Boat Opinions

Biggest, heaviest, widest boat you can afford. No secret what style of boat I like.

Find what you like and forget the rest. Personally, I like 18+ fet, deep V, Nice tall sides and a full windshield. Not an open floor plan but I do like my comfort.

Handles weight extremely well!

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I would suggest a center console bay boat

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Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

Lots of nice boats out there. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!! My best advise is to try and test ride them in rough water. Most dealers aren't set up to let you do that, but try your friends different boats and pick what YOU like, not what someone else likes!!!! Know WHY you like the rig without looking at the name on it. Call dealers that sell different brands and educate yourself Before You Buy!!!!

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Then make sure you check out BRM for fair pricing. he is good people!!

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Originally Posted by Gomer Snerd

Then make sure you check out BRM for fair pricing. he is good people!!

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Thank You Gomer.

I have a lowe stinger 195 and it is an awesome layout for rigging and cranking! and tonz of storage. I went fishing with a guy from arkansas on Greers ferry and he had a fiberglass walleye boat, and that probably would be the way to go on big water in my opinion. They handle rough so well and it was spacious, had storage, and just the total package. My Lowe is very stable, but the drive in rough water will get ya wet.

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Originally Posted by fishfried

Being new to crappie fishing and buying my first boat this year, I won't make any recommendations, but will tell you why I bought the boat I did. I purchased a Lowe ST195DC w/115HP 4-stroke Mercury.

I either looked at or researched just about every brand out there. (I really liked the G3 Eagle Talon series and wished they had a live well up front and a little cheaper.)

I wanted something around 19' (go big!), with large deck and live well up front and, of coarse, within my limited price range. I really love the large deck on this boat and believe it to be the largest available. When fishing with two (seats) up front, there is no sense of crowding. It is a clean slate that you can setup to your liking. The Mercury four stroke is a quiet motor and easy on gas. I think I'm still on third tank of gas. ( I have had boat out almost every week since Jun 2nd purchase.) Boat is stable and rides good on choppy water. Even though this is my first boat, after 50+ years of fishing and riding on a lot of boats, this boat rides as good as any I have been on.

The reason I passed on other boats was either price or bow (deck) narrowed out to point too fast for me.

Someone had commented to me that Lowe used lower quality components. I have to agree with that somewhat, but now that I have had boat awhile, still would buy same boat again. Still think it is a quality boat.

Anyway, here is link to my boat if you want to take a look. Would be happy to answer any questions. Based on all my looking, really don't think you can go wrong with any of the name brands, just have to find features and layout you like.

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/boat-...95-dc-rigging/

-danny

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Agreed! Awesome boat! I believe your right about largest deck available. I too would have made same decision if I had to do it over again, this boat just fit "My" bill in every way.

"G" nailed it above. Everybody likes the boat brand that They own. Go look at all of them, and don't look at the name on it. Choose the boat that's best for YOUR style of fishing, and the one that YOU like the best. Everyone has their opinion, but YOU are the one paying for YOUR boat. If you are fishing big waters, be critical about the hull design you look at.

The 17' Xpress you have sounds like the Mod-V hull. The Hyper Lift pad hulls are the ticket for the rough stuff. They are built like a glass boat, but being aluminum, are MUCH less expensive.

Good luck in your search, and if I can be of any help, don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'll be glad to show you any of the brands, and styles that I have.

Xpress, Excel, Ranger, Havoc, and Alweld.

Bet it's an h51. Mine has a very small front deck. Of course with me on it the USS Alabama looks small.