Stick steer boats recommendations

[bluenitrouscoupe]

I just sold my 2005 triton tr186 with a 175hp and the cost of the boat plus gas to run it became to much also to mention I decided to down grade from a full size truck to a midsize 4x4 truck(Tacoma 4x4 v6).  At the beginning of next year I plan on buying a 16ft steer stick boat and I just wanted to see what the bassresource family thought. I've checked out the basstracker stick steer with a 25hp for $11k but I don't think I will be happy with that size motor I was thinking atleast a 40hp. I was thinking of buying new so I could get it financed for the max.  Just need some options thanks 

[fishnkamp]

Well I have owned a Polar Kraft 15 .5 foot stick steer boat and it was great. I had a merc 25 on mine. That boat was all I wanted in a stick steer.  They handle different than any other boat I owned. By the way that was just one of 11 bass boats, canoes, and jon boats my wife and I gave owned, everything from electric to a 200 hp rocket ship.

Take a good look at an Alumacraft Crappie Deluxe, or a G2 Eagle 160 PFX. There are others out there but both of these make nice boats.Also check out a Lowe Stryker SS

[WIGuide]

Stick steers are pretty cool little boats. Definitely fun to drive even if the speed isn't the fastest just because of the seated position. They make great panfish boats and you can bass fish out of them as well. The only down side to the stick steer is the fact that there's no raised deck due to the forward driving position. For some that may be a deal breaker, to others not so much, but something to consider either way. They won't have nearly as much storage as a bass boat, but you may not need that either. Most aluminum boat manufacturers make a stick steer, so look around and check out which you like and which you don't. They are usually an entry level budget boat, so features themselves will be pretty similar, as well as fit and finish. 

If I were you, I'd be looking for a used one. Financing is nice, but there's really not much that can go wrong with these. They're generally easy to work on if anything should go wrong too. As long as the motor checks out, you'd be saving yourself a ton of money over new. 

[BrianinMD]

One thing to keep in mind if you fish anywhere there can get some wave/wake action. Being up front while running you will get beat up pretty good.

[Catt]

My first "bass boat" was a 15.5' Lowe Line Hustler with a 55 HP Johnson.

Like WIGuide said having no casting deck will take some getting use to.

No ya don't get bounced around!

[fishnkamp]

Man you were hot stuff back then. That was like watching some old videos from early Bass Masters and laughing at the old Rangers ans Skeeters. They look like bath tubs!

[bluenitrouscoupe]

Thanks for the input.  Y'all named a few boats I previously didn't look at. Thanks again

[davecon]

Had stick steer from the front for many years. On mildly rough waters it will beat you to death and soak you. NEVER AGAIN !

Presently have a Gheenoe with stick steer from the middle seat. It's great. Gives me more room than would a console. Check out Custom Gheenoes. You may be surprised. Any questions about them shoot me a pm.

[bluenitrouscoupe]

21 hours ago, davecon said:

Had stick steer from the front for many years. On mildly rough waters it will beat you to death and soak you. NEVER AGAIN !

Presently have a Gheenoe with stick steer from the middle seat. It's great. Gives me more room than would a console. Check out Custom Gheenoes. You may be surprised. Any questions about them shoot me a pm.

Never really thought about a gheenoe. I'm gonna check them out thou. 

[ScottK91]

I have a 16' tracker grizzly with a 60/40 jet and I love it!! It will run about 28mph but that is fast enough in less than a FOW!! I mainly fish the Shenandoah river which is VERY rocky so you have to be careful if you are running them in rocky places because you can get seriously hurt if you don't read the water right. People say you don't have a front deck to fish off of that isn't true. If you can't find a set up you like buy a good boat and motor and just build the layout you like. If you do decide to build just watch your weight and weight distribution. I'm about to put a bigger deck on mine and move my gas tank and take out the cooler livewell that he previous owner put in. I will be posting my build on here later on. You can PM me for more info on jet boats that's all pretty much everybody around here runs.

