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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | This year I am running a new musky boat to the scene, an 1910 CS Polar Kraft. As I work with Polar Kraft to switch up a few things and make some changes to get this thing from a Walleye/Musky Boat to a strictly musky boat I was hoping I could get some feed back on your thoughts.
1. Like most boats over 18 feet, this boat comes with 4 seats. Now, it has been my experience, and what I have seen, 98% of all musky guys do not use all four seats. They simply take them out, and use that space for storage, IE: Lakewoods, coolers, etc.... What do you think about only having two seats, and making the back deck even bigger? Now with the back deck being even bigger, it would also give more room for compartment storage...
Without the 2 back seats, the back deck would be about 4 feet wide. What do you think?
2. The boat comes with 2 big livewells. The front one is about 42 inches long, about 15 inches wide and about 16 inches deep. The back livewell is 46 inches long, 16 inches wide and about 16 inches deep. I was thinking about keeping the back live well the same, and changing the front livewell into a insulated cooler? What do you think?
3. In one or two of the storage compartments, the boat has 4 now, and if the back deck is extended, it will have 6, instead of just open space in the comparments, having built-in lure holders (like the inside of a Lakewood) inside of the large storage compartments.
Just curious as to what you guys would think of these ideas.
Thanks for any and all of your feedback.
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| 1) You're single and a guide. You don't need 4 seats. While you're right that when musky fishing most people take the other seats out. My boat spends some time as a recreational boat. I need those other seats then. I suggest they offer a casting deck insert and keep the seat mounts. It provides you with back deck space and under deck storage. I built one for my 690vs and I like it.
You need to consider the resale value of the boat. A boat with 4 seats gives you a larger market than one with 2.
2) I don't know where the batteries are on your boat, but think about weight distribution when the live well is full. For my "cooler" I plug one of the livewells and put ice in it. It's not insulated but does the job. As with point 1, I think a cooler will add to the resale value and open up some deck space.
3) If you did do Lure holders, make them inserts so that those who don't want to use it that way can easily remove them and place plano boxes or whatever in there.
4) They should follow Triton's lead and add some sort of boarding ladder accessible from the water. invaluable when needed.
Just my opinions - hope it helps.
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Posts: 8856
| Mike
Those are all good ideas!
You're right about the seats. I'd rather have two in the back with a nice deck behind them, and be done.
The things I've noticed about boats that need to be improved for musky fishing:
1. Not enough tackle storage space. -- hanging bait compartments in the front and the back would be the BOMB. Either or would be good too! Then all you would need is room for the 3700 plano boxes so you can store big baits, sucker rigs, etc.
2. Casting space -- Some boats have a front deck big enough for two, some don't. Those that don't never have a substantial place for a guy to stand in the middle of the boat.
3. Rear deck -- bigger is ALWAYS better.
4. I see no reason to have two livewells in a musky boat. Just one is enough, as long as it's a big one (over 50 please?"
5. Using a livewell as a cooler is ok, but your ice melts, and you get lake water in your sandwiches... a dedicated cooler that keeps stuff COLD and holds enough food (and beer) for three guys would be ideal
6. Rod storage -- should be enough space for at least 6 8 footers. Ideally, I'd say 9' so you can put your trolling rods and your sucer rods in there too.
7. Dry storage that stays dry
8. WHY can't someone make a fishing boat that actually has a place for the freakin NET?
9. A place to hang tools and baits where you can reach them but you don't have to worry about hooking your pants leg
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| Just insulate the livewell and have it come with a plug: dual duty. Make sure you have a baitwell or bucket insert for the livewell.
I think three seats makes sense, but not two. Lots of guys fish three on at least a fair number of occasions during the season, especially with a 18'+ boat. Offer an insert with doors on the top so you can easily use the space underneath as storage.
Make it with a full windshield so you can stay dry in that tin boat.
Make it comfortable to run a tiller kicker motor all day ... some kind of decent ledge that you could sit on would help a lot. |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | i like the insulated livewell idea but not for muskies, make it abuot a 1/3 of the size, insulate the heck out of it, make sure there is a drain plug.. then my beer will stay cold for a whole weekend! |
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Location: Contrarian Island | having an insulated cooler is nice...but I think what would be even better would be a storage compartment perfectly sized/ matched to fit a Playmate cooler...loading your beers / sandwiches etc in the house is much more conveniant....I take a playmate sized cooler in my boat which doesn't take up much space but for ease of use, conveniance of cleaning it out/packing how great would it be to have a compartment specifically sized to drop the cooler into? just a thought...
I agree, most people who buy boats don't just strictly musky fish..so having the extra seats or at least the seat posts there is probably the best bet...or make the rear casting deck an option/insert like for example in Ranger 618/619/620s...the buyer can purchase it when they buy the new boat or it can be bought later by the next owner....
