Big guy looking for a new boat

Hi all,
Im new to the forum and used to be an avid tournament bass fisherman. For different reasons I sold my boat several years back and recently decided that I miss the water and want another boat.
Im really just wanting to stick to Crappie and Bream fishing. Tired of the hustle of competition fishing and just want to take it easy on the water on my days off.
I ama big guy. Pushing 335-340. I have looked at the G3's 1860 and the 2072 center consoles and had just about made up my mind on one of them but then I found an Alweld 1860 Stick Steer that grabbed my attention.
With that being said is there any other bigger folks in here that have stick steer boats that would recommend them. I tend to be a little weight conscious when it comes to some things and I was just wondering if 340 pounds on the front of a planed out 30 mph boat would be too much.

I look forward to hearing your input and suggestions.

God Bless,
Daniel

I'm a big guy too, weighing in at about 290-300 depending on whose scales I'm on. I have an Xpress H51 with a 90hp Merc on it and it planes out and goes fast enough for me. I have had my cousin in the boat with me and he's a big guy too......planed us out just fine. If you find a good used one, you might want to consider it.

Sounds great. Thanks!!! Im assuming you live in Tennessee?

I have a 754vs war eagle it’s 17 with a 50 Yamaha and I weighin at 260. I carry a pretty good load with me all the time and with full live well it carries the bow pretty high. On that bigger boat I don’t see why it wouldn’t work if you get right power on it and propped right. One thing is get inside one and see how hard it is to maneuver from front seat around throttle control and steering stick. I’m getting old and kinda infirm on my feet and that’s my biggest complaint on mine. To tight between controls and seat but love it other than that.


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Originally Posted by DanielD

Sounds great. Thanks!!! Im assuming you live in Tennessee?

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Naw, I'm an Arkansas Razorback who just happens to have been an OLD Houston Oilers fan and stayed loyal to the players when they moved the franchise to Tennessee.

You’ll be fine with the Allweld. I was 330........now I’m down to 270. I have a 1454 Xtreme stick steer that will plane out with me at 31 MPH. Would love to be in an 1860....I can only imagine. I have a few suggestions and facts for you. You will get wet. I strongly suggest you put a Smooth Moves suspension seat up front. I have one and if I didn’t the boat would have been sold a long time back....without that seat my back would be broke....with the seat it is like riding in a luxury car down the hi-way. I love the concept of stick steer with never having to leave the seat once I’m in the boat.

Regards


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I'm a big guy and own a 1448 stick steer with a 30 Evinrude on it. I haven't used it in years. It beats me up pretty bad if there's any chop on the water. It does not have power tilt/trim and I could never get the manual trim adjusted correctly to keep the bow up. My advice is, if you go stick steer, as a big guy get a big motor with power trim. You want a motor big enough to keep you and the bow up on plane.

I agree with Alphahawk.

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

You’ll be fine with the Allweld. I was 330........now I’m down to 270. I have a 1454 Xtreme stick steer that will plane out with me at 31 MPH. Would love to be in an 1860....I can only imagine. I have a few suggestions and facts for you. You will get wet. I strongly suggest you put a Smooth Moves suspension seat up front. I have one and if I didn’t the boat would have been sold a long time back....without that seat my back would be broke....with the seat it is like riding in a luxury car down the hi-way. I love the concept of stick steer with never having to leave the seat once I’m in the boat.

Regards


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I tried the stick steer, did not care for it. I am a plus size 64 year old, 350 lbs. Of the five boats I have owned [all aluminum], 3 have been deep V, two have been modified V. I love the deep V's the best. Great ride and in my opinion they will run as shallow as a mod v hull. My current rig is a 16' lund alaskan tiller. Sit in the rear [best ride] and it can handle most anything you can throw at it. Flat floor front to rear. 60 hp 4 stroke merc pushes it 30mph with full load of passengers and fuel. The high gunnels are a big selling point for me, less apt to fall out. If I have a passenger to deploy the trolling motor I never have to leave the seat to fish.

The stick steer is nice if you're not planning on anyone fishing up front with ya. I thought I wanted a stick-steer until I bought one and started fishing a few crappie tournaments. Now I want something else with a big deck up front so my partner and I can both fish up front. Just something to think about.

My Boss? is a big guy about 6'8" about 275lbs and just recently got that G3 2072 and he loves it. Says there's enough room to move around. Took it on Vaca and ran around in the Gulf and said it did great.

I would not really want a stick steer after hearing my fishing partner, who was driving his Tracker Panfish stick steer in some heavy boat wakes and starting hollering,"Oh My *****". That is when I decided I did not want to be on the end hitting waves first in a boat. That made my decision then.

