which boat
 

I'm looking at purchasing a boat primarily for fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. I'm not sure about a lot of things, so I've been checking out boats I like and researching them. Got a couple questions though.

Boston Whalers and Grady White's seem to be pretty darn good boats right? I'm interested in something from 24-27' that I can pull behind my truck. Just curious, but how come some boats have I/Os and others have 2 or 4 stroke outboards? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each? Most of the GWs and BWs are single or dual outboards.

RE: which boat
 

look at the mako boats great boats and go with 2 strokes optimax if mercury better on gas than you think

RE: which boat
 

What are the Mako boats comparable to? I've seen some of them and they seem really nice. Actually considering the 253 walkaround cabin, but want to take a closer look.

Another thing - what about single vs. dual motors on the back? What's preferable. The mako 253 is rated for 400 Hp max, is it better to have 1 400 lets say or 2 200 Hps?

I know these aren't the types of boats I'm looking at, but how do Maxum, Sea Ray, and bayliner compare? They're all made on the same assy line correct? Thanks again!

RE: which boat
 

best boat for the bay are power cats. all your cats are awesome. the reason is the double hull stabilizes the boat better and like my boat i have a 9 ft beam and that thing is stable on the days everyone else is rockin and rollin. i fish the cbbt out of lynhaven inlet and it can get nasty out there. heres a pic

RE: which boat
 

heres a pic from the front and thats my buddy jason with one of his flounder from the third island

RE: which boat
 

That is an extremely nice boat. If you don't mind, how much did it run? You can PM if you want. I checked out some of the cats, and they're very nice, but out of my price range. This is the boat I'm considering right now, but still have A LOT of research to do before I drop this much $$$.

http://www.mako-boats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2008

RE: which boat
 

BTW - how long is your boat and how many people is it rated for? Also, what motor(s) do you have on the back? Thanks again!

RE: which boat
 

it was around 45k 2 years old low hours with 2 150 hp mercs and i repowered this past winter with 2 250 hp suzukis and its 29 ft. you can find them anywhere from 25k and up depending on hp and size but you cant beat em.

RE: which boat
 

You will want twin outboards. That way if you get out there and have problems you can still get back home. Either the Boston Whalers or Grady Whites are real nice.

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most of the power cats are specifically designed for twins since they have such a wide transom. i love my twin 250s

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ok the mako are comparable to the gradys and whalers cats are nice but expensive now and can roll in rough weather the mako are great boats and are an absolutly astounding ride i have a 2201 bay boat and can go 22 miles in the ocean in it and can hold 8 i can go 50 miles on 21 gallons with a 225 optimax and i am sponsered by tracker marine so i put all of my faith in it everyday beinga charter boat fisherman

RE: which boat
 

the mako would be my choice between that the whalers and the gradys. the makos are awesome center console machines and very durable but a power cat is the ultimate craft for rough waters especially for small crafts. i almost bought a mako but when i rode in this cat i was sold. like i said im not knockin the mako but for me the cat was a better boat plus i got a hell of a deal for everything i got with it plus a full year of dock fees so i couldnt beat it.

RE: which boat
 

It def. sounds like you got a deal, a REAL good one at that. And your boat is flat out awesome! How come some have single and some have twin outboards? Is there an advantage to either way? Like single for ex., do you get better "gas mileage" or if you have duals do they sucka lot more gas, but you go faster? What else? Thanks again, I'm learning a lot.

RE: which boat
 

well the transom is so wide that you have plaenty of room to have twins and still have use of the back of the boat. also it is a trade off with gas cause you figure you have 2 motors burnin gas instead of one but with one motor it has to run harder to get the speeds up so its tit for tat on that one but i dont know if there is much a difference.

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Again - NICE boat, I'm in love :) I know the dual hulls/catamaran style is better for stability in rougher waters. Are they a little harder to steer and drive in normal conditions b/c of 2 hulls?

Another reason I'm really leaning towards the Mako is b/c of the cuddy cabin w/ the family, they can retreat and I think this boat would make a nice compromise between what they want and what I want. I want pretty much straight fishing, they want something to go out on and relax, and w/ the cabin down below, we can have a/c and they can relax when the going gets too hot for them while I sit above and man all the rods w/ the rockfish coming in :)

The World Cat has a nice 28' cuddy, but I can't afford it, plus towing will be harder, and since I want to trailer my boat to the bay/ocean, I'm thinking ~ 26' is where I want to be... Who knows, I'm still in the research phase so my thinking may change over time.

Oh yeah, sorry for all the questions!

RE: which boat
 

oh no problem questions are goood to ask if you are gonna lay down a chunk of change but i am not bashing cats but i talked to another guy who alost got rolled in it last fall in 3 foot seas not me though and they look like great boats idk i havent ridden in one i just know that the makos are great boats

RE: which boat
 

yea the makos are great. as far as steering my cat its alittle different but not in a bad way just different. last time we went to the cbbt we had a storm blow in fast off the ocean and fed a cell in the bay which was wicked to watch and we stayed out till the seas got around the 4 to 5 ft mark and we shot in at around 35 nots rollin over the rough waters while the other boats were swamping out.

RE: which boat
 

gotta love a World cat