What Size And Type Of Boat

[Jdecoudres]

I have a 2011 G3 Eagle 173 that has very low hours on it. Was going to try list it this spring for sale

[Notropis]

I've been extremely pleased with my 17' Xpress aluminum bass boat with 70hp Yamaha 4-stroke. I wanted the 18' with a 90 hp but it wouldn't fit in my garage. I agree with other posters, you have to be careful on windy days. If trolling is your primary technique, get a larger boat, maybe semi-v. Fiberglass is smoother in rough water but you will need a larger motor to make them perform well. I highly recommend the 4-stroke motors, they're quieter, idle better, use significantly less gas and don't smoke as much. I agree with the other members, don't under power the boat, get a motor that matches the HP rating of the boat (or close to it). A smaller motor will work ok but will be very sluggish when your boat is fully loaded.

I would also recommend spending the money to get a decent combo depth finder (GPS included) instead of the low end models, it helps a lot when locating structure, fish and waypoint productive spots.

As many of the other members have said, spend time checking out the different brands and compare before you buy. Researching the market is half the fun.

[rainbow]

^{I have a Tracker Pro Team 185 with a 90 hp Merc. It is great in rough water and I fish three out of lots of times. Whatever you do don't under power what ever you get.}

[dtrs5kprs]

I have a 2010 tiller steer Alumacraft Navigator 165 with a 75 HP Etec. The company has discontinued that line by creating several alternatives, but I highly recommend the company and the size/type of boat. I am safe in the summer when the wake boats tear up the main lake, and I can go way up the White River above Beaver town. You should check out Lund as well.

Hard to beat a tiller semi vee in the 50-75 range for a purely fun fishing boat. Will fish multi species and is nice and open. About as safe as can be in wind and wakes too. Might not feel great, but it will get through it.

If I were to sell my big Ranger I would look hard at one. If I was adding a small lake boat it would be the same kind of boat RPS described only in a smaller version.

[dtrs5kprs]

Get as much trolling motor as you can buy. Can't have enough on any boat.

[rps]

Hard to beat a tiller semi vee in the 50-75 range for a purely fun fishing boat. Will fish multi species and is nice and open. About as safe as can be in wind and wakes too. Might not feel great, but it will get through it.

If I were to sell my big Ranger I would look hard at one. If I was adding a small lake boat it would be the same kind of boat RPS described only in a smaller version.

Visual:

[dtrs5kprs]

Your ride is too clean RPS. Great fishing boat.

[jerry241]

I've got a lowe aluminum 20 ft long 7 ft wide side console with a 4 stroke Mercury 115 and it is probably the best fishing boat I've ever owned... LOTS of room to move around in and doesn't do real bad in rough water. My only complaint is the lack of storage but gonna fix that as soon as I find a good fab shop that works with aluminum. Just my 2 cents

[rps]

Your ride is too clean RPS. Great fishing boat.

Four years adds deposits. Not as clean as it once was, but still one heck of a fishing boat. Somewhere between $15k and $50k, reason loses out. Somewhere between 50k$ and $150k, reason has gone.