I have wanted a boat for years, and for the last couple of years have only been looking at Bass Boats.  This summer though, I've been thinking a lot about buying something that I can get the most use out of, like a fish/ski combo like Nitro or Stratus offers or an inshore rig - like a Mako.  I don't want to ski, but I do want a bigger boat for family use or to use on the Chesapeake Bay to catch crabs, but also one that I can also take out bass fishing.  Any recommendations or thoughts on this?  Anybody use anything other than a bass boat?

Center consoles have grown in popularity do the higher sides which gives women a peace of mind when compared to low slung bass boats.

I am not a big fan of Tracker products in general but the Tundra is special.  It looks like a glass boat but is aluminum.  It is some kind of rolled stretched aluminum.  It may be what you need.  Here is a link:  http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2054

I like the layout of those boats! Especially for someone looking for an 'all arounder'. Someone makes a walleye boat simialar but a little more bass boatish. It has a nice layout!

Carolina Skiffs are nice boats.   You can get a decent sized on with a center console and pedestal seats just like a bass boat.  They aren't all that expensive, and they are rugged.  A lot of commerical guys use them around here on the Chesapeake Bay.  They are shallow draft.  And I see a lot of them on the tidal rivers (like Chickahominy) as well as larger lakes.   They caome in all sorts of sizes.

In fact, I've been warming my wife up to the idea of letting me buy one.  I'd like to use it for bass fishing and inshore saltwater fishing (redfish, trout, croaker, flounder, etc).  

This would be more what I'm looking for:

Cool, those Carolina skiffs look very nice...

The walleye style boats Glass and Metal are great multi use boats. I run a 17'6" Sea nymph GLS 175 V hull. Its metal. an older boat. the new model are set up really nice for tournament fishing and family fun. Mine is  a great fishing boat, front/rear decks, 2 live wells, good TM. deeper hull great in bigger water, and great family boat.  can seat up to 6 people. I don't anymore, but used to use it for skiing and tubeing.

The carolina skiffs are NICE boats.  Same goes for boston whalers.  You can't sink them, and they will out live you, and hold resell value - cept that to get that high resale value, you have to pay a lot up front.

I was thinking Carolina Skiff also. They have multiple styles and sizes and I'm sure you could find something that would cover all your bases. My boss bought one which he uses in fresh and saltwater and it does well in either one, plus has plenty of room for extra people and is pretty stable in the water. He fishes for anything that swims....stripers, bass, crappie, tuna, sharks, flounder and the boat handles it all. And after just a little haggling with the dealer, he got a 4 stroke 150 upgrade for $1,000.

Carolina Skiffs are great for fishing in all types of conditions.  But I don't think your family will want to ride with you very often.  They are uncomfortable to relax in.  They are flat bottomed like a john boat and can be a wet harsh ride in chop.

Just my $.02

Though I'm sticking with bassboats, I find this to be an interesting conversation.  What about rod storage on these Carolina Skiffs?  I don't see a lot of room to lay too many combos out for bass fishing.  

They can either can be placed on the inside of the hull below the gunnel, or placed in vertical rod holders on the front or sides of the center console.

The Carolina Skiff are great boats, you can use them for anything. They are a

little tight in rough water but a good boat driver can take care of that

( Just slow down and take your time and it will keep you dry ) They are a work horse of the boating family.

Carolina Skiffs are great for fishing in all types of conditions.  But I don't think your family will want to ride with you very often.  They are uncomfortable to relax in.  They are flat bottomed like a john boat and can be a wet harsh ride in chop.

Just my $.02

What do you suggest for a lake that usually has big waves?   The lake I fish in has 3-5 foot waves.  But would also like to bring my family boating whenever I am not fishing.

Center console is the ticket, deep hull and plenty of freeboard:

http://www.basscat.com/baycat.html

Carolina Skiffs are great for fishing in all types of conditions. But I don't think your family will want to ride with you very often. They are uncomfortable to relax in. They are flat bottomed like a john boat and can be a wet harsh ride in chop.

Just my $.02

What do you suggest for a lake that usually has big waves? The lake I fish in has 3-5 foot waves. But would also like to bring my family boating whenever I am not fishing.

3-5 foot waves- get a v-hull stay away from flat bottom boats

Center console is the ticket, deep hull and plenty of freeboard:

http://www.basscat.com/baycat.html

RW that BayCat is one of the coolest boats I have seen in a long time- very original.  That would make a great flats boat in Florida!!!

What do you suggest for a lake that usually has big waves? The lake I fish in has 3-5 foot waves. But would also like to bring my family boating whenever I am not fishing.

3 to 5 ft  .  I am going surfing if its 3 to 5.

If it is 3 to 5 ft chop I would want a deep V hull for a smother ride.  Basically what RW said.  The boat he showed would be fine for a semi experienced boater in those conditions.  Being that I am from Florida and am never out in more than 2 ft of chop I would still want a bigger deeper V than that.  It's safer and much more comfortable.  

If you don't have any experience in big chop then don't start in 3 to 5 ft with the boat RW showed.  You would probably be fine, but it's better to crawl before walking.

Just to make sure we are talking about the same 3 to 5 ft.  A 5 ft wave would be the height of your shoulder when standing on the deck of your boat (aprox water lever).  So when in a trough of a 5 ft wave the top of the wave would almost block your view of the horizon.  Man that's big.  I never see that in lakes around Central Florida.  And we have so many nice days that if it even comes close to 2 ft I am staying home and doing something else.