General questions about 18-19 foot bass boats.

[GANGGREEN]

OK, let me preface this post by saying that I'm considering possibly "upgrading" or updating my present boat, but it's probably not very likely that I'll do so because I like my present Smokercraft 182 ProMag (Deep V, multi-species aluminum rig) quite a bit and it suits much/most of what I do very well.  

 

That said, I did recently purchase a small home on Lake Keowee in South Carolina and I'll likely be doing more crappie and bass fishing these days and less walleye, perch, trout, etc. fishing, so a bass boat might be worth considering.   Aside from the fact that I can't really afford a 70, 80 or 100K bass boat, I'm also not sure that I really need or want a fully decked out 20 or 21 foot bass boat (added weight for towing, no real need for that sort of speed or size, gas prices, etc.), so I'm looking at the 18 and 19 footers.    Just went to a smallish boat show that had Falcon, Ranger and Phoenix, among others.   

 

So, my question in general is, do the smaller boats meet the same quality standards as the larger boats or are they typically built a little less carefully or with lesser components?   Is there adequate room in the rod and tackle lockers in these smaller rigs?   What can I expect for speed from an 18-19 foot rig with 94-96" beam and a 150 4-stroke?  A 175?  I'm thinking 50-55MPH, but I'm not really sure.  Finally, given that I rarely tournament fish and when I do, it's going to be a casual affair, do I need any more than 55MPH or so (and that's mostly a rhetorical question)?

 

Finally, of the 18 and 19 footers out there, is there a very valid and clear reason to consider one or several manufacturers or models more so than the others and if so, what make/model would you all recommend?  

[gim]

35 minutes ago, GANGGREEN said:

So, my question in general is, do the smaller boats meet the same quality standards as the larger boats or are they typically built a little less carefully or with lesser components?   Is there adequate room in the rod and tackle lockers in these smaller rigs? 

In general, a smaller bass compared to a full size 21 footer of the same brand is going to be built with the same components. I assume you’re talking about a fiberglass boat too. Each boat has to pass quality control and specifications whether it’s an 18 footer or a 20 footer.

 

As for the rod and tackle storage, a smaller boat is going to have less space for storage. That’s simple physics. Does an 18 foot bass boat have adequate storage for you? I don’t know. It does for me though.

[GANGGREEN]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

In general, a smaller bass compared to a full size 21 footer of the same brand is going to be built with the same components. I assume you’re talking about a fiberglass boat too. Each boat has to pass quality control and specifications whether it’s an 18 footer or a 20 footer.

 

As for the rod and tackle storage, a smaller boat is going to have less space for storage. That’s simple physics. Does an 18 foot bass boat have adequate storage for you? I don’t know. It does for me though.

 

Yes, referring to the glass boats.   7' is the longest rod that I typically carry, so if the rod boxes are as deep and wide (or very nearly so), I'd think they'll be fine for my needs.  I do tend to carry 12 or 15 rods on the water and big rod boxes are definitely a plus for me though.

 

[gim]

5 minutes ago, GANGGREEN said:

I do tend to carry 12 or 15 rods on the water and big rod boxes are definitely a plus for me though.

I will say that generally you will need at least an 18 to 19 foot bass boat to get that big center rod locker. I have a 17 foot, 8 inch bass boat and the rod locker is off to the side. The max length is usually an 8 foot rod.

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve owned a few different bass boats over the years, and for the type of fishing I do and the lakes I’m on the current boat works perfectly for me. I can take it anywhere, it’ll handle the big water of Georgian Bay, but is light enough to get into smaller lakes with not so great of a ramp. After a few small mods, I can easily carry 20+ rods up to 8’, and all the tackle I need for whatever trip I’m on. I’d say with todays prices, you’d be better to stick with what you already have. Of course I might be a little bit biased ?

[GANGGREEN]

I'm curious what mods you're referring to in order to carry a large number of rods.  I don't even get to use all of the available slots in the current rod locker because the reels don't fit, rods with larger guides won't fit into the sleeves, etc..  That said, like you I really like the boat in general.  When I'm in PA and fishing upstate New York, I find it to be almost perfect, occasionally even troll for walleye/salmon, etc. with downriggers, but I can see that perhaps a bass rig might be slightly more beneficial when I'm down south.   Like I said, I probably won't do anything, just thinking out loud and exploring my options.

