Hi-Powered Red Neck

I've never heard of it happening on a bass boat either. I was just saying.

Now on a side note. In my late 20 to mid 40's I was an avid scuba diver. I worked on a Golf Course and started diving to get golf balls for the driving range. That paid for my gear and classes plus a bunch of other stuff. I had a dive partner with a boat and spear fishing was our thing. We dove all the hot spots we could out of East Pass in Destin Fl. I grew up in Destin so a lot of my friends were charter fishermen. Well my partner and I decided to do a "lead" dive. So I modified a 5 gallon bucket and borrowed a 75lb lift bag from the local dive shop owner. We went straight to the Liberty Ship. As the name implies it was a WW2 Liberty Ship that was sunk as an artificial reef and it is a heavily fished. With in a few minutes we had more lead than the lift bag would float. Two trips to the bottom we had a little over 100 pounds of egg sinkers in the 12 to 16 oz size. We took them to the harbor and sold all of it for a buck a piece. If you've ever bought lead it that size range you know it was a smoking deal. It was all gone in less than an hour. We even took a few orders for more. Gas money was less of an issue after that. People say that scuba diving is an expensive sport. I beg to differ I made enough money to support my scuba habit. Now I was far from a commercial diver, just a guy with a side hustle to help make ends meet.

When I was young and fishing on my own dime. I had a 13' fiberglass river boat with a 1970 20hp Johnson. Lure hunting was a favorite pass time of mine. When the river was low was always the best time to find the good stuff. Now that I'm older it's still a bonus when I find something nice. Last lure I found was a Huddelston 8" swim bait. Hooked the line with a crank bait, dredging it off a point. It came right in like it was never hung up at all. Maybe it broke off with the dreaded backlash cast off. The hook was still sharp as new so It hadn't been there long. So if you're the guy that lost it in Lake Juniper. Just know it went to a good home.

Fishing dock as a co-angler is tough. The boater is focusing on boat position that suits his casting. Something different is a good choice, but if they are eating a black grape trick worm, why reinvent the wheel. The biggest problem for the guy in the back is boat position. Learning to cast at odd angles will serve you better as a non boater, than what you are throwing.

As you can tell from the amount of responses this is a subject that has two very distinct sides. The "you can't catch fish at 60 mph" side. And the "if your boat doesn't scare you a little, it's not fast enough" side. Personally I grew up on the back deck of a bass boat. I fall into the later group. There are reasons to have the fastest boat in the club if you tournament fish. If not, just wanting to go fast is reason enough. Over the years of playing with fast bass boats I've found my comfort zone is 80 and below. After 80 things really start to change and high speed blow out becomes a concern, not to mention blow over. Things happen very quickly at high speed and driver skill is a real factor. There are dues to be paid when considering going fast. The learning curve is steep and expensive. What the Big boys of go fast boats consider fast is warp speed to most everyone else. Those guys paid dearly to go that fast. Lots of seat time learning how, and tons of money in the proper set up to squeeze every mph out of their rig. Bottom line "Whats to fast", is a personal question you must ask yourself. Cause in reality, your's is the only opinion that matters.

The bigger the better, in most cases. Fishing style has a lot to do with the choice as well. As previously mentioned. If you're slinging crank baits with 7' plus rods a 17' boat is all but to small for two. The newer bass boat lay outs have huge casting decks that can accommodate two guy's easily. But those two guy's need to be familiar with each others style. Two on the front deck is a dance that requires the right partner. I have an older 19' Norris Craft that I have fished 3 in. It has an old school layout. Small casting decks and a big floor. I'm 6'3" and can lay down in the floor of the boat. The guy in the middle has to cast overhand, but it works. I'd vote 19' at an absolute minimum if we're talking bass boats used for bass fishing.

Thanks for all of your responses. I think I'm going to stay with Minn Kota.

I would have never thought about spot lock not working under bridges. At least until I was trying to do so. Then I'd be mad that my new toy wasn't working right.

All I've ever own is Minn Kota. I take that back I had a tin rig with a 108lb Motor Guide. But I locked up the big motor the first weekend I took it out. Sold it a month later as is. So I never really got much chance to form an opinion on it. Except the button is on the wrong side. lol

See thats what I was thinking and thanks for the feed back. Heck I've got a 36lb thrust that I've owned for 25 years at least. I had it on 4 boats the most recent is a Pelican 10e. I have a pond behind my house. My son took the boat out fishing and left the motor down. I got home 5 or 6 weeks later and it was still in the water. I figured for sure it was toast. Nope still going. It's sun faded and retired again, for now. But it still works as good as the day I bought it. Come to think of it, I remember buying it for my 25th birthday. I'm 52 now.

