Hello from a new user.
I am in the market to buy a new fishing boat. I am seriously looking at the 22 ft. Blazer Bay or the 21 ft. Nautic Star. I primarily want to fish flats and shallower waters for reds and specks. Does anyone here have any advice on either of those 2 boat manufacturers? Would you recommend one over the other - and why? I've currently been fishing in my 10 year old Skeeter bass boat, and now is the time to get a REAL fishing boat! Many thanks.
BTW - I appreciate all the honest comments in this discussion forum. I've learned alot about fishing the Big Bend Area already!
Skeeter
New Boat Advice? Blazer Bay or Nautic Star?
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
I don't know anything about the two boats in ? except what they advertise on their sites 
However, in compareing the info on both boats, I would go with Blazer Bay "8" to 11" draft" compared to 13" draft for the 
Also, the Blazer just looks like a more fishible boat 
However, in compareing the info on both boats, I would go with Blazer Bay "8" to 11" draft" compared to 13" draft for the Also, the Blazer just looks like a more fishible boat “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
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dstockwell
- Posts: 4214
- Joined: March 5th, 2002, 8:00 pm
- Location: Valdosta, GA
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lightchop
Skeeter,
Now that handle is a good boat name!
I didn't look at the 2 boats you mentioned.
A general statement I'd make for flats fishing
around here, especially St. Marks to Econfina,
with some serious rocks to encounter,
is to look into what's called a tunnel boat with a
cavity from the transom up to about mid-way
to the bow. This cavity will allow your propeller
and most of the lower unit to operate slightly above
the major portion of the hull bottom. It will also
allow super skinny water operation.
What's even better is to get a tunnel hull with a
jack-plate that will allow you to lower the prop to
operate in deep water, without obstructions, to
go at a faster clip when possible.
Tunnel hulls are a little more used and available
in Texas, but they are catching-on to the east Gulf.
Don't forget to consider the Go-Devil (several other brands, too)
rigged flat boats, but they are more suited for strictly shallow
water and usually smaller Jon-type boats, unless there
are newer models for larger boats available, now.
Luck!
Now that handle is a good boat name!
I didn't look at the 2 boats you mentioned.
A general statement I'd make for flats fishing
around here, especially St. Marks to Econfina,
with some serious rocks to encounter,
is to look into what's called a tunnel boat with a
cavity from the transom up to about mid-way
to the bow. This cavity will allow your propeller
and most of the lower unit to operate slightly above
the major portion of the hull bottom. It will also
allow super skinny water operation.
What's even better is to get a tunnel hull with a
jack-plate that will allow you to lower the prop to
operate in deep water, without obstructions, to
go at a faster clip when possible.
Tunnel hulls are a little more used and available
in Texas, but they are catching-on to the east Gulf.
Don't forget to consider the Go-Devil (several other brands, too)
rigged flat boats, but they are more suited for strictly shallow
water and usually smaller Jon-type boats, unless there
are newer models for larger boats available, now.
Luck!
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Chalk
- Moderator
- Posts: 11996
- Joined: March 9th, 2002, 8:00 pm
- Location: 30° 13' N, 85° 40' W
- Contact:
Skeeter, I like the Blazer from what I read, can't comment on the other. You said you had a Skeeter bass boat....I like the Skeeter bay boat too.....Either boat would do the job for ya.....Might consider asking on the FS boating forum or thehulltruth.com site.
I would comment on the aspects of the efficiency of a tunnel and where they were originated, but alas that would be getting off the topic.....
Welcome aboard.....please excuse us right now...blame it on the moon
I would comment on the aspects of the efficiency of a tunnel and where they were originated, but alas that would be getting off the topic.....
Welcome aboard.....please excuse us right now...blame it on the moon
Thanks for the tips!
Thanks to everyone for the tips! I appreciate your insight.
I think I will be leaning towards the Nautic Star as it has much more of the features that I want than the Blazer Bay.
Now if I can only convinve the wife that I have to have it before the really cold weather sets in!
Skeeter
I think I will be leaning towards the Nautic Star as it has much more of the features that I want than the Blazer Bay.
Now if I can only convinve the wife that I have to have it before the really cold weather sets in!
Skeeter
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lightchop
skeeter,
I finally got around to looking on-site at the images of the 2 boats.
I'm like you, I guess, in that I like the Nautic Star.
What are the prices, relatively speeking for similarly powered and optioned boats?
Does's the wife have to approve or be made happy, if she's going to be out in the boat with you, a lot?
The reason I asked, is if the boat will be used mostly by you, the kids or fishing partners, you might want to take a look at a Hewes, or even their top of the line, Maverick, since they have been, pretty much the premier flats boat, especially in Florida. That's not to say that there aren't other good flats boats more modestly priced (Hewes are around the mid-20 grand range and Mavericks about another 10 grand. Both have a large percentage of the deck with stand-on fishing surface, whereas the 2 boats you're considering, have considerable less fishing surface.
The mostly Texas tunnel boats, like Hell's Bay, Pathfinder, and Mowdy are at or close to the latest innovation flats boats and have lots of fishing surface and the cavity to give lots of protection to prop and lower unit when running in very skinny water. The down side is that their price oftens pushes 40 grand (some 35 grand).
As, before, good luck and be sure to make yourself happy with whatever you decide on.
I finally got around to looking on-site at the images of the 2 boats.
I'm like you, I guess, in that I like the Nautic Star.
What are the prices, relatively speeking for similarly powered and optioned boats?
Does's the wife have to approve or be made happy, if she's going to be out in the boat with you, a lot?
The reason I asked, is if the boat will be used mostly by you, the kids or fishing partners, you might want to take a look at a Hewes, or even their top of the line, Maverick, since they have been, pretty much the premier flats boat, especially in Florida. That's not to say that there aren't other good flats boats more modestly priced (Hewes are around the mid-20 grand range and Mavericks about another 10 grand. Both have a large percentage of the deck with stand-on fishing surface, whereas the 2 boats you're considering, have considerable less fishing surface.
The mostly Texas tunnel boats, like Hell's Bay, Pathfinder, and Mowdy are at or close to the latest innovation flats boats and have lots of fishing surface and the cavity to give lots of protection to prop and lower unit when running in very skinny water. The down side is that their price oftens pushes 40 grand (some 35 grand).
As, before, good luck and be sure to make yourself happy with whatever you decide on.