paleus

Finally got the boat after several delays. It's actually a 2022 model since it was delayed for so long.

It's not completely integrated, you can take it off. They sell different nosecones for other brands transducers as well.

What did you not like about the Terrova?

Nice. Do you have any tips since you got that boat? Have you found anything that needed tweaking on yours? I'm going from a 1560 mod-v jon boat so this will feel like an aircraft carrier to me, lol. I am leaning that way. There's also the difficulties with rigging the Garmin transducer on the Terrova, where the Force comes with the right transducer built in.

I've got a new Lowe Stinger 175c on order that will be here in July (supposedly, hopefully sooner). It will come with a 70lb 24V Edge installed. I will want to upgrade to a trolling motor with spotlock. I have Garmin Echomaps that I will be putting on the new boat. Is the Garmin Force worth nearly twice the price of a Terrova? The Force is $3,099, the 80lb Terrova is $1,849. I know the Force is brushless and will have way better battery life and will integrate with the Echomaps and will go to waypoints, but is that a huge difference in usability over the Terrova? Are there any other features I am overlooking on the Force?

Garmin 93sv UHD. They can be found for under $1000 with transducer. I just got a 73sv uhd for $550.

They can just stock the side of the lake that allows fishing...

I literally have never loosened the drag on my reels. The drags on all my reels work fine.

That would have to be a heck of a weed bed to get a boat stuck in. You can always get out and push. I have gotten my trolling motor stuck in the middle of a hollowed out stump. Like stuck stuck. Had to take my trolling motor out of the bracket so I could wiggle it loose. Was not fun.

It's gonna get scratched no matter how much you baby it. It's a tool to catch fish. I'm not saying just run it into everything, but maybe worry a little less about getting it a little scratched. Fish into the wind so the wind blows you off the bank instead of into it. It just takes practice, just like anything else, to get good at managing the boat and fishing at the same time. You'll figure it out. Find a spot and put your anchor out and fish and not worry about the boat. Fish on days with little or no wind. You should have an anchor and line on board always, in case you lose power.

Get a Garmin Force or similar. Probably would push that boat like 5mph and you'd get spot lock and other features.

12lb fluoro on baitcasters 8lb fluoro on spinning

I like 15-20 lb braid and an 8 lb fluoro leader. I tie the leader on still on the spool, then pull out a wingspan (about 6') and cut it off. 6' leader lets me retie a handful of times before needing to retie the leader.

I got an Okuma Citrix 4 piece travel rod for backpacking. I like it so much, I use it all the time. It's probably my most used rod. It is just as sensitive as any 1 piece rod I have used. I have an Okuma RTX-25 on it.

Put a deposit down on a 2021 Lowe Stinger 175C with a 60 Merc today. Pumped. I wanted the 75hp, but they don't have anymore for 2021 according to the dealer. It should still do low 30s with the 60, which is fine, I'm not fishing tournaments. Sucks that it won't come in until July. I couldn't justify the extra cost for the Vexus. I can pay the Lowe off way earlier and not pay as much interest.

I look for structure. Then you can get a closer look and maybe identify fish on that structure. Just seeing a group of fish out in the open usually means those fish are on the move and probably won't still be in that spot by the time you get set up to fish it. If it is a drop off or point they might be suspended on that out in the open, but I mean just a general flat bottom with no specific features.

I found an Echomap 73sv UHD for $550 and ordered it. Really wanted the larger screen, but wasn't worth double the price. Really excited, side view is going to be a game changer for me.

Alberto is what I use. I've never been able to reliably tie an FG at home, much less on the boat in the wind. Alberto is easy to tie and has been nearly 100% reliable for me. I have no trouble with it going through the eyes on any of my rods.

I'm not sure if the AVX181 is a pad hull or mod V. Edit: on their website it says it is a pad hull. Yeah, I have 2 schools of thought for the amount I want to spend: If I am going to buy a new boat, I am going to keep it for a long time, 10-15 years or more, and figure I should spend the money and get what I want. I think I can get an AVX181 out the door for $30k with a 75 Merc or 70 Suzuki. If I am going to buy a used boat, I may not keep it as long before wanting to upgrade, but there are lots of great boats out there, like a Lowe Stinger 175, that can be had for around $15k. I do like saving money, but it will always be in the back of my mind about "I should have just ponied up and got what I wanted." Then, with a used boat, you don't know how it's been treated, and you get no warranties on anything. And, with current used boat prices, you're only looking at a $5-6k difference between new and a few years old of the same model.

I want to upgrade from my Lowrance Elite 5 HDI. Looking at Garmin Echomap 93sv. I found a 93sv plus for under $500. Is the UHD that much better to justify nearly double the price? Nevermind about the $500, that's from some scam site called Rembulan Fishing. Still is the UHD worth it? I mostly fish in less than 20ft of water. Also thinking about just getting a Striker 9sv. Not sure if I really need maps. Can't hook up a panoptix transducer to the Striker though. You can on the echomap.

We have a local non-BPS Tracker dealer, if I go that way. I'm leaning hard towards Vexus, unless I find something used that I like.

Well, the Lowe had already sold when I called about it... dangit.

I've thought about used, but just haven't seen much out there. Probably because of the time of year. And looking at shiny new ones, the used ones don't look so great, feature and finish wise. I did just find a 2014 Lowe Stinger 175 nearby. It's got a 60 merc on it, but it has a lot of other nice features. I like the layout. I've heard good things about Lowe. They don't have the price listed, but it should be around $15k, which is half of what I'm looking at for a Vexus. That is enticing.

Basically, I'm just torn between spending $30k on a "better" boat (whether that's Vexus, Xpress, Ranger, or whatever) or saving money and getting a Tracker for $20k. Just not sure I can see the difference in value or justify paying that much more when I still will want to upgrade the electronics on it. I actually really like the layout on the 175TF, except for the 7' rod locker. But overall, I like the Vexus more. Just conflicted on the money side of things.

I have looked at Xpress. Seems like the Vexus are more well equipped for the price.