Help on boat purchase

[BD]

I am wanting to get a used flat bottom/jon/hunting boat (whatever you want to call them.) I have a friend who got one from bass pro and he just rigged a trolling motor only (stick driven.) He was saying he never has opened the trolling motor fully up, because it could throw him out.

The "dilemma" I am faced with as far a decisions go like this:

I could save more up and buy a v hulled boat, or not.

The wife likes to fish too. Seats aren't a concern as much as how are flat bottoms to get around in with the bench going across the beam?

Turning over the the #1 factor for me especially if I am going to fish alone. I was thinking a flat bottom is very stable right?

I would like to be able to fish lakes that have a motor size limit, and a flat bottom covers this too. Get a powerful trolling motor and I should be able to move that dude right?

Flat bottoms can be scratched all up and take hits from wood.

I could also rig a motor if I ever wanted to also.

I CPR ONLY, livewell not needed, nor baitwell.

Should I just buy a bass pro special rig it with a finder, the trolling motor, and call it good?

Is it very scary to use a flat bottom out in the main part of lake with just a trolling motor? Does choppy water come in the boat or not really? I know that may be a weird question...I am thinking that flat dude wouldn't be a problem except for moving slow lol

Looking for all the best advice you can give, and especially information from flat bottom owners!!

Thanks.

[5bass]

If you're planning on being in the middle of the lake and choppy water is a factor,I'd get a V-bottom.The sides are deeper and are overall more stable than a jon.A jon (around here) is mainly used for floating rivers.The flat bottom gets across rocks better than a V-bottom.

[BD]

I agree on the v bottom. I should have probably prefaced my original post, with "choppy waters" is a relative word. We don't fish in anything over 15mph winds usually. (my buddy has a skeeter, and then another friend has the bass pro flat bottom.)

We make it a point to fish pretty much 'normal blue-bird sky days', but I got your point five.

I also feel the flat bottom should perform provided I buy a higher height boat, one that's beam is big, and overall longer than most. I have been fishing since I was a little LITTLE kid, and now that the wife and I are settled in the house, it's time for me to never be home

So the hull makes a tremendous difference as far as handling, wind drag (or the lack thereof), stability, etc. I understand that. From my point of view on flat bottoms, I would have a 'win-win' all the way around.

The way at this point I see it, I get to fish lakes that have an overwise motor sized limit, "ponds", lakes with NO motor access, somewhat "normal" lakes (we don't fish 10,000 acre lakes anyways), and no gas money, no oil money, no starting problems, and a boat that weighs 400 lb's vs 1400 lb's.

I am still "cautious" (I am far from a sissie, just think about stuff like this) though overall, have any of you been in a flat bottom, and been concerned something was going to happen, or had a close call where you almost went over? I fish in 32 degree weather too, and the next statement may explain more my concern.

One of our family friends lost his son in front of his eyes in a normal boat. I guess they caught a nice wave, threw the youngest son out. They were fishing in winter, and he basically drown, but he really died of hypothermia. So for me, there has always been that in the back of my mind. When I take my buddy's skeeter out alone, I am just fine, but there are days where winds from 15 mph make that water white cap, and I am thinking at that point more about the boat, than I am fishing.

Is a 14' really wide beamed, flat bottom going to make me concerned or not I guess is my real question. I already know why this type of boat is more beneficial to me, than a regular boat.....

Thanks members.