I’m probably still a year or more from pulling the trigger, hopefully next fall if the right boat comes along, but I’m pretty much locked in on getting a used glass CC boat in the 15-16 foot range. At this point I’m just trying to gather as much info on as many different hulls as possible, keeping an eye on price trends, etc.
Whaler, Mako, Cobia, and Scout are all on my radar — what else should I be searching around for?
Thanks!
I would like the same thing but in an 18’ or 19’. I have been looking at the same brands. But it will be most likely 4+ years out for me.
I would like the same thing but in an 18’ or 19’. I have been looking at the same brands. But it will be most likely 4+ years out for me.
A 17 would be ideal for me, but I will always be limited by my city garage and my desire to have the boat stored inside and ready to go at all times.
What I need to do is to convince mrs. tangler to build an alcove on the back side of the garage to make more room. it would only destroy like half our back yard 
Not saying anything wrong with a center console, purely out of curiosity, but what is the advantage of one vs a side console?
back side of the garage to make more room. it would only destroy like half our back yard
That’s exactly what I’m doing! Out the crap goes! Smaller boat, alley to deal with. Oh well.
You got a nice corner lot tho, better go with a 19′
Not saying anything wrong with a center console, purely out of curiosity, but what is the advantage of one vs a side console?
As they say, every boat is a compromise. I’ve had a dual console and a tiller and I’d like to try a CC out now. In the “pro” column for me:
1. Open access to all areas of the boat.
2. I like to operate from a stand-up helm.
3. even weight distribution
4. Good visibility
5. No carpet, easy to clean
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tangler wrote:</div>
back side of the garage to make more room. it would only destroy like half our back yardThat’s exactly what I’m doing! Out the crap goes! Smaller boat, alley to deal with. Oh well.
You got a nice corner lot tho, better go with a 19′
If you’re serious I’d love to pop by some time and see your space and plans!
I love CC boats and I agree re the advantages.
But I think you missed what I would consider my #1 “”pro”. Ride quality.
As anyone who has ever ridden in a Pursuit, Grady, Regulator, HBBW, etc will tell you, the ride of a quality center console is fantastic and only gets better when the waves get bigger. I laugh when I hear about guys cracking hulls and busting rivets from running walleye boats in big waves. Wouldn’t have happened in a Grady, I’ll tell you that much. I bought a Wellcraft just because of the ride quality.
However, for the “cons” on the smaller CCs (<20 feet)
1. Lack of space both behind and in front of the console. Interferes with both casting and trolling to some extent.
2. Center consoles are under-appreciated and here in walleye boat country where guys think Alumacraft and Lund are “quality” brands, the build quality of a Grady, Whaler, or Pursuit is lost on most people. These 2 factors make resale of a CC very challenging.
Grouse
Great points TFG. On #2 I hope to use this to my advantage as I will be buying used. I definitely wouldn’t want to be the one paying retail and taking the hit on a used sale.
On #1, yes this is probably the biggest drawback. But coming from a 14 foot alumacraft I’m hoping the pros are enough to cancel this out. And I fish alone a lot. when I look at a 16 ft CC it looks like a yacht to me 
Fence, bushes, and partial flower garden got taken out today. I should get the rest done for the grading guy to come in this week or next. Mpls requires class 5 for any rec vehicles to be put on so I’m filling in half the backyard. 
I’m building a new garage hopefully next year, I’m just gonna throw a leanto and find some recycled fencing or lapsiding to fill it around enough for theft protection.
Think it’s great you’re switching it up to a CC possibly. Way I look at it when we get to our retirement boat, how the heck ya know what you really want until you’ve owned several in different styles?
Not sure if I’m going back to tiller, side counsel, or even a gasp, glastron Bayliner etc runabaout for the fam.
Fence, bushes, and partial flower garden got taken out today. I should get the rest done for the grading guy to come in this week or next. Mpls requires class 5 for any rec vehicles to be put on so I’m filling in half the backyard.
I’m building a new garage hopefully next year, I’m just gonna throw a leanto and find some recycled fencing or lapsiding to fill it around enough for theft protection.
Think it’s great you’re switching it up to a CC possibly. Way I look at it when we get to our retirement boat, how the heck ya know what you really want until you’ve owned several in different styles?
Not sure if I’m going back to tiller, side counsel, or even a gasp, glastron Bayliner etc runabaout for the fam.
Sounds like a sweet project man! And yes, gotta try all the flavors just to satisfy the curiosity (must show restraint from distasteful metaphors!)
Having an attached 2 car garage is like gold in the city, but it’s a curse as well cuz the wife considers it “part of the house.” Listen lady, I graciously let you store your stupid Camry in there next to my boat. Just let me cut a whole in the back wall with a sawz-all and have some fun!
Biggill should jump in here as he has a nice cc.
I had a response typed up a couple times but I got distracted and failed to finish it.
I agree with what grouse said. I can attest that boats shorter than 22’ lack space behind the console. I will argue though that there is adequate space in front of it. That’s were I store my gear when I go to Isle Royale. If anything, the space in front is one of the highlights of the boat.