 

[TOXIC]

If your water is suited for a deep v rather than a modified v then that’s your first consideration.  If your water has the capability to get nasty and you decide on a glass boat then size matters.  If you decide 18 or 19 foot is adequate then 150 on an 18 footer and a 200 on a 19 footer would be the minimums.  Normally you want to put the maximum allowed  hp on the size hull you decide.  It will help the boat perform as it was designed.  You don’t have to run wot.  Be advised, glass boats require more maintenance and the 19 footer should have a dual axle trailer where the 18 could get by on a single.  Dual is more maintenance ie., tires, brakes, etc., and is harder to maneuver by hand and would benefit from a full sized tow vehicle.  As for brands of glass boats, I have a good friend who works on my boat and many others as a favor and he has been in most every brand out there minus Caymus and Vexus.  Those are too new and none of us has purchased one.  He’s worked on most all of the other brands.  There isn’t one that is  the absolute worst or one that is the absolute best.  They all have their good points and bad points.  He’s partial to Ranger because “as a rule” their build quality has generally been better in small things like wire runs, fit and finish etc., but he’ll be the first to say that all of the current manufacturers make a good product.  With that being said, I’d go for the best deal from a dealer who is local to you.  That’s worth a lot.  

[Way north bass guy]

2 hours ago, GANGGREEN said:

I'm curious what mods you're referring to in order to carry a large number of rods.  I don't even get to use all of the available slots in the current rod locker because the reels don't fit, rods with larger guides won't fit into the sleeves, etc..  That said, like you I really like the boat in general.  When I'm in PA and fishing upstate New York, I find it to be almost perfect, occasionally even troll for walleye/salmon, etc. with downriggers, but I can see that perhaps a bass rig might be slightly more beneficial when I'm down south.   Like I said, I probably won't do anything, just thinking out loud and exploring my options.

 

The one thing about this boat that didn’t work well for me was the rod tubes. Like you said, can’t get many in there and especially not any spinning rods with larger eyes. With the removal of a few screws, and lining it with some 2’x2’ interlocking carpet squares, I can now easily hold 20 rods ( in rod socks), without any trouble at all. 

[GANGGREEN]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

If your water is suited for a deep v rather than a modified v then that’s your first consideration.  If your water has the capability to get nasty and you decide on a glass boat then size matters.  If you decide 18 or 19 foot is adequate then 150 on an 18 footer and a 200 on a 19 footer would be the minimums.  Normally you want to put the maximum allowed  hp on the size hull you decide.  It will help the boat perform as it was designed.  You don’t have to run wot.  Be advised, glass boats require more maintenance and the 19 footer should have a dual axle trailer where the 18 could get by on a single.  Dual is more maintenance ie., tires, brakes, etc., and is harder to maneuver by hand and would benefit from a full sized tow vehicle.  As for brands of glass boats, I have a good friend who works on my boat and many others as a favor and he has been in most every brand out there minus Caymus and Vexus.  Those are too new and none of us has purchased one.  He’s worked on most all of the other brands.  There isn’t one that is  the absolute worst or one that is the absolute best.  They all have their good points and bad points.  He’s partial to Ranger because “as a rule” their build quality has generally been better in small things like wire runs, fit and finish etc., but he’ll be the first to say that all of the current manufacturers make a good product.  With that being said, I’d go for the best deal from a dealer who is local to you.  That’s worth a lot.  

 

Really good information.  I'm leaning towards an 18 footer (most of which are 18+) with a 175 and dual axel trailer if I really do decide to do this.   My home lake is really rather calm most of the time and wouldn't require a deep-V or even a larger bass boat.  My home lake is rather large 15,000+ acres, but I'm just down the road from Hartwell at 50,000 acres, so while I wouldn't typically care about running at WOT, it is nice to have good range and to know that I can get from point A to point B in less than half an hour.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

The one thing about this boat that didn’t work well for me was the rod tubes. Like you said, can’t get many in there and especially not any spinning rods with larger eyes. With the removal of a few screws, and lining it with some 2’x2’ interlocking carpet squares, I can now easily hold 20 rods ( in rod socks), without any trouble at all. 

