bipr8

The price sounds very fair. Jump on it if it runs decent and is in average or better shape.

TM= $150.00 (30-40#'s should be fine) Walmart battery= $60.00 Charger= $50.00 That is really all you need. If it is windy, you may not make it 6 hours. Bring 1 oar with you (or both is you have the room) for emergencies and stumps. I doubt I would get the Maximizer UNLESS you plan on going to the other end of that 250 acre lake a lot.

I bought a used Crestliner about a year ago. Nothing but praise for them. http://www.crestliner.com/boats/boat_model.asp?BID=131 This is a deep V bass boat that has cut through Potomac and Hudson River waves where glass boats were being thown into the air. It is a heavy boat for an aluminum. I have a rebuilt 150 Evenrude Intruder in really good shape, but I can only get it up to 52MPH. 52 MPH is still comfortable and I wish I had another 8MPH to get it up to 60MPH. Maybe with the new motors they are putting on them you can reach in the 60's. The boat is 8' wide!!! 41Gal. fuel tank!! **Not sure the cost b/c I bought mine used (a 2004 that I bought in 2006). Price 25K??????? Maybe... Its worth a call. Overall length 18' 1" (5.5m) Maximum beam 95" (241cm) Max. HP capacity 150 Fuel capacity 41 gal. (155L)

Float tubes are awesome. Much more portable than a pontoon. I put my tube in the back of my hatch back (squished, but it fits with the seats down). Get a "U boat" style, the round ones suck. They are simple to maneuver with fins on. I get many many many more hits out of a tube than my boat. HOWEVER, setting the hook is a little unorthadox especially with a jig or tx. rigged plastic. I'd get one, worth every penny.

You want an aluminum boat (yes, it will be faster and handle better than a glass boat). No need for glass if you only have a 9.9 on the back, just a waste of $. The main reason for glass is so you can do big water with a big motor. In NJ, it seems, you have neither (big water and unlimited HP lakes). In the same breath, any gas motor would be better than none. What lakes in NJ are 9.9 only? I know Union is 9.9, what else? Also, your vehichle will be able to tow an aluminum easier and save gas and the life of your car/truck. Also, re-sale will be much easier with an aluminum with a 9.9 rather than a glass boat. Also and most importantly, you won't look as goofy driving an aluminum with a 9.9 versus a glass boat with one. *I have never seen a glass boat with less than a 90HP I think. I cant imagine someone spending the $ on a glass boat and underpowering it so much that driving it would be such a pain in the butt. **Of course, if you were to get a deal on a glass boat that didnt have a motor and you threw a 9.9 on it, that would be better than none at all. If it were me, i'd get aluminum. I would NEVER get a glass boat with a 9.9. I would rather NOT FISH those lakes with restrictions than buy a glass boat with a 9.9.

Last week there was a local T at a 150 acre lake. Over 100 fish were caught and released at the ramp. I am fishing this same lake (with little knowledge of the water and basically going in blind) tomorrow. Where do you think those 100 fish are? Think a chunk of them stayed near the ramp? Think most of them made it back to their "home area" already? Should I fish close?

Crestliner 18' deep V aluminum 150 Evinrude Intruder GPS reads 52.5mph as my top speed (speedometer reads 61 mph). 4 blade SS prop. What about everyone else?

Check out the Crestliner "CXJ2070 Jon". With a 115HP for $16,500.00 OOPS, it is a Mod V NOT a flat bottom. The picture on their site looked flat. It is a sweet looking boat though. Crestliners are awesome.

With a 25hp, I would be very hesitant to hit "big water". In lakes, it wouldnt make much of a difference (however at 1 smaller lake near me on the weekends you can get some major wakes from pleasure boaters that a smaller tracker might be bobbing up and down like a cork). There were times out at that lake where my deep V 18' was being thrown about pretty good.

If you are fishing a lot of "electric only" lakes (like me). Get the BIGGEST you can afford. Not only are they faster and your only form of motion, the larger motors have better staying power. A 36v will last all day long with some kick still left after 8 hours. A 24V...well, maybe a 12V, NO WAY. If you are NOT fishing "electric only" lakes, well then maybe you can consider a smaller motor. I have an 18' aluminum with a 101 on it. The Tm is my favorite and most impressive part of my boat.

