|
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Note: I don't mean to start a "brand 'A' is better than brand 'B'" flame war here. This thread is simply meant to document a journey through the process of researching a boat purchase.
I'm in search of a boat this year, and have been studying ALL major brands. It's a lot of information to process, but today I got to go for a ride in the first of the boats I've been wanting to take a look at.
A big THANKS(!!!) to Bob Mehorczyk who took me for my first ride in a Tuffy boat today: a 2060 Osprey, with a 225hp Opti. What a rocket! I was very impressed with the rig. Even though it is a seven year-old model (2006), it really looked to be holding up well. Bob had been fishing but I have no trouble believing that a half-day's work, and that thing would look like new. I can see why all you Optimax guys love those engines though--wow! What power. Two big guys, one child and almost 50 gallons of gas, and that thing virtually leapt out of the water! Most impressive indeed...
Anyway, just wanted to publicly thank Bob for the ride and say how much I thought of that boat. I've seen 4-5 year-old boats not look as nice as Bob's did, so the rig sure seems to be holding up well.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| Horshak's a good guy, for sure. Tuffy's probably got more muskies netted in them on GB than any other make! The 2060 is an awesome boat for Green Bay, and most other lakes as well. Jason Smith still has his 2001 1990, and it still sparkles when he cleans it up. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Yes, I can see that. I only wish Tuffy had a 2060 "trolling" model though. Maybe sacrifice 12-16" of bow deck, in exchange for cockpit area. Then it would be a VERY good boat for me. And after riding in Bob's boat, I'd put a 200hp Verado on the back. That engine weighs like 5-8 pounds more than the Opti does, yet would give the benefits of the four-strokes. I'd probably go that route--I would not put a 225hp Verado on the thing. Those are about 125-130 pounds heavier than the 200hp Verado engines. In that case, I would indeed go with the Optimax 225.
So I don't know if it's at all possible that Tuffy could/would make a modification like that to the 2060? My guess is no, as it would probably require a major alteration of the mold for their deck/hull-cap. Probably something that isn't at all realistic. But I really did love the ride in thing, and Bob wears that boat like a glove...lol.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | whatever you pick Tom ... make sure you take a ride in a Pro-XS-powered ride before you pick your power. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Yeah...I'll bet they are monsters. After riding in a plain old 225 Opti, I can't imagine what a 250 Pro XS would do. But MAN, are those things loud!
TB |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | go big or go home... 621 w 300 Pro XS... ; ) |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2043
| Agreed - I've been looking for a couple of years - figured too big was better than too small  621 250 ProXS
Edited by IAJustin 5/8/2013 11:15 AM
Attachments
----------------
 621 250.jpeg (112KB - 592 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | don't skimp, you have 50 more horses to put on a 621! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2043
| I skimped |
|
| |
|
Location: 31 | There's very little difference in ride, handling, and weight between the 620 and 621,
and the 250s push a 620 just fine, so the 300 is mainly for tournaments/guides ... or male enhancement. 
When I was researching them I found that the front casting deck is virtually the same on both models, and the extra 1’ of floor space with the 621 is behind the helm. Kind of nice for trolling to keep you from bumping butts with three people.
21'-300hp... when will it end? Maybe in 10 years will we be saying 626 and 400hp?
Edited by Jerry Newman 5/8/2013 1:13 PM
|
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | yah, ok so spend 70k on a new 621 and don't max out the HP? If a guy has the coin to spend on a 621 w 250 why not max out the HP? now if buying a used one that is a different story as you buy what the good deal is and what motor it has...but not maxing out the hp on any boat always makes me go 'huh'.. saw a 618 console w a 90 hp on it...rated for 150 but they put a new 90 on it? um ok.
|
|
| |
|
Location: 31 | BNelson - 5/8/2013 1:12 PM
yah, ok so spend 70k on a new 621 and don't max out the HP? If a guy has the coin to spend on a 621 w 250 why not max out the HP? now if buying a used one that is a different story as you buy what the good deal is and what motor it has...but not maxing out the hp on any boat always makes me go 'huh'.. saw a 618 console w a 90 hp on it...rated for 150 but they put a new 90 on it? um ok.
