Family Friendly Fishing Boat? Is it possible??

[boilermaker]

Well first off great site, I'm new around here. But have the pleasure if you want to call it that of working with ReelCowboy all day, and knowing a few other folks off here. The wife has given the nodd to start the research for a family friendly boat. I guess to fit the need what I am looking for a is a boat capable of inshore round Destin, SGI, Keaton, handles 2-4's if needed, Able to take to Lake seminole for a little sking fishing, and a good boat for the wife, me and two small children. Does it exist?? I love the Ranger 2250ss deck boat but damn thats a chunk of change right there. Would love to jsut buy a Sterling, Lake and Bay or something along those lines, but hard pressed to convince the wife that family friendly!! thanks for all the help

[lizbeth]

i have a friend that has a 97 or 99 Hurricane Deck boat with a 90hp Yamaha, for sale. i think the asking price is 9k, if you are interested i could find out more. it's in good shape.

[Flint River Pirate]

But have the pleasure if you want to call it that of working with ReelCowboy all day,

Does he work?? Welcome to the boards bud!

[big bend gyrene]

Boilermaker, if ever there's been a buyer's market it sure seems like it's now. This said, I bought my boat 4 years too early! DOH!!! Jealous of you as there should be tons of deals available, especially if you're open to trailering a boat from heavily populated and more economically impacted south FL up to our neck of the woods.

Here's a site you can at least use to do some searching/price comparisons...
http://www.boattrader.com/

May not even have to go down south to find you a good boat... just for grins and giggles, I plugged in 100 mile radius from my place in Monticello and it returned 200+ boats between 18 and 22'.

Good luck,
BBG

[Steve Stinson]

Check out the Sea Pro SV-2100. I owned one from 2000 - 2008 then sold it to another NFGFC member. If my needs were the same as yours, I would buy the same boat again. The best two options I had on mine where the trim tabs and leaning post.

Good luck in your search!
- Steve Stinson

[silverking]

BM,
Welcome to the forum. You'll have fun with your research, but here are three brands/models that are very family friendly, fishable and easy on the wallet. I've tested all three and was impressed by the fit, finish and performance.

Sundance SV 205 or SV23, St. Marks Marine or Wefings in Eastpoint are the local dealers. sundanceboats.com

SeaHunt BX22 or BX24, Mike's in Panacea. seahuntboats.com. My article on the BX24 is in the March issue of Salt Water Sportsman

Cobia 21 Bay. Built by Maverick Boats, Ship's Chandler in Destin carries them.

Good luck. As others have pointed out, it's a buyers market right now.

[LuckySOB]

I wanted to get one for the family to enjoy, but also fish friendly. Wife gave me the green light and we bought a Pathfinder 2200V and love it. Plenty of room to fish, ski or take 20 miles off shore in decent seas. Just my 2cents.

[boilermaker]

I've looked at so many sites in the last couple days, I'm drunk on "finerglass porn"!! I've seen some dream boats, some stuff I would never own, and some middle of the road. I've got to get out this weekend and do some site seeing at the local shops in Tally and check some out in person. I know what I want, I just got get what my wallet can afford!!

[Dabbler]

I fish with a buddy that has a 22 ft Gruman deckboat w/150 Johnson. Plenty of room and we fish skinny around Keaton and Spring Warrior and have been 20 miles out in 2-3 ft. Not a safe boat for off shore and I hope to finish my CC soon. Good luck and don't get in a hurry. Good time to shop. Plenty of sound boats with low hours. The forum is a blessing for info and moral support. Some talk tough but if you like fishing you can't be too bad.

[Reel Cowboy]

I think you should go get the one you called me about this afternoon. Sounds like a heck of a deal to me.

[boilermaker]

I think you should go get the one you called me about this afternoon. Sounds like a heck of a deal to me.

I'm waiting on your check for $65K to come in the mail to cover half the cost of it!!! Hell you could of just handed it to me at work!! But hell its got a leather wrapped steering wheel, and a burlwood dash!!! All we need to do is add some spinners to the trailer and we are right in line for a Rap video!!

[MudDucker]

Fishing, skiing and goofing off is what a deck boat is good for. I had one when my kids were smaller and we had a blast.

[Hit-n-Miss]

My family sure is enjoying our 19 vision Kenner. Check one out.

[captkeyser]

Boilermaker,

I just bought a 20ft Back Country, which is the almost identical hull as the Lake and Bay. I absolutely love the boat for what I do with it, but it definitely is not family friendly. Even by hard core fishing buddies get some what nervous riding in it as there is nothing to hold onto.

[fish finder]

Boilermaker,

I have a boat that will fit your needs and your wallet:) I hate to let it go, but I've got to take care of some other financial obligations. It is a 2000 Proline 23 SU (Sport Utility), with a Yamaha 200 HPDI (low hours) and a 2007 aluminum tandem axle trailer. It is perfect for inshore fishing and fun. It is great for scalloping and tubing/skiing. I'm asking $18,000, but am willing to talk. I can send you some pics of the boat and more description if you are interested, just contact me at captwadsworth@yahoo.com. Welcome to bigbendfishing.

Fish Finder (Capt. Jay)