BigBendFishing.Net

Redbelly wrote:What boat in your opinion gives the driest ride in chop and gives the shallowest draft?

That's such a loaded question, the opinions and variables are endless

My selection for today would be this (tomorrow it might and probably will change)

Maverick Master Angler, Hells Bay Marquesa, Egret, Willy Classic, Calba, Lake & Bay.....etc....and so on

Driest ride in chop and shallow draft is kinda like washing your feet with your socks on....dry ride in chop generally means more dead rise..shallow draft generally means less dead rise.

You have to factor in where you fish. If you fish Aucilla like most of your posts read, then you want no part of a Hells Bay or Beavertail kind of boat.
If you want to fish rocks/oysters or water where you have to go deeper to avoid these obstructions then in makes sense to me that you have to sacrifice some comforts (ride, wetness, etc) for durability that will stand up to your environment.
The pefrect boat does not exist, however can be alleviated by owning more then one, to suit the conditions you plan to fish.
Just my .02

rocket wrote:You have to factor in where you fish. If you fish Aucilla like most of your posts read, then you want no part of a Hells Bay or Beavertail kind of boat.
If you want to fish rocks/oysters or water where you have to go deeper to avoid these obstructions then in makes sense to me that you have to sacrifice some comforts (ride, wetness, etc) for durability that will stand up to your environment.
The pefrect boat does not exist, however can be alleviated by owning more then one, to suit the conditions you plan to fish.
Just my .02

Exactly what I have been trying to get my wife to understand!! There is a need for 2 boats in my life right now!!

I feel I have the shallow water boat taken care of (Aucilla, Ecofina...), but I need a boat to make a long run with that I can sit out farther and feel comfortable about the water kicking up. Say making a run from Shell Point to the east of the lighthouse.

RB, you need to go with me and see what you think. It was a pretty good chop the other day and we didn't get wet at all.