new boat considerations mostly vbay
 

I may be in the market for a new boat in the next year or 2 and I am pretty sure about the direction I want to go, but I have a few questions.

I am looking for minmum 20' flats/bay type boat. By that I mean 8-10" draft with forward and aft casting deck. Will need to fish 3 men comfortably. My biggest concern is the ability to cross the bay in the average chop, which tends to be 2 footers for the most part, without getting beat to death and without having to go 20mph. It needs to handle cruising at 35ish in a chop.

Can skinny water hulls handle crossing vBay without a beating? just wondering if I am wishing for something that isn't really out there.

Thanks for any input

I have a 20 express cc , would not suggest it for the bay. Its great for calm to light chop and great to fish out of, but not for the bay under those conditions.

You are asking for a lot. Any "flat" will be ruff in VB with a light chop.

Well depending on your budget...
Interesting that you are set on such a shallow draft. I'm guessing your targeting fish in Marsh Island or the reefs in the pass. When fishing that shallow if you want to move around your going to have to pole, something to keep in mind. Also when moving around that shallow in a glass boat you have to expect some gelcoat damage from oysters.

SCB


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Case closed...

If you're going fast enough it doesn't matter how big the waves are.


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something like an xpress certainly wouldn't work for corssing the bay, but I have seen some skinny water boats with some pretty aggressive entry points. they look like they would cut a wave pretty well...something like a Lake & Bay boca grande or action craft flatsmaster.

The "look" like they slice a chop but I was hoping to hear from people who have tried running the bay in these flats/hybrid type boats. I know a true 6" draft flats boat is going to get smashed in a 2 foot chop, guess im looking for the best of both worlds.

The only way you don't get beat to death is to get on top and run fast enough to bridge the chop, or have a boat heavy and with enough dead rise to cut and break the wave.

Honestly if you want to be able to do both of those things well its going to be expensive. SCB seems to be doing the best at it.

W says Haynie is the best

What is a SCB

ya...I was pretty much afraid of that. my current boat is heavy with a really aggressive deadrise at the bow and cuts the waves like a champ. I can troll/fish in 12"s which isn't bad for a boat this heavy, but it does restrict getting inside marsh island and right on top of reefs. plus its a 24 year old hull.

I have litterally upgraded everything accept the hull and was thinking about going hull only on an action craft or something similar and just transferring my 2011 verado and iPilot etc.. but I just don't know if a hull like can handle the chop.

I would hate to spend 25k on a blank hull + whatever costs I incur transferring my equipment and then get beat to death every time the wind blows across the bay (which is ALWAYS!)

Simmons Custom Boats out of Texas. Check em out.


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Just remember you cant really run a trolling motor in 8in without making alot of noise or killing the blade on the bottom. If you plan on going the polling option remember that it usually takes two people and both need to be able to do it well so each of you can take turns fishing.

Honestly if your able, just buy another smaller polling boat and take it out on choice days. If the wind is too stiff for the bay and you want to fish shallow just go to Cocodrie.

no idea what your budget is, but have you considered a ShallowSport? the sport line has somewhat of a v (if you call it that), and they run/draft, well shallow. they aren't fast by any means due to the tunnel hull.

https://www.shallowsportboats.com/sport-line/

really I am considering anything. I am interested in anyone who has had the experience of crossing vbay in what they would consider a skinny water boat. What the ride was like, in what chop, at what speeds. That kind of thing. With the exception of express as I already have knowledge of that(not a dig at Express boats...they are good boats at what they are meant for)

Anyone have experience with Lake and Bay Boca grande or action craft 2020 flatsmaster specifically, but definitely not limited to those makes

Action craft make a great flats boat.

Thanks Biggun.

have you fished/cruised one in a chop? If so, what are your thoughts on them?

I ask because I have talked to Action Craft about a hull only deal from factory direct and they are willing to work with me so they are high on the list of possibilities.

Rambo 27

As in 27' boat? Im sure it handles the chop well, but prolly wont get as skinny as I need :)