 

Thanks, might have to look into that.  I usually carry 5 or 6 rods in my locker, but I'm less inclined to get them out or re-store them again later because it's a hassle.   If I ever upgrade my rig to another aluminum rig, I'm really look at the Crestliners because while I think the boats are comparable otherwise, I think Crestliner DOES have a nicer rod locker set up in their newer boats.

 

 

[TOXIC]

Be advised, lots of folks want to take the rod tubes out of Rangers (mostly in the port compartment) but they are foamed in and it’s a mess.  If you are ordering new you can get it without the tubes.  

[FishinBuck07]

I just bought a Phoenix 819 Pro this past year, absolutely love it!  I can put 7'6" rods in my boat and I am sure an 8' rod would fit in there.  My buddy has a 21' Phoenix and I think mine rides just as nice as his, but I haven't had it in rough water yet but think it would definitely handle it.  My boat is built with the same quality components his larger boat has on it.  The smaller boats are going to have less standard options that the bigger ones have, but the good news is if you really want those options you can mostly pay the extra to get them.  My 819 will get up and go and run at a speed faster than I will most likely ever be comfortable running it at.  My buddy that owns the larger Phoenix went with me on my boat said he was very impressed with it, the way it rode and the way it fished!

[GANGGREEN]

24 minutes ago, FishinBuck07 said:

I just bought a Phoenix 819 Pro this past year, absolutely love it!  I can put 7'6" rods in my boat and I am sure an 8' rod would fit in there.  My buddy has a 21' Phoenix and I think mine rides just as nice as his, but I haven't had it in rough water yet but think it would definitely handle it.  My boat is built with the same quality components his larger boat has on it.  The smaller boats are going to have less standard options that the bigger ones have, but the good news is if you really want those options you can mostly pay the extra to get them.  My 819 will get up and go and run at a speed faster than I will most likely ever be comfortable running it at.  My buddy that owns the larger Phoenix went with me on my boat said he was very impressed with it, the way it rode and the way it fished!

 

Thanks, that's good to know.   What outboard to you have on it and do you have a clue what top speed is or what speed you're travelling at when at "cruising speed"?

[FishinBuck07]

1 hour ago, GANGGREEN said:

 

Thanks, that's good to know.   What outboard to you have on it and do you have a clue what top speed is or what speed you're travelling at when at "cruising speed"?

Mercury Pro XS 200 hp, the dealer I bought it from said it is a low 70 mph boat, I have had it to 55, I only had it on the water a few times before it got too cold here in Ohio.  When I had it at 55 there was still plenty left in it for sure.  It gets up on pad quickly and drives very well!

[Captain Phil]

I have owned dozens of bass boats. The perfect boat for you may not be the perfect boat for someone else.  The water conditions where you fish and your style of fishing will be the determining factors.  For example if you intend to do a lot of flipping and pitching, you will want a boat with a sizable flat deck and low sides.  If you are going to make long runs in rough water, you may want a semi v-hull with lots of freeboard.  Bass boats are great fishing platforms in the south, not so good in Canada. Storage is not a factor for me as I don't keep my rods locked up in the boat.  I lash them to the deck only when I go fishing.  If you buy a bass boat over 20 feet in length, you will need a big outboard and a truck to pull it.  Trucks are not cheap and gas is not going to get any cheaper.  My current bass boat is 17 1/2 feet with a 75 Merc 4-stroke and it runs near 40 mph.   If you are going to fish tournaments, you will want a different boat than you may choose if you don't.  Whatever boat you choose, remember you will eventually be selling it to someone else. Don't get stuck with a boat no one wants.  

