Off Topic What is your ideal boat for Lake Erie?
rockin-steelhead
Well-Known Member
Elmerfudd
Well-Known Member
I fished 23 seasons all over US and Canada with my 1998 Crestliner Sportfish 1850/115hp Evinrude Intruder and it gave me great service. ZERO complaints or regrets. Boat was a tank. Finally sold her in mint shape and bought a new Tidewater 232cc with a 250 Yamaha. So I’ve had em big and small. Or at least small and midsize? My observations as I adjust to a much bigger boat....it’s a learning curve around the docks for sure. Out fishing there is no comparison due to deeper hull, more than double the hp and all that space. The bigger boat hasn’t changed my behavior. Rough is rough and I don’t intend to play games with the Great Lakes regardless of hull length. Much more enjoyable when Burwell got rough last Sunday for sure though and a much drier ride back to otter creek. All that said a deep v aluminum would be a great way to start, unless you are loaded in which case all those newbie related whiskey blisters you put on a dauntless or GW won’t be an issue for your wallet.
I knew I wanted to upgrade. When I priced out the longest Crestliner against the Tidewater, Blackfin and Scouts I was interested in, the fiberglass ccs were just a better value For the dollar.
Nobody has said this so I will - it’s the dealer that makes all the difference. Whatever you choose make sure the brand has a local dealer you can form a relationship with for hull and engine work. You WILL have some warranty issues and crap just breaks. How that is handled makes all the difference.
I knew I wanted to upgrade. When I priced out the longest Crestliner against the Tidewater, Blackfin and Scouts I was interested in, the fiberglass ccs were just a better value For the dollar.
Nobody has said this so I will - it’s the dealer that makes all the difference. Whatever you choose make sure the brand has a local dealer you can form a relationship with for hull and engine work. You WILL have some warranty issues and crap just breaks. How that is handled makes all the difference.
FlyingViking
Well-Known Member
Something that is aluminum and “trailer-able”. 24 foot king fisher. Lake Erie “ain’t all that” but for a short time in space. St.Clair, Lake Huron, Georgian bay, Lake Ontario needs to be in reach for me and a 24 aluminum would be an easy haul and all year fishin…
WeTheNorth
Active Member
Love my 22 Ocean Pro from Hewescraft, I can cruise at 34 mph with the Yamaha 150 handles more than you would want to be out in and very economical to run.
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I had an alumacraft voyager175 with 115, before that I had legend 195with 150. Traded it in for a key West 203fs with 150. It is an awesome boat for Erie, but I still don't care to fish in the waves, but it handles the waves when it does blow up. I purchased it from proctors in Simcoe and their service is awesome. Been using them for 20 years or so.
But until I win the lottery, THIS is what I'll have to settle for since it's about all I can afford.
View attachment 47772
Hey now, those get a lot of attention on the water.
Fish Farmer
Well-Known Member
A lot of the boats mentioned will be cheap in years to come when they force all watercraft to be powered by Elect motors.
It's going that way with cars and trucks. I'd stick with a outboard boat not to big, more versatile for travel small lakes. I had a 22' at one time now I'm down to a 16' side console, at my age easier to handle and I can get it into my garage where its locked up so these frigin snakes that crawl at night to steal your sh!t. Also if your a all year fisher an outboard is the way to go fishing winter months. Pick and chose your days for safety reason. If you just like to fish you don't need big and fast, slow and easy wins the race. Watch the weather and come back home your family and friends may want to see you tomorrow.
But remember if your into fishing the boat is just the starter, the next expense is the toys, fishing equipment you want to put into it.
It's going that way with cars and trucks. I'd stick with a outboard boat not to big, more versatile for travel small lakes. I had a 22' at one time now I'm down to a 16' side console, at my age easier to handle and I can get it into my garage where its locked up so these frigin snakes that crawl at night to steal your sh!t. Also if your a all year fisher an outboard is the way to go fishing winter months. Pick and chose your days for safety reason. If you just like to fish you don't need big and fast, slow and easy wins the race. Watch the weather and come back home your family and friends may want to see you tomorrow.
But remember if your into fishing the boat is just the starter, the next expense is the toys, fishing equipment you want to put into it.
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fishlessam
Well-Known Member
Some folks upgrade their sonar every year to the latest & greatest on the market, very expensive, my buddy just installed the latest hummingbird unit , it was like $8K , just crazy
D
Deleted member 7631
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jrr
Well-Known Member
Would have used that yesterday.
LongPointBoysSportfishing
Well-Known Member
Love my striper 2301WA, its a great fishing boat along with having a decent cuddy cabin and keeps us dry! Grady white, hydrasport, proline, boston whaler are awesome glass boats and KingFisher, Stabicraft, Hewescraft are my top aluminum boats.
spincast
Well-Known Member
Starcraft 196 Superfisherman 2000 Used Boat for Sale in Chatham, Ontario - BoatDealers.ca
2000 Used N/A Starcraft 196 Superfisherman Boat for Sale in Ontario From Maple City Marine Ltd.
lebaron
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I know. Already seen this, no shots for me yet, so no travel southStarcraft 196 Superfisherman 2000 Used Boat for Sale in Chatham, Ontario - BoatDealers.ca
2000 Used N/A Starcraft 196 Superfisherman Boat for Sale in Ontario From Maple City Marine Ltd.www.boatdealers.ca
.Update, sorry. I thought it's a US boat.
Actually, my boat was a 2011 with a 60hp 4stroke. And I kind of want similar features. My better half would not agree to lower the bar.
Thanks for the heads.
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quackers
Well-Known Member
Marsh's Marine has a decent selection depending on what you're looking for.
bryan dickson
Active Member
Thunderjet is what I run with a 150 Merc 4 stroke. Beauty