Super User JustJames Posted October 16, 2016 Super User Posted October 16, 2016 let say for a family of 4 humans 2 are in 20 who are not into bass fishing and 4 small dogs. I think they cannot have anything longer than 21 feet. The whole family will use the boat may be once every blue moon, but the husband would go out and fish every week by himself. Which boat should they buy, pontoon vs fish & ski? Pro and con please. Quote
Super User Gundog Posted October 16, 2016 Super User Posted October 16, 2016 Are the dogs into bass fishing? Who is paying for this boat and who pays for your life insurance? If any of these answers are yes/not me, then it should be a family decision. If the answers are no/myself/none of your &^#@ business, then you should pick it Mr. Angrypants. Hope my advice was helpful. If not don't blame me. 2 Quote
Super User fishnkamp Posted October 16, 2016 Super User Posted October 16, 2016 I have owned a 20 foot fish & ski from Procraft. That boat was terrific. I loaded it up with good electronics, it had the walk thru windshield, rear ski pylon mounted in the back seat post hole and it was full of fun. I tournament fished with it, ski and tubes off of it, could run with 6 people, heck we even purchased the sun pads stereo,and bimini top for it, but make no mistake she ran 71 mph with the 200 Merc and when fishing time came the 24 volt trolling motor, and electronics front and at the console meant it worked fine. Do not sell that style boat short. I never found a con. The only advantage I see with a pontoon is more real estate. I stored all my tackle and rods the same as my bass boat does now. It was fun to ski and tube as well. 2 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted October 16, 2016 Global Moderator Posted October 16, 2016 Fish and ski for me, but you can probably find a pontoon for cheaper. Pontoons aren't bad to fish out of on small, calmer waters, but it gets tricky when the water gets rough unless you're drifting or fishing open water. 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted October 16, 2016 Author Super User Posted October 16, 2016 @Gundog does this look like she into bass fishing? I dont think so.? Doesnt matter who pay for the boat nor whose decision, I think the wife who will have the last word.? 1 Quote
Super User Gundog Posted October 16, 2016 Super User Posted October 16, 2016 59 minutes ago, JustJames said: @Gundog does this look like she into bass fishing? I dont think so.? Doesnt matter who pay for the boat nor whose decision, I think the wife who will have the last word.? I don't know. The lack of thumbs means gripping the reel and controlling the spool would be difficult but I once had a parrot who could bait a hook so anything is possible. As for who has the last word that depends on who gets laryngitis first. 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted October 16, 2016 Author Super User Posted October 16, 2016 Keep them coming now 2 : 0 fish & ski. how easy to launch & load Pontoons boat alone? How easy to control the boat with trolling motor. I like the ideal of being cheaper, but how easy to find it used between two boat? I narmally fish alone and only got a few hours so I would go bank fishing more than boat and I dont wanna leave the dogs alone at home for too long. the lake in question would be canyon lake in california, where it is narrow but long, there will be a lot of water activities, water ski, wake board on the weekend. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted October 16, 2016 Super User Posted October 16, 2016 Multi species will be set up for fishing, but will have additional seating for the family. You can add a bimini top or full enclosure as well 1 Quote
Yakalong Posted October 16, 2016 Posted October 16, 2016 Take a look at the Lowe deck boat, it's 22 ft but has a deck for fishing and seats of a pontoon. 2 Quote
Super User gim Posted October 17, 2016 Super User Posted October 17, 2016 Pontoons are nice if you have a family (with or without dogs regardless of their size), and you can leave it parked at the dock. Loading and unloading a pontoon and moving it around on roads absolutely sucks. The trailers are unstable and they catch a lot of wind. If I were you I'd go with some sort of fish n ski. 2 Quote
JigMaster4 Posted October 17, 2016 Posted October 17, 2016 Get the best of both worlds and buy a pontoon and a bass boat! 2 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted October 17, 2016 Author Super User Posted October 17, 2016 I think I like multi spicies where I can fish for bass, or fish for catfish with family and once awhile we can do some wakeboard too. Deck boat look comfly but why double seat on front and the price whoa whoa, cant afford that. I think the wife has eyes on pontoons boat which would be perfect for family fishing night or just plain crusing with pinic bucket and price also fit the bill. Only concern is how the heck am I gonna be able to launch / load that huge boat by myself. The travel is not a problem since the launch lamp is less than a mile away. how about bass fishing from pontoons, anyone have experience? 14 minutes ago, JigMaster4 said: Get the best of both worlds and buy a pontoon and a bass boat! yeah tell my wife that, would you?? Quote