I hear what you're saying, but you would have to hold a gun to my head before I paid that much for a boat (more like 80k)! Your comparison is not okay... just think of the percentage difference between 90/150 vs. 250/300. I was mainly pointing out the 620/621 are really close and no need for a 300.
A 621/250 will not be devalued like the 618/90 you mentioned. I do agree that IF I won the lottery and was buying a new 621, I'd go with the 300 I guess... twist my arm even though I don't need the male enhancement.
Edited by Jerry Newman 5/8/2013 1:34 PM
|
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | no i agree,,, I have seen some nice 621s out there used w 300 xs and verados... big water rigs for sure!
Edited by BNelson 5/8/2013 1:35 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| tcbetka - 5/7/2013 4:38 PM
Yes, I can see that. I only wish Tuffy had a 2060 "trolling" model though. Maybe sacrifice 12-16" of bow deck, in exchange for cockpit area. Then it would be a VERY good boat for me. And after riding in Bob's boat, I'd put a 200hp Verado on the back. That engine weighs like 5-8 pounds more than the Opti does, yet would give the benefits of the four-strokes. I'd probably go that route--I would not put a 225hp Verado on the thing. Those are about 125-130 pounds heavier than the 200hp Verado engines. In that case, I would indeed go with the Optimax 225.
So I don't know if it's at all possible that Tuffy could/would make a modification like that to the 2060? My guess is no, as it would probably require a major alteration of the mold for their deck/hull-cap. Probably something that isn't at all realistic. But I really did love the ride in thing, and Bob wears that boat like a glove...lol.
TB
Look at the 2100. I think they shortened the splashwell area like they did on the 1890. Same great ride as the 2060, but 96" beam. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | I talked to Spencer Berman about his, and he really likes the 2100. The problem for me with that boat though is that I really don't like the layout of the cockpit. Those side boxes aren't friendly for me, although I could work around them. That boat is too big for my garage though...which is a problem.
I will say that besides those back compartments, I really like Jerry's 621. His Yamaha F250 isn't the powerhouse that an Optimax or HPDI might be, but that boat gets up on plane fairly quickly and goes faster than the conditions will allow you to go on Green Bay 95% of the time. And the things are bulletproof and some of the offshore guys using them are reporting thousands of hours of longevity on those engines. Sure they are heavier than then the new "Offshore" 4.2L engines from Yamaha, but they have a proven track record of dependability. Based upon my experience in his boat, I'd probably opt for a 250 on a Ranger 621 as well. I would also put a 250 on the Ranger 620 though--as I'd probably go with a Verado 250 Pro, because it's a few pounds lighter than the regular 225/250 V-rods.
I looked at a Warrior 2121 yesterday, along with the Skeeter MX 2025. Both seem to be very nice boats, although the Warrior is going to handle bigger water than the Skeeter as far as I could tell. On Monday I'm going for a ride in a Warrior V203 with Verado power, so we'll see how those boats handle on the water. The floor plan is great for my needs and I could easily see that the rig would be an awesome boat for the bay. So we'll see how that goes.
TB
Edited by tcbetka 5/10/2013 8:48 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | The new big Triton shortened the front casting deck to make room in the back. It's a nice boat, but since I hate trolling I'd opt for the old one. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | We went for a ride in the Warrior V203 yesterday, with Verado 300 power. What a machine! That thing is a monster boat. Unfortunately the little bit of chop present on Lake Mohawksin wasn't even a nuisance for that thing. With four people and quite a load of fuel we were seeing over 50mph when we turned it loose. What a great ride!
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 121
Location: Plymouth IA | Just wondering what are the major brands from your perspective?
I am very interested in your prespective you seem like a person who puts a lot of thought into things |
|
| |
|
Posts: 271
Location: Oregon, WI | Check out the Skeeter MX2025. I got a MX1825, didn't want a 20 footer. Been very happy with it so far once I figured out you can't winch a glass boat onto the trailer like my old tin boat. Spraying the bunks with silicon spray has helped allot with loading at shallow launches. BE WARNED, if you spray the bunks with this stuff, DON'T un-hook the winch/safety strap until boat is in water. No, I didn't have a bad experience, just repeating the warning that accompanied this tip where ever I read it.
