Bigger Boat Recommendations?

[Dschaffer]

Originally Posted by steplift20

I will buy your boat, then I will hold on to it for a year or so then sell her back to you for a profit cause after you get your bigger better boat you will be begging me to sell her back to you , the art of the deal ( bigger is not always better) so let me understand , you,your wife and your daughter ,that's 3 people, that's plenty of room on a 20,6 wellcraft ,and you have a small cabin too.

Ha! I wish it were that simple. We are wanting to spend weekends overnighting on the boat. Not happening with the V20, at least not comfortably. I’m also hoping that by adding a more usable cabin, it will give my daughter a place to hang out when she is done with the “on deck” action. Another consideration is that the boat works great fishing for myself and one other buddy but bringing a 3rd friend on board gets real tight. The two other guys that I fish with are bigger then me and I’m 6’2 -240.
I’m in no hurry to move on from the V20 but if the right boat comes along, I’ll have to pull the trigger. In the meantime, I’ve got my boat pretty nicely set up for salmon fishing the Great Lakes. 9.9 honda kicker with a wireless troll master throttle control, 3 downriggers, 4 rachetting rod holders and 2, 3-rod, rod trees.
I’m considering adding trim tabs and autopilot this spring. The boat tracks so well, while trolling, that the autopilot is pretty low on the list. Trim tabs would be great to help cut through a tight chop but I don’t usually fish to far from port so its not been a pressing issue.

[bgreene]

Jump to Viking 61’ Sportfish .....wife and kids will love it and you’ll spend like my weekends on the boat

[inaforty]

I own a 23' Wellcraft Excel. Not a bad riding boat for it's size. Honestly I think the Excel/Wellcraft are better built then some of the other Wellcrafts. I think Gemar bought Excel and combined them will Wellcraft. We have spent the night on it but it's really like camping. For 3 people spending the night I would look at a 26' to 29' boat.

I've looked at the larger 27' thru 29' Wellcraft Coastal. Love the layout of the coastal's but access to the bilge and thru hulls is not good. We finally bought a 29' Stamas Express. Like Skunk said once you go that big the expense with twins etc gets to be much more $$$.

We stick with OB powered boats because we are in salt water. Sea Ray's and other boats with outdrives don't make sense for us.

[SkunkBoat]

I could buy a V20 every year for what I pay to dock my 265.

[steplift20]

My son owns a 25 Parker and uses it for charters , it's a very nice boat but I think to tow it around might be a problem, it's pretty big and heavy but if that's not a issue with you than I would check out the 25 Parker, he has a 250 Yamaha and it pushes it pretty good.

[Dschaffer]

Originally Posted by steplift20

My son owns a 25 Parker and uses it for charters , it's a very nice boat but I think to tow it around might be a problem, it's pretty big and heavy but if that's not a issue with you than I would check out the 25 Parker, he has a 250 Yamaha and it pushes it pretty good.

I’ve heard good things about those boats. Few and far between in this area though. Maybe I need to start looking on the coast. I can pretty easily/safely tow around 12,000lbs so that is not an issue.

[Dschaffer]

Originally Posted by SkunkBoat

I could buy a V20 every year for what I pay to dock my 265.

With any luck, I’ll be renting or possibly even purchasing a slip in the next year or so. I still want something trailerable though as I’ll fish distant ports on occasion.

[steplift20]

My sons 25 Parker has a very nice cabin and a forward cabin for sleeping but he uses it for his fishing rods plenty of room now to Be honest I heard that it's not a good riding boat,but I have been on it a bunch of times and find it to be a very nice riding boat, maybe they are comparing it to a much larger boat but I think it's a very nice riding vessel, (I would buy one ) he has a 250 4 stroke Yamaha and it moves along pretty fast I feel it's a perfect match but I would rather have a Mercury ( I'm a Mercury guy can you tell lol ) if I was you I would definitely look into a 25 Parker only cause I have been on one. Keep the wellcraft just my opinion lol p.s I was on a charter on a 40 footer and find the Parker just as good , the captain of the larger vessel knows my son and tells me how hard riding the Parker is and he should sell it , I think it rides just as good as his longer boat, ( go figure ) I would like to see what others are saying and you should too.are you in New Jersey?

[Dschaffer]

Originally Posted by steplift20

My sons 25 Parker has a very nice cabin and a forward cabin for sleeping but he uses it for his fishing rods plenty of room now to Be honest I heard that it's not a good riding boat,but I have been on it a bunch of times and find it to be a very nice riding boat, maybe they are comparing it to a much larger boat but I think it's a very nice riding vessel, (I would buy one ) he has a 250 4 stroke Yamaha and it moves along pretty fast I feel it's a perfect match but I would rather have a Mercury ( I'm a Mercury guy can you tell lol ) if I was you I would definitely look into a 25 Parker only cause I have been on one. Keep the wellcraft just my opinion lol p.s I was on a charter on a 40 footer and find the Parker just as good , the captain of the larger vessel knows my son and tells me how hard riding the Parker is and he should sell it , I think it rides just as good as his longer boat, ( go figure ) I would like to see what others are saying and you should too.are you in New Jersey?

Thank you for the information. I’m in Northwest Michigan. I’ve yet to see a Parker in person, at least that I’m aware of. What year/model is your sons boat? I’ll search around and see what’s out there.