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Posts: 4
| Hey Everybody...
O.k. so I have been fishing Muskies for about 16 years but have never owned a boat. My wife and I took the plunge last year and bought a cabin in Northern WI and are very excited! Now though, I am trying to decide what to do for a boat and there is wwwwaaaayyy too much information out there. 95% of the time I will be fishing Muskies and Small Mouth Bass. The other time will be spent fishing for panfish with my wife and two year old daughter. ANY help you could give would be appreciated. My budget is in the $15k - $20k area.
Thanks! |
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Posts: 303
| 1700 crestliner fishhawk.....around 18,000 |
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| There is a used 690 on the walleye 1st site for 10,500.00 |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hello,
Couple of questions for you to consider: First, Tiller or Console steering? After that, there are so many choices out there that about the only thing you can do is get out there and start looking at new boats and see what things you like or dislike. I know when I started looking for a new boat I had a few major things in mind: ease of rigging electronics, storage of rods and gear, and overall stability of the boat while people stand along the edge.
I'm jealous...you have a fun job ahead of you!!
Steve |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | It all depends on what size waters you are going to use it on. A 690 ranger would be great but you might run into problems on a small lake. Even with shallow water launch you still have to get it back on the trailer somehow. First you have to figure out what size boat you need. 16-17' is awesome for little lakes but if your going to be on big water a used 20' might be the right call. As a start I would recommend aluminum just because it's more forgiving to running on rockpiles and so on. You might want to upgrade to fiberglass in a couple years. More speed and better handling. If you are going to be walleye fishing or trolling you might want a tiller. I prefer tiller or single console because they take up less room. But for your family maybe a full windshield might be the ticket. It's nice to get out of the wind. My best advice Is to go to a boat show and climb in every boat there. You can even get bowmount trolling motors for pontoons. Your 2 year old could run wild and still have room to spare. |
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| my dream is to have a cabin up north with a Tuffy Esox Magnum parked outside. that's the perfect boat for muskie and bass fishing on those northern lakes, and it falls nicely in your price range.
http://tuffyboats.com/boats/EsoxMagnum
if you prefer more freeboard to contain a wondering toddler, take a look at the 1760. same fishability in a little deeper sided design.
http://tuffyboats.com/boats.asp?class=2
Edited by lambeau 1/26/2010 9:31 PM
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Posts: 529
Location: Not Where I Want To Be | I totally agree with Lambeau, For the lakes in the Northwoods you can't beat a Esox Magnum. |
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Posts: 402
Location: Eagle River, WI | Where's your cabin? If it's anywhere's near eagle river I could take you out in my 1850 crestliner and you could check it out. I'm always looking for someone to go musky chasing with me. |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | not sure where you are located at but the madison fishing and boat show has alot of boats to look at,I`m sure there are other boat shows just as good.I would look at the new boats,figure out what you like and then look for a used one thats decked out,way too many used boats for sale. |
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| you have lots of options in that price range. I would agree you could find a very nice used Crestliner 1850 single console. Boat has tons of room, nice casting deck front and back and would be roomy for your wife and daughter to hang out in the sun w/ you. And would provide enough zip to pull the little one around on a tube in a few yrs.
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Posts: 4
| Thanks for all of the feedback guys. Please keep it coming! I looked at the Tuffy Esox Mag last fall and it looks like a great boat. The only concern I have is when the wind gets a little strong how wet will we get? Most of the lakes I will be fishing are around the 1000 acre range so not huge but not tiny either. Good suggestion with the Madison boat show I think I will definitely check that out as I am in the Madison area. I need to see a Crestliner 1850. |
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Posts: 4
| Hey welldriller...cabin is west of Minocqua about 10 miles. I would love to check out your rig in the spring if that is cool with you. Do you have an email address I could contact you at? |
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Posts: 422
| My wife just let me recently purchase a boat, and I ended up with an 03 Crestliner 1850 Fishhawk Muskie Ed. with an 04 DF140 Suzuki on it and dual consols. We have two young kids and this boat has tons of room. The one requirement from my wife when we got it was that it had to be able to handle tubing and skiing and family things. With this boat, you can have 4 seats in the main cockpit area, so the kids don't have to be sitting up on the bow. Not only will this boat be great for my family, but the casting decks front and back are very spacious. I cannot wait to get it out this spring....Good luck with the boat hunting.
Edited by 4reukmuskies 1/27/2010 8:28 PM
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Location: Hayward WI | Tony,
I bought a 2007 FH 1850 w/ single console last year. I'm south of Madison between Oregon & Stoughton if you want to kick the tires. Also, Quam's on Lake Kegonsa is a dealer but I don't thick they have an 1850 in stock. |
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Posts: 224
Location: Madison | tklubie - 1/27/2010 12:12 PM
I looked at the Tuffy Esox Mag last fall and it looks like a great boat. The only concern I have is when the wind gets a little strong how wet will we get?
You won't be as dry when running in wind and waves as a comparable aluminum v-hull, but it's not terrible. I fished out of an Esox Mag this fall on the Mani chain when the wind was going pretty good - I definitely got wet when we fired up the big motor, but not absolutely soaked through or anything like that.
I liked fishing out of the boat - sitting that low on the water is nice. And the wind doesn't push you around nearly as much when you're fishing. It was more stable than I expected it to be. Only had one time when a wakeboarding-type boat ran past us that the boat really bounced up and down. |
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