Edited by V18 5/17/2013 5:54 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Since I quit fishing tournaments I do not need 70mph. But sure do enjoy having a platform that has the room needed. I still need the power to get her out of the hole with some rather large fellows and way too much tackle. But I back off to around 45 mph & save gas. The size also comes in when the water gets more vertical. I would consider that 25' with a 300 for my main boat. Maybe with that 4 extra feet the engineers could figure out how to put some room up front between the pro pole and the bow!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Have you taken a ride in the Bay-Rangers or Pathfinders yet? i ran a boston whaler dauntless and then a Ranger 200C Center Console. For a true big-water experience you can't go wrong with a big Center-Console. They are a dream in the crazy stuff and if you fish big water, they deliver in spades for fishing performance.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 87
| jonnysled - 5/17/2013 8:07 AM
Have you taken a ride in the Bay-Rangers or Pathfinders yet? i ran a boston whaler dauntless and then a Ranger 200C Center Console. For a true big-water experience you can't go wrong with a big Center-Console. They are a dream in the crazy stuff and if you fish big water, they deliver in spades for fishing performance.
+1 if i were in the market for a new big boat. that pathfinder would be hard to pass up. looks like an awesome muskie boat |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I have a 2013 Tuffy 2100 with a 250 Pro XS on it...man is this a fun boat to drive!!! Huge boat, huge casting decks, crazy power and the lay out of the boat is PERFECT. I have a bunch of pics if you are interested in seeing it. I will also be selling it at the end of the fishing season.
|
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Mike,
Please do send me the pictures and specifics on your boat. I am not sure yet what I am going to do, so I'm trying to look at all the boats I can right now. My email is in my signature under this post.
Thanks!
TB |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | misterperch - 5/16/2013 11:07 PM
Just wondering what are the major brands from your perspective?
I am very interested in your prespective you seem like a person who puts a lot of thought into things
Sorry, didn't see this until now...
I have a few "leading" boats right now. Mainly, I am looking for a boat with a more trolling-friendly floor plan and a hull built for big water. So in no order:
1) Tufffy 2060. Very nice hull, although the cockpit is too small for my needs. Build quality of the 2060 I was seemed very good--the 6-7 year old rig looked like it would pass for a one year old (or newer) boat, if it had been detailed. With an Optimax, that thing is a rocket! Personally, I would put a 200hp Verado and a 15hp Pro-Kicker on the hull and go fishing. At first I thought the 90" beam would bother me, but it really didn't at all. The hull is significantly lighter than the other glass boats, no doubt due to the kevlar. The cost for the Tuffy rigs is about the lowest of any of the boats I'll mention--a big plus. And Tuffy is a relatively local company, which I really like a lot. I can't really see how a person could go wrong in buying one, so long as it has the lay-out you like. I am not a big fan of the storage around the cockpit in the 2100 though, as it's what I don't like about the Ranger Fisherman. So I'll be interested in seeing the pictures of Mike's rig.
2) Warrior V193/203. I rode in the 203, and it's a MACHINE. Big, beefy, powerful with the 300hp Verado. No doubt it could take anything that Green Bay could dish out--at least anything that I'm able to tolerate. I absolutely LOVED the floor plan, as you can hold a dance in the cockpit. The gel coat is as good the majority of boats, but that of the Ranger is probably *slightly* better...as is the Ranger's fit and finish. This isn't a big deal though, as the two are quite close. But the 203 is significantly cheaper than a comparably-equipped 620 Fisherman. Also, the console is HUGE, so if you are a gadget freak like I am, you won't have a problem finding a place to mount anything. The storage is deceptively ample--much more room than I would have expected for that floor plan. Some guys will knock the boat for not have the livewell of a Tuffy or a Ranger, but I call BS on that. With muskies, the Kahuna is the livewell. Sure it might be nice to have a larger livewell that a guy could ice for a fish in trouble in warmer water--but then you better carry O2 additive, because just cooling the water doesn't oxygenate it by itself--not quickly anyway. So far the Warrior is my leading candidate, as it's a trolling (and research) machine! I want to tour the factory this week though, and look at a 193 in person. At 19'3", it might be large enough for me, but it does have a full foot less room in the cockpit, compared to the V203 (20'3") we rode in. My wife really liked the boat too, although she liked the Ranger and Skeeter a lot as well. Price is second only to the Tuffy.
