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I'm looking at a few options in a new boat and want some advice and experienced opinions. I currently have a tracker pro165 which is a great boat but looking for more room. I have been considering a 18ft bass buggy pontoon which definitely has room to spare but never fished on a pontoon and I'm concerned with maneuverability and trailering. Also looked at the new ranger 188 and the tracker txw195. Looking for some feedback and maybe other options I haven't explored yet.
Thanks in advance
I am going to get a new aluminum boat towards the end of this year or one during the January boat show when you get the best deals (I think). I want a Ranger RT188C (lower casting deck crappie version) but it doesn't have dual console (wife needs the wind protection lol). Looked at the RT188 bass version but it has a problem for me. I need to put my Ulterra on it for trolling and the RT188 is made with a recessed tray in the casting deck which wouldn't work with an Ulterra. Plus I want a lower deck than what's on the RT188 bass version.
I am also looking close at the War Eagle 861 Predator. I really like the lower deck but not sure about the limited area in it. I need to fish out of one before I could buy one. I think I would really like it but not sure.
I also like the tracker except I believe the quality is less than the Ranger and War Eagle. Plus I don't like the way the back of the boat sits low in the water and the front rises up pretty high. Probably need to look at one on the water. I hear it is a stable boat due to it's width.
That is were I am at the moment.
Have a look at the xpress hyper lift hull boats too. Best riding tin boat I've been in.
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I have a 2016 Lowe stinger ST 195, lots of room, love the boat, has two live wells.
I would like to have one of all, but, my garage is full.
I have a '12 Tracker 175tf(they used to be called the ProCrappie) and love it. Other than a wiring issue (Mercury problem not Tracker) with the power trim, the quality seems quite good. It only rides nose high when it is sitting still with no one on the front deck. I can fish 3 across the front and it is extremely stable and has plenty of room.Quote:
Originally Posted by tncrappiebass
I can only speak for the express hull. I have a 18ft with hyper lift hull. Feel free to pm any questions. Been asked not to discuss on open forums
I like my 16' deep v. It meets 85% of my requirements. That other 15% goes to a pontoon. Hard to beat a floating raft. As for boat control in a toon. All in the operator. Last weekend I was fishing with a buddy of mine. There were 5 of us on his 24' pontoon. We all stood on one corner and fished a 3' diameter circle to catch crappie. That isn't going to happen in any other boat. He trailers that toon everywhere. In fact, it is his guide boat. He guides on numerous lakes most weekends of the year, all from a 24' pontoon. He used to guide out of a 16' deep v, but the pontoon has tons more room for people, gear, storage, etc. Hard to beat a toon.
Take a look at the 21ft War Eagle Blackhawk paired with 150 4 Stroke. Lots of features, very economical vs fiberglass and easy to pull.
A fishing partner and work cohort just bought a used deck boat a month or so ago. I have not got to fish out of it yet but look forward to it. I guess you could say it is a boat,pontoon cross. It also uses it for family boating outings. We have been so busy at work and with family events I have not had a chance to go but first break I get I am going to load up with him and see how that thing fishes.
I bought a Triton 18cTX about 6 months ago and could not be happier. My previous boat was glass, and I was a little worried about handling in choppy water and wind. I have been very, very pleased with my boat. It is the crappie version so I have the lower deck in front, three across seating, and two live wells. Have the 115 merc 4 stroke. I can't say enough about the boat. The front deck is huge and when fishing with a partner, there is plenty room. I can also seat two of my grandkids up there and stand between them and run the trolling motor. I went with Triton instead of Ranger (basically same boat) because of dealer mostly, but price also. I would recommend the Triton or Ranger 18cTX to anybody. Very stable and great fishability.
later...don
All I want to comment on is the sail area on a pontoon. I know several folks that had pontoons for fishing and didn't like the way they blew around and were wind sensitive. They sit on top of the water more than any other boat. The opinions on the boats you mentions have already said my piece so I wont beat that dead horse.
Wind don't blow my Pondtoon much. It sets low in the water. It ain't for everybody, but it is great for clumsy old men. It is basically a fishing and hunting deck.
I got one like Zingers here.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...ondtoon-ready/
This is definitely more than two so here isQuote:
Originally Posted by Pelpalace
my :twocents :twocents :twocents worth - I fish entirely from a pontoon, used to have a Ranger and loved it but it was mainly for the speed and nostalgia that goes with fishing out of a Ranger! As I passed middle age the bass boat became more difficult for me getting up and down from the platform to the drivers seat especially when running jug line (20 at time); not to mention loading in strong current on the river and trailering, mostly all by myself. Here are a few things to consider when going from a boat to a pontoon:
1. First thing that was hard for me to get used to was the speed which in my pontoon boat is slowwwww....... I only get about 16 mph on good day with no head wind now keep in mind that I'm talking about pushing a 28 foot with a hardtop solid rear sidewalls and full bimini with only an 85hp Evin. so from what I've heard that's pretty good; of course there is pontoons out there that will run 45 to 50+ if you want to spend that kind of money on them.
