Small Boats

[Royjulius]

I always go back and forth about wanting a bigger boat. Lately I've been looking at old Bassmaster mags, and I see the industry standard in the 90's was the Ranger 482vs, which in basicly an 18 ft boat with a 15" setback and a 90" beam. I didn't start bass fishing til 2000, so it's interesting to me to see how the industry evolved. I think whenever I think I need to spend more money on a bigger rig I'm gonna pull out some of those old mags and look at how well they did it with boats the size of the one I'm running. And they even had camera guys on 'em!

[champ223]

I can only say this Roy. Once you go bigger you never want to go smaller. You always see guy's wanting to upsize but when you hear of a guy down sizing they are usually not happy about it and most have reason's unrelated to fishing for doing it. Example would be money reasons or wont fit in the garage ETC.

[bassin butch]

I started with a 12 flat bottom with no gas engine but a whopping 30 LBS TM, next a 14' smoker craft with a 7 HP, then a bass tracker with a 40, a 17' nitro with a 115.

Now an 18' Champion with a 150 (And yes I am done)

The world as I see it:
Far too many folks make decisions on products strictly based on impulse or the never ending desire to beat the Jones. More often than not: tow vehicles are getting smaller, fuel prices rising, and some still go down the bigger is better road.

What makes America great? You are free to choose where your money goes so spend it as you see fit (You earned it).

Sorry for the rant!

I am Butch and endorse this message.

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

Size doesnt matter in this case..You know how many guys win tourneys in small aluminum boats and small glass boats,,Its not the boat that catches fish..The only thing a larger boat does is give more room for us old farts to stand on and wider decks help with the stability. Bigger boats do make riding in rough water a little easier but there not as nimble and cant fit in tight spaces..Keep reading those old mags and be happy with the boat you have..It is a true gem and it is all yours..Plus its a Champion and that is gold in todays world..

[Mocatt]

I bought my first bass boat in 1978. It was a 1972 15' Caddo with a 55hp Johnrude. I fished my first tournament in 1986 and took second and I had a Skeeter Wrangler with a 115hp Mercury. I have owned probably 20 boats since then from 18' to 21'. I feel that a lot of the 20'-250 boat owners is all about testosterone. I have been in a few guys boats and could not believe all the junk they carry in their boats. Man it is just fishing and the fish don't care what your fishing out of or how expensive your rods and reels are. In my opinion you buy what you can pay for and you will find yourself enjoying it a lot more. I did the math and it just don't work. New 20' boat average 45K, new tow vehicle 35K, rods, reels, and tackle 5K win a BFL 2K to 3K depending on the amount of boats (unless you run a Ranger). I love to fish and fish several local tournaments but, I'm not getting bit by that bug again. I haven't found anything my 186 Champion won't do. Just my 2 cents.

[MMosher]

Most ran 18 and 19fters back then because BASS had a 150 hp limit.

[Lea]

You have one of the best, Roy!!! I love my 198, but sometimes miss my pretty 187!!!!

[H2O_Fowl]

If you look at the weights of what they were bringing to the scales then and compare them to now there is no difference. The bigger boat does not make the better fisherman. It may make a fisherman a little more comfortable though. And I can see a full time angler wanting a comfortable office to work in.

The standard Ranger that the pro's ran before the 400 series was the 300 series such as the the 350, 370's and 361 which were 17'10" boats with an 88 inch beam.

[JohnM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by FEARTHETURTLE210 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Size doesnt matter in this case..You know how many guys win tourneys in small aluminum boats and small glass boats,,Its not the boat that catches fish..The only thing a larger boat does is give more room for us old farts to stand on and wider decks help with the stability. Bigger boats do make riding in rough water a little easier but there not as nimble and cant fit in tight spaces..Keep reading those old mags and be happy with the boat you have..It is a true gem and it is all yours..Plus its a Champion and that is gold in todays world..</td></tr></table>

A bunch of truth! I am very pleased with my 18' boat. It does everything I need it to do, anything larger would be pure want. Mine isn't a Champ but enjoyed my 187.

