What is the perfect combination boat?

I currently have a Lowe Roughneck 2070SC with a Suzuki 115. It has worked well for me for the past 5 years, but I am looking for a more well rounded boat.

I live in Central NC. So I inland fish for crappie and catfish, but I also like to run saltwater. Not looking to run far offshore, but would like a boat capable of crappie fishing and trolling for Spanish mackerel a mile or two out. I know I would still have to pick my days. Crappie fishing, I do a little bit of everything. Spider rig, long line, push/pull cranks, jigging, etc.

My question is, does a boat exist that can handle this and not sacrifice a lot? I have looked at Excel and Xpress Bay Boats, but are they up to the saltwater fishing, as well as a very comfortable crappie fishing boat? I have not looked much at glass boats, but are interested in those as well.

Sea Ark would be my pick. They are awesome! Lifetime warranty on the hull. I think they'll add a saltwater package to about any model.

Center console bay boats are wonderful rigs. They typically have "self-bailing decks" via scupper valves, can just hose them off when done, etc. Tall gunwales, casting decks, and are pretty stable. I don't know how shallow they'll draft though. They also aren't good for running up small creeks.

One that is paid for.

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Originally Posted by ksnouf

One that is paid for.

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X2!


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I’ve ran Excel Bay Pros for 5 years and my clients and I love them for the stability, room, and storage. That said I’m soon going to be running an Excel Storm Cat because of two replaced knees and major back surgery. I need time to sit while on long trips.


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Originally Posted by ksnouf

One that is paid for.

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Actually a DNR boat with the shocker on the front :biggrin :biggrin

Just my opinion. If you’re asking this question now with so much research still to be done, you’ll be ready to buy a boat when the prices get a little better in the fall or winter. So many variables make my head hurt just trying to figure out all I need in one boat. Always sacrifices somewhere. With evinrude off the market, power choices just got easier. I would be going to boat ramps and boat shows and asking for all the info I could get. I saw a Pioneer 21 cc with a t top and 150 f model Yamaha on it today that had my interest. Lower sides and not too severe a v allowing shallower draft. I’m trying to figure out how to buy the one you’re getting out of, would do me fine.

sounds like a somewhat tough choice to me , the perfect boat for both versions of what you want to do is likely a center console and probably needs to be glass .
of course I don't know much but I do know a fella who sold about the finest large sea ark I ever seen recently and went a bit larger glass center console because he likes to hit the big striped fish out in the sea of waves

I guess the more I look, the more I realize I would need two boats to be able to do both. I just hate to keep up with two of them and the use would go down on the other. I look at all these bay boats, but I always wonder will they work for both applications, crappie fishing and running offshore on occasion. May be a will find a deal on a glass center console, but now that would be very unlikely. I will keep doing my research and see where it takes me

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Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

Sea Ark would be my pick. They are awesome! Lifetime warranty on the hull. I think they'll add a saltwater package to about any model.

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I have a Seaark 2472 VFX, It's a freshwater / saltwater version. Handles big water great. Center console with Mercury 150 pro xs

No such boat exists.


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Check out Carl Painter. He is a guide on here and he fishes out of a Ranger Bay boat, center console. I have fished out of this boat several times and it was a very good choice. He. fishes Sardis and Grenada and I have been in that boat in some really rough water and it was very comfortable . I would book a trip with him and that way you will catch a bunch of nice crappie and get to check out the type of boat you are looking at.

I would not plan to run any inlet on Atlantic Ocean on a regular basis I an aluminum bay boat. Things happen fast with tide and wind changes and stacking at inlet. A self bailing fiberglass bay boat would would be good. I had an 18' Sportsman and fished well but very limited space with center console. I would suggest something 21' in a center console.

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I have a 22 ft Center Console Xpress. 175 Yamaha 4 stroke. Easy on gas. Will run 65 mph loaded. Takes rough water, 3 - 4 foot rollers, very well. I am very happy with it. Smooth ride but will go in 1 ft of water semi v. Check em out.

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sounds like two boats to me!