BigBendFishing.Net

Any input on 19- or 20-foot Mako center consoles from the mid-1990s? I've been looking at a couple. I've found a lot of bad talk on the 'Net about Makos from that era being shoddy and even dangerous. But most of it was about bigger, fancier boats. And supposedly they later opened a new plant in Nort...

Thanks, Chalk. I checked with Lighthouse Marine a couple of weeks ago and will again. They seem to be good folks who know their boats. I'll check out the Shell Island tour site, too. Hey, Nemo, a foot of water is fine. Even when the water's cool, I can get in up to my shins and give the boat a shove...

Sent you a PM, Striker.

Funny you should mention that. I saw a Cape Horn 18 flats boat for sale today in a storage lot on Thomas Drive, and I liked it a lot. It was a 2002 I think, and out of the price range. I liked the raised front and back decks and the wide floor around the console. I couldn't quite tell what all those...

Nemo, I've noticed that the Cape 17 and 19 seem a little sparse on deck. I could always use the fishboxes to store stuff if I don't catch many fish. :( The Capes are solid boats, and they look massive compared to Key Wests, Aquasports, etc. But they just don't seem suited to bayou and flats fishing,...

Thanks, y'all. I've just about decided not to look too closely at that 17-foot Cobia, though it looked nice from a drive-by. I don't really need room for 4 serious fishermen all the time. But I do need room occasionally for 2 fairly large fishermen and as many as 2 petite fisherwomen. I'll keep an e...

Can anyone recommend a 17-foot center console that doesn't "feel" like 17? I've been looking mainly at used 19's (which are reallly about 18'6") at $15,000 or less. But I've seen a few 17's (some even closer to 16) that seemed pretty dang nice. A Cobia 174CC caught my eye, and a frien...

I can tell you that Sea Tow out of Panama City worked for me. My battery and bilge pump conked out at the same time and the boat started taking on water. They came out twice in an hour and ended up bailing me out and towing me home. I'm not sure about their coverage in the Big Bend. Seems I remember...

Hey, a few dollars saved at the pump could make all the difference these days. I like what I hear about 4-strokes burning cleaner, too. It will all depend on what's attached to the boat that I'll know has to be mine when I see it. The size I like is the 17-19-foot range Will-Fish: Tell me a little m...

I've heard nothing but good about Yamahas. And I also keep hearing that carbureted 2-strokes aren't such a bad thing. I know what you mean about simplicity. The last motor I had that I felt like I could work on myself was in a '72 VW Beetle. I'm looking around for a whole package (boat, motor and tr...

Hey saltwater guys: Any guidance out there on good (or not so good) motors? I know Mercury and Yahama advertise saltwater lines, and others probably do too. Are there real differences other than maybe tighter seals and sturdier hardware? Any motors you definitely would not put in the salt?

Me too.

Thanks much. It's always good to hear firsthand experience, with any boat. I haven't heard anything yet that would make me rule Triumph out.

Thanks much, y'all. I'll probably start seriously looking pretty soon. Any votes for Triumphs out there? I've read good (durable) and bad (water gets in and can't get out) on models up till a year or two ago. I know I've seen a couple of mentions in posts. I saw a couple at Rivercraft Marine in Call...

The Kenner looks like both worlds -- deep sharp V in front, shallow for flats in back. Interesting ...

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