Hey gang I'm in the market for a new trolling motor. 24 volts is enough for my 19' Norris Craft but 36 is doable. These things are priced through the roof. So before I drop $3000+ on trolling motor lets hear your horror stories and your honest opinions on your investments. Lowrance seems to have the best reviews. Garmin is a close second, with complaints about the skeg breaking and the size of it. Minn Kota seems to have the worst reviews. Strange because I've always had good luck with Minn Kota and was leaning toward an ultrex. I have been running the same 65lb 24 volt Edge on my boats for the last 10 years or so. Thats far from their top of the line. I haven't bought new electronics yet but I'm leaning towards Garmin. However I was kinda holding out to decide on a trolling motor first. The current set up is working fine. But my new to me boat wants some better equipment than what was on the old battle wagon. It's a much nicer platform to fish from. Time to rig it right.

I've had good luck with the Walmart brand deep cycle batteries. I just replace a pair of group 27's that were purchased in 2012 and I have a group 29 that was purchased in 2014 that still holds a good charge. Not sure who make Walmart batteries but they seem to last and they are cheaper than bigger named brands.

I just replaced the Walmart brand batteries in my boat. They where date coded 9/12. I got my moneys worth outta those. In fact I bought some more. I've also got a group 29 on my Pelican 10e that I bought in 2014. Still going strong and holding a charge. Not sure who builds Walmart batteries but I've had great success with them. Waiting for them to release a lithium deep cycle battery. I'd love to cut at least 100 pounds outta my Bass boat. But the cost of lithium is outrageous right now.

Thats a beautiful car!!!!

I've seen a couple in pictures. Theres a Norris Craft owners group on Facebook. I actually called Norris Craft and talked to, or more to the point listen to one of the owners. He talked about my boat like he remembered it personally. Gave me the entire history of the model and said welcome to the Family. If it ever needs anything he would fix me right up. He also told me he could change up the interior lay out to something more modern but it would slow it down a bit. Seems the 19XLvee is a really fast boat with the right power. And that he built one years ago that he hung twin 260's on the back of. So my transom can hold what ever I want to put on it. He also said that the 280 promax was the best power for it. That would put in the mid 90's with out any problems. He also said the 280 was best engines Mercury ever built. It was at least a 30 minute conversation. lol

I saw one posted for sale not to long ago. I want a closed bow. They are scarce maybe I'll get lucky. Besides I doubt seriously my better half would go for it. But you never know she surprised me the other day when I told her I found another 454 for my K5, so I could pull the race motor out and actually enjoy my trail truck again. She ask how much while rolling her eyes. I told her 3 grand. She actually said go for it. So stranger things have happened. She was scared of the Glasstream going 50 but she's Fine in the Norris Craft running 65+. All I need is her full support and its on. lol

Now that I own one I'm hunt for one of the closed bow ski boats. I need another fast boat in my life. I don't want to worry about adding weight and squeezing every mph outta this one. I'm just going to work on electronics and a spot lock trolling motor. Priced one of those lately? Crazy high. I bought several small river boats over the years. Not one of them cost me as much as the new trolling motors. Reviews online for Minn Kotta are scary, the Garmin is HUGE the Lowrance Ghost seems to have the best reviews. I don't fish tournaments anymore so I don't have the firsthand knowledge to just cough up 3 grand for a new trolling motor that has bad reviews. As for electronics I'm thinking Garmin Eco map 7" whatever the model is for side scan at the helm and down imaging up front. Maybe I'll find a 225 Proxs while I'm hunting. I have a line on a 260 Merc the model with the horn for an air intake. Thats a bit more than I want not to mention how fuel hungry those beasts where.

