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Posts: 25
| I am looking to buy my first boat.
What are the pros/cons of bass boats vs multi species boats for musky fishing? |
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Posts: 1209
| Pros on bass- speed, close to water, monster front deck/ back deck, minimal wind drift.
Cons- net storage?, minimal cockpit for young family, minimum protection while driving, not so great in large waves.
Multi species boat pros- handles larger waves better, offers more protection while driving, has floor space for net and younger family in cockpit/ allows for an added musky style tackle box easier.
Multi species cons- smaller front deck / minimal rear deck if any, has more wind drift making fishing speeds more difficult, slower speeds/ worse towing mpg possible.
Rod storage is a horse a piece and a boat with more freeboard will keep your feet warmer in spring and fall. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | Fishysam - 3/17/2016 8:00 PM
Cons- net storage?, minimal cockpit for young family, minimum protection while driving, not so great in large waves.
And your back takes a beating in those almost-on-the-floor seats!! |
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Posts: 525
| Not sure what makes guys think bass boats won't handle big waves... Look at the lakes most of the big national bass tournaments are on. They are every bit as big as most of the musky waters fished by many of us. Older bass boat seats weren't very good, however newer boats have very nice seats that don't beat a guy up bad at all.
Advantages to a bass boat- in addition to what was said above, figure 8's are way easier (low to water), tons of storage for baits in compartments, lots of "musky guys" will not crowd in on your "bass" spots, easy to fish 3 guys with plenty of room to cast, can drift/ float in very shallow water, only need a couple feet of water to get up on plane, chicks dig them!
Multi-species boat advantages- better option for trolling |
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Posts: 1209
| Let me add, I came out of a 177 warrior to a 2090 side console warrior that was for sale on this sight, now I bought a 2015 nitro z8, and I have used it 2 times in large waves and let me tell you how a new bass boat has impressed me, zero jarring in my back!!! And I have successfully navigated true 2.5' waves on small bodies of water without issue! Small body 2.5' waves are closer together than large body/ ocean waves, being close makes them more intense. I know I hit 4' waves in my 2090 at 52mph, and almost wrecked everything, life changing moment for me... However with lessons learned and so far only having cold water to play in I haven't found the true limits of my nitro but I am extremely happy with its abilities and by no means am I afraid to venture out on lake saint Clair or lotw! But knowing there are limits and being smart will not prevent me in my 28 years of age from fishing any day!
Edited by Fishysam 3/18/2016 1:09 AM
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Posts: 228
Location: Tinley Park, IL | These guys have covered the basics. One advantage the deep V has is when bouncing up and down in 2'-3' waves while on the trolling motor. Waves that will come over the bow and flood the front deck in a bass boat will be handled by the deep V. Unless you are spending a lot of time on the Great Lakes, I'd prefer the bass boat for what you guys are doing. While the deep V will provide a more secure, softer ride in the rougher stuff, the bass boat will greatly outshine the multispecies boat with the trolling motor down. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I've owned a 620 and now a 520
620 deep V- more room for the family, safer for the kids, waves will not come up on the deck, better area for net, can get a full windshield which is nice in the fall or rain.
Some cons- less storage, heavier, slower if that matters but not much slower.
I liked the 620 a lot deep V, just doesn't suit my fishing as much anymore.
520 bass boat- faster, lighter easier towing, more storage, all deck, shallow draft,
Net storage sucks, you also don't want to just toss a bait on the floor or deck everything needs to be put away before taking off or it will fly out of the boat.
