gallons of gas. I've had one in some form or fashion for 20 some odd years, but I'm primarily a Nueces back bay fisherman. The downside is that they are light, and don't lend themselves well to chop or rough water. I wouldn't want to take mine out past the breakers unless conditions were very favorable. But for fishing protected bays, they are the choice of a lot of guys around here. It's hard to get one boat that is perfect for everything.

Ray · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 11:52 am Post subject:

Ryk2506 · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject:

Ray,here's a link to G3, which is the boat that I have.

http://www.g3boats.com/GatorTough/TunnelJons/default.php

I bought a year old G3 from a dealer, it was new but just plain. I ordered a floor from G3, had Valz fabricate the pontoons, and put a 2002 90hp yamaha on it. The console came from a Carolina skiff. It took me a few months, but now I have the boat I wanted, for a lot less than a new one. It really will go skinny, and upkeep is a breeze. Also, it is amazing how well it does on gas. It is 18'6" and hauling a couple of yaks would be no problem.

Portland Marine sells some real nice rigs, and they will work with you on setup. Also, the Xpress looks like a solid boat. It is wider than the G3.

If you decide this is the way you want to go, I can send you some pics of the build of the boat, and refer you to someone for the console.

jbonorden · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject:

I have one of the 18 ft. Weld-Craft boats that Richard sells at Portland Marine. I have the sponsons on the back and push it with a 90 hp. Nissan. It is a great rig to fiah shallow with. As with all aluminum boats, you have to judge how much chop you can take because of the light hull.

On any calm day ( 10 mph wind or less) I can go anywhere a big glass boat can go and alot of places they cant.

The 19 ft. Carolina skiff woudl be a good choice if you have to have a fiberglass boat. Hp. recommendations are in the 90 to 115 hp. range I thin.

Fish0157 · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 278

2coolfishing.com

has some good deals

texmike · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 5:23 am Post subject:

Check out these guy's, They have never steered me wrong and are very honest. Won't tell or sell you something you don't need. Good place to start anyway.

Chris's Marine

They are in Aransas Pass.

TL · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Boerne, TX

I have a 20' Alumacraft center console tunnel that gets in skinny water. Easy to pull with the truck and I can haul my kayaks with. I got mine from C&S Outboards in Crosby. They advertise in Tx Fish & Game magazine. They decked mine out the way I wanted. I have a 90 hp Yamaha and I will do 33 mph. (Plenty fast)
Heres what the back looks like.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db09b3127cce89a6276a404a00000016108AbNmrFi0cOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db09b3127cce89a62757c14700000016108AbNmrFi0cOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db09b3127cce89a62755c14500000016108AbNmrFi0cOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db09b3127cce89a62753c14300000016108AbNmrFi0cOL

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6db09b3127cce89a62750407000000016108AbNmrFi0cOL

Its a tough boat and the only thing I dont like about it is when it is rough, it be beat you to death. You feel all of the waves. It will handle them but you feel em..

They call the back steps floatation pods. It makes it easy to get in and out of. Also I plane real fast.

Oh also another thing I would change. I would not get a tunnel hull. I can get real shallow but I dont really have a reverse.
Hope this helps.

Ray · Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

TL,

That looks about like what I need, tough, efficient, and not fancy. What does a boat like that cost?

Is the ride on rough water just noticeable or nearly unbearable? Would this boat go just beyond the breakers, 300 or 400 yards out and anchor? How's the milage? Would you buy another?

Thanks,

Ray
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Ray