15 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Have you been out in one or similar?  

Haven't test drove a Scout, but I've been in similar style boats.  I'm not new to boating.  The dealer that tested the Whaler with carries Scout as well, so I'm sure they can set something up with a demo, or a customer boat.

Let's bump this up, for more feedback.  And I'll add some weird info I guess I hadn't thought about.  One of my criteria is a shallow draft, somewhere around 15" being my cut off.  I was looking at bigger bass boats, and notice these things aren't shallow running at all.  Some were tested at almost 20"!  I'm a little shocked at this.  Many don't even put draft in the specs on their sites.  I'm very surprised to find this.  That makes these bay boats I'm looking at even more capable than what we're "supposed" to lust after.

 

This boat is 25' long and drafts 5" less than a Basscat.  Just sayin'.

I suspect the Vexus glass bass boat needs a bit of water under it. It looks like it would be good in rough water, but not up shallow to me. 

That's another company that doesn't list draft as a spec. 

Have you considered a big tin bay boat or something like a Lund Alaskan or even weirder, one of the big Sea Ark deck boats? 

18 hours ago, VolFan said:

Have you considered a big tin bay boat or something like a Lund Alaskan or even weirder, one of the big Sea Ark deck boats? 

In fact, this started with me showing Michelle two boats in person, both Lunds - Pro-V Bass and Pro Guide, both 20 footers.  She thought they were tin can junkers, lol.  I'm not really into the aluminum bay configs.  They really are inshore oriented, and many are just that company's bass hull with a center console.  I'd actually be happy with a 18' center console jon, but they lack the refinement she's after.  I don't think tin is on her radar at all.  Basically, I'm looking for an on the water mullet: business in the front (fishing), party in back.

Problem with shallow draft boats is that they compromise rough water capability.  Sounds to me like you are after two different boats.

1 minute ago, Deephaven said:

Problem with shallow draft boats is that they compromise rough water capability.  Sounds to me like you are after two different boats.

No, I'm after one boat.  I'm fully aware of the compromises.  There's five pages documenting it.  I don't want a boat that needs two or more feet of water to float, and apparently there's a BEVY of them with bay boats being one of the fastest growing segments in the industry.  What surprised me was the draft of some well known "bass" boats was deeper than boats deemed worthy of big water.  The 240 I test drove was 1001% more capable than any bass boat I've been in, so I don't feel like one spec like draft is something you can use to judge what the hull can handle.  It just also happens to be a target for what I want.  If I didn't care about draft, any center console boat with a casting platform would do.  

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

In fact, this started with me showing Michelle two boats in person, both Lunds - Pro-V Bass and Pro Guide, both 20 footers.  She thought they were tin can junkers, lol.  I'm not really into the aluminum bay configs.  They really are inshore oriented, and many are just that company's bass hull with a center console.  I'd actually be happy with a 18' center console jon, but they lack the refinement she's after.  I don't think tin is on her radar at all.  Basically, I'm looking for an on the water mullet: business in the front (fishing), party in back.

You’re just saying that because I’m from Tennessee- but that makes sense!?

I'd love to live there, and I'd even grow a mullet to fit in.  Stuck here for all the reasons, but it's still pretty good too.

You see the latest from Robablo?

 

 

Thank you

 There is a deep lake in PA that had that type of boat everywhere up near the dam.  All rigged with downriggers and going after striped bass. Never knew what they were called other than a center console.  You see them all over the Chesapeake everywhere. Been told they can cross it in bad wind to the eastern shore rivers. I've been told to stay away from trying that in mine. They say go over the bridge and launch. They are 200 dealers at least in Annapolis MD.

Would You Fish Out This? Could You?

 

No, I need bees stinging me, trees grabbing my cast backswings, people leaving garbage, and limited fishing from shore. I also like the threat of snake bites and HECK YA I could fish from that. When do we go? 

On 8/6/2021 at 7:47 PM, slonezp said:

You see the latest from Robablo?

 

 

It has great lines, and the helm looks amazing. I can't for he life of me figure out where the tackle and rods go. 

10 hours ago, J Francho said:

It has great lines, and the helm looks amazing. I can't for he life of me figure out where the tackle and rods go. 

Details...Details....

Hopefully boattest will get their hands on one to go thru it more thoroughly. The 246 has tackle storage under the rear seat, and depending on the year, either 1 or 2 rod lockers at the bow.

Here ya go @J Francho

 

This one can be ordered with single or twin screws

 

 

A catamaran isn't on the agenda. I'm sure they serve their purpose but they look like the VW Thing of the ocean. 

I only show you this because I was on the lake yesterday when they were testing one.

They make these down the street and their plant is just short of amazing.

Funny thing...Earl Bentz had the Triton plant across the street...and now he has a new company on the other side of the street.

16" draft.

26 HB – Caymas Boats 

Thanks Chris, I looked at them a while back, and they're beautiful boats, and have pretty much everything I want.  The nearest dealer is 300 miles from me, so there's that part to consider.  If there was a Pathfinder dealer close by, this would be a done deal, lol.  There was a used 20' Pathfinder available locally, but it was a little too old and too small really for me to consider it.  Maybe I need a boat to bridge the gap to my last boat....

I'm not sure I shared this boat, @slonezp.  This thing looks really nice:

 

https://www.crevalleboats.com/models/24-hco-hybrid-boat/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwt-6LBhDlARIsAIPRQcKVY_YhANo753mBCPVVB4Udyt3omxtvwvRIZLUNgQ6xZ70n9NOIXnwaAlNnEALw_wcB

 

The more I watch videos of the Caymas the more I really like this boat.  Man, that's a haul to buy a boat.

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

The more I watch videos of the Caymas the more I really like this boat.  Man, that's a haul to buy a boat.

I bet if you call em...they will get it to ya.

One dealer is Garden State Yacht Sales...Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

 

 

On 10/29/2021 at 6:34 PM, Chris Catignani said:

I bet if you call em...they will get it to ya.

One dealer is Garden State Yacht Sales...Point Pleasant Beach, NJ.

 

Six hours from me.  

 

@slonezp that's a pretty boat.  There's a couple things I don't care for, but that thing has a lot.