I'm looking to buy my first used console steer windshield boat. Looking for ideas and comments so please post up any comments on why you voted like you did.

I will be using this boat mostly on bigger lakes but occaisonally on a smaller lake that does have some shallow spots. I'm gonna do a full fishing rig and would like the ability to pull a tube if needed.

We have an 04 Four Winns 180 Horizon that we use for tubing and such. It is an open bow, with a 4.3L Merc/Alpha. Great boat for just running around.

I'd go with an outboard bowrider either glass or aluminum with a removable pylon for towing. SOmething like an 18 foot four winns or glastron both of which made a fish and ski version with dual casting chairs and trolling motor back in the 90's. Aluminum boats like a lund will be a better fishing vessel and can have a pylon installed or if you rarely tow you can use a bridle to the transom hooks.

Do you ever plan on either drinking too much or going way off shore, hence getting caught in the rain? If not open bow. I personally like cuddies because you can have a dry place to store things, crash out if you need a nap or a weekend get away and still have plenty of power to tow a skier or two or a tube. I recommend a cuddy with the i/o though. The 4 banger doesn't seem like it has enough power either. (Bayliner 19' cuddy models). I would opt for 6cy. or 8 depending on how much skiing and water sports you are going to do. A 21' deep v bayliner or similar (I think crownline makes them to) is great for the larger lakes. It can handle the big waves. (I had mine out during a small craft advisory, not by choice but I made it).

Go with a open bow if you want to pull a tuber and skiers. That way you have room to store your shit, unless you want to jam it down in the cuddy. then you can have room for your coolers and fishing buddies and beer!

Will be fishing 80% of the time, joyriding 15% of the time, and tubing 5% of the time.

With that said a nice mid 90's to late 90's bow rider would fit nicely.

Take a look at some stingrays.I had a 99 190rx and it was a great boat for the money.I would go with an open bow,fiberglass,I/O.Mine had a 4.3 v6 with a alpha 1 outdrive.It was great on gas and did close to 60 mph. www.stingraypowerboats.com

With my budget I'm looking at a late 80's - early 90's fiberglass open bow, leaning towards an outboard but we'll see whats around.

I would go with the open bow. If you are not trolling when you are fishing it will get crowded a lot faster with every one in the back of the boat. My dad has always had the I/O they are nice.

Alm. 18 ft. bowrider outboard javelin fish n ski

go for a deeper V bass boat

or at least a bow rider, it nice being able to sit up front and not get so crowded

either way, get an outboard. More power in a lighter package, less floor space being taken up, easy maintenance..and the list goes on. A lund would be the ideal aluminum boat and im sure you can find a nice looking 90's lund with a v-6 outboard for a reasonable price.

I'm thinking of getting something like this then. I offered the guy $200 and he laughed at me, then I laughed at him and the pile of junk that will be sitting in his yard for some time to come.

If you are going to be fishing most of the the time i would go with a center console if the lakes you are going to be on dont get to rough then go with an aluminum one but if they get rough then go for a fiber glass one. another good boat would be an older starcraft. that is what we have its an 18 ft with plenty of fishing room and could deff pull a tuber. two bonuses for going aluminum are they are light which makes them better for towing and they are usually cheaper then a glass boat

That thing needs a loooooot of love. $200 is high for that, haha. You'd probably dump a lot more money than you want to into that. What kind of price range are you looking to spend?

I agree. We have a Lund 1800 explorer 140 johnson 4 stroke and it is a great fishing boat in small and fairly large waters. It pulls tubs and slalom skiers. 18ft is a great package in my opinion but other wise look for a larger Lund like a Pro V to handle larger water (i.e. Lake Michigan when she gets rough.) Go with a 4 stroke they are so nice and quiet and easy on fuel.

Good luck Buying a boat.

That thing need EVERYTHING - floor, controls, seats, fuel tank, new motor, everything. I'd probably have to dump $3K + lots of my time into that thing.

I'm looking to spend about $2500 - $3000. Seeing lots of good prices now in the local classifieds but I'm laid off again so I'm gonna wait till spring and see what I kind of deals I can find. I'm leaning towards an aluminum outboard open bow but I'd get a fiberglass if the price is right.

Get a nice tiller boat with all the goodies. Livewell etc. Lacannes marine here in town has a nice lund tiller for $3995.00 Nice boat. Call cory or nick 507-334-6415 or go on their web site and check out their used boats.
http://www.lacannesmarine.com/

I just sold my tiller. It was a 16' starcraft with a 25 Evinrude. The reason I sold was I want a boat with a console and larger motor.