As for waves and the ride. I think my 520 rides better in waves, there's no plowing. The bass boat at least a 20-21 foot boat blow right over the top of them. You just ride the tops. I'm talking waves up to 3 footers. Waves over 3 feet high..screw that. They suck in any boat. I'm not a Great Lakes guy but I've been in nasty crap on leech and Mille Lacs, in the big stuff in both boats. If your a good driver both boats are just fine. |
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Posts: 92
| Had a 20 foot bass boat and moved to a 621. Both have advantages over the other however on my home waters (i.e. leech, mille lacs)i prefer the deep V much more. I found Longer bass boats ride surprisingly well but re entry in the wrong wave spacing is ugly off big waves compared to deep v (in my experience )and especially at rest when casting.I washed the deck much more in my bass boat than i ever have in the 621 and taking a wave over the side on mille lacs coming out of cove bay one time sent me to the want ads searching for a deep V. Would never go back. Other than speed and ease of figure 8's i can't see an advantage. Storage to me is a wash in that size boat.My 621 is the older hull so it sits pretty low to begin with at rest. I like my windshield and like the floor space. If i was going to fish small water all the time mostly by myself or with a second guy i would opt for the bass boat, but for the big lakes i fish with three people in the boat bass boats are definitely not the ticket. I would like to see what the center consoles do in that situation since i am seeing a few guys running pathfinders on big water. Basically it comes down to personal preference and your style of fishing as said above. The longer hulls of both styles of boats handle the moderately big stuff fine overall. |
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Posts: 206
| Seems to me there is room in the market for a good hybrid boat. More of a bass boat layout with larger front and rear casting decks, a slightly deeper V yet close enough to the water. But with pedestal seats you can troll from, move into different positions, etc. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | musky513 - 3/17/2016 10:12 PM
Not sure what makes guys think bass boats won't handle big waves... Look at the lakes most of the big national bass tournaments are on. They are every bit as big as most of the musky waters fished by many of us. Older bass boat seats weren't very good, however newer boats have very nice seats that don't beat a guy up bad at all.
Advantages to a bass boat- in addition to what was said above, figure 8's are way easier (low to water), tons of storage for baits in compartments, lots of "musky guys" will not crowd in on your "bass" spots, easy to fish 3 guys with plenty of room to cast, can drift/ float in very shallow water, only need a couple feet of water to get up on plane, chicks dig them!
Multi-species boat advantages- better option for trolling
Sorry but as someone who owned a bass boat for 7 years and has been in a deep V for 6, there is absolutely no comparison.
Bass boats will get you soaken wet and #*^@ uncomfortable on the right water and day. Not even close to the same experience |
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Posts: 1209
| A friend of mine has a 18'8" skeeter bass boat in the 2001 vintage, that thing is unruly and wet, same day my 2015 20'1" nitro has no issues, some major development must have happened in that decade. So if the choices were between bass and walleye boats 15 years old I may have to consider a walleye boat. I have searched on YouTube for any bass boat mishaps and I only see sub 19' boats and older ones that spear waves and have issues, there is a clip of mark zona in some narly waves with his 20'9" nitro. Here is a link at the 1 minute mark. This is as bad as it can get. https://youtu.be/6_zhakjdE04 |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | Fishysam - 3/18/2016 1:06 AM
I bought a 2015 nitro z8, and I have used it 2 times in large waves and let me tell you how a new bass boat has impressed me, zero jarring in my back!!!
Come on now, seriously? You're telling me that in a bass boat, with low seats where you can't use your legs as shock absorbers, no air ride pedestals...and you're not feeling the big waves in your back??? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | New hull designs, new seating, a different deal bass boats can be these days. |
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Posts: 1209
| Like I said I'm 28 that plays some. Another reason I can tell you is where yours sitting, opposite of a bus the back of the boat is smoother because there is less leverage on you. Lastly short of smoothmooves seats I used to add 2" up on adjustable air pedestals to smooth out my warriors. The bass boat seats are very thick and do not have a bottom to them. So the harder you push down the more it sags in the moment. My dad was very hesitant on our maiden voyage last fall and after I went to the rough stuff he made the comment how impressed he was. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | in bass boats, size matters. get in a long one on rough seas and you might be surprised at what you feel, or maybe i should say don't feel. the long ones, like with the deep v's come with a big number attached.
i'm heading to Pickwick at the corner of TN, AL and MS Sunday to spend some time in one next week ... hope to run into Mr. Dance at the historic Boatell. I miss that place!! been a long time since i've been smallie fishing near the historic battle of Shiloh. you could land an airplane on the deck of the boat i'll be fishing out of. |
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Posts: 100
| smalljaw - 3/18/2016 12:21 PM
Seems to me there is room in the market for a good hybrid boat. More of a bass boat layout with larger front and rear casting decks, a slightly deeper V yet close enough to the water. But with pedestal seats you can troll from, move into different positions, etc.
