Family, little kids, and bass boats?

[tcbass]

15 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Ha-ha . My dad is a grandfather at 42!! Is what it is man. Good for you seriously !! I know I've missed out on a lot of personal time because of having a child but I really don't wish it to be different.. my girlfriend and daughter got in a car accident while i was at work one day and I about puked my nads up. I couldn't imagine coming home and not seeing their smiling faces.. 

I make do with what I can ! As long as I touch a bass every week I get my fix. If I had 70k for a boat I'd build a huge pond instead and stock it with bass and heavy amounts of forage. 

It's a give and take brother. 

I have a friend who's a grandfather in his 60's and he can still take his grandkids trapping and fishing and stuff. Which is great. 

Because I'm older I wonder if when/if I'm a grandfather I'll be physically able to do that type of stuff with my grandkids because of my age. 

I wish I had had my kids in my mid 20's, not nearly 40. 

[jr231]

Best of luck to you @tcbass . Both with your family and fishing (;

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, Yeajray231 said:

Best of luck to you @tcbass . Both with your family and fishing (;

You too brother!

[the reel ess]

I bought a fish/ski when my daughter was very little with the idea that we could enjoy watersports as a family and I could also get my fishing needs fulfilled. WRONG! We've almost never used it as a family. My wife has only been in it once. Later, I bought myself a kayak and my daughter one when she was finally old enough to enjoy it. That has been a lot more useful. 

If I had it to do over, I'd have bought an aluminum bass boat of some kind for fishing when it's too cold for the kayak.

[tcbass]

34 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I bought a fish/ski when my daughter was very little with the idea that we could enjoy watersports as a family and I could also get my fishing needs fulfilled. WRONG! We've almost never used it as a family. My wife has only been in it once. Later, I bought myself a kayak and my daughter one when she was finally old enough to enjoy it. That has been a lot more useful. 

If I had it to do over, I'd have bought an aluminum bass boat of some kind for fishing when it's too cold.

Friend who used to be a bass Pro had a kid and as it got older he sold his Skeeter bass boat for a Ranger 621. He still bass fished a ton but not as much professionally if I recall. 

His wife and kid never were able to go. He sold his 621 and got a Ranger bass boat. 

[WRB]

Under 6 years old kids are unpredictable what they will do in any boat, over 6 they are fairly safe and tend to enjoy longer outings as long as the weather is warm, no wind etc.

Both my son and daughter went fishing with me in bass boats, short trips well planned. I added rod holders that mounted on the inside gunnel that were removable so the child could put the rod in the holder when tired of holding it. Take along some toys and snacks they like, life jackets  like you wear and sun protection. Bass boats are as safe as long as you remember what the outing is all about, slow speed day outing to be enjoyed with your children.

10 to 12 year olds like to fish tournaments with dad! Take your time when they are very young and remember kids grow up very fast, it's up to you to teach them to enjoy fishing.

Tom

[Airman4754]

If it were just me I'd have a 17' boat max, but I have two young boys so I just bought a TR-21X. The little guy still doesn't go out yet, but my 6 year old goes with me all the time and started going with me when he was 4. I have his "go-pack" with us. It has TONS of snacks and drinks, toys, his tablet, pillow & blanket, etc. He knows how to fish on his own and when he wants to fish, he fishes, when he gets bored he does something else.

If their only option on the boat is fishing you're going to waste a whole lot of time and money taking them out for an hour.

[fishnkamp]

Thinking a little more go take a look at a Lund Pro V 1875 or 2075. They RE available with a straight bench or two buckets and extra fold down seats. That might be a great compromise,It is still a full blown bass boat with some extra seats that can flip up.

[tcbass]

20 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

Thinking a little more go take a look at a Lund Pro V 1875 or 2075. They RE available with a straight bench or two buckets and extra fold down seats. That might be a great compromise,It is still a full blown bass boat with some extra seats that can flip up.

Thanks. I have looked into them.

 

What about Lund trailers vs. Ranger trailers? 

Ranger trailers seem to have some nice features like Road Armor coating and manual brakes.

[slonezp]

Lund doesn't make their trailers. They are made by Shorlander and can be basic or decked out with whatever you can afford

["hamma"]

Before you drop a bunch of money,... Lunds and Bassboats are awesome rigs, and please dont get me wrong here. I would love to have either. And just before my first of three daughters were born I could of afforded either, and did check them out at the boat show I attended, when searching for "our platform",... and for the years to come it was and is "ours".

  I almost bought a 20' skeeter with all the trimmings, but opted for a more reasonable, tracker super guide v 16 tiller model,.. And Im glad I did. The slower, higher gunneled boat, was the ticket as I had taken each of my girls fishing when they were young til there now teenaged years, completely comfy, and safe. With the room for them to crash, if needed, and soft seats for them to play on their cell phones when the inevidable boredom arose. (as I navigated back to the ramp) The higher sides kept them "dry" when they were really young, the lack of a console really opened up the boat providing good "crash time"

 Nowadays they enjoy bass fishing with lures along with dad for a day off the same rig they used to bobber and worm fish for bluegills and such. In retrospect? I made the correct choice as the 40K I saved when they were young came in handy as days went on,.. and we all had fun on the tracker, whether it was all of us, or just a day for me.

 Did I wish I got the "better" boat??,..not even once. I rigged my tracker with the best of accessories that I could. Its been 19 years now, It needs a new on board 15 amp per bank charger as the one on it finally died, new carpet would be nice, and I did re-power as my health choose that for me. But I couldn't be happier with the choice I made back then. The girls got to fish off a "safe, comfy" boat throughout their lives so far, and not once complained at all. I know old club members that had kids loose interest in fishing, as the Big Bass boat bounced them around some, fell out while dad was "up front" running the tm, etc. 

Yes ,..a lund is a much better rig, but for what I did, and what your about to do? Think about it before you commit, figure your priorities, and more important what the needs of your kid, or kids will be. Cash may not be a issue now,... but kids change things

 Just a thought, and some "parental" insight,...

[Robeng]

Wide deep gunnels n a comfortable place for momma n junior to relax n play.