Hey guys,

 

Seriously considering purchasing my first boat for primary bass & pan-fishing.

95% of the usage will be up in sloughs, backwaters, shallow flats, mostly waters less than 7-10 feet.

Here is my situation, "I cannot swim, stand 6'4, 275 lbs!"?

I have no problem investing in the best flotation devices, safety classes, and even swimming lessons.

 

I've always enjoyed going out on my friends big Jon boats more than bass rigs per say.

The extra room and my extra huge hooves felt mighty comfy.

My budget would be around the $2500-3500 range used.

 

What would be some good suggestions and feedback?

 

Thanks,

Reg      

# 1, if I were you, would be swimming lessons and a safety course. Then get the best PFD you can afford..Then look for a boat.. 

Longer and wider is better in terms of stability, but I would agree that getting a good PFD is paramount, and learning to swim would be even better. Over 40+ years of boating I've managed to end up in the water twice, and knowing how to swim made it just be a mild annoyance rather than a near-death experience. 

 

My Lowe 1648 Jon boat feels pretty stable for a small, light boat. I think it would take a real effort to flip it over.

Buy a big Jon boat with a front deck and wide open floor. Something like a lower roughneck would be a good choice

I have an Alumacraft 1650 MV tunnel hull with an extended front deck and a 25 hp tiller steer and a 70# Minn Kota MAXXUM.

 

If you get the chance, buy a jon with the maximum hp rated motor.  Mine should have been a 40hp, and the 25hp has it under powered.  I can still do 20-21mph, but faster is better when you can get it.

 

If you have to make a financial sacrifice, do it with the big motor and get a 24V trolling motor system.  Huge difference and money well spent.

 

Depth finders can be added later with ease and they don't have to be expensive.

 

Seating is another thing you can figure out later.  The best thing I can tell you is to fish out of many boats and try as many styles of seating as possible.  

 

I have the roughliner on my boat deck and it really is slip resistant in rain, but if a 1/4oz jig hits the deck, every fish in the cove will hear it.  Carpet is much quieter but comes with its own problems as well.  Sea-Deck is an option, but I don't know how well it stands up over a 10 year period.

 

Tunnel hulls are great at helping to protect the prop from shallow water bang ups, but they are prone to cavitation issues in tighter turns at speed.  I didn't know this when I bought it, but I did find out.

I also put on a rock hopper prop guard.  It helps if you run shallow rocky areas or sub-surface stumps but robs about 3-4mph off my 25hp motor.

Everything has a tradeoff.

 

Here's how my boat started out and how I've tweeked it over the last two years with the finished product being what I want to fish out of.

 

Positives are extended front deck, open floor plan, 24V trolling motor with recessed foot control, Command Post seat up front, aluminum trailer with swing tongue. The trailer was a must have to me because we travel with this boat.

Negatives, need bigger motor, the tunnel hull is something that has come in handy at times, but it's largely un-needed and robs maneuverability, no storage unless I pack a couple tackle bags, and then the deck fills up quick.

“Water has a funny way of bringing you back to reality...all I could think of was ‘edge! Edge! Get me to the edge!”

-Richard Pryor 

 

I say get those floaty things for your arms and learn how to cast/maneuver/grab a cold one with those on. 

5 hours ago, Patrick Reif said:

I have an Alumacraft 1650 MV tunnel hull with an extended front deck and a 25 hp tiller steer and a 70# Minn Kota MAXXUM.

 

If you get the chance, buy a jon with the maximum hp rated motor.  Mine should have been a 40hp, and the 25hp has it under powered.  I can still do 20-21mph, but faster is better when you can get it.

 

If you have to make a financial sacrifice, do it with the big motor and get a 24V trolling motor system.  Huge difference and money well spent.

 

Depth finders can be added later with ease and they don't have to be expensive.

 

Seating is another thing you can figure out later.  The best thing I can tell you is to fish out of many boats and try as many styles of seating as possible.  

 

I have the roughliner on my boat deck and it really is slip resistant in rain, but if a 1/4oz jig hits the deck, every fish in the cove will hear it.  Carpet is much quieter but comes with its own problems as well.  Sea-Deck is an option, but I don't know how well it stands up over a 10 year period.

 

Tunnel hulls are great at helping to protect the prop from shallow water bang ups, but they are prone to cavitation issues in tighter turns at speed.  I didn't know this when I bought it, but I did find out.

I also put on a rock hopper prop guard.  It helps if you run shallow rocky areas or sub-surface stumps but robs about 3-4mph off my 25hp motor.

Everything has a tradeoff.

 

Here's how my boat started out and how I've tweeked it over the last two years with the finished product being what I want to fish out of.

 

Positives are extended front deck, open floor plan, 24V trolling motor with recessed foot control, Command Post seat up front, aluminum trailer with swing tongue. The trailer was a must have to me because we travel with this boat.

Negatives, need bigger motor, the tunnel hull is something that has come in handy at times, but it's largely un-needed and robs maneuverability, no storage unless I pack a couple tackle bags, and then the deck fills up quick.

Great pics...and the boat is not half bad either! lol?

I like what you've done...great creativity and yet practical.

My greatest bass wading cove I haven't fished in 25 yrs.

Here's what happened, I waltz out from wading in the 3-4 ft lily-pad/weed laden water, and to my surprise there's an old codger sitting on stump just staring at me. Never saw him walk up. As son as I exit he launches into a dissertation that "all this here water you's a wading in is cluttered with old filled in wells from long destroyed houses from before TVA pumped water back here!"?  My reply is, "Er, like how many wells ya think were back here?"  His reply is, "I reckon about 25 or 30 give a take 1 or 2...some of em my near 50-60 feet son!" You mess around and fall through that old timber they used to fill it in...they'll never find yo body young ?man...just be good turtle and catfish food though☠️...Better hope you know da Lawd!"? 

After that I haven't found it necessary to venture back there---not to mention the gators are thick as thieves as well....