Lets go. You start.
I'll be glad to jump in here. I have a 17' Cajun Bass boat which is
currently for sale (as is the lake house) as I'm going back to salt
water. I just bought a new SV2100CC Sea Pro with a 200 Yamaha which
was supposed to be ready for pickup last week but is now scheduled for
this week. I've equipped it so far with a hydraulic jack plate, Lenco
trim tabs, Sunbrella Bimini top, Lowrance X-18 GPS and Icon 402S
radio. To please SWMBO I added the 6' removable rear bench seat option
to accommodate all those people she expects to join us on our fishing
expeditions. Plan to add compass when I get the boat so I'll have a
better idea of space limitations (wanted Danforth Constellation but
was told the 5" was too big), dual batteries with switch, trolling
motor, probably wash down pump and maybe built in tackle boxes.
Looking forward to getting it but it's raining today so makes it a
little easier.

On Mon, 07 Feb 2005 15:24:26 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:


Lets go. You start.
I'll be glad to jump in here. I have a 17' Cajun Bass boat which is
currently for sale (as is the lake house) as I'm going back to salt
water. I just bought a new SV2100CC Sea Pro with a 200 Yamaha which
was supposed to be ready for pickup last week but is now scheduled for
this week. I've equipped it so far with a hydraulic jack plate, Lenco
trim tabs, Sunbrella Bimini top, Lowrance X-18 GPS and Icon 402S
radio. To please SWMBO I added the 6' removable rear bench seat option
to accommodate all those people she expects to join us on our fishing
expeditions. Plan to add compass when I get the boat so I'll have a
better idea of space limitations (wanted Danforth Constellation but
was told the 5" was too big), dual batteries with switch, trolling
motor, probably wash down pump and maybe built in tackle boxes.
Looking forward to getting it but it's raining today so makes it a
little easier.

Very nice, but I would echo Harry on the compass - get a good handleld
bearing compass and just a small console compass. As Harry said, you
will rely more on the GPS and depth finder, but it's nice to have a
backup that can accurately tell you North is that away. :)

Now, on to something that I find curious. Why the jackplate on a 21
foot bay boat?

I have a 20 foot 200 C Ranger

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger.JPG

that has a good running solid performing FICHT which had a jackplate
on it when I purchased it. I got rid of it after about a month -
totally useless.. If you are looking for shallow water operations,
that's that the trolling motor is for - in particular if you have the
24 volt. You probably had a jackplate on that Cajun and that's
probably useful in that application, but on a bay boat?

And while I'm on the subject, don't buy a Motoguide Great White series
trolling motor. Mercury does not support Motoguide in any sense of
the word, they violate warranty terms and the new digital control
boards are prone to fail - it's a horrible design. Almost as bad as
the older switched design. Buy a MinnKota Riptide series instead.

Nice boat though.

Later,

Tom

Now, on to something that I find curious. Why the jackplate on a 21
foot bay boat?

I have a 20 foot 200 C Ranger

http://www.swsports.org/images/Ranger.JPG

Good looking rig

that has a good running solid performing FICHT which had a jackplate
on it when I purchased it. I got rid of it after about a month -
totally useless.. If you are looking for shallow water operations,
that's that the trolling motor is for - in particular if you have the
24 volt. You probably had a jackplate on that Cajun and that's
probably useful in that application, but on a bay boat?

The bay where we bought our place is very shallow and most boats use
hydraulic jack plates to raise the engine to motor out of shallows and
get on plane without digging so much mud. Once on plane you can lower
the engine back to running depth. Supposedly this boat will get on
plane in about 18 - 20" of water - jack plate and trim tabs are
supposed to reduce that by 4-6" - we'll soon see if that's true. Never
had one on the Cajun nor needed it. Toledo Bend is a pretty deep lake
for the most part and a set depth worked fine for me. I guess you
could optimize your speed but it went plenty fast for me.

And while I'm on the subject, don't buy a Motoguide Great White series
trolling motor. Mercury does not support Motoguide in any sense of
the word, they violate warranty terms and the new digital control
boards are prone to fail - it's a horrible design. Almost as bad as
the older switched design. Buy a MinnKota Riptide series instead.

Glad to know that - I'll keep that in mind when I get ready.

Nice boat though.

Thanks - looking forward to getting it wet.

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 02:30:32 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:


~~ snippage ~~

The bay where we bought our place is very shallow and most boats use
hydraulic jack plates to raise the engine to motor out of shallows and
get on plane without digging so much mud. Once on plane you can lower
the engine back to running depth. Supposedly this boat will get on
plane in about 18 - 20" of water - jack plate and trim tabs are
supposed to reduce that by 4-6" - we'll soon see if that's true. Never
had one on the Cajun nor needed it. Toledo Bend is a pretty deep lake
for the most part and a set depth worked fine for me. I guess you
could optimize your speed but it went plenty fast for me.

The Ranger won't do that. I need at least a couple of feet. That may
be due to the set back design of the transom.

I'd still be very wary of trying to run a boat at speed in that kind
of water.

As to getting wet - trust me, you will get wet in these type boats.
It's a fact of life that bay boat producers don't want to admit. :)

Have fun. Let us know how that jack plate deal works out.

Later,

Tom

The Ranger won't do that. I need at least a couple of feet. That may
be due to the set back design of the transom.

We'll see if this one will. Promises and facts aren't always the same.


I'd still be very wary of trying to run a boat at speed in that kind
of water.

You think running aground at 60 mph could be a problem?? :-)

As to getting wet - trust me, you will get wet in these type boats.
It's a fact of life that bay boat producers don't want to admit. :)

No doubt. My Mako was pretty dry but I found several combinations of
wind/waves that managed to soak me. Doubt there's a boat made that
won't get you wet at some time - I had a friend on an aircraft carrier
who claimed they took spray over the bow in a bad storm.

Have fun. Let us know how that jack plate deal works out.

Will do - if they ever finish the boat. :-)

Later,

Tom