Need your advice/opinions please

[Troy Dorman]

I'm thinking about buying a bigger fishing boat, my current boat's simply to small. I'm a big man at 6-5 275lbs., so I'd like to have some room to move around but certainly don't need a huge amount.

 

My main concern is that I buy a boat big enough to take down to Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. The other bodies of water around my home base are small and can be navigated with any small jon boat. The fact that we're looking to start fishing on these two HUGE bodies of water has me in the hunt for a bigger boat.

 

Here's my specs that I'd like to try and find...at least a 16foot boat with a fairly wide beam. I'm not sure if a flat bottom jon boat or a Vhull type of boat would be better. I don't want to spend more than 3000 grand, so this is a used boat deal. My fishing trips are almost always panfish trips, so I'm obviously spending most of my time in fairly shallow water.

 

What boat would you buy given my scenario and why? Thanks in advance!

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Troy, I too am bless with being the first ones to know if it raining, the last ones to care if it's flooding, and having to change lightbulbs in peoples houses without having to get a ladder when you go to visit, at 6'6' and about a Big Mac heavier I understand your situation . My main panfishing boat is an old Duracraft 15 ft, 48 inch bottom, high sided, with a 35 hp motor and console steering , aluminum,   modified semi v flatbottom. It has preformed all it's duties getting in close and in the shallows with no problems, it has a 50 mile cruising range on a 6 gal tank and a top speed of about 30 mph,fast enough for me. It is at home on the lakes as it is in the rivers, and it it wide enough to be stable enough for big folks like us to move around inside . It trailers like a dream at only about 550 lbs, boat and motor , and I have actually caught tons of fish out of it, so this would be my recomendation , at least a 48 inch bottom and console steering is a must.There is a photo of it in my photos.  Good Luck        LOFR

[Troy Dorman]

Thanks guys, I'm actively looking on the internet for a new boat(new used boat). Hell yes I know that feeling Lord of the Fly Rods, I'm asked to change lights for folks all of the time because I'm a house painter by trade.