Bay Boat shopping

[Catcher's Mitt]

Me and the Mrs. are headed to the Superdome to do a little boat shopping. We are going to look at the bad boys. Champion 25 Center, Shearwater 25 LTZ, Blackwood 27. We are not going to buy one today. I think shopping for them is half the fun. we wont be getting one till the middle to end of summer.

What are you guys opinion on the following:
Motor brand, i have owned Yamaha and Mercury and like them both but i don't have any experience with the new motors.

2 stroke?
4 stroke?
Verado?

the next thing I'm having trouble decicing is one or two motors. I have read that two motors system are not as reliable as you would think because most problems are system problems, ie gas or electrical and those are usually not redundant.

i am worried about the weight of two motors as i do a lot of speckled trout fishing. i dont have to have the absolute shallowest draft because i fish reefs, bays and beaches. not crazy about the marsh.

i will probably have a t-top and outriggers. a little tolling south of Venice will be in the plans.

so if you were getting your dream boat.....what would you power it with?

thanks

Mark

[fishduck]

4 stroke Yamaha can't be beat. The Verados drink alot of fuel.

I had a 200hp Yamaha 4 stroke on my last boat and I have twin 150s on my current boat. They have preformed great.

As for the single / twin issue we could talk about this forever. I have my first twin outboard boat now and am liking it. It gives me a little piece of mind when running offshore.

Good Luck,
Fishduck

[joeksr]

the next thing I'm having trouble decicing is one or two motors. I have read that two motors system are not as reliable as you would think because most problems are system problems, ie gas or electrical and those are usually not redundant.
thanks

Mark

Thats what my brother told me when I bought my boat with 2
engines. Why do you need 2 ? Well, after coming back from about 35 miles out on 1 engine the reason was clear. Many things can go wrong with an engine that leaves the second operational. If I was going 30 or more miles off shore I'd want 2 engines. Good luck and happy shopping.
Let us know and see what you chose.

[Ponce]

No matter what you get make sure sure it is a four stroke. I have a Yamaha and love it. As far as brand I think it is like should I buy a Chevy or Ford.

[gottaflylee]

Yep, stick with 4 strokes. Shearwater is a little over priced IMO for what you get Yellowfin is doing some nice boats (on the pricy side also) but I have not ridden in one yet. Know a couple of people that are having problems with the Yamaha 150s computer overheating but they do give you a good weight to HP ratio...just food for thought...

[Catcher's Mitt]

Thanks guys you all make valid points. We looked at just about everything except a Blackwood27. there was not one there. it is about 50 large more than the others so more than likely it wont be in our hunt.

We both liked the 25 center champion. but i dont know about a model in its first year and it may not be made next year because of the buyout.

The Shearwater 25LTZ was the finest hands down. fit and finish and bells and whistles it had all the others beat. there are only two features that i think it lacks. one is no forward bait well, which they said it was designed that way to because forward wells splash water and beat up bait. ok maybe so but how about a deep midship in front of the console. i don't like walking to the back to get my cricket.

two is the console is flush at the deck. several boats had a toe kick space under which is nice.

they also said that the new verado's, last three years have much better gas mileage than the first two years they were out. said the flow meter on the shearwater was 2.2 mpg WOT. that sounds pretty good.

The 25LTZ had a killer leaning post and T-Top. they are proud of the T-Top, $4,100 credit if you don't get it. it is a hard top with launcher, 4 speakers, lots of red/white led, mini halogens and a few other things....but that is a lot of freaking money.

Libby really liked the 24 tournament Nautistar. and is was nice ever has a 5 gallon bucket well. lids did not have shocks and the middle on the front deck had to be closed in order. middle first. it was a little over 50 ready to fish.

the 25LtZ is 70 and not ready to fish. and i remember when bay boats were cheaper than bass boats...wow times have changed. but bay boats now have all the fit and finish of bass boats without the metal flake.

keep your thoughts coming on the perfect bayboat and what it would have on it: radar...size...dome or bar, double optima batteries, side scan depth finders, generator set up vs inverters to run 1500 watts of lights for speckled trout fishing at night, outriggers, downriggers, etc.

[calebw]

Get a venture bay boat if you can. They are absolutely incredible boats. We tested a 23 venture bay boat a couple years ago and it rode better and drier than just about CC up to 27'.... It had a 275 verado and boy would that thing fly. Quiet as can be too. Quiter than the 150 yamaha we just got. Not the mention that it had more usable storage than any other boat that size. We just bought a 21' sea hunt bay and its a good boat for the money IMHO.... But its nothing compared to that venture.

[Foul Hook'd]

What kind of fishing do you mainly do? Inshore - Skinny water then I would look at a full on Bay Boat, but look at the $$$$ that Blackwood cost Yellowfin, the new Cape Bay from Cape Horn and Skeeter make some of the nicest topend bay boats out there. I like the Champion but I believe they bit the dust when Genmar went BR.

But if you are somewhere in between, inshore/ offshore a full on 23 ft. CC might serve you better, Regulator 23, Contender 23/23t and Cape Horn 24 OS all offer Twins, Live wells and much more rough water capabilities when the summer T Storm catches you and all are cheaper the Blackwood

Shopping and research are fun like you said, hard to find the perfect boat for all your needs

Motors, 4stroke all day! Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki allhave fine motors. Never have been a fan of the other black motor Too many bad trips with them. The Verado has ton of followers but everyone I know who has them say bring extra gas Heard several problems with the electro steering getting a mind of it's own and changing direction

Good luck with your shopping, just don't overlook the smaller boat lines unless you just like to have the most expensive thing out there

Foul Hook'd

[Catcher's Mitt]

Get a venture bay boat if you can. They are absolutely incredible boats. We tested a 23 venture bay boat a couple years ago and it rode better and drier than just about CC up to 27'.... It had a 275 verado and boy would that thing fly. Quiet as can be too. Quiter than the 150 yamaha we just got. Not the mention that it had more usable storage than any other boat that size. We just bought a 21' sea hunt bay and its a good boat for the money IMHO.... But its nothing compared to that venture.

we got on the the sea hunt. it was capt greg's guide boat. it was very nice. i thought it was longer than 21. it had nice high sides which libby wants if she is going off shore and lots of nice features. he said he had 200 hours on it and it was immaculate.

[Catcher's Mitt]

What kind of fishing do you mainly do? Inshore - Skinny water then I would look at a full on Bay Boat, but look at the $$$$ that Blackwood cost Yellowfin, the new Cape Bay from Cape Horn and Skeeter make some of the nicest topend bay boats out there. I like the Champion but I believe they bit the dust when Genmar went BR.

But if you are somewhere in between, inshore/ offshore a full on 23 ft. CC might serve you better, Regulator 23, Contender 23/23t and Cape Horn 24 OS all offer Twins, Live wells and much more rough water capabilities when the summer T Storm catches you and all are cheaper the Blackwood

Shopping and research are fun like you said, hard to find the perfect boat for all your needs

Motors, 4stroke all day! Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki allhave fine motors. Never have been a fan of the other black motor Too many bad trips with them. The Verado has ton of followers but everyone I know who has them say bring extra gas Heard several problems with the electro steering getting a mind of it's own and changing direction

Good luck with your shopping, just don't overlook the smaller boat lines unless you just like to have the most expensive thing out there

Foul Hook'd

thanks hook'd

i will check out those you mentioned.