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | For my needs, 90% musky related. Best layout I have owned or fished out of yet was my 96 Ranger 690. Set back consol, still room for the passenger to turn around and face backwards even with the large rear deck extension. Only thing I could have suggested to them was to put the fuel tank under the floor and add a little more storage under the front deck and to make the space under the rear deck extension useful enclosed storage.
I have a 618vs now and am extremely happy with it aftermaking some changes.. but the one thing I hate is the rod tubes. Loved the box-style rod locker in my 690. I have rod sleeves on my rods so tangle was never an issue, I used to be able to get about 10-12 rods in it if needed.
I've seen the Polar Kraft rigs at a local dealer and they look like a very nice rig and are competively priced.
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| I like the front deck to be big enough for two guys. Lots of storage. A 52" well in the rear is good. Rear deck needs to be real storage, not a carpeted board that costs $650. Cooler is a sure thing. Seating for 4 is nice easily removed to drop in the deck module. I have this boat in a 1760 Tuffy Esox Deep V.
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Rod storage is not an issue as the rod locker in the 1910 holds 18 rods, 8 of which are 8 footers.
Frond deck space is not an issue as the front deck is bigger than most boats I have been in or have seen
The back deck isn't small, it is probably 3 feet wide as it is, just looking to make changes to make it a true "musky machine" I do like the ideas of having the rear deck extention to simply cover up the seat footings.
I know people like to have big livewells, but I have yet to put a musky in a livewell so I really don't see that as being a huge issue.
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | id rather have storage over a livewell. large deck space....no chairs, chairs suck...get rid of the extra pedastal holes in the floor too! the channel system that lund uses is nice too, so you can use clamp on down easters easy on and off with no problems! |
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Posts: 4
| Mike, you being someone who supports the proper handling of these fish, I would think making more livewell room would be something you might consider. Transport tournies are never going to disapear and one is slowly becoming the biggest tournament trail there is. That said, I think it would wise of you to push for a 50" livewell in this boat. It might not be something YOU use, but it will be something consumers of their product will use. I support your desire to educate the masses on proper handling, but please consider making the livewells 50" plus.
DAWG DAVE |
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Posts: 20269
Location: oswego, il | Battery strorage iin the floor. Keep that weight low.
Definitely a bigger back deck, 3ft is wide for sure maybe make is slightly bigger.
I agree, leave the seats, keep it family friendly.
I agree, one livewell for suckers is all you really need.
Make a beam rail like lund has that has a deal that can easilt accomodate rod holders.
Not sure how the rod box is on that boat if they are on the side of the boat, then have a rod box on each side. Sounds like the rod box is already big though.
Are the compartments dry storage? |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | My Crestliner Mirage 2000 comes with 3 seats and I ordered the 4th one as I sometimes guide 3 making it 4 in the boat and it is nice that everyone gets a seat even if it is just for travelling between casting spots. But it's definately a must when trolling.
I also ordered the conversion stern bench which makes a really big rear casting deck, I probably will never use it as a seating bench and it will most likely stay flipped over and also be used for my top storage.
You can see in the picture bellow that I still have a lot of casting room up front and out back as the conversion stern bench when flipped comes close enough to the rear chairs that I have to remove them to flip it up or down.
One livewell is enough but it should be large enough to hold a muskie, the one in my Crestliner has got to be under 40 inches.
I like the idea of tackle storrage but I find that people have a different idea as to what the perfect tackle box is ( some muskie guys have all lures under 6 inches and others all over 10 inches ), I would suggest a space that can be fitted with plano containers as that would fit with most people out there.
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Why reinvent the wheel? Many boat companies have tried to create a strictly musky boat. There was lakeland with the official Muskies, Inc. boat, Ranger has a bass boat with a big livewell, Crestliner has one too and I'm sure I'm missing a couple. Last time I talked to the marketing manager at Crestliner I was told the musky boat represents a tiny part of their sales each year. With that said, if you were a boat builder would you put a ton of uniqueness into a boat that has a ton of extra cost (varriablity on the manufacturing line has HUGE cost) when the market for the product is very limited? Ranger and Triton stopped offering their walleye rigs without a front bait well because it's too costly for the small number of units in demand.
Some people enjoy trolling. Trolling requires a ton of open room in the rear of the boat. If you make the back deck too big, you will have to climb up on it to fight a fish or operate a tiller kicker if they don't have remote throttle. As you know, longer rods are getting more popular. I have a 9 footer coming soon. It might sound like a nit but I can't stand the idea of paying all the money these boat companies want for a rig and then having to put your rods in the SUV.
