In y'alls opinion is a 17 footer enough boat for a starter tournament rig. I know it wouldn't be ideal but would it be steady enough for two men to fish from?
How many of you guys have fished from a 17 foot boat. Seems like most with a 115 runs around 45mph and gets great fuel mileage.
I started local tournaments in a 15ft years ago. As long as the boat can handle the lake safely, it would work fine. Check with the competition you would be fishing against for their input.
the boat is just another tool....as long as you are safe in it and use caution its fine...any that you have (3) 12" graphs,dual power poles and 30 rods
Allen
911 Bass Anglers
Bucks County PA
I started in a 16 ft boat with an 85 horse.. Just know the boats limits when it comes to rough water. no tournament is worth a life.
Sure. I had a 125 on my 17 footer and it would hit about 48 or 49 mph. You will get beat to your spot and will have a harder time in rough water but at the end of the day there are no pounds added for a fancy boat.
Mike
Ranger Z520
Mercury 250 Pro XS
i fished bass tournaments out of a 17 foot walleye boat with a 60 hp tiller motor for 4 years. I won rookie of the year and 2 championships in that boat.
2020 Ranger Z519 | 2020 Mercury Pro XS 225 4S | Helix 10SI | Helix 10 MDI G3N | Helix 10 MDI G3N | Noco GENIUS 10X4
Fury 3 22P True Pitched | Power Pole Pro 2's | Ghost TM | Mega 360 | MEGA LIVE | Atlas 8in Jack Plate | Trick Step | 3X Amped 80ah Lithiums
I remember a tourney back in the 80's, at a lake in southern Ohio, and after the tournament, while several of the fisherman were gassing up to go home, a guy who worked at the gas station complimented on my boat (a brand new 1987 Stratos 181/150 Merc XR2 at the time ) & asked how we did, and who won the tournament. Well, much to my embarrassment, the winners were also there gassing up (the gas station was about the only one near the lake to do so), and I pointed past several glittery/shiny bassboats with big'ol outboards on them, over to the winners, and said "they won".......there they were, in a 14 ft johnboat, with a old 9.9hp motor hanging on it's back & transom mount hand control trolling motor next to that old outboard. he looked at me and said "really"!? and i told him the it wasn't the boat that finds and catches the fish, it was the people in it!
As long as it floats, I fished one year out of a 12ft smokercraft with a shakespear 30lb thrust tm, I used a fish basket tied to the side of boat as a livewel l although thats probably not allowed anymore, go for it and have fun
2007 Z21 / 250 VMAX HPDI
I had a 15' Bomber bass boat that I fished many tournaments with years ago. Did quite well and that boat allowed me to get into some really tight spots. I upsized to a 17' Stratos now!
Just can't leave well enough alone!!
98 Stratos 273 w/ 150 Faststrike
No problem there just make sure you have large enough livewells to hold a 5 bass limit
Absolutely.
2023 Lund 2075 Pro V Bass XS
2023 Mercury Pro XS 250 4S
Yep had 17' with 140 suzuki was a great little tournament rig just got use your head on them rough water days
I started in a 16ft tiller. That boat is more than enough! Enter a few and enjoy it!
2023 Nitro Z21 XL
Sure you can. You will be limited in range and speed as some of the bigger rigs though.
Know tour limitations that go with a smaller boat.
USN Retired
2020 Basscat Caracal
2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s
Of course it will work. It floats doesn’t it? A more luxurious boat is just more comfortable but it has nothing to do with you catching or not catching fish.
Why would it not be fine?.
What ohiochamp183 said is all you need to know. I see similar outcomes at tournaments all the time as they truly happen all over the country. As long as you know the limits of your rig on the body of water you're fishing, go compete. You don't see the older smaller rigs win tournaments on tv because none of the competitors have them(exception of an aluminum rig in rare circumstsnces). Go out there and catch a heavier amount of bass than the guys in the bigger boats
Last edited by BassCatKev; 02-24-2018 at 10:35 AM.
it aint the boat.
Ranger Forever
I fish out of a Ranger R73, 17' 4" with a 125, the front deck is a little snug for two people and if you're flinging open hook baits you really need to be aware of where your partner is. Remember the boat just gets you to where you're going the rest is up to you and your partner. This is my 3rd year club fishing, my partner and I didn't get to finish our 1st year due to some health issues on my part, last year we placed 2nd in one TX, 1st in another and 6th in our classic, so yes a 17 footer will serve you just fine.
That boat will absolutely work.
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