Oh. Keep checking craigslist. The deals come trough every once and a while

I have owned a Lund since '97. I just bought a 2004 19ft Lund Pro V w/225 Mercury Optimax Pro XS back last spring. This boat rocks, its set up well, and is very fast. Lots of storage, never lack of space or storage. Can hide all 8 of my fishing rods in one in floor rod locker. This boat is the IFS version, so it has windshields, and all covers, the main top when taken down, hides neatly tucked away.

I'd go with an 18' aluminum fish/family boat with a 115 4 stroke and a removable pylon. Something deep walled. Look at Sylvan and smokercraft. www.sylvanmarine.com www.smokercraft.com

For that kind of money, I would pick up an Alumacraft or Lund 18' with a Johnson/Evinrude 115hp with power tilt/trim. Most of these boats had taller sides, a nice floor, and plenty of seating for passengers & gear. They will pull tubers and skiers with ease, and they still handle the chop pretty well. They have an open bow, but you can put a snap on canvas cover up front to go from the base of the windshield forward, and thus keep your stuff relatively dry if the weather gets crappy. You could get by with a 90 horse, or a 135 if you cannot find a deal on one with a 115. My cousin has a Lund with a 120hp Force outboard (the Force made by Mercury Marine not the Chrysler), and it is a great all-around boat for a reasonable price. The power tilt/trim allows you to navigate the shallows, and the two stroke engines may smoke a little more, but they are pretty bulletproof.

The other nice feature with an aluminum boat is that they are very easy to launch/pull out if you are short handed.

Good luck with the search.

--Monza

PS that old boat that you made an offer on......my Brother-In-Law had a 14' fiberglass Sea-King boat with that same 45hp Sea-King motor, and we used to ski/tube behind it for years until we finally upgraded. I struggled a bit getting up on skis behind it, but once I was up it was ok. Just looking at that one in your pics leads me to believe that it was way underpowered with that engine.

If you really want to have fun, get a V8 powered Jet Boat like our Tahiti....see pics

Thanks for all the input guys but another boat will have to wait till next year I'm affraid. I've got a sled to replace and a bum leg to heal and to pay for. Taxes are gonna be a bitch this year as well. Who knows, if everything works out I might still be able to get another boat before summers over but not planning on it.

Dude that sux about the leg. I'm laid up with a herniated disc so I can sympathize. Anyway last summer after much debatin I finally bought a used boat, 1989 Bayliner Sunbridge, 24 foot with a 5.8l OMC Cobra. Cruises nice at 30mph. Got enuf room to sleep 4, head, stove, fridge. It's my camp on the water that I always wanted. And the best part is , it's on any water I want it on. Course I don't fish outta the boat and if anyone wants to get dragged behind it hey go nutz but for what I do it's perfect.

Here's the one that I picked up last fall. I love it!! I've had it up to 62 Mph already and only about 6 hours on the motor. I think that outboards are like sleds where the timing advances itself after around 10 hours of use. I could be wrong though. Anyone know anything about this?

A little on the pricey side but worth it for the quality.

That is what I'd do, with the exception of the out board. I have an 18 1/2' aluminum (don't really care for), open bow (really like),
with an outboard. Now I don't really hate the outboard, but it is quite a bit louder than an inboard, and holly balls it likes gas (175hp).

go for a center console!...if your out on bigger lakes(i.e. lake ontario) where the waves can get into the 4' range real quick think about 19' min. ..my gf's dad has a 21' Pro-line ocean boat and we fish 90% of the time out of it and it has a casting deck and seats enough for 6...it handles larger waves(6'-9') fine just keep the bow up...I/O is def worth the money nowadays with the way gas prices are going if not a I/O then a E-tec...a 4 cyclinder four winns is more than enough power to pull 2 skiers or a tube...it goes 55mph...most lakes around my area have speed limits of 45-55mph so that is fast enough for us...

Well with the way my budgets looking this year I'll be sticking to the kayak this summer. Thanks for all the replys.

LOL well I guess I was right when I made that last post. Just bought another one. A Wilderness Pamlico 120. BIG improvement over my old 9' Perception.

I.O. for gas.... outboars love to drink the gas if there not 4 stroke. but have fun paddling for now..lol