 

 

 

 

 

[scbassin]

To answer your Question:  I fish on Santee Cooper which can very rough at times. I have been fishing on the far end of Lake Moutrie & out of nowhere the winds comes up.  In the coves you don't notice it but when you get out to the main body of the lake is like a state 6 sea. It's about 11 miles back to where I fish out of. I had a 2002 Ranger 185 vs (18' 5") powered by a Mercury 150 LXR & in 2008 I sold it & bought a Ranger Z21 (21' 2") powered by a Yamaha 250 VZ 250 T. Both boats Had Ranger Trail Double Axel trailers.  Both rigs handled the rough water well but I would take a route that I would not have ride the main lake all the way In the 185 vs. That boat was not as wide & I could get into ditches to go thru cover to stay out main lake a good way. That is the one thing I miss about that boat, not being able to get into a pond back in Russellville . With the Z 21 I would go the direct way, get out on the main lake, time the waves & keep the boat on the top of them & let the big dog eat. The main reason I bought it was The deal I was offered. The boat was a demo & never titled so I got  the full warranty's  plus the extended one on the engine. The other thing was the very big discount. The biggest difference in my 2 boat is storage, Rod lockers. I would compare the different sizes in the same brand that way the basic hull will be pretty much same materials  Which one you choose put the rated HP on it( for the power) you control the speed,  plus  a high thrust T/M. It makes it easier to control the boat in a strong wind.  Either of my boats fished well. Take your time to make sure the one you choose is the one you want. Get a demo ride will help a lot.

[FishinBuck07]

Captain Phil is correct also, just because a certain boat brand works for one guy doesn't mean it will work for another guy!  My buddy and I fish pretty close to the same style and I fished out of his Phoenix before I decided on mine and felt how nice the ride was.  If you flip a lot the 819 might not be for you, it has higher gunnels on the front deck than other boats.  I do flip but don't use huge weight that would knock the slop out of the fiberglass if I hit it.  

[GANGGREEN]

I don't flip much but do find that my the high sides on my multi-species rig sometimes get in the way of my fishing style, not to mention that it sits up pretty high (especially the full windshield) and it's like a sail in the wind.  As I mentioned, my "home lake" in SC is fairly well protected.  Even Hartwell is a huge lake, but still fairly well protected in most areas. That's not true of the lakes I fish up north at all, some of them (Oneida, Erie, even a few of the Finger Lakes) can be a royal ***** in the right wind.

 

 

[gim]

3 hours ago, GANGGREEN said:

I don't flip much but do find that my the high sides on my multi-species rig sometimes get in the way of my fishing style, not to mention that it sits up pretty high (especially the full windshield) and it's like a sail in the wind.

I grew up fishing out of a deep V tiller that had higher sides like you speak of. My family did a lot of walleye fishing and trolling in those days. It was a boat that served its purpose well. Now that I’ve had my own bass boat for 6 years, I’ll never go back to a deep V boat like that again. I much prefer the console and casting decks with low gunnels for the type of fishing I do nowadays, which is primarily traditional style bass fishing.

[Catt]

Best 18' boat on the market 

 

 

[GANGGREEN]

23 hours ago, Catt said:

Best 18' boat on the market 

 

 

 

A little smaller than most of the other 18 foot boats that I've seen.  Cute little boat.  Would have liked to have seen the rod lockers and cargo set up a bit in the video, but might be worth exploring, thanks.

 

On 1/29/2022 at 10:06 PM, gimruis said:

I grew up fishing out of a deep V tiller that had higher sides like you speak of. My family did a lot of walleye fishing and trolling in those days. It was a boat that served its purpose well. Now that I’ve had my own bass boat for 6 years, I’ll never go back to a deep V boat like that again. I much prefer the console and casting decks with low gunnels for the type of fishing I do nowadays, which is primarily traditional style bass fishing.

 

I suspect that when I'm fishing Keowee, Jocassee or Hartwell (or even some of the other lakes down here) that I'll have the same feelings you do.  That said, I also fish some more open lakes up north and the freeboard and Deep-V are nice in those situations, not to mention that I still do occasionally troll for walleye, steelhead, etc. and I'm not going to rig up a bass boat with a trolling board or something.   For me it's a matter of whether I want to sacrifice some when I'm down south in the winter/spring or up north in the summer/early fall.  The truth is that I'll likely fish a LOT more when I'm in South Carolina than I will when I'm in Pennsylvania because I live right on the lake down here and others are within half an hour, whereas I have a 2 hour drive (or more) to get to most of the lakes I fish up north.

