Thread: Advice on first boat.

You might think about the tiller steer boat will have the motor, batteries and your weight in the back of the boat when you’re driving it. You may have problems getting the boat to plane out.

It may not be a problem, just something that I thought about.

Originally Posted by TacoTyler4x4

With your experience, would a 1860 handle me and my wife? Our weights are 280 and 250. Also, would a smaller boat handle us too? That’s my only question with boats is the weight. I’m torn between a 1860 center console and tiller.

I have a Triton 1860, and I think it's rated for 700 or so pounds, it has a 90hp Yamaha and has been a great boat. I just recently upgraded to a 21' Triton bass boat.

**EDIT** I just checked, the boat is rated for six persons or 860lbs, 1400lbs, persons, motor and gear.

Look for a good used 20' with a 200 motor .... they will handle wind and waves better ..... if you buy a new boat, it will need to be worked on in a couple years anyway!
You need 4 boats ... a barge, a bass/crappie boat, a big river boat and a small river boat! .... I don't have a barge, but I am old and not the party type!

Do you like cleaning the boat every trip ? Fish riprap ?

I think the 18/60 with a ninety would be perfect for you. I am on boat 13 a 20ft xpress bass style with a 200 yamaha Sho. I have had 2 different 18/60 boats with 90hp's. Sold first one(lake sport) because the bottom was too flat(rough riding). Sold the second(duracraft) because a different deal came up. Both were great options. Both had side consoles. I had one boat with a center console and did not like the positioning at all. It was a 20 ft. bay boat. Anyway, I am a heavy guy and my partner was also a heavy guy. The 18/60 size was fine. Just so you know I bought both of those in your area.(pierre part/gonzales) My xpress also came from Baton Rouge. I lived in Watson for 25 plus years, then Port Allen for 9 yrs. until I moved to Tn. then back to La. in Lake Charles. I mostly fished atchafalaya spillway and below Houma in the marsh. You may know my SIL, big fisherman/hunter. Goes by flipper, lives in Brusly.

Originally Posted by Eagle 1

Do you like cleaning the boat every trip ? Fish riprap ?

This is the boat that I want. Simple boat with a tiller. Graphs and a live scope. How does it handle rough water? And can is support two people at combined 550 lbs well?

Originally Posted by "D"

I think the 18/60 with a ninety would be perfect for you. I am on boat 13 a 20ft xpress bass style with a 200 yamaha Sho. I have had 2 different 18/60 boats with 90hp's. Sold first one(lake sport) because the bottom was too flat(rough riding). Sold the second(duracraft) because a different deal came up. Both were great options. Both had side consoles. I had one boat with a center console and did not like the positioning at all. It was a 20 ft. bay boat. Anyway, I am a heavy guy and my partner was also a heavy guy. The 18/60 size was fine. Just so you know I bought both of those in your area.(pierre part/gonzales) My xpress also came from Baton Rouge. I lived in Watson for 25 plus years, then Port Allen for 9 yrs. until I moved to Tn. then back to La. in Lake Charles. I mostly fished atchafalaya spillway and below Houma in the marsh. You may know my SIL, big fisherman/hunter. Goes by flipper, lives in Brusly.

Can you recommend any brands and models for me? My wife probably knows him, I’m from the Lafayette area she is from the brusly area.

So, before my new boat I owned a 40-year-old aluminum bass tracker that my brother is still using to catch loads of fish. Now that they are making those again, I'd probably suggest that as a first boat as they're relatively inexpensive compared to others and will fish two people comfortably.

If you want to to spend a little more, a small pontoon boat that is made for fishing opens up a lot of comfort and stability. I fish out of a pontoon now and being able to spot lock over brush and not worry over boat wake is awesome.

Good luck with whatever you decide though and on your next fishing trips!