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I am thinking about buying a 16ft lowe crappie/panfish edition with a 25hp Johnson. How well do these boats perform with only one person on board? I weigh about 290lbs. Anyone with a boat with stick steering have advice? Will this thing spin like a top when I try to make a sharp turn? Thanks
risk, i'm about 240 and have had mine about 6 months now. first one for me. if you are trimmed out and moving pretty good and you are solo, yeah they will slide and prop spin a little on sharp turns. i just make sure that i got the prop slammed against the transom if i'm going to make a sharp turn at higher speeds. it takes a little getting use to. lowe makes a good boat for the money. fished them for 25 years before this triton. wish i had them back. haven't had mine spin like a top yet though.lol
I installed a stick steering system on a small f/glass (duck boat) several years ago. I had a 25HP on the boat which gave it plenty of power, never realy feel at ease with that steering system. Later went to a P/craft 14/48 model and almost put the stick system in it. I fish by myself a lot and wanted to be able to do everything from the front seat. Instead I installed a standard steering system with the steering wheel mounted in a flat position, similar to mounting it on a bench seat. Added an old time tractor steering spinning knob ro the wheel and to me this is much easier and safer than a stick system. Pm me a phone number and I will try to explain it in more detail. I would not use the stick system.,
My friend fishes out of this stick steer Fisher with a Mercury 60hp 4 stroke and is really satisfied with it and I think he is in the same weight class as you. :) ;)
I have one and it is a great boat except when the lake is rough. Makes for a rough and wet ride back to the boat ramp.
I've had my boat for 3 years now and still enjoy fishing out of it. Everything is set up to where I never have to more once in the boat. I have an 40 hp and don't have any problems with turns, but I'm old enough to know you need to slow down if you want to make a sharp turn :) just saying ;)
lowe makes a good boat and no you will not spin in turns. any style boat can slide in turns its got nothing to do with the steering. i've got a 16' grumman stick steer with a 60 yamaha and i weigh about 250. if you want a boat to fish out of then stick steering,imo, is the way to go. you're right in front where you can see any obstacles and you don't have to get up and move any. but every boat has pros and cons. like Creekslick said they ride rough in choppy water because you are sittng on the front. stick steering boats are great fishing boats but if you want to cruise the lake you may want to consider a console
Know nothing about this company but they sell a fiberglass SS boat.
Welcome to Royal Boats- maker of the finest fiberglass stick steering boats on the water
I own a 16 ft tracker SS w/ a 25 hp 4-stroke merc and wish I had a 40 hp motor. It pushes me fine (225 lbs) but with anybody else in the boat it struggles to get on plane. If you fish any bodies of water that get rough be very careful because they will take waves over the bow pretty easily. I really like the 17ft models that tracker and some of the others have out and with your size I would consider them also.
I had a 15' Fisher Marine with a 20 merc., a 15' fiberglasswith a 25 Evenrude, and now I have a 16' Dura Craft with a 48 Johnson. All had stick steering. Loved em all , wouldn't have anything else.
Carolina Skiff makes a fiberglass Stick steer in the JVX series up to 20 feet long. 78" beam. Nice looking rig. CF
I had a sea nymph (now lowe) riveted stick boat with a 25 johnson for 6 years. 40lb pd minn kota on the front was adequate cuz if it wouldn't do the job it was too windy and you needed to go home anyway.Liked a lot about the boat, and it ran 19 to 22 mph on gps. 5 or 6 trips on 6 gallons of fuel. It was the last riveted boat I will ever buy. Had several that needed redone when it was sold. All were loosened in rough water getting back to the ramp. And yes, it's a rough ride being that far forward. I've had surgery on the lower back and it left me sore a lot on rough days. If you want the back end to stay down more fill a 48qt cooler and put it towards the back. Tamed mine down just fine. Mine also had almost no storage and no live well. I bought "The Other Woman" and I'm no longer sore when I'm done for the day. The increased range comes in handy too. Here's pics of both. Good luck with your decision.
If I was going to buy a new stick steer I would sure look at this one before I made my final decision.
Model: VS: War Eagle Boats
I purchased the boat yesterday. It is in such good condition I couldn't pass it up. A friend found a tiller kit for the 25 johnson so I have options. Come to find out the total length of the boat is 18 inches longer than my garage. A swing away tongue is next. I have a fish and ski for windy days and larger water.
Now if it would only get above freezing so I can go fishing.
Thanks again,
Risk
Have fun with it Risk. I had lots of fun, and caught lots of fish out of mine. Rear seat post made mine comfy for the guy behind. Reinforce the seat base if you do that.
I have an old duracraft stick steer and i love it. i dont have to run across the whole boat. I fish off the deck, plop down into the seat and im off. No switching seats and fewer chances of stumbling and stepping on gear. The boat is pretty rough in the waves and wind but thats life. Mine does cut a little in the waves but mine is almost a real v hull in the front.
Pop Rivers has a Royal fiberglass stick steer with a 60 4 stroke merc on it. Went fishing with him last week and that boat sure is sweet. Liked it so much I'm thinking about selling my 3 year old duracraft boat and getting one of those. They are advertised as the finest stick steer boat on the market
Quote:
Originally Posted by FroggerZack
I just bought a 16ft. Panfish stick steering with a 30hp Mercury----It is not what I expected---2 heavy people or a 3rd it will not plane--just plows-----I need a boat that will cross rough water at times to get to my spots---Made a mistake about buying this boat--now in a tug of war with the dealer, trying to upgrade, they want to cut 30% off price for trade in---This boat may be fine in the backwaters but not in rough water. It is a small boat once you get in it--but everything is right there----Me I am to long legged to operate trolling motor, must stand up and that is a NO-NO
The Bass Tracker I just bought is must like yours--it is a plow in rough water--can not plane with any weight---30HP not very good on this one--must reach speed to plane--this is tough and it gets wet---I would be afraid of it in 3-4 ft. waves--it may sink----My Crestliner I had would get on top and go.---not this one. Need horse power to plane.Quote:
Originally Posted by FroggerZack
I have a new one Bass tracker that I am going to trade in--trade or get rid of it----I do not like it at all---Maybe just me--but it has its good and bad points. For me more bad than good.