3) Ranger 620. What can I say...it's a Ranger. I will say that it's about the most expensive rig I looked at--but probably as easy to sell as anything, at least in this area. But the cockpit is not really trolling-friendly for me. But other than that, there really isn't much to complain about--and the new hulls will pretty much go through anything, although I've found them to be a bit rough in rough water. But I don't go fast on Green Bay, so I don't really consider that a problem. I would be thrilled to own one, no doubt.
4) Skeeter MX 2025. Very nice floor plan, with a doubt. Better cockpit for me than a Ranger. Gel coat is very close in quality to the Ranger, and about the same as the Warrior from what I've seen. I haven't ridden in one yet, but from what guys who have are telling me, it's a great rig. Looking closely at the hull though, I don't think it's the "big water" boat that the others in my list are. I might be wrong about that, but the hull just looks shallower to me, and I'm not sure but it looks to me that the dead-rise isn't as steep. The price is a bit less than Ranger (not much), but more than the Warrior. The storage is better than the Warrior though--at least on the (larger) front deck. The other boat to look at in the Skeeter line is the WX 2100, as you can still find them very reasonably-priced as new "hold over" boats, as that model was discontinued this year. I'd like to take a ride in the 2100, but so far it hasn't worked out in my schedule. The WX 1900 is a nice rig too, but at 18'9" it's a bit short for me--and I didn't like the console. It would be a challenge to mount two large electronic units there, which is a big deal for me.
5) Yar Craft 209. By all accounts a great hull, but I've never even laid eyes on one in person. Joe Okada is supposed to give me a call in a day or two so I can get out into the bay with him after the smallie tournament this weekend. I'm really looking forward to that, as I've heard it's an awesome rig. The cost is about the same as the Ranger, but I think that I will like the floor plan. That boat reminds me of the Warrior actually.
6) Lund 197GL/208GL. Nice boats, but I've never ridden in one. The 197 has far too little cockpit for me though, so I'd need the 208...but that's about the same money as a Ranger, if not more. They say the boats are a great ride, and I have no doubt. But I've ruled these boats out, because I think there are better boats out there for my needs...at substantially less money. I love Lund though, so I really have nothing bad to say about them.
So those are the boats I am really considering, although I think I've ruled-out the Skeeter 2025 as well as the Lund rigs. The 2025 is great boat no doubt--but it's more of a caster's boat, and I'm more of a troller due to this bum foot I have. It's just hard to be nimble with a 3-4 pound plastic brace locking your ankle at 90 degrees. But the Warrior's gunwale height and outwards cant is perfect for me for casting from the back cockpit floor. The bow is the smallest of any of the boats I've mentioned, but this is actually not a bad thing for me. It's certainly big enough to fish from if you want to, but they've really built that boat for big-water trollers. So truth be told, I think it's going to be hard to beat the Warrior I rode in last week. It's an amazing rig and every person I've spoken to who is associated with that company has been A-1 first class. I can't wait to visit the factory.
But really all of the boats I've looked at are great rigs, and I'd be very lucky to own any one of them...and in reality I could make any of them work for me. But since I have pretty much resigned myself to not using this rig until *next* year anyway, the pressure is off in that sense. So I want to look at as many of these as I can and pick the one that will work best for me.
There you go--there's my "short" answer on the progress made so far. If you have a few hours, we can get more in-depth on these rigs!
TB |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | jonnysled - 5/17/2013 8:07 AM
Have you taken a ride in the Bay-Rangers or Pathfinders yet? i ran a boston whaler dauntless and then a Ranger 200C Center Console. For a true big-water experience you can't go wrong with a big Center-Console. They are a dream in the crazy stuff and if you fish big water, they deliver in spades for fishing performance.