Crappiebasser Posted October 17, 2016 Posted October 17, 2016 Fishing from a pontoon in any wind at all sucks. I vote fish and ski or deck boat. 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted October 17, 2016 Super User Posted October 17, 2016 Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a bass boat and a pontoon. You can find decent used versions of both. Then you won't be cursing every time the wind comes up when you're fishing, or cursing because you're trying to cram too many people into a boat designed for fishing. 1 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted October 17, 2016 Author Super User Posted October 17, 2016 If money is no object, yeah I would buy both.? Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted October 17, 2016 Super User Posted October 17, 2016 Lund Tyee 2075. 1 Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted October 17, 2016 Super User Posted October 17, 2016 1 hour ago, S Hovanec said: Lund Tyee 2075. I would say if the vast majority of the boat's time on the water is going to be for fishing like you say, this type of boat may be your best option (doesn't have to be a Lund obviously). Plenty of storage for rods, fishing gear, livewell options and you can do whatever you like with electronics no issues. BUT, still have a lot of comfort and room for doing family stuff like cruising around and tubing. Most fish and ski boats are really ski first, fish second. The features actually focused on fishing are rather minimal depending on the brand. You can certainly modify a fish and ski and add a bunch of features but it will be more difficult and you may regret it when actually fishing.Something like the tyee you can have all your fishing stuff on the boat....and still comfortably do family stuff at the same time, no need to switch it over. 2 Quote
pawpaw Posted October 17, 2016 Posted October 17, 2016 I would vote fish & ski. My neighbors just bought a Sea Ark Easy 200 Aluminum fish & ski and they really like it. Quote
Super User Further North Posted October 18, 2016 Super User Posted October 18, 2016 If you're fishing many times more than you'll be dragging the family out...why is this even a question? I have no problem pulling skiers behind my Crestliner... 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted October 18, 2016 Super User Posted October 18, 2016 Heres the route I went . The wife wanted a pontoon boat and of course I wanted a fishing boat . So we settled on a 22 foot Lowe deck boat . Two depth finders 80 lb thrust trolling motor ,live well for me . Stereo , wrap around seating , Bimini top for her . It actually fished better than I expected . Look at the size of that deck . 2 Quote
Super User JustJames Posted October 18, 2016 Author Super User Posted October 18, 2016 @scaleface i like deck boat look comfly for my wife and easy for me to fish but the price seem very high. I also like multi spicies where the kids and wife can enjoy catfish / sun fish sometime, but how about my dogs, cant just leave them home alone. With all said I think 70% chance I will settle with pontoon. what is the best way to buy used boat? Craiglist? Boattrader? Dealer? All cash or payment? Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted October 18, 2016 Super User Posted October 18, 2016 2 hours ago, JustJames said: @scaleface i also like multi spicies where the kids and wife can enjoy catfish / sun fish sometime, but how about my dogs, cant just leave them home alone. No problem with the dogs on the multi species. We took our 3 all the time on my 17'. Not exactly small dogs......65#, 45# and 30# border collies. 2 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted October 18, 2016 Super User Posted October 18, 2016 12 hours ago, JustJames said: @scaleface i like deck boat look comfly for my wife and easy for me to fish but the price seem very high. I also like multi spicies where the kids and wife can enjoy catfish / sun fish sometime, but how about my dogs, cant just leave them home alone. With all said I think 70% chance I will settle with pontoon. what is the best way to buy used boat? Craiglist? Boattrader? Dealer? All cash or payment? This is a "96" , I think . I found it on the internet . I dont remember what site it was . I had to drive 100 moles for it . 2 Quote
Super User Further North Posted October 18, 2016 Super User Posted October 18, 2016 Dogs go with me all the time. Here is one of mine holding down the back of the boat: Seriously: If the primary purpose of the boat is for fishing, get a boat that at least partially dedicated to that task. Fishing from a pontoon will be OK on the best day and a complete PITA a lot of the rest of the time. 8 minutes ago, scaleface said: I had to drive 100 moles for it . I can see that as being tough...easy to lose track of the little buggers. 5 Quote
Yakalong Posted October 19, 2016 Posted October 19, 2016 23 hours ago, scaleface said: Heres the route I went . The wife wanted a pontoon boat and of course I wanted a fishing boat . So we settled on a 22 foot Lowe deck boat . Two depth finders 80 lb thrust trolling motor ,live well for me . Stereo , wrap around seating , Bimini top for her . It actually fished better than I expected . Look at the size of that deck . I like your set up. Mine is very close. Fishing for me, room for the wife during the day. ? 2 Quote
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