Whats happening Guys and Gals. Well Last summer my wife and I were exploring the Escambia River in my trusty old 84 17' Glasstream. Now the Glasstream was a good looking boat with a Suzuki DT 115 that ran like a top and refused to die. Well we got way up river into an area that seemed a little sketchy. So I told her we were turning around and heading back. Hooked a u turn and was riding the bubble trail I had just made. We were cruising about 30 when I hit a log or a stump the motor kicked up breaking a lock pin that I had securing it down. I was running a CMC trim plate cause the factory trim unit was shot and I couldn't get replacement parts. That hit broke the already weak transom. But the motor was still running and still back there so we continued to the trailer. My wife said "I guess this is going to mean we need a new boat". Yep the search was on. Now I've got a good job and could probably afford a new boat. But I just simply can not justify new boat prices these days. I'd be close to 100k by the time I got what I wanted and that to me is ridiculous. So I was searching for a short list of older boats that I like. Bullet, Gambler, Blazer, Ranger, Skeeter. Everything I found was beat to death needing full restoration or priced to the Moon. Then about 2 day after I went to work on a 56 day hitch I found a listing for a 19' Norris Craft. Man what a sexy boat. Well I knew it would be gone before I got home but I emailed the owner anyway. I told him I'd be back in touch and would be watching the add like a hawk. In my area of Northwest Florida and the surrounding tri-state area. I've fished in countless tournaments seen countless bass boats. I had never seen or even heard of Norris Craft. Even searching the web I could very little info on the Brand. well 60 days or so later I saw it for the first time. Wow it was in great shape and at the top of my list of 5 boats that I wanted to look at. It was late by the time I got there and the river was really high so we scheduled a test run. Before that happened the wife and I traveled all over the area looking at boats that had been neglected, and the owners thought the were worth way more than I did. Two more to look at when I get a call from Matt. He said he was free and would I like to come run the Norris Craft. When I got there he was hooked up and ready to go. He had told me the boat would run in the mid 50's and I figured 19' with a 150, ok. We hit the river and he hit the hotfoot. I was impressed he got a mile or so up river and It was my turn. Came outta the hole a bit slower than the old boat but still pretty good. and speed wise I knew we were in the mid 60's and not really stretching it out. As we idled back to the trailer I looked at him and said mid 50's my foot. He just laughed and said he'd never had a gps on it. Needless to say it belongs to me now. She is a 1990 19XLvee with a '95 Mercury 150XRi. Norris Craft is a small family owned and ran boat company it Tennessee that builds boats by hand using only the best materials available. They are a low production builder by choice and probably one of the best built bass boats out there. My 31 year old boat still shines like a new one. The lay out is dated but thats what I grew up with so it works for me. Its fast and agile, it'll carve corners on the river. It handles really easily for a straight up performance built bass hull. It'll run in the mid to upper 60's on flat calm water. I've had it to 74 on a foot of chop, with my dad and I both tipping the scales around 270. So if you are in the market for a used boat DO NOT pass up an opportunity to get in a Norris Craft. If you see one for sale go look at it. I'll add some pictures later. I'm currently in Guyana working. I tend to get long winded if you couldn't tell. Any questions about feel free to ask. I'll eventually get back to you with a straight answer. Later

Hey Gang it's been a while since I've been on this sight. A few things in my world have changed. I bought a new to me 1990 Norris Craft 19XLvee. If your not from Tennessee chances are you've never heard of a Norris Craft. Its a low production handcrafted performance hull that looks pretty similar to a older Bullet. I'm currently off the coast of Guyana or I'd post a picture of it. I'm still working on oilfield supply vessels, but I no longer work out of Port Fourchon in Louisiana. Until last hitch I was working out of Trinidad working 56 days on and 56 days off. So I got a lot of fishing done this summer with my Dad. We fished, Lake Eufaula, Lake Seminole, Chattahoochee, Choctawhatchee, Apalachicola, Blackwater, and Escambia Rivers. We also fished a bunch of smaller lakes in the Blackwater State forest. We've caught our share but never really had many big days. I did manage to pull an 8.5 pounder off a bed earlier this year. She got her picture taken and released with in seconds of her taking the black grape Zoom lizard. The new boat is a beast. It's surprisingly fast considering it has a '95 Mercury 150 XRi of power. Slick water it scoot along around 65, choppy water she's another animal. Once it gets fully up on the pad I've had it to 74. She needs a little more power to run in the 70's consistently. My dad and I were fishing the Escambia river on morning and the temperature dropped and the black clouds started rolling in. I said unless he wanted to get wet we needed to head for the landing. When we hit the Main river the wind was blowing straight in our face and there was about a foot of chop. The Norris Craft loves the chop and the head wind seemed to help. As my dad caught the cooler lid that flew open he asked how fast are we running. GPS said 74 that with us both in the 270 pound class, a full live well and pretty close to a full tank of fuel. Had about 8 miles of running out of a full tank. With a 200 she'll really scoot or at least fast enough for me. The only time she gets squirrelly is if i let off the power without trimming down first. Then she hook to the right a bit. I'm pretty happy with the performance I'm getting out of a 31 year old boat. That was so well made that except for a few scratches form use shines like a new penny. Later fella's I gotta get back to work.