I owned a 19+ foot Key West center console when we lived in Florida. For a caster, that's a SWEET set-up. But for a troller, no thanks. Maybe it would be fine trolling under a T-top in 80-degree weather off-shore, but not for trolling in 30-40 degrees temps we get here in the Fall. I'll take my canvas, thanks. People may laugh at me for using a full topset and side curtains when the wind is howling out there, but when it's that cold you are very likely to screw something when the big one hits 8-9 hours after a whole lot of nothing in terms of action. So having fished from both on Green Bay (we moved back from FL with that rig, and then traded it here), I'll take the walk-through windows any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Canvas is the way to go in the Fall on Green Bay, for this old boy...
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 121
Location: Plymouth IA | thank you for the summary hope you get the boat that best fits your needs. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 215
Location: Twin Cities | At the end of the day.....its always the same answer.... buy a Ranger. I had little money and alot of excuses but I stilll bought another one. And there is a reason. Buy a Ranger. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Where is the reason? I can think of a few reasons *not* to buy a Ranger...
1) Super expensive
2) Poor cockpit layout for a (mainly) troller
3) Rough ride in heavy seas
4) No factory customization available--what you see is what you get
Of course one thing their boats have going for them is the name. When you go to sell them, there really isn't a problem. This seems to especially be true for those rigs with four-stroke engines, as they seem to be gone within a few days of being listed.
Anyway I am not saying that Rangers aren't great boats, because they are. But they aren't THE boat for everyone, and there are other great boats out there as well. If a guy trolls most of the time, they aren't as good as the floor plan of something like a Warrior or a Skeeter. The big open cockpits of the Warrior V203 or the Skeeter WX 2100 are VERY hard to beat when trolling. And if you go check out those other boats on Walleye Central or one of the other walleye boards, it seems as though their reputations are every bit as good as that of the Ranger rigs...at least where it really matters.
So I definitely understand the attraction for the Ranger rigs, honestly. But they may not the perfect boat for everyone--especially if you don't spend most of your time casting from the bow. The task is to figure out which boat is the "best" for my needs...
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | point number 4 makes me scratch my head ... you can pretty much make your own boat and work directly with engineers at ranger no matter if your boat is new or ages old. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Really? I find this interesting as I was told that the only things you can change on a Ranger are the factory options. There is no ability to change the rig other than that, is what I've been told. So if there's an option for a particular feature, then you can choose that option. I have been told by a couple people that Ranger and Skeeter basically make their boats with only a limited number of options. So if the dealer can make some other change, then you can do it--but otherwise the boats come as the boats come.
So Sled you're saying that you can work with the Ranger engineers directly, on changes to the boat? Please clarify because I have never heard this from anyone before.
TB
EDIT: I forgot to ass that one of the things Ranger has going for it is what you pointed out at the end there--you can get basically anything in the boat replaced, right from the factory. So even if you have a 1990's-era Ranger, you can restore the upholstery by getting it from them. I consider that to be a GREAT selling point, but I'm not sure that other companies don't offer that service. For instance, that might be an issue with Warrior, given that it's essentially a new company in many ways. I'll have to ask about that when I visit their factory.
Edited by tcbetka 5/21/2013 7:09 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i've been on a couple conference calls with ranger relating to my older boat and have had trailer fender specs developed to build for me. they will take measurements and build deck extensions etc...
also, you can pretty much create your own boat for color scheme, upholstery etc...
i ran a 620 albeit with a saltwater top but also wonder about the comments of a rough ride in big water. in that stuff there is a lot that is contributed by the pilot, but i just don't buy that ranger lacks in big water performance either. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Oh I think that Ranger will work with you on older boats, no doubt. And I also agree that roughness on the water has much to do with the pilot. I also think they've improved their hulls over the past few years. But I've been in a few of their boats on Green Bay and can tell you that they are no better than some of the other fiberglass rigs out there. Hey, 4-5 foot waves in any 20-foot boat are very significant, and I'm not saying that a Warrior or a Skeeter would be much better. I just don't know because I've never been in such seas in those boats.