From a jon boat to a fish and ski?? Tell them $10k for a used fish and ski, $500.00 for a decent jon boat. My guess is they'll say "have fun fishing"

Thats a shame.....

I live and fish in New Egypt too. Small world. I was at Colliers Mills last night, caught 10 in a couple of hours. All small fish 10-13". Been to Prospertown lately? Great lake. To see some clubs, go to the home page, hit links, hit bass clubs, hit state links. This "used" to work. It wont let me in now, but give it a shot. Been to the new sporting goods store in town? If so, what did you think?

Where in Central NJ? Do you have a boat?

There are a TON of bass clubs in NJ. I "think" there is a "bass clubs" link on this site. Where in NJ are you? Do you have a boat?

I have a 101# thrust TM on the front of my 18' aluminum. I ALSO have a 70# on the back for electric only lakes. The 70# Minn Kota Vector is THE WORST TM I HAVE EVER HAD. I have had it for 4 months and used it about 6 times and it has broken twice. Cabella's is willing to take it back. Here is my question. If I were to scale down on the transom TM and get a 12V 50# thrust motor in exchange for the 70# will that be OK? The reason I ask is this. Lets say hypothetically that I got a 36# for the back (which I wouldnt), but if I did, will the front 101# TM outrun the back TM and render it useless? One friend says "Yes, the back motor would be useless" Another friend says "It will give me an additional 36# of thrust no matter what" So, all in all, would a 50# thrust 12V TM give me a faster boat? A little? A lot? I CAN get another (MAXXUM SERIES) 24V 70# (for an additional $100.00). BUT, I really dont want to spend more $. Also, I wouldnt mind only having 1 battery to lug around and charge with the 12V vs ths 24V. I only use to back TM for "runs" across a lake (like maybe 2-3 times a trip) and for an emergency back up.

Speed is very unneccesary. Eagle makes a very good uncomplicated unit. I have had 2 of them and they were both easy and worked well.

I have had success at 1 particluar 800 acre reservoir in the past, but NEVER in the conditions I will encounter tomorrow. I could do what I have always done, but it is my only day off for a long time and dont feel like chancing anything. The res. is clear (about 10ft visability). About 1/5 of the lake is stumps and submerged tree's (little grass). It goes from 1 ft to about 30ft in the middle. I "usually" catch the fish in the tree's or on the cover on the banks during this time of year. HOWEVER, it has been raining for the past 2 days and cool. The water will be high 60's to low 70's. Tomorrow is supposed to be rain all day, possible thunder. Think the fish will go deep? Think they will bump up to cover? Any suggetions? Thanks, Bip

I agree with your friends. I like being close up and flip. The fish I usually catch are deep in the cover and an overhand cast won't suffice the way I want it to. I flip and pitch usually about 15-20' away. Of course it depends on water clarity.

In NJ, it is now mandatory that you take the safety course. The Coast Guard is putting them on from $30.00-$100.00 a class!!! It was 8 hours and pretty darn boring. Did get some things out of it, but most of it was for ocean applications.

That would be no problem. I have a 14" jon (not as wide as that) and I have the entire thing decked out. I am 210 and my dad is 275. Only on 1 occasion did we sit REALLY REALLY REALLY low in the water. That was with a full live well, and a huge amount of gear. This jon DOES NOT have a gas motor on the back (it does have 2 electric motors and I have 5 batteries on the boat).

I'd give it a 95% no problem. I have a 14' that I decked out, but I decked the "entire" boat out. Boat I know boats that only have the front decked out with no noticable top heaviness.

Really..."VERY RUDE"?? If it is Haskells (and I dont think it is), it might be just a "tad" rude and I appologize. If it isnt Haskells , well then, the statement stands as is.

Without the motor...like $400.00. Looks pretty crappy.

I bought a jon for $150.00 (used) about 3 years ago. It is in great condition and takes no water. Question: How much can a jon boat really cost? If I am correct in my assumption that they go for $150-$350, hell, go buy one. The hassel that you are going to go through to build a skiff that will suck anyway is so not worth saving a few hundred bucks. Dont know your socio-econcomic situation or age, but I would go cutting lawns for a weekend at $25 a pop (to buy a boat) before I ever got in a homemade one.