Best Boat For Tany

[Phil Lilley]

If you own a bass type boat, getting out of the hole is a safety issue. If it takes 3-4-5-6 seconds to get on plane, that means you can't see what's in front of you for that long. It's not a racing issue for me at all. If it is for some people- I don't necessaily agree but that's their business. But I wanted to clarify racing was not the issue for "get out of the hole" comments.

[griffin]

If you own a bass type boat, getting out of the hole is a safety issue. If it takes 3-4-5-6 seconds to get on plane, that means you can't see what's in front of you for that long.

That's a good point on your lake Phil, I didn't think you cared much about going fast. On bigger water a hole shot isn't nearly the safety issue it is on a lake like Taney that is sometimes stacked with boats.

Still, we were discussing different boat setups....I can tell you that my 20footer, with a 115 4-stroke, gets on plane as fast as any boat I've ever been in.....I notice no difference, although I've seen the specs that show a slightly slower time to get on plane, but nothing that anyone could call a safety issue.

I also agree that you should up size and get the biggest 4-stroke your boat is rated for.....and never look back.

griffin

[admin]

You gotta a big wide, pretty flat boat... it's almost on plane before you start!!

My only point is that you have to consider "starting power" (hard coming up with a phraze for it) when considering a 2 or 4 stroke engines. I'm not knocking either. If I had my druthers... I'd go with a 4 stroke too.

[griffin]

My only point is that you have to consider "starting power" (hard coming up with a phraze for it) when considering a 2 or 4 stroke engines.

This past summer I pulled a 200 lb. man and a 80 lb. boy up on skis with my boat.....I got all the starting power I need.

Hell, two seasons ago I had 7 guys and all their duck gear in my old 18 ft. boat with a 70hp 4-stroke....got up on plane in about 150 ft.......I ain't seen a 2-stroke that could do any better with all that weight and the same HP.

Maybe the first 4-strokes were bad "out of the hole"....but all that crap now is just a carryover from those frist opinions. With the newest fuel injected engines it's just not an issue....no one could ever convince me otherwise, I spend enough time in boats to know better.

griffin

[griffin]

Let me bow out of this discussion for a few days of duck hunting. I'll end with this:

The orginal question was what would be the ideal boat for Taney, and that he fishes alot at Tablerock as well. I can tell you from experience that a jet boat is a dman nice ride on Taneycomo, and a piece of crap if the wind gets up at all and there is any chop on Tablerock. So right from the start you limit yourself.

There is no place on taney that you can't get to without a jet, except the last bit above the clay banks at no generation....and trust me on this....TRUST ME ON THIS..you will make people so mad if you go above there with a jet at no generation that you best have some very big balls, alot of beer in your belly, and a pistol in your boat.

So why get a jet for Taney? Especially if you're going to ace yourself out of the deal at tablerock when it's windy at all?

I'm not saying my rig is the best for EVERY application. In fact, except for the Mississippi river, you can probably find a certain boat and motor setup that is better then mine for that particular application or situation.

But why limit yourself if you're going to invest in a boat? My setup is the result of 25 years of boat ownership, and learning how buying a particular boat for a particular place limits you greatly when you decide to see some new territory.

try taking a 16-18 foot jet boat to Lake of the Woods in Canada....I did....I was miserable. Try taking a 16 ft. boat with a 20hp motor to LOZ...you'll hate yourself...I've done it. Go ahead and get on the Mississippi River with your 14 ft. boat and 40hp motor...and wear plenty of flotation. Take your mudbuddy motor, or Pro-drive, or Beavertail on a 90 mile round trip on Rainy Lake in Canada...they don't make earplugs to protect you.

BUT....I'll run my rig to the clay banks on Taney with no problem. I can take anything the Mississippi river or any big lake can throw at me.....and drink a beer while it does. I can run 50 miles into Canada from Minnesota and fish all day...and still get home before dark. My kids get bored and want to ski or tube?? No problem....try that with your gator tail. I can fish any water with my wide, long, high sided boat....and have enough gas leftover for the next trip with the 4-stroke.

I can't get into marshes to duck hunt with it?? Hell sons, I got a 14 ft. boat with a 3 hp motor that I paid less then $400.00 for....my trolling motor costs twice that much on my big rig.

If you buy a boat, don't limit yourself....or you won't have a boat to use when you want something different...and then it's just a big hunk of cash sitting in your driveway.

Do I think my boat is the best overall rig I can buy?? You darn right I do.....or I'd buy something else.

griffin

[moose50]

well i found out that jet boats arent that good on big water and thats the info i need to know, do they act like jets skis i guess kinda stall out when u hit a wave? ill probly end up with a tracker model with a 50 on it or something but i was wondering about the jet boats.

[griffin]

Moose - I busted the transom on my 16ft. jon with a 40 jet in 2 foot waves on Lake of the Woods. The intake would come out of the water as I went down a wave and then when it caught water again the torque was strong enough to crack both welds on the transom. Anyone that tells you a jet is just as good on big water as any other motor is a liar. Period. BUT...I sure did enjoy that boat on the Meremac, Gasconade, Niangua, Big River, Big Piney, and Taneycomo.

Ok, honestly....that's my last post on the subject. :lol: I could talk boats all day!!! I love 'em!

griffin

[loo10]

What is the best rig?

I found out there is no single "BEST" boat

for all situations.

So now I have a 17' LUND I use on all big water

including Taney;

And a smaller jon I use to pond hop etc.

So quit smoking, or sell some hunting guns,

or work a third shift somewhere

and get what works for you....even if it's 2.

Everybody needs 2 boats don't they?

[Fox Statler]

Two or more at least.

[rossman]

Two or more at least.

AS to best boats for taney, we all have our opnions. I have a Tracker Sprotjet that I really like for shallow water running inclduing getting all the way up. (Don't do it above clay banks except wiht trolling motor. HTat said this track er has benn used in 3' wind swells on TRL, LOZ, Stockton with no problem amd no pounding. I run steadily 30 mph in those wht no problem. It is agreat boat for spring wallie, whites, hybrid and stripers in the rivers.

The only hting I would do fifferent would be if I could get the same hull configuration wiht a 90-115 4 stroke jet on it. Otherwise no problem.