Dry Ride - Bass Boat

I am looking for a dry ride that can handle some chop without dropping to displacement speeds. My Baker Tunnel actually does pretty well, but it sits so deep in the water at displacement speeds that it makes me nervous if I have to drop off the pad in heavy waves or chop.

I want a boat that can handle light chop upto a couple feet and keep the riders fairly dry, but also cuts the waves well at displacement speeds if it gets rougher.

As I am sure a few of you know I have the Baker Tunnel up for sale, (now that I have everything working right LOL) and I am looking for a new 20+ to replace it. I have looked at a number of boats, and I am curious what boat will give the best rough water ride. I am looking at fishing more pro and pro/am tournaments on Mead, Havasu, Powell, and Mohave in the next year, and I want a boat that can handle the conditions that are frequent on those bodies of water. I know its not possible to stay dry in a bass boat when those 4-6 footers start rolling across Wahweap Bay on Lake Powell, but I'ld like to be able to handle lighter weather as safely as possible.

I know that the obvious answer is not to buy a bass boat. Go with an enclosed front cabin Searay, but I want a bass boat. I suppose I should also consider a walleye boat with its slightly higher freeboard, but a lot of manufacturers seem to be building a bass boat making a few minor adjustments and calling it a walleye boat.

I have my choices narrowed down based on price, overall safety, and higher rough water handling speeds. I am curious what the people in ROFB have to say on the subject.

Bob La Londe www.YumaBassMan.com

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Bob, while I could recommend names like Champion & Stratos if you want a bassboat, the main thing you have to realize about this is that a large part of a dry ride is rooted in the drivers abilities in the big water. There's right ways & wrong ways of navigating through big water, and if you're unfamiliar with it you're gonna get wet regardless of what bassboat you're driving. And your butt & back might hurt so much that you don't even mind being wet...

Warren

Well, if it has to be a bass boat, then your stuck with the lower free board. Big waves, big water, you most likely want a big boat.

I know that we have discussed this before, but it should be said again. Buy from a dealer you trust to give you good service. That is the most important item. If he has good service, that is prompt and friendly, chances are he has one or more quality lines of boats.

That being said. I prefer Ranger. Why? Because no matter how bad it gets out there, if that boat breaks down, just stay with the boat. You cannot sink it. If it cannot sink unless broken into little pieces, it will eventually get you to land. There is a lot of boats out there that only float for a time. Or only level for a time when filled with water. I have been in some that would head straight to the bottom if filled with water.

My 400 series is a big improvement over the 300 series when it comes to ride. New models are even better. It's not really necessary to beat yourself so badly you piss blood anymore at the end of a day. Stay away from hulls with almost no vee under them. Yeah, I know, everybody likes what they own, but there is a lot of designs that are not very dry and handle poorly in big water.

Winter shows are coming and that's a great time to pickup a new boat.

Later Carlos

Anyways, if you were to go the walleye/deep V route, I saw one these: http://www.trackerboats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.boat&nav=196&boat=1013 going over the big waves like they were ripples.

B~

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Nuff said.

Warren

Warren