Any takers.
I've never owned a stick steer but have looked at quite a few and they look like the ultimate crappie fishing rig. As already stated, once in the boat you can do everything from your seat and the steering doesnt take up much room at all. IMO, it's the way to go unless youre buying a larger boat.;)
I had a 18ft. Polar Kraft---should have kept it, but it had the big 90 hp on it---Sometimes you learn the hard way.
I mountd the stearing wheel up front too. I wouldnt have it any other way except maybe stick stear.
I own a stick steer boat and love it. As said, it absolutely is NOT for rough water of any kind. However, in 10mph or less winds, it's the bomb. If the wind is faster than that, I fish in sheltered waters. JBJ
I had a 16', 25hp Sea Nymph SS boat for 4 yrs and miss it all the time. My lower back was the biggest deciding factor, the rough ride up front is not a myth. If you want some easy weight in the back get a cooler that is the biggest that will fit as far back in the boat as you can get it and fill it before you leave. When you're on the way home just pull the plug on the cooler and it will drain as you drive. It can be filled with a bilge pump adapted with a little ingenuity. Worked well for me, my boat was light with no interior to speak of. Mine had no live well and doubled as that. Great second seat, helped keep the prop a little deeper, and it didn't complain!!
I fish creeks a lot, if the wind ever gets up while in the creek and you have to go into larger rough water be prepared to get soaked or get at the back of the boat and manually
steer the boat with the motor itself. I also fish by myself and had a lowe 16 with a 35 Johnson, great to fish out of but they do have their drawbacks. There was never a
problem to me steering it just the getting soaked in mid winter.
I have a stick steer boat. Joystick. I can take my hand off the stick and the boat will not torque. Hands free when on a long run. Love it.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps7de33ecf.jpg
I just noticed your joystick. Didn't know you actually meant a joystick! :) That's pretty neat! Never seen one of those. Is it hydraulic or electrical? Seems like a much safer route than typical stick steering, but I'll bet it's not cheap.... Would love to see a closeup of the system as far as the mechanism that makes it work. That's just too cool.
JBJ
I have a 16' SeaArk with a 25 hp Johnson that I found used locally. I really love it because I can just sit down and fish. The lake I fish in is full of trees and stumps so like Bayoumonster says it is hands on the controls when moving. I like it because it is big enough to be stable in rough water and small enough to get in tight places. The main thing I dislike is not getting enough time in it.
Yes. It is all electronic control (no hydraulics). Yes. It is much safer than standard stick steer. Yes. I design my own circuits, so this is a one of a kind. Expense, about 700-800 Georges. I share info.Quote:
Originally Posted by bayoumonster
IT"S ALIVE! (this thread)
Yep! Funny, but nice to relive somethin' besides what size line. ha
True that.
I feel a stick steer boat rigging pic coming on soon......... :)
:popcorn I wanna see!! I wanna see!! Would LOVE to find an old kingfisher/glass stream/vip/bomber/ouachita/ etc....stick steer. Front and rear seats....livewell in middle or another seat. I have scoured craigslist. lol.
RCC/cp...I was so excited about talking about sticksteer boats I didn't even look at the dates...it was really awaken from hibernation!
I'm working on a '98 VIP right now. It came from the factory with a side live well, and bow live well. No decks, just floor (which I like). I've removed the console and seat/seat base and am installing stick steering, a rod box, and new longer throttle/shift cables. I'm having to do some fiberglass and carpet work because the console seat base was fiberglassed in..... ??? Anyway, if I get a chance, I'll post some pics tomorrow. Went fishing today in my old stick steer boat (limit was taken, bTW :) ) Here's some pics of my dad and his friend with 3 hawgs they caught today in his friends duracraft stick steer--- which I LOVE! Wish they still made them. 50hp yamaha 4-stroke and fishes NICE. Of the 3 fish, one was 2.2, the others 2.4 and 2.5lbs. My son and I caught nice fish, but none over 2. We had about 8 fish just under 2lbs. The pic he has in the pic is just an average fish, the first he caught today.
Enjoy......
I saw one of the crappie.com guy in the "Git-the-net" boat, but didn't want to disturb him since the wind was blowing a bit when he came by.
Later,
JBJAttachment 148310Attachment 148311Attachment 148312
Progator down in Louisiana still makes them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrapper
http://www.progator.com/Boats/154S/154s.html
Yeah, I've looked at them. To high for me though. Would like to find one of those, ran when we parked it fives years ago deals...or been under a barn for 10 years...or maybe even the old tri hull stick steer sitting next to the tree covered in sap. Any of these would be right up my alley. I like fixing stuff and am a sucker for a challenge. lol. Gut it and make it the way I want. It makes me sick driving around and seeing so many old boats sitting under trees...or on the ground....or just sitting on a trailer out in the middle of the yard on flat tires that are covered in fire ant mounds. :banghead
I'm with bayou though...open floor...no decks. Seats front and rear with the livewell/cushion in the center.