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Originally Posted by tnduxcaller

I would not really want a stick steer after hearing my fishing partner, who was driving his Tracker Panfish stick steer in some heavy boat wakes and starting hollering,"Oh My *****". That is when I decided I did not want to be on the end hitting waves first in a boat. That made my decision then.

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There are "butt saver" chairs for the rough ride. I love stick steers. Got a tiny one in fact.

6' 300 here.
16/49 grumman ss

absolutely love it. fish by myself most of the time and it works great. 30hp johnson gets on plane and tops out at about 30mph. enough room for 1 up front and 1 in back to be comfortable. I had plenty of room up front until I put millennium seats in. They are great, big, and comfortable but a little too big to allow getting around the front easily. Unfortunately, will probably go back to a regular factory type seat.

Have any of you got a Tracker Panfish 16, and put an armrest seat in it? I’m afraid it might be too wide for the room available.

seat like this
Access Denied

i used to own a stick steer boat . it was a 16 foot lowe with a 40 hp on it . while the boat was very handy for a guy that fishes solo a lot , like others have said on our bigger water with much chop it beat me to death and soaked me. the last season i owned it , it got to the point if i wanted to fish a other area of the lake i trailered it to another ramp. great boat for smaller waters. i am 240

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Originally Posted by Rockhitter

I tried the stick steer, did not care for it. I am a plus size 64 year old, 350 lbs. Of the five boats I have owned [all aluminum], 3 have been deep V, two have been modified V. I love the deep V's the best. Great ride and in my opinion they will run as shallow as a mod v hull. My current rig is a 16' lund alaskan tiller. Sit in the rear [best ride] and it can handle most anything you can throw at it. Flat floor front to rear. 60 hp 4 stroke merc pushes it 30mph with full load of passengers and fuel. The high gunnels are a big selling point for me, less apt to fall out. If I have a passenger to deploy the trolling motor I never have to leave the seat to fish.

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Rockhitter, you hit the nail on he head!
I too have a Lund and would not trade it for any low sided boat I have seen. They are safe, dry and up to any task a crappie fisherman is going to ask it to perform. Why any older angler would continue to be drawn to some of the bass boat configurations is beyond me. A friend who is 73 just bought one. He has to sit on a cushion on the console seat, and already two people fell off the rear deck! There is no margin for error.

if its flat bottom (almost flat anyway) 60" is great ...I got Superior 1660 (with Pontoons and Tunnel...in salt flats they great) but now I only fish fresh they create problems with clean water for place to put Transducer/pucks..

I have pondered a stick steer for quite some time. But the Ulterra has opened new doors. I am thinking along the lines of these now
Gator Tough 18 DK | G3 Boats
Gator Tough 16 DK | G3 Boats
2019 Alumacraft Waterfowler 16 Boat - alumacraft.com
2019 Roughneck 18DT Jon Aluminum Hunting Boats | Lowe Boats
Boat Models - SeaArk Boats - Arkansas

If its rough or trolling, stay in back and deploy trolling motor, nice and calm move to deck and work away. No more taking a beating driving up front and open layout boats.

I have a SeaArk 240 with double pedestals on the front with a 25 gal live well between the seats. I weigh 280 and my fishing partner is pushing 400. We sit side by side with plenty of room to turn to the inside of the boat and not over the rails. I also have an Ultra so I don't have to get on the deck in rough water. I am 67 and the balance is not as good as it used to be and boat wakes and waves can cause some issues. Good luck with your search.

I am a little fellow about 145 -150 -- I have a 14 ft Allweld alu Stick Steer W/ 25 Hp power --- An Add on Power tilt Trim ... this add on allows me to have Helix Side Imaging that has full view without lifting the Motor.... Several Alum boats I have been in has NO LIVEWELL or storage . My little tub has never Soaked Me but I can not say that for My brothers 19 1/2 foot Alum that was 60 inches wide.. his boat also had no storage or well. He bought a Dry Storage box 24" x 40" -- Life Vests, Float cushions, Cast Nets, Rain Coats.. Depth finders when not in use and other Junk .. these Boxes Sweat on the inside and do not keep anything dry.. they just do not leak rain water.. then you add Ice chest and god knows what else the boat is full without even carrying kids Fishing.... My experience says no less than 18 feet with storage boxes and a good Livewell --- an Add on type power tilt for the motor -- and a Trailer built that will let you use a Transom saver --- another thing is Boats that are Streight across the front ( jon Boats ) Covers to store the boat do not fit John Boats -- Semi - V or Bass boat have a large selection that do work well ---- Going Bare bones for a boat without storage there is never enough room

Hard to beat a deep v for us big guys. Get to sit in normal height chairs. Lol. I have a lund rebel and love it. Had a crestliner befor it and it was a good boat. Sold it to buy a new Carolina skiff and it beat me to death. Sold it within a year and back to deep v.