Flats Boat as a Bass Boat?

[TyTy]

okay....I don't really see much of a problem with just a big deck, other than maybe some rough rides. But are you talking about a big casting deck? Like the kind where you stand up 4 or so feet above the normal boat deck? Because that would just be annoying for me...First of all it would be in my line of sight when I was cruising down the lake, I couldn't reach my trolling motor, and I can't imagine what angle your rod would be at while fishing. Seems like a pain to me.

No by big deck I just mean the front bow area being large and flat enough to have some room to stand and move around like in a bass boat.  Some of 'flats' boats decks are sunk down more like a non-bass boat.  However from what I am learning those are probably being misclassified as flats boat.  I guess a true flats boat would be like the Hewes George Welcome posted a pic of with a flat bow area, anything else it not a flats boat.

Bear in mind I am doing my shopping on craigslist.  Im looking for something $8000 or less.  

[Chris Brunk]

I have been going through this debate also.  I really want a flats boat but cant seam to give up the bass fishing.  Really don't want two boats that one of gets neglected.  Bass boats can be fished in the intracostal, but lets face it,  the salt is ruff on them.  Flats and bay boats are better suited for this but they lack space and storage.  I have priced out some intracoastal bass boats but cant seam to find anything under 40k (and that is for the smaller ones).  I see a lot of forums that discuss this but very few companies take it into consideration. 

I guess its because most of the U.S.A is land locked and will never see saltwater,  whereas most areas with saltwater people tend to go for salt rather than fresh, and the cost to make a bass boat saltwater is a bit higher. Most bass fishermen don't want the extra cost for something they wont ever use.  (just my thoughts). 

I have seen some companies offer it for short periods of time, but they too stop doing it (maybe the market just isn't there).  The only one I know holding strong is Ranger. I wonder if this will ever become a real trend, or is this something only a select few people have to deal with so it will never be a priority for manufactures.

[A-Jay]

Back from a 10 year hiatus . . . . . .

A-Jay

[Further North]

On 3/12/2008 at 9:59 AM, Catt said:

I've considered the same and the only draw back I see is less storage  

Exactly the same thing I've decided.

 

I love the look of them, and the center console (though it may stick up too high), but the storage issue is a biggie.

On 3/12/2008 at 11:45 AM, TyTy said:

Another thing I like the idea of is the vertical rod holders on the center consul, seems like a great place to keep them.

For me, vertical rod holders are awful.

 

It's not a matter of if I'm going to hit one on a back cast, it's when I'll do it.  I tried vertical rod holders in a former boat, hit them three times the first weekend...they were out and I was back to horizontal storage by the next weekend.

 

If you can make them work for you, and you like them, I'd see them as an advantage.

On 3/12/2008 at 11:25 AM, Catt said:

I have a friend who has a Ranger Z21 Intracoastal; basically a bass boat with out carpet

I'd fish that in a heartbeat.  I dislike carpet...a lot.

On 3/12/2008 at 9:49 PM, Catt said:

Well I wouldn't go quite that far but the term Flats Boat doesn't necessarily mean it has a flat bottom.

I agree.

 

When I see "flats" boat", I think of fiberglass, designed to run in really skinny water...and able to get up on plane in that same skinny water.

 

By "skinny water" I mean a foot or less.

[Further North]

23 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Back from a 10 year hiatus . . . . . .

A-Jay

Well...we encourage people to search before they ask a question

 

Quote

Search the boards. Often, your question will have been asked by someone else, and they answers they received will help you too. The search field is on the upper right, which performs a general search on everything. Clicking on the options to the left of the search box helps narrow your searches.  Clicking "advanced search" will give you many options to fine tune your search.

Search the FAQs. Many commonly asked questions are already answered in the FAQs.

 

...so we don't "waste" our time answering questions that've already been asked.

 

We can't have it both ways...

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Further North said:

Well...we encourage people to search before they ask a question...so we don't "waste" our time answering questions that've already been asked.

 

We can't have it both ways...

Wasn't passing judgement.

Simply noting the date.

A-Jay

[Further North]

14 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Wasn't passing judgement.

Simply noting the date.

A-Jay

Of course...I don't think I've ever seen you pass judgement...

[Way2slow]

There is a 21' Flats Cat and a 20'Javelin R20DC sitting in my yard.  The Flats Cat has never been in fresh water and the Javelin has never been in salt water.  Both boats are purpose built and not really that practical for much of anything outside the purpose they were built for.  The center console of the Flats Cat is on an elevate platform and has a tendency to be in the way when casting.  Also, as mentioned before, the Flats Cat has an extremely limited amount of storage room. 

Now, can you bass fish from the Flats Cat, most definitely, you can do that from almost anything, is it ideal, NO!.

[Further North]

22 hours ago, Way2slow said:

There is a 21' Flats Cat and a 20'Javelin R20DC sitting in my yard.  The Flats Cat has never been in fresh water and the Javelin has never been in salt water.  Both boats are purpose built and not really that practical for much of anything outside the purpose they were built for.  The center console of the Flats Cat is on an elevate platform and has a tendency to be in the way when casting.  Also, as mentioned before, the Flats Cat has an extremely limited amount of storage room. 

Now, can you bass fish from the Flats Cat, most definitely, you can do that from almost anything, is it ideal, NO!.

It's always good to get perspective from the man who owns one (or in this case, both).  Thanks!

 

the high center console getting in the way of casting has been a thing I've been concerned about ever since I found how much vertical rod storage got in my way.

 

...I still wonder about a low (bass boat style) center console with deck and storage all the way around.  I seem to recall that someone made one at some point.