2. Like previously stated "Wind is NOT your Friend" the other day I was trolling into the mouth of a creek and had the tm on 10 and cut all the way to left and was still coming in sideways, and I don't mean slightly at an angle I mean like at a 45dg. But there is fixes for that as well with wind socks and now the paddles / blades that you can lower down behind your boat.
3. As stated I'm running a 28ft and you mentioned a 18ft, I have fished out of a 20ft pontoon and seen a 18" wave totally wipe out the fence on the front of it, in case the shorter boat got caught up in some decent size wakes off of some other larger watercrafts and fell into the ditch and just wiped the nose out; it was not windy. I personally would never ever go out on a medium or large lake in a pontoon that small and would strongly suggest nothing less that a 24 footer. An 18 footer with NO chance of any caps or rough water may be fine but small lakes and large ponds are really where those thrive. Remember they call em' "Buggy" for a reason not "boat".
4. You mentioned trailering a pontoon; thousands of people do it every weekend, but imo that is one of the most hardest thing you can do to your pontoon is pull it up and down the highway. Just follow along behind one for a while and see the beating it takes, and find one that been up and down the road for a few years and most every rivet on it will be loose or they will have been replaced already with new rivets or screws.
Now those are about all of the negatives I can come up with at the moment so 4 is not at all that bad; here is my positives!
5. Hard to beat kicking back in a nice reclining lawn chair on deck and just enjoying the moment; especially if the fish aren't biting!
6. You will most always have plenty of room for all of your stuff, ice chest, coolers, gear and you can put a pontoon grill that hangs over the side for some quick hot dogs or burgers!
7. As mentioned above you can get your family or buddies all fishing side by side or spread out from each other if you prefer! Even kick back and take a nap on those all night fishing trips!
8. Depending where you fish, if it's the same lake it's worth looking into a slip rental; just like insurance, with a slip rental you've eliminated about 90% of the chances that you take of someone running into your rig while your pulling it to and from the lake not to mention regular mechanical failure with trailers, tires, bearings etc. and as previously noted the beating your boat will take. How many times on the weekend have you seen someones boat sitting beside the highway while there off trying to get parts. And you can get in a lot more "Fishing Time" since you can just jump out of your car and on to a ready-to-go boat when you get to the lake; as well as stay later since all you need to do is pull it back into the slip and head for home!
Yes for me; and I don't consider myself old yet as I'm only 56 but now that I have been fishing out of a pontoon I don't know of any reason that would be worth switching back to fishing from a regular boat over a toon.
Hope this helps :HandsClapping
I will suggest that you take a look at center console boats. They sit lower in the water and don't catch as much wind, and they are typically a lot faster than a pontoon boat. Plus there is plenty of room in a CC, and you can choose either aluminum or fiberglass models.
I always thought about a G3 Bay boat ever since fishing off Bama S's. Tons of room, and smart room. Love that the seat backs fold down to add to the size of the back deck. I always thought they were made well and made smart. And I like the center console idea of a bay boat too, better balanced, and allows walking around on both sides. Definitely worth consideration in my opinion.
http://crappie.com/1ads/buttons/G3.gif
I have had 3 different trackers and 1 nitro and now have a 2110 bay boat and love it. a bay boat is so user friendly , lot of room and easy to handle.
I will have to agree with the recommendations of a bay boat. And with the price of the aluminum bays I would suggest going glass. Cost will be the same and possibly less if you can deal with the right people. Key West, Sportsman, Sea Pro, Bulls Bay, all are great hulls and will ride really nice. A plus to the glass is you would have the ability of sneaking out on Eerie when conditions allow, more so than in an aluminum. I am sure there are dealers in Ohio, probably closer to Eerie that will have saltwater lines and carry bay boats. Pontoons are great for a booze cruise and some fishing applications, but not ideal for fishing and a pain to tow and store.
I have a 2013 Crestliner Storm17 get the crappie option 3 seat bases on front deck and 2 livewell - I love it. Got a 40 Mercury 4 stroke = 30MPH. Give it a look
https://www.crestliner.com/storm/
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It really depends on what kinds of fishing you do and if you do anything besides fish from it. If you have a family and don't spider rig much a pontoon is a good option. I fish a lot on Truman which is full of trees and a lot of guys dip trees and they tie up so wind is not an issue. Also if your trolling just make sure and have a big trolling motor or four stroke and wind shouldn't be an issue. Other wise for maneuverability I'd go with a regular fishing boat. It really depends on how you want to use it and what you use it for.