Ultimate Crappie Boat

If you guys were in the market for a new crappie boat, what do you guys like. I want aluminum, with a low front end (not a casting deck) wide enough to run two seats comfortably. A livewell in front, possibly a bait well, 18-20 feet, with room, not a lot of gimmicks. Room for spider rigs, rod racks, etc.

I've been looking at the Excel crappie series, the War Eagle predator, the Lowe's, the Sea Ark 190 crappie series. Just wondering if y'all have any experience with any of these, how you like them, what to stay away from.

Thanks in advance.

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.

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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.

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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.

Thank y'all for the help, I have some new models to look at now.