New Boat this spring - Opinions Please!

[pabassin]

I am purchasing my second boat this spring and I'm not sure what to do. I live in an area with 3 very well-known local lakes and the "3" Rivers within an hour drive with awesome bass fishing. The problem is 2 of the 3 lakes have a 20 hp restriction. The other lake and rivers are unrestricted. I want to start fishing local tournaments, but im not sure what to do about my boat situation. I have a 1996 Sea nymph 16' alum. bass boat with a 15 hp. I want to upgrade to a wider all-around bigger boat to fish out of that can handle all of my equipment along with better fishability. My Sea nymph is really naroow (beam 61"). A lot of people are buying the Bass Tracker 175 w/ a 20-25 hp restriction. The problem is thats a big boat for such a small motor. With the hp retriction, speed is not the most important thing, i just want to make sure its just enough. I am really looking for opinions on the bass tracker & other boats I should look into. I also thought about the G3 fish eagle 175. The last possibility is keeping the Sea Nymph and investing the money in a new or used fiberglass boat with a 90 or 115. I have thought about the Stratos 275xl, Ranger 170vs or 177vs, Triton 17 Explorer. Thanks!

[bassnleo]

I'm in the same boat as you (pun intended )

Probably not the answer you want BUT, keep your 16 footer to run on the hp restricted waters. Buy another boat for the unrestricted waters.

I fish PA federation events around PA, theres just no better way to do it. I've had aluminum boats with 35-80 hp motors and put "kickers" beside them to use on hp restricted waters. That plain sucks, trying to go like 10 (or less) miles an hour on Wilhelm or Pymatuning is nuts.

Bottom line, I realized a few years ago that 2 boats were a necessity and I'm happy with my situation now.

I have 16' Tracker Grizzly w/ 20 hp Evinrude for restricted waters, and a 18' ProCraft w/ 150hp Mariner (which is for sale may I add )

for unrestricted waters.

[pabassin]

Thanks for the advice, thats the same thing a buddy told me to do. I might now keep my Sea Nymph with the 15 hp, its the same thing as a bass tracker bass boat just a little more narrow which i have customized it with an extended deck etc. With that smaller boat, it gets on plain fine and the motor runs great. I am currently talking to a guy in Va that has a 2002 Triton TR17 w/ 125 Merc. He is asking 7500 and it looks to be spotless.

[bassnleo]

We are definately in a tough positon here with all the different bodies of water and differences in allowed HP.

Just another suggestion.....if your considering fishing Lake Erie at all, including Presque Isle, I would seriously consider an 18 footer with at least a 150 hp as a minimum.

You'll appreciate a slightly larger boat on days where the wind is rocking up there. A 17 footer will be fine in the bay on most days but add boat traffic and wind, it's gets really rough, especially in the dead of summer.

[HPBB]

Hey, there is a 3rd one in that boat. If you have the room to keep two boats. keep the sea nymph and get a bigger boat.

That is what I did. I have a 15 foot Starcraft with a 15hp merc and when I got a bigger boat I was trying to sell it, then I realized that it wasn't costing me much to keep it. I have the room so why not have 2 boats (I really  have 3, ok 2 1/2, my father in law and I went in on a boat). Yes, the kicker on a big boat is worthless. even if you only use the small boat 2 or 3 times a year, you will be glad you kept it.

Hey and if you have some extra $$ look in to a 20 or 25 for the SN and get some extra speed out of it.

On those Tracker 175, If you can get an older one with a 25 2stroke your looking at 22-23mph, one with a 20hp 4stroke your looking at 20mph

on the boats I have

1. Starcraft 15foot V hull with a 15hp Merc on it

2. 17'6" Sea Nymph GLS 176 Deep V with a 75Hp on it ( I am looking to put a 115-125Hp on it soon)

3. or 2 1/2. a 2005 Tracker PTX 175 with a 25hp 2 stroke merc

[pabassin]

Yeah, I plan to pick up the Triton w/ 125 merc. in January sometime. I think he will have it especially with the way the economy is. He told me before he sold it to anyone, he would give me a call if it is before middle of january. Im gonna keep my Sea Nymph, I would like to fish Wilhelm & Arthur a lot. Since I live in Cranberry, its not a far drive afterwork at all. My wife and i love to fish so i can basically go anytime afterwork & weekends. I can work any hours I want at my job (as long as i get 40 hrs a week in), so i can make plenting of time to fish. What lakes do you fish in this area? Are you in a bass club. Im originally from the Johnstown area, so i fish raystown a lot. You got any good lake information for Wilhelm, Arthur, Shenago river lake, or the rivers? im looking for any information i can get to get started fishing down here. once i get familiar with these lakes, ill join one of the local bass clubs.

[pabassin]

Well i see that your are the president of HPBB, so im sure you are a great contact to get in a bass club down here. Also if you have the time as i mentioned before, i wouldnt mind anything you can tell me about these lakes,  it will give me a head start studying, learning spots on these lakes.

[simplejoe]

I wanted one boat with 2 motors just like everybody else but I started talking to a couple people and they said get 2 boats instead of one, If your going tournament fishing you kinda want two boats anyway one as a backup.