BigBendFishing.Net

First of all I appreciate all the input on my previous topic on aluminum boats.. These have help me decide about what I'm going to buy in an aluminum boat.
I've bout decided to go with the 2070 Triton.20' length with 70" width on the floor. I had priced a tunnel hull with the planing pods but have about decided to go with the plain bottom. Just no justification for the extra expense when all my fishing is around St Marks and Encofina.Have heard a lot of opinions about excess vibration, rough ride with the tunnel hull.
I'm going to order it first of week with a 115 optimax and hydraulic jack plate. Boat painted white with a galvanized trailer by Triton. Also going to get it with the built in 30 gallon tank.
See a lot of opinions on the trolling motor. still havent decided what to do there yet. It will be the 80# riptide but dont know whether to get the remote or manual steering..is the remote worth the difference in price ?
Also any input on gauges would be appreciated...water pressure, ect...
Undecided on the power pole at this time too..wondering if I should go ahead and have one of them installed....
Flint River Marine is going to have to order it and said it would be probably 6 weeks fore it comes in which is ok as its getting so hot..should have it in plenty of time to fish this fall.
Again , I appreciate all the input and any other ideas any body might have on what I plan to buy..
Figuring on just trading my 2004 CS in...,Somebody is going to get a good boat and motor.....

Sundown, did you check the prices at Perry Sportcenter? A friend of mine bought an 1860cc Redfish Edition for $2500.00 cheaper in Perry GA, exact same boat. Let them duke out the price! However they couldn't touch the deal he got up there. I really like Flint River Marine they are great folks, just a little high. Their customer service is wonderful. I think a lot of Davis.

Customer service and Davis Smith is why I'm getting it from em..Went to Perry yesterday and the price was a little better at FRM. That even sweetened the deal a little more !

I am REALLY glad to hear that. Davis is a great man. I would rather buy from him too.

Good luck on your metal boat! I'm sure you will enjoy it.

sundown wrote: See a lot of opinions on the trolling motor. still havent decided what to do there yet. It will be the 80# riptide but dont know whether to get the remote or manual steering..is the remote worth the difference in price ?

Just my opinion, manual hand controlled. In saltwater........keep it simple. Less to break.

sundown wrote: Also any input on gauges would be appreciated...water pressure, ect...

With a hydraulic jack plate, tach, water pressure, and temp, at a minimum. The Triton should come with a tach, and fuel gage. I added a trim gage, and an hour meter.

I wish they made a good foot controlled tm for salt water, but I would personally save the added expense of a remote steering a put it toward a powerpole.

tin can wrote:

sundown wrote: See a lot of opinions on the trolling motor. still havent decided what to do there yet. It will be the 80# riptide but dont know whether to get the remote or manual steering..is the remote worth the difference in price ?

Just my opinion, manual hand controlled. In saltwater........keep it simple. Less to break.
. . .

^ What he say ^. From where you say you're gonna fish -- don't see getting a jackpate! Agree about NO tunnel. With sandbars, especially rocks and oysterbars it'll only take one forgetful time to leave it down in dragon territory, haul @$$, hit one them immovable objects and look back at motor/jackplate/transom sticking up with your personal obstruction marker on one them! A jackplate as well as a tunnel will condition you to haul @$$ in places where you definitely shouldn't (Appalachee Bay ain't the Texas Gulf coast!). Besides if you just gotta do that Bubba bassboat haulin' @$$ -- stay outta Appalachee Bay skinnywater and get a Donzi and fish 45' of water with squid! BUT it's your money -- spend it the way YOU want to! Hitting a big rock at WOT may be the Thrill of a lifetime -- for all I know! Let us know how you do!

Hate to rain your parade, but you will probably will regret getting the Mercury outboard. I've had a lot of buds who have had problems and they seem to bring much less at resale time.

MudDucker wrote:Hate to rain your parade, but you will probably will regret getting the Mercury outboard. I've had a lot of buds who have had problems and they seem to bring much less at resale time.

The yamahas seem to be the fair haired child for salt water, but I have broken and burned up just about all major brands of outboards. Mercs are strong, and have plenty of fans. They are certainly more favored in the fresh water and high performance community. You could do much worse than a mercury, and the optimax is no ordinary merc. All the advantages of a 2 stroke (light with plenty of low end torque and power, less parts to break) and advantages of other brands 4 strokes (fuel efficient). It would make my short list on any boat.

sundown wrote:Customer service and Davis Smith is why I'm getting it from em..Went to Perry yesterday and the price was a little better at FRM. That even sweetened the deal a little more !

I saved a good amount of money on my Sea Chaser at Sports Center than anywhere else I priced it. I didn't buy it up there for the service just the price and you can't get much better service for a saltwater boat than close to salt water.
On the TM I would go with the hand control and get a long shaft so you can use it more comfortably.

Pinocchio wrote:

tin can wrote:

sundown wrote: See a lot of opinions on the trolling motor. still havent decided what to do there yet. It will be the 80# riptide but dont know whether to get the remote or manual steering..is the remote worth the difference in price ?

Just my opinion, manual hand controlled. In saltwater........keep it simple. Less to break.
. . .

^ What he say ^. From where you say you're gonna fish -- don't see getting a jackpate! Agree about NO tunnel. With sandbars, especially rocks and oysterbars it'll only take one forgetful time to leave it down in dragon territory, haul @$$, hit one them immovable objects and look back at motor/jackplate/transom sticking up with your personal obstruction marker on one them! A jackplate as well as a tunnel will condition you to haul @$$ in places where you definitely shouldn't (Appalachee Bay ain't the Texas Gulf coast!). Besides if you just gotta do that Bubba bassboat haulin' @$$ -- stay outta Appalachee Bay skinnywater and get a Donzi and fish 45' of water with squid! BUT it's your money -- spend it the way YOU want to! Hitting a big rock at WOT may be the Thrill of a lifetime -- for all I know! Let us know how you do!

Just because you have a tunnel and jackplate does not mean you throw common sense out the window