Retirement boat suggestions

[preach4bass]

My dad is going to be retiring in the next couple of years, and is looking for a boat to help keep him active.  He is looking for something steady, with higher sides than a traditional bass boat, yet small enough that he can handle loading/unloading by himself.  It will probably be just him and occasionally my mom in the boat.  We've looked at the Tracker Panfisher, with stick steering, and he likes it alright, but wanted some more suggestions before he purchases something.  Any suggestions?  Help me out old fellas!?

[Avalonjohn44]

The Tracker Super Guide V-16 SC is a good option. Deep V, so the gunnels are higher than a bass boat, and not that much different in price/power than the Panfisher.  The V16 might be a better ride and feel more stable for you mom...

[slonezp]

A boat he can sit in rather than sit on??? Lund Rebel is in that price range and a little more versatile than the panfish series. 

[RoLo]

Over the years I've owned 3 Trackers, and they are excellent aluminum hulls for the price (for the price).

Though I've never owned a Lund, if I ever purchased another aluminum hull, it would be a Lund

 

Roger

[fishnkamp]

Interestingly enough I  watched a youtube video from Rick Clunn, he was talking about the dis-service the pros have done making everyone think you have to have a $80K, 21 foot , 250 hp powered rocket ship if you want to catch a fish. He mentioned he has caught just about as many fish out of his Tracker Guide V boat. He also surprised me when he said he purchased it with his own money.  He talked about how stable the boat was and how good it fished. Now I am positive the Lund's are much better built boats. It is just interesting that with all of the money he has made he enjoys fishing out of that old aluminum boat.

[jimf]

I am going to recommend a Tiller model.   I've had a couple of bass boats, up to 17'8" and my little 16' Lund Fury Tiller has more space and is better laid out for fishing than anything I have ever owned.  Handles chop great, again better than some bigger bass boats that I have owned.   A couple of small remote lakes by me that I can launch on that I wouldn't dream of being able to get on with a decent sized bass boat, but if I want to get on some bigger water it's no problem at all.   

 

I had to really talk myself into it, but it was the right decision for me.   I love being *in* the boat.    I probably bass fish 3/4 of the time, the other 1/4 panfish, walleye etc...   

 

Also, Lund is offering some nice factory discounts right now. 

 

 

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Take a look at Lund, Crestliner & Starcraft in their lineups. Freeboard or inside depth is listed in their spec charts. Thats the depth between the gunnel & the floor. Having deep sides will give them more support to lean against while fishing if they are standing up. It also reduces the chance of falling out of the boat. He should probably looking in the 16 or 17 foot range which will work on a single axle trailer. He could get a tiller or a wheel boat with a windshield depending on needs.

[jimf]

On 4/24/2017 at 10:46 PM, fishnkamp said:

Interestingly enough I  watched a youtube video from Rick Clunn, he was talking about the dis-service the pros have done making everyone think you have to have a $80K, 21 foot , 250 hp powered rocket ship if you want to catch a fish. He mentioned he has caught just about as many fish out of his Tracker Guide V boat. He also surprised me when he said he purchased it with his own money.  Her talked about how stable the boat was and how good it fished. Now I am positive the Lund's are much better built boats. It is just interesting that with all of the money he has made he enjoys fishing out of that old aluminum boat.

 

I think if I pulled up at the lake and a person offered to trade rigs for the day - an $80k job for my 16' Lund, I'd decline.   I'm comfortable with my rig, it's got everything I need and nothing more, it's easy to launch, and most of the lakes I fish on either have HP limits or speed limits.   I don't fault anyone for having a rig like that, and believe me if I had no worries about money I'd have on my garage (along with my little Lund), but it just doesn't make that much sense on the bodies of water I fish.   In fact, plenty of "ramps" I use that I wouldn't want to launch something like that, and I'm not ever sure if you could.

 

 

[gim]

I second the tiller option if the boat is going to be on the smaller side in a non-bass boat.  Anything less than about 17 feet or so gets to be pretty tight with a console in there and you will save a lot of floor space by going with a tiller.

[jimf]

One more comment ... the brand names being suggested are all good.  I think most of those brands being discussed are so close to each other quality wise that I would pick based on the layout of the boat, and the price.  You won't go wrong with a Crestliner, Lund, Tracker, Lowe etc....  imo.    Years ago I think the differences were notable, today probably not so much.    

 

One other consideration for aluminum is riveted vs welded.   Riveted boats will be lighter, maybe making it a bit easier to handle.   Rivets can leak - and I had first hand experience with that years ago with an old Lowe aluminum boat that leaked like a sieve, but I still bought another one.   Rivets can leak, but welds can break, the former being alot easier and cheaper to fix.  

 

 

 

 

[Jig Man]

I assume that your dad is in his 60s.  I don't know what your budget is but small boats are often harder to load than larger boats.  They also ride rougher and can't take wind and waves like larger boats.

