Fish -n- ski

[WCCT]

Do any of you guys have any opinions on fish and ski boats.  I tournament fish, but I also have a wife and 2 kids, with a third looming in the future.  I have looked at them, but I can't find one with ample rod storage.  

[gamblerOH]

I saw some skeeters at the dealer show last winter that looked nice. If you tourney fish more than you pleasure boat I would get a bass boat. They sit lower in the water, the livewells are better and the front deck is actually made for fishing.I'm just not into dual purpose. I have taken my wife and kids out for a day of joy riding in my bass boat,believe me bass boats are not made for a family of 4, nor are ski boats made for fishing IMO.

[Nick_Barr]

My dad has a 17 1/2 foot glastron fish and ski and it is easy to fish out of. I have seen some of the new Glastron Fish and ski's and they are made more for fishing but provide ample space for pleasure boating.

[Oilpig]

Just my opinion here...

You might as well buy a sail boat cheif!  That big, stupid windshield that serves what purpose I don't know, acts just like a big sail when the wind is blowing and you're trying to hold your boat over a piece of structure to fish.  You'll be happy when you're pleasure boating with the family, but you'll be one pain in the a$$ to tourney fish with 'cause you'll be grumpy the whole day when the wind blows even slightly.

When I was a kid, my dad did the same thing.  Saw 3 kids in the back of the Buick and a wife in the front.  Sold the bass boat (which only him and I ever used) for a stupid combo boat.  First year I think my sisters and mom went on the boat maybe 5 times....3-4 the 2nd year....1 time the 3rd year...after that dad and I were stuck in a stupid boat so in case the girls wanted to go ski, we could.  It would have been much easier to rent a ski boat 5-6 times a year than to fish out of one 100 days a year.

Good luck, god bless, & stay strong!

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I can't stand the things. Just my opinion. My family rented one a couple of years ago down at Table Rock. It wasn't really all that comfortable for the family and it was a pain to fish from the back in. Never thought of the wind factor, but that just gives me one more reason to dislike them. This is just my opinion..... I don't like things that try to be two things at once like El Caminos (truck or car), Conversion Motorcyles (car or motorcyle). I have a family friend that also has a Skeeter Fish-n-Ski that is very disatisfied with it.  His take is you make compromises on both ends (fishing vs. family/sport boat) and in the end you have something that satisfies no one.  You have a bass boat that really doesn't satisfy your bass fishing needs and you have a family boat that really isn't all that roomy and doesn't satisfy your family needs.

[Muddpuppy]

A friend of mine had a Skeeter Combo, it was an older, smaller model may be 18'.  It was a pain if you were backseat.  Wasn't any room for rods extra tackle, one live well.  I even hooked one of his rods and slung it out in the lake, one night.  The bags blocked the isle.  I guess the back deck was adequete once you were rigged up.  It wasn't real manuverable in stumps.  He finally went to a different boat, his wife isn't happy, but he is.  We did fish out of quite a bit and it worked.

[roadwarrior]

My first boat was a Bayliner Fish-N-Ski. My kids were about 10 & 5 and just being out on the water was a treat. The boat was adequate for almost anything we wanted to do.

For boating with small kids it's fine mostly because you and your wife have a seat and the kids get to ride in front. Kids don't complain about comfort, they're just happy to be there.

On the other hand, if you expect this rig to be a great fishing boat, you will be very disappointed. These boats can be fished, but don't expect too much. You don't get the features you might want on a dedicated boat.

[Bass_junky]

I currently own a fish-ski.  I bought this several years ago, like others trying to please everyone.  One year after I bought this boat, I had to relocate due to work.  Now kids are all but gone.  I have to wait until they are out of college before i switch to a bass boat.

Is it a hassle to fish from?  It can be, but I could be fishing from the bank too.  I have modified this boat.  Added rod storage, reconstructed the livewells, extended the platforms.  I can put all my camp gear in this boat and the wife and I scoot across the lake unload all the gear set up camp and go fishing.  Yes the wind will push you a bit more than a low profile boat but what are trolling motors for?

If I had the opportunity would I have still bought this?  Yes, even those few years with the family/kids was worth enough for memories of a lifetime.

[WCCT]

Thanks for the opinions guys.  I have a bass boat now and was just wondering if these fish n ski boats were good or not.  I know Triton makes a fish n ski that you can actually order bass style windshields with.  That might not be as bad, but I bet it still won't hold my 7' rods.  

[Fisher of Men]

I'm glad this topic was brought up.   I've been eye-balling a Tahoe Q-4 F.  I like the no hassle and gas mileage of a stern drive.   I don't tournament fish, nor am I the kind of person who would get really PO'd if the wind blew me off a spot. ( I don't like fishing in really windy conditions anyway).  My wife and daughter like to fish, but not near as much as I do.  I was wondering if anyone has ridden or fishes out of one of these.  Back when I was a teen and into college we fished out of a 17' Baja runabout with a 180 HP in/out.  Putting aside rod storage, it was a real good fishing boat.