Thread: Ultimate Crappie Boat

I have a 2011 SeaArk XV860 and I love it....well built boat....wide and big and roomy.....has a low deck on front and three seat mounts on the front....live well is in front of the console. The SeaArk has thicker aluminum than the others.

Thanks for the reply, I fish a seaark now, I got this boat new new in 1998. Its my 15' fish/duck hunting boat. It has a million hours on it, and still performs flawlessly. Thats one reason I have been leaning towards another seaark. During november - april ish, its fine because boat traffic is at a minimum, but when boat traffic gets high, its like a roller coaster ride, poles bouncing etc. I want something stable this go around. I have to run two drift socks sometimes with high winds. Pulling cranks, I have to sit backwards with my hand on the troll motor foot control, halfway twisted around all day. It has got old, but still fits in a duck blind.

I have a Wareagle 861. While I love the boat, it can be tight up front with two people. It's fine with me due to I fish mostly alone. Wife only likes trolling cranks which she sits in back and I sit up front. If you go with a Wareagle predator I strongly recommend the 961 which is longer and wider. However sea arks are mighty fine boats. Good luck finding what you want.

Originally Posted by Lowbidr

During november - april ish, its fine because boat traffic is at a minimum, but when boat traffic gets high, its like a roller coaster ride, poles bouncing etc. I want something stable this go around.

I have a 19' Triton fish & ski.....a pretty heavy boat...and those waves you talk about almost want to throw me out of the boat.....guess I am saying, I don't know if you can avoid the rocking in any boat....but, good luck on your choice....

I would suggest you look at a TC-18 Crestliner. I have one and it has everything you mentioned that you wanted; live well-bait well front and back, wide front end with plenty of room for 2 people to fish, room for rod-transport rack, plenty of room for spider rigging, and it is 18.5 feet long. It has a 90 HP 4 stroke Mercury on the back with a 75 lb. thrust 24 volt trolling motor on the front. The front deck is recessed 3-4 inches. It also has two storage boxes in the back that holds slide in tackle boxes. Oh, and you can buy one right in Bossier City at H & W Marine. Go by and ask for Joe Gates. Tell him the preacher sent you. He might remember me. I can send you some pictures of my boat if you want.

Take a look at a war eagle 961 black hawk. I have one, it is a center console. Set up from the factory to fish two side by side up front. We love it. Works good for everything we do . Mine has a 115 optimax on it and runs about 45 mph. Enjoy your search.

Ranger RT188. I love mine. They do make a crappie series with holes in the front for spider rigs.

I have a Lowe stinger 195 2 live wells. Bait well, with a wide front deck 2 seats up front for spider rigging. Lots of room up front. Love mine great crappie boat.