Bass boat for a flats boat?

Post by **Redbelly** » October 26th, 2006, 6:53 pm

Why aren't glass bass boat not seen on the flats? Ai least I can only remember seeing one once. They can handle chop. They draft pretty shallow.

Why not?

Post by **Eerman** » October 26th, 2006, 7:06 pm

I've seen several. Wevans runs an aluminum one and seems to do ok

I believe I've seen the infamous "Bass Boys" fishing salt in a bass boat. Even seen a few guides on TV running bass boats. Triton used to make a bass boat/saltwater version. Looked like a bass boat with no carpet. I'm sure they still make it.

Post by **wevans** » October 26th, 2006, 7:18 pm

The carpet is the only thing that I really would not have on mine now "it's nice for the younguns though" but is a PITA ta keep clean in the salt fishin.

What a mess · Post by **What a mess** » October 26th, 2006, 7:19 pm

The Salt water will tear apart the carpet for one. I have seen people on the flats in bass boats. My first go round was a 16' aluminum tracker bass boat. The first day i fished it two firefighters from macon died with life jackets on in the same type boat so I wanted some free board around me and my crew.

My scratched up carolina skiff may wet your butt, yet there ain't no fear it won't stay afloat till I see the hill or help shows up ya know?

My name is Captin Howard and I'm a coward nobody drowns on my boat!

Not unless I make the scarvie dog walk the plank for failing to net a fish!

lookout mudderducker I'm talking about you!

arg maties!

Post by **Redbelly** » October 26th, 2006, 7:28 pm

Don't they have floatation like any boat? They ain't supposed ta sink are they?

A carolina skiff will just float "better" if swamped, right? By that I mean higher in the water than say a regular boat?

That's another querstion too, about floatation. Is every newer boat that adheres to USCG regs not going to sink?

Post by **wevans** » October 26th, 2006, 7:31 pm

Mine has so much foam that I dread the day that I have to replace anything

I have no doubt that it will not completely sink

What a mess · Post by **What a mess** » October 26th, 2006, 7:41 pm

They cut the skiff into thirds and float three people like the ranger ad.

There is a difference between being in or on I like the freeboard.

I love to fish on lousy days the blow seems to get the trout going.

I may be the chicken of the sea but freeboard is important to me.

I had to play sea tow to rescue a water cock roach and forgot to put in

the plug. I never got my feet wet. I watched David Frits about sink his

Ranger Bass boat at Wingates when he left a plug out!

Plus it is paid for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **Chalk** » October 26th, 2006, 8:59 pm

Too much deadrise on most typical Bass Boats (Champion, Procraft, BumbleBee, Ranger, etc..)...Drafts shallow, but takes alot of water to get up, cause the great amount of deadrise...most (other than the non carpeted Ranger crossover boats) don't have parts made to survive in saltwater

Post by **Redbelly** » October 26th, 2006, 9:13 pm

What A Mess what size skiff you got?

Chalk what is deadrise?

Post by **Chalk** » October 26th, 2006, 9:14 pm

The "V"

Post by **Barhopr** » October 26th, 2006, 9:47 pm

Alot of non stainless hardware would be a major diff. Plus like Chalk said, have you ever seen one of those Ranger et.al.. boats trying to get up on plane? Even w/ 200+ hp the nose shoots strait up and the rear plows. Wouldn't be a problem in the bay but you'd have to forget the flats. I think the USCG standards aren't to make boats that wont sink just that if they get swamped they will float level in the water. Alot of "new" and some old and popular polling skiffs out there are not USCG approved.

What a mess · Post by **What a mess** » October 26th, 2006, 10:15 pm

I have a 238 semi v 23' long 80" wide. It floats shallower and sure gets up faster and shallower than my tracker or hewes redfisher ever dreamed of. There is nothing swank about it, storage sucks, but you can tote six grown ups. Where I fish at Spring Warrior thats what the guides and a lot of locals use. Affordable utilatarian your basic garbage wagon but it has hauled some fish. After I added the trolling motor its my little slice of heaven. If I could afford a little signedge I call her

"Saline Therapy". The Doctor is in!

Ain't that a mess!

Post by **Tom Keels** » October 26th, 2006, 11:21 pm

The hulls are not self bailing.

Post by **Chalk** » October 27th, 2006, 7:18 am

What a mess wrote:I have a 238 semi v 23' long 80" wide. It floats shallower and sure gets up faster and shallower than my tracker or hewes redfisher ever dreamed of.

If your referring to a Carolina Skiff, that's not a Bass boat

What a mess · Post by **What a mess** » October 27th, 2006, 8:18 am

you are both correct its not a bass boat but i sure have used it like one.
I did better then some of the guys fishing in the tourney in Blackshear last year.

I am not sure about the self baling part though in addition to the plug in the bildge it has one in each corner and was told if you pulled them it would self bail. The interesting thing was that when i left the plug out the water never came above the bildge well so it may be an illusion but I think she'd take some adverse stuff weather wise.