Hi all - long time lurker, first time poster here. As the title of my post indicates, I am looking for a sanity check. I currently have a little 16' bass tracker and am looking to upgrade. I only fish short sections of the Susquehanna River, small local lakes, and medium sized lakes in Canada. I'm usually targeting bass, pike or musky (casting, no trolling).

I was looking for a used 18-19' aluminum bass boat with a side console, and then I stumbled upon a used 20' Alumacraft 2072 center console boat for sale. I have not looked at it in person yet (2.5 hour drive) but for some reason it's peaking my interest. Has anybody here used a CC boat as a dedicated bass boat?

I like the thought of the higher sides to keep my dog and nieces in the boat. I also like the idea of a tunnel hull for running skinny water in the river. However, I'd say 85% of my fishing is done in lakes so I dont want to let that dictate my purchase. My concerns are mainly the CC getting in the way of casting if I have a 3rd adult on the boat. I'm also sure that the higher sides will catch the wind more, but that isn't as much of a concern to me. The bimini top would go, so that wouldnt be a concern to me either. I know they dont have as much storage, but neither does my current boat so I'm not worried on that count either. My last worry is that it'll just be too much flipping boat for small lakes.

Do y'all think I'm nuts for considering this style boat?

If the boat was used in salt water as most center consoles are I would pass.

Higher free board means drier ride, heavier overall weight and longer distance from fishing plateform to the water and longer TM shaft length, etc,

Center console windshield is usually higher as some like to stand when operating the boat. Just a few things to consider.

Tom

I had looked at a few CC boats a few years back.  I ended up sticking with side console, I just don't like the high console in the middle of the boat, I think it gets in the way. Storage is another, the CC boats I looked at didn't have near as much storage as my H18 does.  I do 75% bass fishing and probably about 25% inshore saltwater.

Most people will tell you it's not the best boat for the kind of fishing you described.

Most people will not use it---you will.

I would not find it convenient to bass fish with, but if it works for you, that's really all that matters.

 

Nothing wrong with an aluminum boat that has been used in saltwater.

 

Negatives of a CC:

Little to no front deck

No rear deck

The console will get in the way of casting

Most require standing while operating 

Rod storage is rocket launchers behind seat & on the side of the console 

 

My personal opinion would be an side console 

I'd be more concerned with the fact that its 20 feet long. As far as a center console, I see plenty of people with cc's fishing on the river. Most aren't 20' but run 16' to 18' with a jet. The front deck should be very roomy even with the console because of the size of the boat. 

I had one and it always felt crowded and hard to move around ln.  However, it may fit your needs.

4 hours ago, thinkingredneck said:

I had one and it always felt crowded and hard to move around ln.  However, it may fit your needs.

How long was yours? I typically have 3 people in the boat.

I really wanted to like center console boats, but the height of the center console and the lack of storage kept pushing me away from them.

 

They may work for you, and that'd be really cool, but I just could see a way to make the ones I saw work for me.

 

If I were able to take the boat I have, shove the two, low, bass style consoles to the center, keep all my storage, have extra long rod lockers along the outside and be able to walk all around the boat a deck it'd be about perfect.

 

I wouldn't dump the boat I have for it, but I'd be tempted.

I had a 18' G3 tunnel hull CC that I used in the rivers. Great rig! The only thing I didn't like was the rod storage. The tubes were molded in the console. Ended up selling it.