Quote Originally Posted by davidsa View Post
I think you might be better off saying what need your current boat does not meet for your fishing style. Else you just get brand BS on this board.

If I'm fishing KYL / Barkley I want a low profile boat that does not get blown all over the earth. I think many 18ft or 19ft class boats meet that requirement. If I was fishing that environment today, I would seek any decent 18ft or 19ft boat in great shape. If I wanted to go new, I would check out the Phoenix 518. That hull is very stable at rest, does good with big waves, and is well made.

I took that hull over waves on both the Ohio River and Lake Okeechobee and for the size it does great.


by all means, if you can find and afford a big Phoenix or Ranger, do that. I'm thinking about your budget.
BS? My boat is a great boat and after all these years I have it set up the way I like. The problem is it’s aluminum, it gets blown around like a leaf and anything more than a small chop will beat you to death, other than that I love my boat. Lake Barkley and KY Lake can get upside down in a hurry and I want a boat big enough to handle it if I get caught out when they do.

I’ll probably go look at a 21’ Triton with a 250 tomorrow and I’ve sent a guy a message about a 521 Ranger, both boats have mid 500 hours on the engines.