Crestliner did this in the 2000s with the CMV and it's predecessors, Lund is doing it now with the Pro-V Bass.
There are other, older versions out there as well. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | sworrall - 3/18/2016 8:13 PM
New hull designs, new seating, a different deal bass boats can be these days.
Indeed! Nonetheless, I don't care how much you pad a seat, one on an air ride pedestal is going to supply more shock absorption that one that isn't, on boats of the same length and quality. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ever hear of an SAS seat? Best of both worlds for a fixed position seat or a pedestal mount. Actually do a great job smoothing out the nasty absorbing up to 4G's shock. |
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Posts: 897
| You can't compare that 17' bass boat you had to a 19' plus Brian. My 19' Champion Elite rides smoother in most waves than many deeper boats, particularly the crossovers. But, I am certainly more likely to get wet in waves when having to go cross wind or when setting down. My back feels it more in some deep-v's without shock absorber pedestal seats because the seat placement is further forward. The fishing specific lines from each brand are much better than the crossovers though.
To me, the biggest difference is how much you get bounced around up front in a bass boat while on the trolling motor. That and bass boats aren't family friendly. My next boat will be a deep-v for these reasons. |
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Posts: 410
Location: one foot over the line | Not all bass boat hulls are created equal. Lots of info out there on which ones provide a dry ride. I have a 2008 Nitro Z-7, I have had it out in conditions that any sane person would not leave their house and the only time I got wet was when it was raining on me. Love fishing on that huge front platform. |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | sworrall - 3/19/2016 12:29 PM
Ever hear of an SAS seat? Best of both worlds for a fixed position seat or a pedestal mount. Actually do a great job smoothing out the nasty absorbing up to 4G's shock.
No I hadn't. Looked it up. They look nice. Put one of those on an air ride pedestal and it'd be like riding on a cloud.  |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | whynot - 3/19/2016 3:35 PM
You can't compare that 17' bass boat you had to a 19' plus Brian. My 19' Champion Elite rides smoother in most waves than many deeper boats, particularly the crossovers. But, I am certainly more likely to get wet in waves when having to go cross wind or when setting down. My back feels it more in some deep-v's without shock absorber pedestal seats because the seat placement is further forward. The fishing specific lines from each brand are much better than the crossovers though.
To me, the biggest difference is how much you get bounced around up front in a bass boat while on the trolling motor. That and bass boats aren't family friendly. My next boat will be a deep-v for these reasons.
Chris, the green one was small. The red one, the 185 vs, was 18.5. You might recall us getting tossed around that one day like we were a couple coins in the dryer....
The biggest advantage to a bass boat is being able to get into a sparkling boat with a nice engine for an affordable price. I had to jump on here when I read the one post where the guy, who is clearly a bass boat guy, can only list one advantage to having a deep V and that being it is better for trolling? There's quite a few more advantages than that.... |
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Posts: 897
| Ha, I remember us going cross-waves and you not being able to breathe because you were getting splashed in the face by water. No doubt there are many advantages to a deep-v, but like bass boats they're not all created equal. |
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Posts: 1036
| I had a Ranger 2007 188VS Musky boat. Bass boat with a modified V hull. I was 35 when I bought it. I loved it. Fast, great hole shot, and I mean great. Tons of deck space. Low to the water for musky fishing, great for walleye fishing. Everything posted is true, I had to put stuff away or it would blow out. Big wind was an issue due to the ride of the boat. I would get wet in big waves. Had to be smart and not take it into super rough water like the Great Lakes. I absolutely loved that boat.
Now I have a 2011 Ranger 619VS. I'm older and comfort is much more appealing. The ride is much, much better. Smoother. Hole shot isn't as good. Top end speed is the same, but different. The 619 rides like a luxury SUV, very smooth regardless of waves. My bass boat rode like a sports car...feel every little wave as if they were potholes. The 619 is a larger, safer boat that is more comfortable. It also has a kicker whereas the bass boat didn't. Storage is pretty much equal, as is deck space. The difference is in the cockpit. I really love being able to walk around on the floor of the boat and not be on a deck.
