What hull offers...

[JustinNC]

Let me preface this by saying I'm a crappie guy, fishing forward facing sonar. Looking to get a new-to-me boat in the next year or two. Bass boats are the way to go. That said, I know nothing about them, as I currently fish out of a deep V aluminum boat. The slightest hint of a breeze blows me sideways and off course, so it's not conducive to having the scope ducer on the trolling motor, which in turn, ties a hand up with a pole mount.

That said, I'm not quite sure of the wording to use to search the answers I seek without ten thousand irrelevant threads to sort through. "Stability" wasn't really relevant, as my boat has great stability, as do plenty of others, but still get blown across the water. I know some of the national (crappie) trail guys are using earlier ranger 2000s 522vx and such. Nice large heavy sled. Ride isn't THAT important, but certainly a factor. More so looking for something that isn't going to get blown around terribly bad, while focusing on singular suspended fish.

Conventional wisdom says my heavier larger V hull would sit better in a breeze than my old tracker 14ft flat bottom boat, but that's not the case, so I figure I'd throw "conventional wisdom" out and ask the experts here at BBC.

[GPtimes2]

I can't say what boat to buy, but some things to consider. Even a breeze will move a bass boat also, just not as bad (fast). So you won't completely solve that problem. What about a bass boat, motorized livescope pole (foot controlled), and a trolling motor with spot lock (use when appropriate). Seems like maybe a better solution than just a heavier boat.

[Dave A]

When you find your spot drop 2 anchors, 1 in the front and 1 in the back.

[JustinNC]

I can't say what boat to buy, but some things to consider. Even a breeze will move a bass boat also, just not as bad (fast). So you won't completely solve that problem. What about a bass boat, motorized livescope pole (foot controlled), and a trolling motor with spot lock (use when appropriate). Seems like maybe a better solution than just a heavier boat.

Haha yeah, I know you cant cure it 100% but I guess the real question is which hulls sit lowest in the water within their given weight capacities. I’ve seen the motorized turrets but that’s one more thing to worry about. I’m not worried about it sitting dead still, and anything over what I’ve got now would be an improvement, but maybe looking for more of what to stay away from more so than what to get? Lol

[Johnnyred]

I can't say what boat to buy, but some things to consider. Even a breeze will move a bass boat also, just not as bad (fast). So you won't completely solve that problem. What about a bass boat, motorized livescope pole (foot controlled), and a trolling motor with spot lock (use when appropriate). Seems like maybe a better solution than just a heavier boat.

^^^^^ this is the way to go.

Yes, hulls with less freeboard or the amount of the hull that sticks up above the water will blow around a little less, but I am going to guess you ultimately will be disappointed if you spend money on a new boat expecting to improve on this to your satisfaction. Use the hull that suits your fishing the style the best with respect to size, platforms, storage, etc and get spot lock TM and a way to control the live ducer independent of the TM shaft position.

[ksubasser24]

If your not looking for a lengthy boat a great option is a 2003 -2006 ranger 618vs. (The model with a console not a tiller). My dad bought his new in 2004 and it is my favorit boat I have ever been in. Will run mid 50's with a 150 on the back, has a deep keel with front gas tank which makes it ride extremely well. Boat is not super wide but is very stable. It has a front bait well and is really open to fish out of. Best way to describe it is a hybrid between a bass boat and a multispecies rig. It was designed with crappie in mind.

Here is a video walk around of one that was for sale last year.

[swamprat]

OK it's obvious that bass guys don't understand targeting individual suspended Crappie.. Spotlock doesn't work for that, neither does anchors, or motorized livecsope poles..
The guys I know who are VERY proficient at targeting Big INDIVIDULE Crappie, are using bassboats with powerpoles with drift paddles ,or Crappie brakes.Look for the widest front deck you can find so you can add side by side seating on the deck. And the transducer must be mounted on the trolling motor.

[JustinNC]

OK it's obvious that bass guys don't understand targeting individual suspended Crappie.. Spotlock doesn't work for that, neither does anchors, or motorized livecsope poles..
The guys I know who are VERY proficient at targeting Big INDIVIDULE Crappie, are using bassboats with powerpoles with drift paddles ,or Crappie brakes.Look for the widest front deck you can find so you can add side by side seating on the deck. And the transducer must be mounted on the trolling motor.

bingo

[swamprat]

DSCF1888.JPGI just recarpeted my suspended crappie chaser and added side by side seat bases under the new carpet, I tried the double down seat mounts, Have fished in boat equipped with The Sidekick mount. All have draw backs, I fixed that problem.