[the reel ess]

Welcome to SC. Lake Keowee is beautiful. I've been there but never to fish. It's a deeper highland reservoir, right? So your current boat is probably a good one for that.

[Jig Man]

You should be able to go to each boat manufacturer’s web site and get most of the information that you want.

[GANGGREEN]

6 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Welcome to SC. Lake Keowee is beautiful. I've been there but never to fish. It's a deeper highland reservoir, right? So your current boat is probably a good one for that.

 

I don't feel handicapped in my rig out there, but there are a few techniques that would be easier out of a bass boat, not to mention the additional speed if you care about such things.  I hit Lake Jocassee today and my rig is really nice there because there are deep trout and it's mostly a trolling thing (some guys fish bait for them).   We took 3 rainbows and a Redeye bass in about 3 or 4 hours of fishing.

 

 

[InfantryMP]

I have a 2021 Triton 19TRX Patriot- I think its 19'9''.  I have a Merc ProXS 225, and I have a tournament load out top speed of 69.8mph as it came from the factory. 

 

I can store a ton of rods in the locker without the dividers installed. The longest rod I have stored is 7'5''. I do not think there is any downgrades as far as the 20' models go. The only differences I have seen besides size, and motor, is some trim details such as push buttons instead of switches for the livewells etc. 

 

I think the TRX 19 handles very well in rougher conditions compared to my old 16.5' Triton. Overall 19's will do a bit better in water than 16's.

 

I fish tournaments more than I casual fish in my boat, and I will tell you that you do not NEED over 55mph. I think as long as you can get on plain well and quickly you will be fine. Sure you may not make it to every spot first, but you will get there right behind the guys going 65-70mph. 

 

There is a case to be made with buying new vs upgrading. With the cost of new boats being high, it may be just fine for you to make some upgrades. New electronics, New TM with spotlock or anchor.  

 

I would check out some of the brands. I got my boat with all new Lowrance HDS units, Ghost TM, Active Target all the bells and whistles. Lowrance had a rebate deal, and I got $800 back from getting all that on my boat when I bought it. You would be surprised there are some decent deals out there. 

[GANGGREEN]

3 minutes ago, InfantryMP said:

I have a 2021 Triton 19TRX Patriot- I think its 19'9''.  I have a Merc ProXS 225, and I have a tournament load out top speed of 69.8mph as it came from the factory. 

 

I can store a ton of rods in the locker without the dividers installed. The longest rod I have stored is 7'5''. I do not think there is any downgrades as far as the 20' models go. The only differences I have seen besides size, and motor, is some trim details such as push buttons instead of switches for the livewells etc. 

 

I think the TRX 19 handles very well in rougher conditions compared to my old 16.5' Triton. Overall 19's will do a bit better in water than 16's.

 

I fish tournaments more than I casual fish in my boat, and I will tell you that you do not NEED over 55mph. I think as long as you can get on plain well and quickly you will be fine. Sure you may not make it to every spot first, but you will get there right behind the guys going 65-70mph. 

 

There is a case to be made with buying new vs upgrading. With the cost of new boats being high, it may be just fine for you to make some upgrades. New electronics, New TM with spotlock or anchor.  

 

I would check out some of the brands. I got my boat with all new Lowrance HDS units, Ghost TM, Active Target all the bells and whistles. Lowrance had a rebate deal, and I got $800 back from getting all that on my boat when I bought it. You would be surprised there are some decent deals out there. 

 

Good to know on the Lowrance rebates and I agree with you entirely about the 55MPH limit. That's always been my self-imposed limit and I really don't care to ever go faster than that on the water.   I've fished some tournaments in the past, but always club or fun tournaments, so believe me I don't need to be ANYWHERE at 70MPH.   Thanks for the insight.  As I talk myself through all of the issues, I think I'm becoming even more convinced that I'll either keep the rig I've got or possibly go to a similar/new rig that truly is outfitted to the gills.