 

I'm not advocating any 20'+ boat but I'm in the already retired group and would shudder to think of being caught out in a storm in a BPS panfish boat.  If I ever go to a different boat than the one that I have, I'll be looking at an 18' V bottom with about a 150 four stroke motor.

 

It is small enough to handle and large enough to not feel cramped and to be safe.  There are lots of them out there in all kinds of price ranges but the tops in my book is the Lund 18' fisherman series with a Merc 150 Verado on it.  He should also get a trolling motor powerful enough to cross coves and buck wind so look for at least and 80# thrust.

 

Get something he would use, not something he would regret and just leave in the garage and go play golf.

[sully420]

On 4/24/2017 at 8:07 PM, Avalonjohn44 said:

The Tracker Super Guide V-16 SC is a good option. Deep V, so the gunnels are higher than a bass boat, and not that much different in price/power than the Panfisher.  The V16 might be a better ride and feel more stable for you mom...

I own this boat and it should suit your dads needs very well it is very stable plenty if space for 2 people very ez to trailer and launch and affordable. I would suggest going with a 75 hp 4 stroke runs very well with that motor 

[WRB]

It really depends on the type of water you are fishing if a small aluminum boat is safe or not. I have owned several boats over the years and fish alone often. Launching a boat is easy with nearly any size boat if there is a good launch ramp and dock to tie up to. Smaller aluminum boats can be harder to get in and out of than a larger more stable boat. 

I am in my 70's and have a glass bass boat Triton TR-175 w/115 Optimax, folding tongue trailer I keep garaged. I would make a decision based on age, make it based on need.

Tom

[preach4bass]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

It really depends on the type of water you are fishing if a small aluminum boat is safe or not. I have owned several boats over the years and fish alone often. Launching a boat is easy with nearly any size boat if there is a good launch ramp and dock to tie up to. Smaller aluminum boats can be harder to get in and out of than a larger more stable boat. 

I am in my 70's and have a glass bass boat Triton TR-175 w/115 Optimax, folding tongue trailer I keep garaged. I would make a decision based on age, make it based on need.

Tom

You, sir, are the man!

[wdp]

On 4/24/2017 at 10:46 PM, fishnkamp said:

Interestingly enough I  watched a youtube video from Rick Clunn, he was talking about the dis-service the pros have done making everyone think you have to have a $80K, 21 foot , 250 hp powered rocket ship if you want to catch a fish. He mentioned he has caught just about as many fish out of his Tracker Guide V boat. He also surprised me when he said he purchased it with his own money.  He talked about how stable the boat was and how good it fished. Now I am positive the Lund's are much better built boats. It is just interesting that with all of the money he has made he enjoys fishing out of that old aluminum boat.

I saw that video too. To me, Clunn is a different breed and a class act. He's also a straight shooter. I've spoken to him at length twice now. Both times when he's made public appearances at Bass Pro in Memphis. I have thoroughly enjoyed both conversations & he's just old school with his outlook on fishing and life in general. One of my all time favorite pros. 

[fishnkamp]

I have been equally lucky. Back in the Nineties there was a fishing school run by Indiana University. My wife and I attended it and really enjoyed it. It was a two day event held at different locations, mine was held at Hershey PA.  One of those days my wife and I went to lunch at a big long table. Billy and Bobby Murphy, Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, Ray Scott, Gerry McKinis and Larry Columbo ended up sitting with us for lunch.  Way cool for sure.

 

I had a chance to speak with some of them over the years and remind them about that event, and each time it was fun to get their reaction.  Of all the first group of pros I always respected Nixon, Clunn, the Murphy bros.  I also liked meeting Paul Elias ( although I kinda lump him in with the next generation of pros like Hank Parker and Shaw Grigsby).  Shaw is another guy I could sit and listen to for hours.

One of this sports best qualities is the accessibility to its stars.  For an hour I had the privilege to sit and talk Tennessee and Alabama lakes with Larry Nixon, during a late afternoon part of a Richmond Outdoor Show.  He finished a presentation up on the Hawg Trough and was to hang out in the Ranger booth for a MD Ranger dealer.  It was dinner time and most of the crowd had gone home.  What a great gentleman and a great wealth of knowledge.

 

I have been to one big tournament that the FLW was hosting on the Potomac. It was the final day, so many of the pros were in booths instead of out fishing, bad for them good for me.  I used to fish Guido bugs on a custom slider head back in the 90s when they were not too popular and today's "finesse or shakey head " craze had not happened yet.  There was a special color I found to be a killer on the Potomac.  I got to meet Guido and his son that day. I mentioned that color to Guido and his eyes exploded. It was a long discontinued color and he acted like it was a huge secret like I was not supposed to know about it.  He really lit up when I said I was sitting on 20 packs of them and how much trouble I had to find them.  He made a lot of money fishing those bugs!