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Thread: Best Aluminum Boat Setup

  1. #1
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    Default Best Aluminum Boat Setup

    I sold the center console to cut some debt after starting the business. Gonna get back into some river fishing and hit Santee every now and then as well as the creeks at the coast. Probably gonna go tiller handle vs side console.

    I’m not really looking for speed but more so stability and durability. I’m thinking 16-17ft range. What your recommendations?


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  2. #2
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    Set the record straight on what you'll be doing in this boat. That should provide some insight on what setup would be ideal. You bream fishing, catfishing, duck hunting, redfishing, shrimping?

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    Delta in a nutshell: Breeding grounds + small wetlands + big blocks of grass cover + predator removal + nesting structures + enough money to do the job= plenty of ducks to keep everyone smiling!

    "For those that will fight for it...FREEDOM...has a flavor the protected shall never know."
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  3. #3
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    All but duck hunting


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  4. #4
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    I'm not going to the triggerfish promised land in a Jon boat...
    Quote Originally Posted by walt4dun View Post
    Monsters... Be damned if I'd ever be taken alive by the likes of faggot musslims.
    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    I am an equal opportunity hater.

  5. #5
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    Any will work fine. Pick one that you like the layout of. Setup right they will all perform well. With 17’ i wouldnt get anything less than a 60hp though
    "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters" Norman Maclean.

  6. #6
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    Just dont get anything with horizontal bracing.

    17' is a great size. I dont own one but the new 40/50 4 stroke tohatsu's impress the heck out of me.
    "Think A Guy Like Me Worries About Percentages?" Tin Cup

    "Some get spiritual cause they see the light, and some cause they feel the heat" Ray Wylie Hubbard

    "P.S. I love turkeys. Mostly just hate those who hunt em." Glenn

  7. #7
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    You're a grown up now, don't go buying a tiller unless you like to play around in swamps.. The only advantage a tiller has besides being simple is used in duck hunting, go find a cc jon.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Highstrung View Post
    You're a grown up now, don't go buying a tiller unless you like to play around in swamps.. The only advantage a tiller has besides being simple is used in duck hunting, go find a cc jon.
    I just like the open space


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  9. #9
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    You are bigger than me. Space is one of the things, but I'm simple.. and I don't drop masses of crab trap.

  10. #10
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    I have an 1860 side console and it has a ton of space. I wouldn’t want it to be a CC as it would take up a lot of usable space. It’s the perfect size for everything you’re wanting to do. Big enough for a good sized bait tank without getting in the way


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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by killzone View Post
    I have an 1860 side console and it has a ton of space. I wouldn’t want it to be a CC as it would take up a lot of usable space. It’s the perfect size for everything you’re wanting to do. Big enough for a good sized bait tank without getting in the way


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    That’s the reason why am in looking at a tiller handle. I know small dude and don’t fit real well under those side consoles either


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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by b35w View Post
    That’s the reason why am in looking at a tiller handle. I know small dude and don’t fit real well under those side consoles either


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    I’m a big guy and my war eagle has tons of room with the side console with the bench seat


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  13. #13
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    I find that side consoles don't work for me, I feel like the other side is always jealous.

  14. #14
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    I am a big guy as well and went with a tiller on my new boat. Granted, my setup is smaller than what you are looking for but I also owned a side console 17' xpress for a long time. That console took up a ton of valuable space and I wished pretty much all the time I'd of gotten a tiller motor. A cooler, couple of kids and a side console eats up the entire boat.

    After owning both options a 15' to 17' jon boat with a 25-60 HP tiller is what I would do 10 out of 10 times. If you're going to buy a consoled jon boat I'd just assume by a smaller fiberglass CC.

  15. #15
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    You're tall. I don't think you're like big.

    Tiller motors you're holding onto all of the time, you're bending over, stretching, and all sorts of things. I've owned all three. I don't care for sides, I have a small tiller, my first boat was a tiller.. I've owned a cc jon for 20 years. I've hunted, fishing, cruised, and have worked out of it, basically anything you need to do in a boat. The only problem is when you jump to three adults in it.. you kind of look like an ass because someone is riding up forward on the hump.. it makes you look like you're running immigrants into the country.

    this place is dead on weekend mornings, and I'm in the office for a few

  16. #16
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    I sold a 20 foot bay boat and bought a side console high tide. First thing I did after having boat in water one time was tear out side console and installed a tiller on the 60 4 stroke and now have more floor Spence and just as much seating in my 16 foot high tide as I did in my 20 foot center console. With a tiller you can manipulate the boat with one hand, and with tension settings on the new motors I find myself not holding onto the tiller as much when putting into the dock. I tilt, trim, steer, and accelerate with my left hand and never have to put my beer down. Tillers make people think small boat, don’t let this idea consume you. As far as what kind of boat, seaark or war eagle. Seaarks are built like tanks and are heavy and war eagle is just a good all around solid hull, but hey those are my preferences go and take a look at them.
    Last edited by SpottailSpecialist; 03-02-2019 at 10:07 AM.

  17. #17
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    B, I like SeaArks

  18. #18
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    How big is you boat HS?
    "Think A Guy Like Me Worries About Percentages?" Tin Cup

    "Some get spiritual cause they see the light, and some cause they feel the heat" Ray Wylie Hubbard

    "P.S. I love turkeys. Mostly just hate those who hunt em." Glenn

  19. #19
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    1652 SeaArk is my cc

  20. #20
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    If I was going to get a center consul I have to get one with the leaning post style seat. How about Xpress?


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