I would wager most muskie guys who live in areas where muskie season is not open all year that they often fish for other species and take several people out in the boat with them. Some even use their boats for recreational activities. I know I'll be doing some wake boarding behind mine on several weeknights throughout the season. I may also take the family and friends out to the river for a day at the beach. This type of activity requires a very versitle boat with plenty of seating.
Edited by Luke_Chinewalker 6/30/2006 10:20 AM
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Posts: 20269
Location: oswego, il | One thing I would like to see aluminum boat companies do is work on their hulls. I think crestliner, lund, alumacraft, misty river and princecraft have it figured out. The rest don't seem to. Why make a boat that has a bottom 20-25" narrower than it's advertised beam? I don't get it. Why not make a mod v with a really wide bottom that is not way narrower than it's beam. Look at the transom of some boats and compare. Wide bottoms make better musky boats. |
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Posts: 5874
| Luke, gotta disagree with you on the front baitwell thing. I fish eyes as much or more than muskies, and know lots of eye guys. Not ONE of them like that front baitwell in the Rangers, or the Lunds, or the Tritons. Not ONE, and I am talking hundreds of people here. IMHO, I think Ranger made a mistake when they forced that baitwell on everyone. To a man, they would all rather have that longer storage on the one side. I agree with them. Same with the Lund and Triton. Lose the baitwell, it's only used for garbage.
I do agree with you from the standpoint of producing a muskie boat being for such a small market. Especially when trying to compete with the established muskie boat company(s). Crestliner tried it, and basically failed. Tuffy has the best configurations out there for muskie boats, still. They have made some huge improvements the past 3 years. The boats sit in the water better, they have added a new hull, have completely composite materials, and new lockers and rod storage. They have rigs to cover all types of usage. Still, the Esox Magnum is about as good as I have fished out of for the typical nothern lake. Be tough to fish Mille Lacs when she's riled up.
The Fishhawk Muskie edition had a bigger livewell, and some integrated lure storage, and a decal, but was a poor attempt at a muskie boat. I talked with the Crestliner rep at length in 2002 about the new Muskie Edition they were coming out with. Too much extra money for a decal. Before that boat, Crestliner had a great V-hull they called the CVX182. LandyR had(has) one, and this boat was great for muskie fishing, It rode like a Crestliner, as in a bit rough on the big water, but overall, a pretty good boat. Had a blast on Sab Bay one October week fishing out of it.
My Lund Angler SS was a great boat for muskies. Great in the big waters, too. Had plaenty of deck up front, and the back casting platform while only 16 or so inches wide, when coupled with the side lockers, was plenty big. Nobody ever complained back there. Plus it made for a great trolling boat. Anybody trolling with remote throttle and shifter controls is missing the boat. They should be using the Trollmaster for speed control.
The Ranger Multi Species are pretty nice to fish from. None of them are specifically muskie configured, unless you get the rear casting deck adder. They do a Muskieized bass boat, but that just has a bigger livewell. Still, I don't think I want to be in a bass boat on Green Bay, or Mille when they are riled up.
I guess my point is there are a lot of great boats out there, multi specie boats, that work great for muskie fishing. I don't think there is a big enough market for a muskie only boat. Tuffy has a couple Muskie only boats, and they are doing well with them. I'm not sure if they make as many as they used to before the new Deep V's came about. Not sure PolarKraft won't end up going the same route as Crestliner, and basically abandoning the concept due to lack of sales.
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | shorten the front deck or allow to be ordered with short front deck, lots of floor space, good rear deck, and tiller, and I'll buy. Most front decks are far to large for me. In most boats, the biggest waste of space lies in a too large, front deck. I sortenned my once 5' deck to just under 4', and it is perfect now. I know that I am in the minority on this issue, hence my reluctance to purchase new to this point.
Good to see your ideas on making it a serious Musky rig though. I can only hope other companies follow suit.
I also like the lure storage idea, and I wouldn't be so upset losing floor space if I didn't have to haul a couple big tackle boxes along.
That said, the closest thing I have seen to the perfect layout, is in an Alumacraft Navigator tiller. If that boat was glass, it'd be in my driveway.
Edited by Reef Hawg 6/30/2006 2:57 PM
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | I took the back seats out of my boat and use the 2nd livewell for storage. Do like the Lure holder idea. |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Put an easily removable divider in the rear livewell for some multi use fishing. Make this livewell with dual pumps and aeration on each side of the divider. Lose the front live well and make it a small storage area and a nice sized cooler. Nothing like that onboard cooler to keep stuff out of the way. A little tip for you guys that like stuff cold.......fill your onboard cooler with ice the night before and then add your beverages etc and add ice in the morning. Your cold drinks etc will be very cold all day long. |
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Posts: 20269
Location: oswego, il | Reef hawg, you are not alone. A nice sized front deck is nice but it does not need to be too big. If you only fish one on the front deck, it does not need to be the size of a small dance floor. |
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