Long shot: boat guys near Wichita?

Hey gang,

I'm looking to buy a boat for my family (will be our first). Been looking at Alumacraft, Lund, Lowe, and Crestliner deep-Vs primarily. 16-17' in length. We'd really like a walk-thru windshield model.

The problem I'm now running into is the height of these darn things! I didn't realize how tall they were. This whole time I've been more focused on length/width for the garage, but now I've discovered our garage door shape is killing off the choices pretty quick. :banghead

Our garage door opening (the house frame) is an arch shape, running from 6' 3" -- 6' 10" -- 6' 3". Many of these boats are 6' 10" or an inch or two shorter, which won't clear.

Wondering if anyone near Wichita happens to have a late-model boat in these makes with a walk-thru windshield that I could measure, have you measure, or, if you're really generous, let me invite you over with your boat to see if it'd fit!

Again, a long shot, but just thinking of ideas. I can always buy a side-console or dual console, but we're hoping a WT model will work as the wife and kids will be along most of the time. (I still have a few models that I think will work, but thought I'd check.)

Thanks!

Something to think about here. You are most likely to be using this boat in Kansas right? It gets very hot here. Sitting behind that walk thru windshield will take a lot of breeze off of you and the family. They are great for the North country where there are much cooler temps. You will also lose some floor space compared to a single console. Much easier to walk around in boat without having that second console in the way. Now if you are going to do a lot of winter fishing, that is where they will come in handy. I have a friend that bought his first boat a few years ago, a Tracker deep V, and he went with the walk thru model. He's kicked himself ever since for going with that model instead of single console. Just some thoughts.

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Originally Posted by sunka27

Something to think about here. You are most likely to be using this boat in Kansas right? It gets very hot here. Sitting behind that walk thru windshield will take a lot of breeze off of you and the family. They are great for the North country where there are much cooler temps. You will also lose some floor space compared to a single console. Much easier to walk around in boat without having that second console in the way. Now if you are going to do a lot of winter fishing, that is where they will come in handy. I have a friend that bought his first boat a few years ago, a Tracker deep V, and he went with the walk thru model. He's kicked himself ever since for going with that model instead of single console. Just some thoughts.

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You know, I never thought of it that way. Having never owned a boat, we figured that we would get chilled being out on the water with the wind. Didn't know how much breeze they'd actually negate! I'm glad I asked. Now my wife are reconsidering. You're right, it will be used primarily in Kansas and during the warm months. I can see myself getting out for some fishing when it's cool, but my wife and kids will probably pass on that. Might be able to take my son with me, and we'll dress for the conditions.

It's amazing, in all of the research, some of the most common sense thoughts failed to pass through this thick head of mine. Thanks! :D

Yak,
I got the Alumacraft Competitor 165 cs. It is a side console, the beam is 87" wide.... Lots a room to move around. My wife faces towards the back of the boat when it's chilly out. But nothing beats a full windshield when the water is cold, or rain. I had a walk through several years ago, when it was in the warmer months I just opened the center windshield up and plenty of air passed through. I personally went for the open space, but if you think you want to go out in the colder temps, nothing beats a full windshield and a Bimini top that fastens to the windshield. If you think you want a walk thru, definitely look at a 17 or 18 foot.
Dave.

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Originally Posted by Fishin Dave

Yak,
I got the Alumacraft Competitor 165 cs. It is a side console, the beam is 87" wide.... Lots a room to move around. My wife faces towards the back of the boat when it's chilly out. But nothing beats a full windshield when the water is cold, or rain. I had a walk through several years ago, when it was in the warmer months I just opened the center windshield up and plenty of air passed through. I personally went for the open space, but if you think you want to go out in the colder temps, nothing beats a full windshield and a Bimini top that fastens to the windshield. If you think you want a walk thru, definitely look at a 17 or 18 foot.
Dave.

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Good info, Dave! Thanks! Still enjoying that Alumacraft? The Missus and I are going to have a good chat about our needs on walk-thru vs side console. The extra room, like you mentioned, sounds pretty good. Decisions, decisions.

Haven't been out much, too much rain, and way to many cold fronts coming through. Have to work a lot of hours through the week, and the weekends have been cold , windy, and rainy up here near Member lake. The boat handles the rough water like a champ. Either the walk thru or the side console will handle the same, you just need to decide whether you are wanting to have the luxury of a full windshield like on a motorcycle, the open wind hitting everyone in the face.
We troll a lot, even in reverse going backwards, and doing a controlled side drift when possible with the wind using the trolling motor off the front to keep the boat parallel with the wind, and either push or pull the boat in towards the bank or out away from it.
That the main reason for letting the pontoon. We could drift sideways but was extremely hard to controlled the boat both parallel to the wind and push o pull the boat away from the bank.
It can be done to a certain extent, but you have to stay ahead of what the pontoon was doing to keep all the lines apart.
Just go to the boat shops and get up in each with your wife only. Leave the kids at home and see what you two think of a side console or and walk thru. Sit in there a bit and move to the front and to the back of the boat. You'll figure it out soon enough. Don't just look in over the side if the boat, move around in there like you own it , it will make your decision a lot easier as to whether you want to negotiate a walk through to just have a lot of open floor space.
One thing is for sure, a walk thru will block wind and water from the sides. You can open the middle window and let air pass thru when needed.
Side console you can never block the wind, ever. But gain accessibility.
My wife and I chose to have the room, and be cold on cold days.
Happy boating!☺️

I've never had a walk thru. Last boat was a G3 V 172c. Side console is nice when the water is calm. I fish Coffey County almost exclusively. It blows taking spray in the face. Seems like that lake is always rough enough to get spray going no matter how I trim the motor. I highly recommend a G3 boat.

I think my wife would agree with you on the spray thing...I can hear it now, lol! Good point. I hadn't considered it having never owned a boat before. Thanks!

It should have read Melvern lake not Member Lake.

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Originally Posted by Fishin Dave

It should have read Melvern lake not Member Lake.

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I was wondering about that, thinking we might have a super secret membership only lake here in Kansas. HA