Not the best rig, but she's mine

[Splat]

Just showing her off. I just picked her up last week, and spent the whole weekend on her pickin up them fishies.

It's my first boat so I stayed small. Shes a 96 Grumman 15ft, 11in. I figured i'd go with something small and simple for my first just to make sure I really like this fishin from a boat thing. So far so good. Plus I can get into spots where people with pretty boats can't go.

She's got a newer trailer, and a newer Merc 25 that gets her movin, I clocked her at 24.6 MPH this weekend, that''s with my 300lb. Butt and my buddies 160lb plus gear. Not to shabby.  

She's slow to get on plane. And was porpusing badly. I trimmed her out one click and the porpusing stopped but still a little slow to get on plane. I believe I'm going to move the current battery(cranking) that's located behind the rear seat (along with the fuel tank) somewhere up front, as well as add a second battery.  I just don't know. I really like having the front storage compartments they keep the deck very clean, but I have to get better weight distribution. I'm thinking of taking the front lower deck and making it hinge up as a whole and putting the batteries up there. I need to pull up the deck and see what kind of space I have under there.

Also need to add a bow trolling motor. I just can't decide on a cable driven, or a electric steer. Electric would be nice so I can control it from the rear, but I read somewhere they eat up batteries badly. Any Suggestions?????

[thetr20one]

Nice first boat! Much better than what I started in a 12ft v bottom jon with a 5 horse and little trolling motor.

[HPBB]

great boat. and the speed your getting is great. when you add the TM it will help with some weight on the nose to bring her down. don't move your stuff just yet. get a set of dole-finns for the motor. They are an  easy solution to help you plane faster. a set of dole-finns. they work wonders and will help out greatly. I have a Starcraft almost like yours, with a 15 merc. and with my 300lbs butt in it, 2 batteries and 6 gal gas, all in the back. she would take a year to plane out. added the dole-finns and she jumps right up on plane.

as for the TM. that's a tough call. I myself hate the power steer ones, have one on my small boat and can't wait to get rid of it. I would go to cable steer. for my style of fishing the cable steer is fast reacting and helps me. the power steer just seems to slow and always a step behind what I want to be doing. that is just my opinion.

[AnthonyRSS]

I haven't heard anyone praise the electric steer models.  They don't respond to what you want to do fast enough to keep from hitting things.

And its another (expensive) thing to break.

Anthony

[zuo]

That's a very nice boat  

[fishfordollars]

The key phrase is that "you are on the water".

[Team_Dougherty]

Very nice boat. Should serve you well.

I agree with the others a doel-fin should help. you should also look at the RPMs your motor is turning. I had a 25HP on my 16'. When I was by myself i used a 13" pitch prop with a buddy it did not move all that great off the line. So when I went out with two people I used an 11" pitch prop and it made a world of difference.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1188500161/1#1

[Splat]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the compliments. I'll give the fin a try and see where it leads. Also going to invest into a tach and maybe play with the prop pitch a little. The boat came with another prop so I might not have to invest in another one!

I think I'm just going to get a cable steer trolling motor. I'm no pro here, and cheaper is better in this case.

Thanks.

Bill

[=Matt 5.0=]

Daaaang! That thing looks awesome! Nice!

[rokibass]

Nice and clean setup. Great Job|

Rokibass

[Sam]

Good fishing platform.

Nice layout.

Be sure to wear your PFD should she sink.  ;D

(Just kidding about the sinking.  Nice boat)