Both were great boats. The bass boat has a single axle trailer and it was really easy to load and unload. The dual axle trailer is a little tougher, but not too bad at all. I wanted more room, more safety, kicker trolling ability and the ability to get onto bigger water safer. That was why I went the deep V route. If I was going to fish only smaller water (say Vilas county) and was younger, I'd still be in the 188VS. But I'm getting old and comfort is king! |
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Posts: 242
| Look at the new Ranger Z522D. Deck of a bass boat, but haul of a multi-species boat. |
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Posts: 206
| Lucky Craft Man - 3/21/2016 9:29 AM
Look at the new Ranger Z522D. Deck of a bass boat, but haul of a multi-species boat.
Here's to hoping they also make an 18 foot version of this boat... |
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Posts: 1209
| 20'1" so it can have 250+ ponies on back |
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Posts: 303
| smalljaw - 3/21/2016 11:49 AM
Lucky Craft Man - 3/21/2016 9:29 AM
Look at the new Ranger Z522D. Deck of a bass boat, but haul of a multi-species boat.
Here's to hoping they also make an 18 foot version of this boat...
I think this boat would be pretty sweet...other than the price tag. |
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Posts: 117
| I haven't ridden in a lot of fiberglass multi species boats, but when I was boat shopping over the last couple of years I was able to ride in a whole bunch of different bass boats. Coming from my lund, I was extremely surprised at how well some of the bass boats handle pretty big water, and I realized how much of a difference there is between individual hulls. Someone above said it, not all bass boats are created equal--a ranger, a phoenix, a basscat and a champion are COMPLETELY different boats. I really believe that while you can certainly make some generalizations, you really can't make a blanket statement without really qualifying it. I had my heart set on a glass multispcies boat, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the ride of some of the bass boats I rode in that I ended up buying one. Mine is a Basscat Pantera, which is a lighter weight 19' boat that I can tow with my 4-cylinder Tacoma, and while I would agree that it doesnt fish as well in really big waves (over legit 3') the and it's not as good at crawling up and over 3+' waves, in the normal everyday stuff I encounter on Champlain, say 2' and under, the ride is as smooth if not smoother than the center-console bay boats that are typical here up to about 50+ mph and it's worlds softer of a ride than my 17' Lund was. Above this speed and it skips a bit much on 2'+ waves and in 3'ers is liable to stuff a big wave if you arent on your game and are going too fast, although a hull like a Champion is smoother yet and better in big water in many ways. In smooth water my boat is REALLY fun and I can cover a ton of ground in no time at all--My personal rule is that I just dont run more than 15 minutes, so it pretty significantly extends my range, which I enjoy even more than I thought I would at times and gives me greater flexibility for where I launch in certain wind directions if that's a bit further from where I want to fish. Fishing out of it is awesome. I dont troll, ever, and I go out in the boat to get away from people, so the small interior layout isnt an issue for me. Others mileage obviously varies, but it'll suffice to say that I was very pleasantly surprised by how well my smaller bassboat handles pretty big water, so dont sell them short or form an opinion based only on one boat. The two things I would advise based on the smaller boats I was looking for is that:
1) if you are looking at a certain size multispecies boat, add 2' to the length to get an "equivalent size" in a bassboat layout, i.e. If you are looking at 18' multispecies boats then a 20' bassboat will feel like it's about the same size. To a large degree this offsets the cost-savings in a bass boat, but I think it gives you a better apples-to-apples comparison between the two types of boats.
2) nothing wrong with bass boats, but there is something wrong with bass boat PEOPLE. The tournament fishing mentality seems to be prevalent--i.e. don't let the engine warm up, gun it to wide-open, then come to a sudden stop and dont let the engine cool before shutting it down...do this as a rule for a couple years and then wonder why the powerhead goes. DO NOT buy a used bassboat without doing a leakdown test and having a competent mechanic check out the lower unit and other engine stuff. I tested 4 different engines before I found the first one that didnt have compromised compression from mistreatment. This is good advise for any engine I think, but bass boats seem especially prone to this by virtue of the way many of these folks fish. It doesnt mean they're all like that, but my experience is that a significant % are so buyer beware. Also have the propshaft runout tested, if its bent out of spec its likely the gears are worn and may need premature replacement.
Edited by Macintosh 3/22/2016 8:38 PM
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