One other thing is that there typically aren’t many comfortable places to sit, especially in my boat.
They are typically very simple boats and are usually constructed with high quality parts that won’t corrode since they are all built for sitting their entire life in salt water.
I have a Bombardier Fish Hawk BF200. It’s a 20’ model that is just shy of 20’. Other than the weight, it has the maneuverability of a 16-18’ boat with the ride of a 20’ boat on big water. The fact that you stand while you drive makes the ride that much smoother. Your knees are much better shock absorbers than any shock absorbing seat on the market.
There are different types of CC boats. You have bay boats which are typically a slightly deeper hull and you have the lower profile flats boat that is like a skinny bass boat hull. I opted for a deep hull for big water like the Great Lakes.
Mine doesn’t have an actual livewell like your typical bass or walleye boat. It has a very large baitwell. It’s a half moon shape and wouldn’t for a 30”+ fish very well. That’s what the cooler is for. Bleed out your fish in the baitwell and put them on ice in the cooler.
If anyone lives near east bethel and is interested, feel free to pm me and you can take a gander at mine.
I’m headed to superior tomorrow so you might be able to catch me on the Two Harbors webcam tomorrow morning.
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That is a great looking boat biggill. My only question is how much water do you need to launch the boat with that deeper hull?
Tangler, how deep is your garage now? I have a 16’ boat right now and it gets tight when more than 2 people are with. A wider beam would greatly help with this.
Thanks for the thoughts biggill. I’ll add bombardier to my search terms, nice looking rig.
I wouldn’t be making any runs out to Isle Royale with the size of boat I’m looking at, but I’d be hoping to do some near-shore trolling for salmon and trout in favorable conditions.
Tangler, how deep is your garage now? I have a 16’ boat right now and it gets tight when more than 2 people are with. A wider beam would greatly help with this.
I’d need to measure again to be sure, but I think it’s in the neighborhood of 18.5 feet. I’ve had a 16 foot glass boat in there in the past, required a fold-away tongue. It’s possible that I could squeeze the right 17 footer in there with some creativity.
I mostly fish by myself or with my kid. Every now and then grandpa will come along, but we made it work in a 16ft dual console boat that had a lot more wasted space than a CC.
Another factor in my size limit is that I want to keep my Subaru Outback as a tow vehicle. It’s rated for 3,000 pounds with trailer brakes and a transmission cooler, but I’d much rather keep that down around 2,000.
Really dig the Scout Sportfish 155/162, and the Boston Whaler Dauntless 16.
That is a great looking boat biggill. My only question is how much water do you need to launch the boat with that deeper hull?
Non different than any other boat of that size. I have to get the fenders of the trailer about 3” below the surface to get the boat off the trailer. So maybe 3-4’ of depth.
The hull depth is deceiving. The boat sits really high in the water which has its pros and cons. You can’t spear a wave even if you try but it is definitely much more unstable than a boat with the deck below the waterline. It’s called a self bailing deck meaning if water splashes in, it will drain out the back and not go into the bilge.
CC boats are awesome – I’ve been seeing a guy on pool 2 recently in a blue G3 CC boat. I hadn’t seen a G3 aluminum CC boat.
My only concern with a CC boat on the river is you typically fish out the back with the nose in the current. If you have limited space in the back it could be a challenge. Maybe something to consider.
CC boats are awesome – I’ve been seeing a guy on pool 2 recently in a blue G3 CC boat. I hadn’t seen a G3 aluminum CC boat.
My only concern with a CC boat on the river is you typically fish out the back with the nose in the current. If you have limited space in the back it could be a challenge. Maybe something to consider.
It’s only a concern if you plan to fish more than 2 people out the back. I primarily fish out the back of mine regardless. The nice thing is that you are close to the console so you can see your graph and gps.
I have a 15.5 foot CC. Such a great boat, but it looks kind of out of place up on MN and ND lakes while it should be in salt flats. 
Nothing wrong with that though. Mine is a Maverick HPX 15
CC boats are awesome – I’ve been seeing a guy on pool 2 recently in a blue G3 CC boat. I hadn’t seen a G3 aluminum CC boat.
My only concern with a CC boat on the river is you typically fish out the back with the nose in the current. If you have limited space in the back it could be a challenge. Maybe something to consider.
Will have to keep an eye out for him. As for river use, I think it’d be fine fishing 2 out the back against current. I think it’d be ideal for trolling which is our primary game anyway. It really depends on the boat. I’d hope for something that’s basically open in the back, with the fuel cell under the bench seat behind the console.
I have a 15.5 foot CC. Such a great boat, but it looks kind of out of place up on MN and ND lakes while it should be in salt flats.
Nothing wrong with that though. Mine is a Maverick HPX 15
That’s a nice rig Ahren! Looks really set up well for fishing from what I can see in searches.
Thought this crowd would appreciate this, haven’t seen one pop up in a long time. Not affiliated with the sale. Ranger 180C
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Nothing wrong with that though. Mine is a Maverick HPX 15