[PolarKraft195]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by champ223 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I can only say this Roy. Once you go bigger you never want to go smaller. You always see guy's wanting to upsize but when you hear of a guy down sizing they are usually not happy about it and most have reason's unrelated to fishing for doing it. Example would be money reasons or wont fit in the garage ETC.</td></tr></table>

There are exceptions!
I went from a 20 ft Skeeter (202ZX) to a 20-1/2 ft Basscat (Puma), to a 18'3" Champion 183, and I don't regret it!
And money wasn't an issue, and I have a 40 ft garage

[champ223]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by OhioChamp183 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

There are exceptions!
I went from a 20 ft Skeeter (202ZX) to a 20-1/2 ft Basscat (Puma), to a 18'3" Champion 183, and I don't regret it!
And money wasn't an issue, and I have a 40 ft garage
</td></tr></table>

I did say MOST not all I don't know how this thread went into tournament fishing and what boat size has to do with that. I don't think the OP mentioned that he would be a better tourny angler in a bigger boat? I will have to re read the OP. For me fishing champlain and the hudson a bunch I like a bigger boat. Makes me a little more comfortable and more importantly my wife She didn't like my 168 sc at all.

[dukhntr]

A guy can catch fish off of a 10' boat. Bigger = more comfort, safer/better ride with more room for junk

[H2O_Fowl]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by champ223 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

I did say MOST not all I don't know how this thread went into tournament fishing and what boat size has to do with that. I don't think the OP mentioned that he would be a better tourny angler in a bigger boat? I will have to re read the OP. For me fishing champlain and the hudson a bunch I like a bigger boat. Makes me a little more comfortable and more importantly my wife She didn't like my 168 sc at all.</td></tr></table>

The OP mentioned the BassMasters and what they used to fish tournaments out of. Thats how tournament fishing was brought into the thread.

[HaulinBass]

188's smoke em all.

[Royjulius]

I was just looking at another issue from 96, and there is a full page ad for a Champion 191. Awesome. It's all aired out and is completely black with a red arrow.

[slinkeey]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassin butch &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">tow vehicles are getting smaller, fuel prices rising, and some still go down the bigger is better road.</td></tr></table>

Are any of these small tow vehicles being offered by the American Car companies?

To me it looks like the tow vehicles are getting bigger..

In the past, many of the cars had a frame and you could tow easily.
Now Chevy had the S10 and that could tow ok.
They come out with the Colorado and the tow rating goes down..

Yes, I find myself being attracted to GMs because that is all I have owned and have no complaints except for that bailout problem.

I am basically facilitating the off season to find a nice tow vehicle that I can still use as my 80 mile a day, daily driver.

I wish the Silverados/Sierras did a little better in the fuel economy area.

[pmgoffjr]

I'm not going to rag about all Government Motors, but I've been driving a trailblazer for a year and a half for a work vehicle.

What a piece of garbage...

[slinkeey]

I have only owned their cars so I don't know a whole lot about trucks..

My brother had an 89 Silverado with 400 something thousand miles on it. The paint was flaking off of the body and the primer was showing though. That is a 20 year old vehicle though so GM's has had many years to fix the paint on their trucks.

That was still back when the 350 was a simple engine with not much to go wrong too.

Now he drives Fords and hasn't looked back.

I have been seriously thinking of looking at Ford because of the bailout.

Chrysler received bailout money, besides everyone I know personally that has owned a dodge tells me to run away and run fast except for my Uncle that has had excellent luck.

I am starting to think it is all luck.. I used to not think so, but it seams like everyone says GM is junk, yet my GM stays out of the shop.

Who knows...

[bassin butch]

What Pat said!


Regarding the bail-out: You either stand for something or nothing.

Buy the FORD

Butch

[Royjulius]

I guess were coming full circle with the reason I started this thread. If you have stuff that's working for you, then stick with it and have your fun without spending more money than you make trying to improve everything and keep up with your buddies. Drive your old, paid for, and reliable tow vehicle to the lake, then back your older boat that still kicks ass in every way into the water, and catch you some fish.