[oomph]

I have an Xpress stick steer and it's a great setup. Xpress makes a really solid hull. I've never gotten soaked, but I am sure that I could under the wrong weather conditions. As long as you pick your days and watch the weather you are fine. In my opinion the Stick Steer is a great setup for boats that are less than 18ft. You end up losing lots of usable space to side and center consoles, and being able to run the rear motor and deploy the trolling motor from one spot is a huge plus over a tiller. Not to mention the visibility that you gain when you're venturing into shallow water.

 

  I've set my boat up for fishing the shallow creeks that back into lily pads etc. I mostly fish the tributaries on the Lower Potomac River and it does just fine.  If I were fishing the Upper Potomac, I would use an outboard jet instead of a prop, along with a UHMW bottom and a tunnel Hull to avoid damaging the hull on the rocks.

 

It all depends on what you like to fish and where you like to fish most often.

 

My boat fishes two people very well, but 3 people is also doable. Having an open area in the center of the boat leaves more room for a cooler, tackle boxes etc.

 

Mine is setup with a 40HP Evinrude 2stroke, Bobs Jack Machine Hydraulic Jack Plate (for getting into skinny water) and a hydrofoil for more responsive steering. You would probably do alright with a 25HP motor, but I think 40HP is the sweet spot. I don't have a need to go any faster, nor do I make really long runs.

 

I also use a remote control with my Motorguide XI5 steering the trolling motor.  The spot lock on the  Xi5 is amazing. This makes it really simple to control the boat from the front seat.

 

I'm a multi specie fisherman, so this type of boat works great for my needs. When I crappie fish, I can stay right on top of them and easily maneuver around docks.

 

 

[BrianSnat]

OK, what the heck is a "steer stick" boat?  I've been around boats all of my life and never heard the term.

[Goose52]

8 minutes ago, briansnat said:

OK, what the heck is a "steer stick" boat?  I've been around boats all of my life and never heard the term.

 

Instead of steering the boat from the back with a tiller outboard, or steering from a center-mounted console, you are sitting in the front seat and operate the throttle and steering from that position. You have the throttle on one side of you, and on the other side you have a "stick" (lever)  - push the lever forward to go one direction, pull back to go in the other direction.

 

If you Google the boats mentioned by fishnkamp you can get to the manufacturers web sites and check out the layout.  OR, just check out Catt's image above - see that "stick" on the port (left) side of the front seat...that's how you steer !

 

I've always been personally fascinated by stick-steer boats and think one would be pretty nifty for use on my small, protected waters.

[fishnkamp]

Here are a couple of pics of my Polar Kraft 15.6 foot stick steer boat.  This was a fun boat.  I had 4 rod holders to troll for panfish or catfish, a good 12 volt trolling motor,an Anchor Mate, of course the 25 hp Merc, as well as plenty of room for two anglers and their gear. I had the box under the front seat custom made so the trolling motor battery was moved up front.  In the rear was the battery that ran all of the electronics, lights , and started that Merc. I could run for weeks on the portable 6 gallon gas tank.   In front of the throttle you will notice 3 colored objects. Those were  colored buoys to mark spots. I had one fish finder and one fish finder/ gps.  The gps had a transom mount transducer and the other was mounted on the trolling motor.

It was a fun boat to fish out of.

 

 

[runt4561]

my buddies dad has a stick steer tracker with a 40 hp on it. I love that boat. I would expec t, when I get too old for a bass boat, I will get one. a lot of room for a 16 foot boat.

[WRB]

My first "bass boat" was Astroglass with stick steering, very popular in the late 60's. Rough water the ride was rough if you ran at over 25 mph and the reason my second bass boat was a steering wheel single console.

The XPress boat sounds like a good option.

Tom

[J Francho]

Not a stick steer, but I'd consider a Tuffy X-170 as well.