[swamprat]

DSCF1885.JPG<img src="https://www.bbcboards.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=516660&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="516660" alt="" id="vbattach_516660" class="previewthumb">I just recarpeted my suspended crappie chaser and added side by side seat bases under the new carpet, I tried the double down seat mounts, Have fished in boat equipped with The Sidekick mount. All have draw backs, I fixed that problem. I glassed in side by seating.

[swamprat]

<

[BMCD]

bow sitting high at rest will equal a boat getting blown around, that is why rangers are nice they sit flat in the water. Other models do as well.

[JustinNC]

bow sitting high at rest will equal a boat getting blown around, that is why rangers are nice they sit flat in the water. Other models do as well.

Thats kind of what I was looking for. Ive noticed some of the rangers set low, and are known for that. My knowledge pretty much ends there.

[Mechanic Bob]

I know what you mean.
I fish the rivers here in and around Wilmington. My rig will get blown around by the wind and current. Spot Lock is awesome. I have my Live Scope Transducer mounted on a separate pole so I can turn the transducer towards the target area. I just order SeeFish Tranducer Mount 2.0 to replace my PVC Homemade transducer holder. I will admit, I really like my Homemade holder, but I wanted a better system to "Store" the transducer when not in use.

Also, sending your 5 yr old daughter into the Bait Store will get you more Minnows, than you buy them. (Found that out very quickly when we moved to NC.)

[Rangerdeepv]

Spot lock is definitely a way to save some $$$$ vice a new rig. Had a couple deep-v Lunds and a Ranger fish and ski until my first real bass boat arrived in late '15. I have not looked back as this thing suits my style so good. The Ghost with spot lock replaced a Fortrex and life has not been better. The Ghost has a couple quirks to overcome but spending 3200 vice a new 90k rig is quite a difference. The Lunds and the 1st Ranger were sails in any wind. This Ranger will get pushed more than you thing it would but not even close to the previous boats.

[Rich1]

Best wind boat I ever fished from was Ranger's 361v. Wind did not bother that hull much at all.

[cooper.bohner]

My 1988 16ft stratos fish and ski used to do pretty well in a breeze but it also had hundreds of pounds of water logged pour foam and plywood. Not sure if that would make a difference or not. But a trolling motor with spot lock or depending on ur depth some minn kota tallons sound like what u need.

[Knuckle]

Being a BassCat fanboy I’m inclined to push you that way but I am not a crappie guy (double entendre) BassCat boats have the trolling motor pedal and front deck pushed farther towards the bow than almost any other manufacturer so not really sure if that’s a positive or negative for crappie fishing. The Lynx, Puma sts, Caracal and Jaguar are their wide body boats that most closely compare to the Ranger decks. Hands on research is going to be a must to achieve a satisfactory outcome. If you do go with a Ranger, go pre wrm takeover imo.

[JustinNC]

Spot lock is definitely a way to save some $$$$ vice a new rig. Had a couple deep-v Lunds and a Ranger fish and ski until my first real bass boat arrived in late '15. I have not looked back as this thing suits my style so good. The Ghost with spot lock replaced a Fortrex and life has not been better. The Ghost has a couple quirks to overcome but spending 3200 vice a new 90k rig is quite a difference. The Lunds and the 1st Ranger were sails in any wind. This Ranger will get pushed more than you thing it would but not even close to the previous boats.

I've got spot lock. The idea/plan is to fish where I'm able to keep the transducer on the trolling motor and off of a pole mount. It frees up your hands when time matters. I was fishing the other day, and just wanted to really get an idea for how bad my boat spins in the wind. It was slick calm and I could see the ripples coming across the water, and when it hit me, it pushed me beyond 90 degrees off of what I was facing. I know there's nothing that will stop that. I get that. Just like something that will hold me a little tighter in a breeze than a deep aluminum. I guess the question should have been asked as to which hulls/brands offer the least amount of bow rise.

As for talons, the way most serious crappie guys are going now is the way of brakes. Trolling motor heads mounted to the power poles for "brakes" when scanning water at high (trolling) speed and then hitting the "brakes". Having them at the back helps keep the prop wash further back away from the fish. The fish we're targeting are often suspended relatively shallow in the water column, in open water.

Spot lock is relatively useless for these situations except for holding a spot between catching/weighing/culling and you saw other fish in the general area, while a breeze is pushing you away.

[JustinNC]

Best wind boat I ever fished from was Ranger's 361v. Wind did not bother that hull much at all.

I've seen a few in relatively nice condition go pretty cheap. One of the guys I fish with occasionally, and tourny fish against that has the Commanche (I cant remember model #), had an r80 he said was great in the wind.