So maybe it wasn't entirely fair to list "rough ride" as a fault of those boats. But none of the Rangers I've ridden in (619, 620 or 621) were any smoother than my Lund Tyee was, truth be told. In fact I think the Tyee did better than the Rangers I've been in. The problem with the Tyee was that is was relatively light for it's exposed surface area, so it got blown around a lot. But people who've been in both the Warrior and Lund glass hulls tell me they are smoother than a Ranger ride. However I have never been in a Lund glass boat and the little bit of chop we had on the day of the Warrior test drive was insignificant. The problem is that it's just not feasible to go for multiple test rides in several different brands, in various sea conditions. It's hard enough to match schedules in order to get out in the boats at all...much less on several different days and water conditions. So like it or not, you pretty much have to do online research and get advice from several people, and then choose your test rides accordingly.
But your point of the ride being driver-dependent as much as anything is a very good one.
TB
EDIT: By the way...what is a 620 with a salt-water top? Is that their bay boat?
Edited by tcbetka 5/21/2013 7:34 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | in 2000-2001 (i think they were only available for a few years) they built the 200C which was what i had ... it's owned by esoxfly (jeff breidenbach) now and there are some pictures around this site of that boat. they discontinued it and now only offer the bayranger series and i believe the smallest option now is a 22' but it's own hull design in the saltwater series. of-course skeeter, triton and all the rest compete in the same market with similar boats.
i'd always "heard" the triton 215 is a great ride in the bad stuff as were the older targa and champion glass boats. once you are in the class of boat you're talking about, there are some fantastic options. it then comes down to materials, fit and finish.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32903
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tooling changes, like removing the interior rear side tanks, are not likely to happen for one boat. That includes all major boat builders. Deck extensions, seats, and other items not related to the hull and deck mold are not much of a problem. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | sworrall - 5/21/2013 7:46 AM
Tooling changes, like removing the interior rear side tanks, are not likely to happen for one boat. That includes all major boat builders. Deck extensions, seats, and other items not related to the hull and deck mold are not much of a problem.
Right...which is exactly why you need to find the best floor plan for your needs, as a starting point. The other stuff you are talking about is relatively inconsequential in the scheme of things. But as I may have mentioned before, a company like Warrior will work with you on things like the size of a compartment or an access hatch. I'm sure they aren't able to change a deck though, because that would indeed require a mold change as you mentioned. Impractical and very expensive, to be sure.
So the starting floor plan is pretty important in the big picture. If the starting point isn't something that suits your fishing style, then it probably isn't going to get much better from there.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Tom,
I know you said it doesn't match your ideal floor plan, but if you want to get out for a ride in a Tuffy 2100 with a 250xs let me know.
I have a 2013 2100 with a Merc 250XS that will be for sale at the end of the year. |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | A tyee rides as good or better than a 620? I'm not buyin that one! ; )
So what boat are you leaning towards? |
|
| |
|
Location: 31 | I think rating a boats ride is very subjective to start with... I wouldn't necessarily be looking for the boat that rides the best in rough water, as I'm sure they will all get the job done.
I'd be looking for the one with the best fishability under for the typical conditions I anticipate being in the majority of the time, but can still handle the roughest water I plan on fishing in… 4-5’ with an occasional 6’ rogue.
Attachments
----------------
MI 2012.jpg (37KB - 166 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | BNelson - 5/21/2013 1:40 PM
A tyee rides as good or better than a 620? I'm not buyin that one! ; )
So what boat are you leaning towards?
Not necessarily...although the Tyee does pretty darn good out there. I think you'd be surprised. But what I really meant was that MY Tyee (with me driving) rode better than most of the Rangers (with me NOT driving) I've ridden in on Green Bay. But then again I have been driving small boats on reasonably large waves since I was about 12 years old, so I would like to think I've picked up one or two things along the way. The biggest complaints I have about riding in a couple of the Rangers I've been in had as much to do with the driver simply going way too fast for the seas we were in. I don't know what it is about owning one of those boats, lol.
"It's a Ranger so I can go as fast as the engine will take me!"
Ah no...unless you want to meet Mr. Frank Hematuria soon thereafter.