My two cents on this topic is get the 1648 with the 25hp set it up like a bass boat with a 80ish lb 24 volt TM. You can fish the hp restricted places on the TM. Then find a used 7 - 9.9hp motor. If you keep an eye out you can pick up a small motor pretty cheep. The older small outboard motors are all but indestructible. One of my fishin buddies has a 7hp evinrude that his Dad bought in the early 70's. It's still going strong. It starts on about half a pull of the cord when warm and 2 or 3 when cold. Plus a 6 gallon can will run all day no problem.

Are you planning on hoisting the boat up to your level then storing it inside? That seems like a great deal of trouble to me!! This just seems like you are inviting a bunch of liability and potential law suits if you start hoisting a boat and a motor overhead. Even a light weight ones. I'm also pretty sure your HOA will freak out about it. Good luck.

Oh and By the way that 40 will pull water toys. Kneeboards are a lot of fun, and lets not mention the fun that can be had on a tube. One thing I forgot to mention is a bilge pump. Adding one with an automatic float switch will keep the boat free of water and add peace of mind if you leave it in the water overnight. A small boat trick that has an access factor in it is. If you can easily access the plug from inside the boat install in on the inside. When you are on plane you can remove it and drain out any water that has accumulated. Just do NOT stop until it's back in. Plus it cant be knock out by a stump or a log if its on the inside. Depending on how your splash well is designed that might not be an option and a bilge pump eliminates the need anyway. Aways own 2 plugs, that second one that you keep in the fwd box will save a fishing trip sooner or later. When you add a transducer to the back don't drill holes in the hull. Glue a piece of starboard to the hull then screw to that with short screws. Mount the fwd one on the trolling motor. I think thats all now. LOL Again have fun and catch lots of fish.

Congrates on the new boat. The US Coast Guard has regulations on mandatory safety equipment. These rules differ with vessel size. For your boat you will need a Fire extinguisher, Hand held flares, a whistle or horn ( I recommend a "STORM" whistle), a throwable flotation device, paddle, anchor and rope. PFD's for everyone aboard. Kids must have the proper size. Your dealer will have a list of the mandatory gear you need. Gear you'll be wanting is ...well skies the limits. But start with the biggest battery thats in your budget. Believe it or not Walmart deep cycle batteries are pretty good. I have a group 29 that has been going strong since 2014, still holds a charge for all day fishing. For your set up I'd recommend 2 batteries. One for starting and one for the trolling motor. The Starting battery can be a smaller battery if it's dedicated to just starting duties. Next you'll be wanting at least 1 depth finder. Again you can spend to the moon on electronics. But Garmin, Hummingbird and Lowrance all make good 5-6" units that will get the job done and not break the bank. Typically 2 is the number of choice. One for the front can be just a depth finder graph style no need for a gps up front. The one at the helm is nice to have a gps combo unit. These few things are the meat and potatoes of a fishing boat, everything else is creature comforts. Concentrate on those things first. Keep in mind when buying stuff, try not to settle for good enough for now. You'll be money ahead if you save up a little longer for what you really want. Cause you'll end up there anyway. The boat you have is tough as nails and will last you for a very long time. Enjoy your time on the water.

I had the same problem but I solved it much differently. I normally fish my Raider solo and my solution to the sliding was simple. I have a group 29 battery that is in the stern. I simply scooted my chair to the rear. The weight of the battery and my 270lbs puts the stern lower in the water. To solve the reach issue to the trolling motor I use two shop vac tubes as a TM handle extension. I also added a Bigfoot switch so I can bump the power on and off. By the way nice design on the rudder. If I ever upgrade to a bigger TM I'll keep my little 32 on the back for a rudder.

Not sure about the Bass Hunter. But I can tell you about a Pelican Bass Raider 10E. I keep mine tied to my dock as well. I had to add a floor drain to it. That was an easy fix with a trip to West Marine. I picked up a 3/4" thru hull fitting. I used a hole saw and cut the hole in the splash well, a little 5200 and wa-la. Thats all I had to do to keep it from filling with rain water. The Cup holders in it have drain channels that will drain into the floor. However the Raider also has reel pocket in the sides that can and do hold water. My solution was a large sponge found in the Lowes paint department. Sucks the water right out and can be used to wipe down the boat. If you haven't bought one yet I really love my Bass Raider and recommend it highly. I have had it for a couple years now. I bought mine used from a guy locally. It is a 2010 model and still looks great. Even after 10 years in the Florida sun. If you get lucky you can find them at a good price. Just make sure it has been titled and registered before. Some people neglect to title them. I guess they just used then in private ponds. When they are ready to sell, it becomes a nightmare to get the proper paperwork to title it. These small boats do not need a lot of power to get around really well. I have a 32lb Minn Koat on mine. I can fish all day with no problems. If it ever dies I might upgrade to a 55lb but it's really not necessity.