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22-24ft family friendly bay boats? Go!
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:34 pm
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:34 pm
By “family friendly” I mean seating really…. Jump seats or rear bench with back rest and no cooler seats. So far I like the Triton LTS, HS Bay Bolt or the Pathfinder in the used and under 45k zone. Any other recommendations I’m missing?
16
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:41 pm to TexasHand
Blue Wave Purebay
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:43 pm to TexasHand
Blackjack 256
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:45 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Blackjack has to be over the 45k mark right?
Posted on 1/9/25 at 7:57 pm to TexasHand
Look on Boat Trader (website or app) to get an idea of prices. They have new and used ones. It also helped me narrow down what I wanted.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 8:17 pm to TexasHand
I like the Tritons and PFs. I’d take a peak at Blazer Bays too
Posted on 1/9/25 at 8:17 pm to TexasHand
Robalo makes a really well laid out boat. Never been on one though
This post was edited on 1/9/25 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 1/9/25 at 8:32 pm to TexasHand
JH Performance 25 Cat
Posted on 1/9/25 at 8:43 pm to TexasHand
I figured it would be about the same as pathfinder.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 8:49 pm to TexasHand
Skeeter 24 Had one for 13 years. Wife and kids loved it. Dry and smooth. Jump seats in the back were fantastic.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 9:01 pm to TexasHand
If you are really looking at family friendly, you need to get something with bow seating….imho
Posted on 1/9/25 at 9:04 pm to TexasHand
Honestly, just about every modern mass produced bay boat in that size range has those features.
In no particular order you can take a look at Sportsman, Robalo, Sea Hunt, Skeeter, Bluewave, Sea Pro, Ranger, Frontier, Tidewater and Nautic Star.
Next price point up in mass produced boats you can look at Black Jack, Pathfinder, and Shearwater.
You can spend a lot more on custom and semi custom makes but don’t think you need to bother with those with your budget which is decent.
That’s just a few off the top of my head. I certainly prefer some of those over the others. You need to lay out more specific criteria on how you plan on using the boat.
In no particular order you can take a look at Sportsman, Robalo, Sea Hunt, Skeeter, Bluewave, Sea Pro, Ranger, Frontier, Tidewater and Nautic Star.
Next price point up in mass produced boats you can look at Black Jack, Pathfinder, and Shearwater.
You can spend a lot more on custom and semi custom makes but don’t think you need to bother with those with your budget which is decent.
That’s just a few off the top of my head. I certainly prefer some of those over the others. You need to lay out more specific criteria on how you plan on using the boat.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 9:16 pm to TexasHand
24 ft Champion.
Rides like a dream. Plenty of seating in the back
Rides like a dream. Plenty of seating in the back
Posted on 1/9/25 at 9:18 pm to Redlos
quote:
need to get something with bow seating
As far as i know, all the liner hull boats have this now.
Women gotta ride in the front and bow seating is a must if you're gonna be riding women around.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 10:01 pm to Mister Bigfish
As use goes, I’d want it to do everything my Sailfish 216 would do. That boat was a tank and very capable offshore on good-moderate days. So that probably limits me to a hybrid heavy hull boat. Of course, my wife loves riding out to the Mississippi barrier islands and hailing the boat to Florida so comfort is part of my compromise. I sold that boat with the intention of stepping up length to 22-24ft and going to a 4 stroke. I need a bay boat that can handle gulf chop without beating my wifes teeth in lol….best I can describe it
Posted on 1/9/25 at 10:13 pm to TexasHand
quote:
need a bay boat that can handle gulf chop without beating my wifes teeth in
Most of them can do that on a good day. They are still bay boats. 17* deadrise at the transom is about all you're gonna get and none of them are going to fly through 3's like a real offshore boat will. Some are flatter than that.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 10:31 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Yea, 3s aren’t fun. Im pretty selective on the days I go far out. But spending any time in the gulf, sometimes you get caught. It’s happened to me and I was glad I had a boat that was +capable vs -capable. Ive never ridden in the 24ft champions, tritons or rangers but I’ve heard they swing above their weight class.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 10:38 pm to TexasHand
Nautical Star 23ft hybrid
Posted on 1/9/25 at 10:56 pm to TexasHand
Idk if youve ever been in 3's in a bay boat but it's absolutely awful. It takes a near perfect day to be comfortable in a bay boat offshore.
They are great for versatility, and good enough to not die, but fishing in a chop offshore in a bayboat just isn't fun. People think they are better than they are. Its a 24 foot boat with a max 17* bottom low gunnels and not much freeboard.
I wouldn't decide based on offshore capability. There isn't much difference between them. Id focus on build quality and layout.
They are great for versatility, and good enough to not die, but fishing in a chop offshore in a bayboat just isn't fun. People think they are better than they are. Its a 24 foot boat with a max 17* bottom low gunnels and not much freeboard.
I wouldn't decide based on offshore capability. There isn't much difference between them. Id focus on build quality and layout.
Posted on 1/9/25 at 11:07 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I have and I swore I’d never do it again lol. When I say “offshore capable” I don’t mean in 3s. Maybe offshore on a good day and not doe otw in if something kicks up. I won’t have a boat with really low gunnels again after having the sailfish for a few years.
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