TB
EDIT: Forgot to answer your last question there... Right now the Warrior V203 has the nicest floor plan for me, hands down. There isn't as much storage as in a Ranger or the Skeeter MX 2025 (or the Tuffy 2100, probably), but it's not bad in the bow--and the cockpit space more than makes up for a little bit less storage back there. And there is storage by the way--it's just not laid out the same way as in those other boats.
Edited by tcbetka 5/21/2013 9:26 PM
|
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Jerry Newman - 5/21/2013 9:13 PM
I think rating a boats ride is very subjective to start with... I wouldn't necessarily be looking for the boat that rides the best in rough water, as I'm sure they will all get the job done.
I'd be looking for the one with the best fishability under for the typical conditions I anticipate being in the majority of the time, but can still handle the roughest water I plan on fishing in… 4-5’ with an occasional 6’ rogue.
Wow Jerry--looks like there is a submarine about to surface there off the starboard stern!
TB |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | nwild - 5/21/2013 12:06 PM
Tom,
I know you said it doesn't match your ideal floor plan, but if you want to get out for a ride in a Tuffy 2100 with a 250xs let me know.
I have a 2013 2100 with a Merc 250XS that will be for sale at the end of the year.
If you're over near Green Bay sometime this Summer, I'd love to go for a ride. Otherwise I'll be in Tomahawk a fair amount too--and I do want to have Mr. Worrall teach me to fish again. So maybe we could hook up somewhere over by you guys too.
Thanks for the offer!
TB |
|
| |
|
Location: 31 | tcbetka - 5/21/2013 9:22 PM
Jerry Newman - 5/21/2013 9:13 PM
I think rating a boats ride is very subjective to start with... I wouldn't necessarily be looking for the boat that rides the best in rough water, as I'm sure they will all get the job done.
I'd be looking for the one with the best fishability under typical conditions I anticipate being in the majority of the time, but can still handle the roughest water I plan on fishing in… 4-5’ with an occasional 6’ rogue.
Wow Jerry--looks like there is a submarine about to surface there off the starboard stern!
TB
You noticed the longer than normal distance between the waves too..'....''..'''............. <<>battle stations<>>
Even though the sea was “just a touch” heavier than my 6’ max, we still felt reasonably safe fishing from a 20’ boat when that picture was taken. I'm pretty confident that any of the boats you listed would stay afloat no problem too.
However, even though you can discount any boats rides on a day like that, some will certainly fish better than others… provided you don't mind getting your teeth kicked in a little bit in the process.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Here she is....amazing boat and plenty of power with the 250 Pro XS
(tuffy1 (800x600) (640x480).jpg)
(tuffy2 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg)
(tuffy3 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg)
(tuffy4 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg)
Attachments
----------------
tuffy1 (800x600) (640x480).jpg (188KB - 182 downloads)
tuffy2 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg (162KB - 188 downloads)
tuffy3 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg (163KB - 150 downloads)
tuffy4 (800x600) (640x480) (500x375).jpg (133KB - 182 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Nice looking boat Mike. A caster's dream...
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | and the interior lay out...which is AWESOME!!!!
(tuffy5 (600x800) (375x500).jpg)
Attachments
----------------
tuffy5 (600x800) (375x500).jpg (132KB - 167 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | It is definately an awesome boat to fish out of. Plenty of storage, awesome ride, fast, huge casting decks...it's got it all!!!
|
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Yeah, but it's certainly built for the caster more so than a troller. Not that a guy couldn't stand on the big back deck there while trolling, but in 3-4 footers (or more), I don't think that's something I want to attempt. My cold-water swimming days are over. It's a great-looking boat though, for sure.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32903
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There are several brands that have the same interior as the 2100 offering about equal cockpit square footage. That interior is very popular with a number of Pro walleye anglers who troll more than cast. It's not a dedicated 'Troller', it's what the boat builders call 'multi-specie'. The boats with a postage stamp front deck sell to a limited market (dedicated trollers), so many builders compromise as much as can be. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Right...there's certainly going to be compromise because there aren't an infinite number of boats out there to choose from. So you just have to choose between "feature A" and "feature B" and move on. Decide which is more important to you in that sense, and make your choice. The odds of finding one's "perfect boat" seem to be just about equal to the odds of catching a 64" muskie.
