How many can you fit?

[DennisJensen]

How many people do you or can you have fish in your boat?

[plki]

For me ---- 2

[bk09]

Possible to do 3 in mine but that will only happen if 2 naked supermodels want to go fishing with me. Most I would ever want out of any size bass boat is 2. It allows so much more room for activities.

[DennisJensen]

The reason i ask is i hope to get a boat soon and im trying to see what i need. I plan to fish 3 me and my 16 and 13 year old kids i fish for bass and pike most of the time so it will be casting most of the time.

[jimsch]

1. Sometimes 2

[20_lb_sack]

I could probably do three, two on the front deck and one on the back, casting

[Muskyhunter88]

3 is no problem. 2 off the front and 1 off the back. We have had 4 on a Z119C before and it was fine.

Tim

[Bass AHolic]

My Old 1989 Stratos 285 has 5 cap. But actual fish 3 in Seats. 1 Bow , 1 in Middle , 1 Aft. bought a 3rd Seat and Pole still New in Box... that day hasn't come yet, But it will lolo

[tdt91]

Depends on the front deck size and skill of anglers. If low skill get a barge to fish 3

[DennisJensen]

Thanks for input guys

[DennisJensen]

So if i want to fish 3 people i guess i should go 19ft or better?

[pops slowdog]

Dennis, by all means take those youngsters fishing! Find a way. I have a 17 1/2 ft bass boat and will take three or more. MUST train everyone to to always remember the others in the boat. Typical fishing rod length 6' to 7 1/2'; arm length, what-three feet?; Flipping and pitching usually not a problem, Casting should probably have a rule to only cast tot he sides of the boat.

Be safe, but enjoy those children. It is all too soon that they won't be.

[mean_dean]

I take the wife and my 3 young boys on my 18' 8" Z7, it can be tight but I am also teaching them about casting and watching where they swing the rod on the back cast.

[Hchamberlin1]

I recommend at least a 19ft for 3. Even then it's a bit tight on a bass rig

[fishingmike]

I could do 3 with room to spare. I do 1(me) because I go for peace, relaxation and to get away.

[benson]

I know I'm waking up a sleeping thread, but I had to comment as this is one of my huge questions every time I start looking at bass boats.

I have 2 boys, 8 and 6, my wife and myself. It's probably 50/50 fishing with the whole family or just me and my older son. We currently are fishing out of a 14' aluminum boat I got from my dad 3 years ago. It works fine, but I've been itching for something bigger and better for a while. I'm looking at boats like the Nitro Z6 and Z18 and Ranger Z117, and the aluminum bass boats as well (again, primarily Ranger and Tracker brands). But the seating for three has always thrown me back to looking at a deep v. I realize I could seat three across, and the fourth on the floor or something like that while under power, as once we get where we are going it would be easy. Older son on the front, me on the back (or vice versa), wife and younger son in the middle since they'd be mostly dropping in lines for sunnies/crappies.

The aluminum boats seem fine for me. Prices are nice, features are pretty solid for the money. The Ranger RT178 and RT188 both seem like nice boats. They seat three across, plenty of storage.

I'm in Minnesota, so most used boats hold their value here. And it's spring, so everything is higher priced now too.

Thoughts? I'm not a tournament fisherman, but like to get out every week.

[Milehibird]

benson, I'm in almost the exact same situation...13.5' aluminum boat, 2 boys 6 and almost 8. About 90% of the time it's just me or me and a friend fishing, and I do fish tournaments.

For you, a multispecies boat would be better. A good mix would be a Z7 Sport/Skeeter SL. My wife didn't want a bass boat until she saw that you could easily fit 4 on one with a center seat and the step to the front deck, and since I do tournaments, it would get used far better the way it was designed than a fish and ski/multispecies boat. Just before looking at the Z518, we climbed around in a Ranger 1850LS that she liked. I admit, I didn't mind it, but prefer the bass boat design if/when I get something.

[ford4wd08]

I know I'm waking up a sleeping thread, but I had to comment as this is one of my huge questions every time I start looking at bass boats.

I have 2 boys, 8 and 6, my wife and myself. It's probably 50/50 fishing with the whole family or just me and my older son. We currently are fishing out of a 14' aluminum boat I got from my dad 3 years ago. It works fine, but I've been itching for something bigger and better for a while. I'm looking at boats like the Nitro Z6 and Z18 and Ranger Z117, and the aluminum bass boats as well (again, primarily Ranger and Tracker brands). But the seating for three has always thrown me back to looking at a deep v. I realize I could seat three across, and the fourth on the floor or something like that while under power, as once we get where we are going it would be easy. Older son on the front, me on the back (or vice versa), wife and younger son in the middle since they'd be mostly dropping in lines for sunnies/crappies.

The aluminum boats seem fine for me. Prices are nice, features are pretty solid for the money. The Ranger RT178 and RT188 both seem like nice boats. They seat three across, plenty of storage.

I'm in Minnesota, so most used boats hold their value here. And it's spring, so everything is higher priced now too.

Thoughts? I'm not a tournament fisherman, but like to get out every week.

Personally I would look for a family boat, also known as a fish and ski glass boat. I got one for the exact reasons of hauling my whole family (4 of us). I know my boy don't want to fish all the time, so I got something they could tube behind and swim out of as well. Mine has seating for 5 and I feel the decks are plenty big to fish out of. I used to fish out of a 14' glass boat, so a 19'feels huge to me now!

[benson]

Thanks for the replies! I'll have to check out some multi species boats too.