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Thread: HT 1503 vs 1602

  1. #1
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    Default HT 1503 vs 1602

    I have been contemplating upgrading to a 1602 cc. I love my 1503, it does almost everything I want out of it. My issue is stability with the kids in the boat and getting away from the tiller.

    I take one of my sons fishing a lot and although I am fine, I think something a little larger beam may be nicer with oncoming boat wakes when we are anchored up fishing. The icw is not known for the most considerate tourists so it gets a little wobbly sometimes. Being more stable at the jetties would be nice too, i know guys in jon boats out there and maybe when i was younger but not with a kid in the boat. I can see the specs on the mi-tide website and it shows the 16' being 6" wider than the 15'; is it safe to say that is pretty accurate for the HT too ?

    Can anyone say with experience how much more stable the 1602 is ? I could go 17'+ but mainly its just me and one other kid so we don't need big boat. I want to keep it as small as possible while being stable. And if I go bigger then id probably end up keep the 1503 and the wife will be mad that i'm taking up more room at the house. so there's that too

  2. #2
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    If my memory serves me right, the sides on my 1602 were higher on my leg than the 1503 which would be better for the younguns. I’ve owned both sizes and I did like the 16 footer a lot more. My 1602 was a side console when I bought it and I converted it to tiller, I’ve seen a lot of people do it with center consoles too. But they just had gunnel caps with front deck, a lot of them I see have liners, and I’m not personally a fan of that.

  3. #3
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    Especially if keeping the 15 I would jump to something bigger/different for a second boat than the 16.

  4. #4
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    My input is go with a side console. One of my friends was looking for high tides last summer and I told him to go with the CC and not the side. He didn’t listen and got a side console and the boat has a lot more room than high tides with a CC. It’s easier to move around in and it leaves the deck wide open.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by SpottailSpecialist View Post
    If my memory serves me right, the sides on my 1602 were higher on my leg than the 1503 which would be better for the younguns.
    that's really good to know, I just assumed they were the same height, just wider.


    Quote Originally Posted by SouthernWake View Post
    Especially if keeping the 15 I would jump to something bigger/different for a second boat than the 16.
    Exactly, I want to like the 1602 because it would meet most all of my needs. I know it would hunt, just have to make sure its fine up to the jetties and has enough good seating for the youngins. I am covered going past the jetties, so this just needs to fill that gap from there back to the creeks.

    Quote Originally Posted by Buckin Bronco View Post
    My input is go with a side console. One of my friends was looking for high tides last summer and I told him to go with the CC and not the side. He didn’t listen and got a side console and the boat has a lot more room than high tides with a CC. It’s easier to move around in and it leaves the deck wide open.
    I am leaning toward the cc, but i am not apposed to a side console, I do like the open floor which is why I didn't get a 1503 with the front bench. I mainly want to get away from the tiller. But I guess it depends on what's for sale, these boats are hard to come by, I have been searching a while and nothing that i really like. I dont mind one that I would need to put some work into, but even that, there isnt much out there.
    Last edited by duckz; 02-22-2021 at 09:19 AM.

  6. #6
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    You can buy a CC and offset if for the best of both worlds

    Also if storage space is the only aspect that will upset the wife, I'd start building my fleet now.

  7. #7
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    Yes on the upgrade.

    Offset the console.

    It wont be long before the 1603 will get small too. I wish I still had my 1503 with the 60. Just sayin.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrother View Post

    It wont be long before the 1603 will get small too. I wish I still had my 1503 with the 60. Just sayin.
    I am sure of it too. I guess to explain better, my 1503 has some soft spots and needs to be redone if I keep it. I can take the time / spend the money on redoing the floor, but then I still need to buy a dedicated larger fishing/cruising only boat. Its similar to what SouthernWake said, two smaller boats might be a little wasteful and I am not sure I would put in the hours between both .The 1503 would really be retired to a hunting only boat . Id prefer to sell the 1503 and motor and go to one boat , which is why I thought of the 1602 because it can fish and hunt.

    There are plenty of 17-19' boats out there that would fit the needs of fishing and cruising. I could go get a key west 1720 or something similar but without painting it and welding out some custom blind, a 17' white boat isn't going to hunt well.
    If anyone has any other all-around options I am all ears, no Carolina Skiff or flat bottoms.

  9. #9
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    I know several folks who kill a shit ton of birds out of their beat up white 21' Carolina Skiffs in Eastern NC.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrother View Post
    I know several folks who kill a shit ton of birds out of their beat up white 21' Carolina Skiffs in Eastern NC.
    Shhhh....

    you MUST have a camo boat with a tall boxy fastgrass blind to kill birds.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrother View Post
    I know several folks who kill a shit ton of birds out of their beat up white 21' Carolina Skiffs in Eastern NC.
    I'm not worried about it being beat up, I just don't enjoy the ride. I saw some Mckee's online but every one had too deep of a v.
    Last edited by duckz; 02-22-2021 at 12:48 PM.

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