Not that it couldn't happen, it just isn't all that likely.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32903
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | it might be..some builders do listen, and don't sell thousands of boats per year, so selling 25 of a particular model is a big deal. The job is to convince them a dedicated 'troller' will do that well. I bet THAT could happen! |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Just like no one says you can't troll from a "casting" boat, you can certainly cast from a "trolling" boat. So in that sense, I wouldn't think that it would be a waste of time for someone like Tuffy to offer one of their hulls in a "trolling series" as we've talked about before. Take the 2060 for instance--shorten the front deck by 18-20" and move the console forward, and that becomes a trolling machine. But a guy could still cast from it, although you might get only one guy up there casting at a time. So what?
I really like the look of the hull on the 2100 but wouldn't really even give that boat a second look because of the floor plan. There are simply too many other boats to look at to settle for a rig where I have to work around the limitations (for my needs) every time out. Trolling is getting to be a much bigger deal now than it used to be. Places like Green Bay, Mille Lacs (in the Fall), the St. Lawrence, LSC, Georgian Bay and even LOTW are go-to destinations for big fish in the late season. Call me silly but I would think ever serious manufacturer would want to offer at least one or two options for guys who want to troll primarily. In the case of Warrior it just so happens that is what their boats are sort of known for...not that you can't cast from them. You can indeed. However they have a reputation as a big water boat, and they place a premium on cockpit floor space. So the bow is smaller--and that will no doubt cost them sales to guys that primarily cast.
Last I heard though, they had just put on some more help not that long ago, and the new iteration of the company has sold over 160 boats (I think) in the past 18 months since they've been hard at it. Certainly not a lot by the standards of Ranger, Skeeter, Triton or Nitro maybe, but a respectable number given what they had even two years ago.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32903
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sounds like you need to buy a Warrior. Good folks, and a very well built boat. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | That may indeed be the case, but I have a few other things to check out. I also want to visit the factory. So this is going to take a while yet most likely. But I think you're right in that the boats are very well-built, and everything I've about the folks running the place is very impressive. Kent Anderson is a great rep for that company and has thus far been incredibly helpful. They are doing to right things to sell boats, and I predict they will have great success in the future.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 79
| If I was a troller only and wanted a glass boat it would be pretty tough to top a Warrior boat. Every time I see them run in some chop I marvel at how nice they appear to ride. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Agreed... Also, the rear of the cockpit makes it very easy to cast from the floor (for stability). The cockpit wall leans outward at just the right angle to lean against, say when doing a figure-8. It does need a bit of padding against the top of the wall, but that should be a relatively simple matter. But the point is that a person could pretty easily cast from the floor while another person casts from the bow.
On the day I went for a ride in the V203 there wasn't any wind to speak of, but the boat was very stable with four big guys in it. I've been researching the history of their hulls though, and indeed it appears that they are well-known for being rough water boats. For instance, I haven't found one negative comment regarding how stable they are in heavy seas. Same goes for Tuffy by the way. And while there have been some reports of "wave spearing" in Rangers, I think that was probably with the older hulls--and I'll bet was as much related to the driver as the boat.
In other words I guess what I am trying to say is that any of the major boat builders' boats will probably do an excellent job in big water. There probably isn't a bad boat being made today--so you just have to find the one with the features that are most important to you...and write the check. Then go fishing!
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Write the check man! Lol.
I will say this is the most in depth I've seen anyone get into buying a boat. |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Pointerpride102 - 5/27/2013 10:45 AM
Write the check man! Lol.
I will say this is the most in depth I've seen anyone get into buying a boat.
Thanks, I think. LOL.
I also think we're getting close, but there are other things in play here that have a pretty significant influence on this process. But as far as making the choice goes, I just need to visit one or two factories and then I think we can pull the trigger. Then the waiting begins, as anything we get at this point will likely need to be built. So like I said, it might be unlikely that we'll have it much before the end of the season...depending upon the rig we choose.
TB |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I've heard fall is a decent time on Green Bay.... |
|
| |
|
Location: Green Bay, WI | Indeed!
|
|
| |
