coldsteel5

Thanks for the input. Sounds like boats of this size should be able to handle where I'm looking to fish mostly. I don't like to be on the larger lake with winds over 15 mph, even with our ski boat. I had a chance to talk to an owner of a tracker grizzly who was next to me last time I was pulling my boat out of the water. it was a substantially windy day that day and he said the boat handled the chop pretty well with 2 people and gear. Unfortunately the 1648 jon boat sold already but the roughneck 1652 is still available. guy is asking around 4k, comes with lowrance elite 7 and a 12v 45lb thrust trolling motor & batteries. Does that seem a reasonable price? there is currently foam padding glued on the floor and decks id like to remove, how much of a hassle would that be?

Hey there, new to the forums but not new to boating & fishing. looking for your guys' opinion. Im looking at purchasing a 16'+ jon boat solely to be used for bass, crappie & catfish fishing, currently have a 19' recreational boat which is not the best for navigating the fishing lakes and areas id like to go. I will mainly be taking the boat to small local lakes 100-900 acres, and occasionally on a lake which is about 12,000 acres in size. Not really looking for a fiberglass boat. Ive found a couple boats for sale locally, an older Lowe 1648 side console modified v with a 40hp evinrude, with custom front and rear decks and the other is an 08 Lowe roughneck sc 1652, has live well, with a 50hp johnson. both priced about the same. I know these boats would fare well on the smaller lakes but would they safely handle the chop of the bigger lake on a busy day? It seems the roughneck has a lower freeboard height, will I be able to take this safely on larger lakes or would i have to worry about water coming over the rear freeboards? It will mainly just be myself and my dog on it, but two people on occasion. any input or opinions?