Haynie....cuz you are right there by the manufacturer for support.

Otherwise the top names you mention will serve you well. I would consider the JH, El Pescador, and Trans.

They will all do well in that area. They will all suck in the chop and offshore.

 

what boat do you know that will handle chop well?

 

Any of your 23ft and up cat boats will "handle" chop, but none will ever compete with that V in the front. Like Grem said, Haynie or El Pescador would be my top 2 picks, just remember if you're looking to get a new one, it'll be over a year out on either.

 

Any V bottom will. Any Tunnel V with trim tabs will handle chop head and shoulders better. Not comparable.

 

A couple of the ones you mentioned are no longer in business. I would definitely stay away from them for obvious reasons.

 

What boat manufacturer are no longer in business?

 

Your 2 best bets for cat boats in your area are
Shoalwater Cat - Wapoint Marine
Haynie Cat - Chris's Marine

Both great boats. Wapoint gets my vote on the rigging department.

 

Agree with Waypoint on the rigging part. My question is, why wouldn't El Pescador be on your list? Just curious

 

I've put about 10 hours on my new 23' JH Outlaw and I couldn't be happier. The boat has been phenomenal in every aspect and you can't beat the service from John, Lindsey, Marvin, Blake, and the entire team at Sport Marine.

I suggest you at least swing by the shop and take a walk with John through his facility. You'll learn more about building boats and the pros and cons of his boats than you'll ever want/need to know.

 

I've put about 10 hours on my new 23' JH Outlaw and I couldn't be happier. The boat has been phenomenal in every aspect and you can't beat the service from John, Lindsey, Marvin, Blake, and the entire team at Sport Marine.

I suggest you at least swing by the shop and take a walk with John through his facility. You'll learn more about building boats and the pros and cons of his boats than you'll ever want/need to know.

Too many good boats where he's at to venture all the way to Richmond. An Outlaw is a nice boat, but won't handle the chop near as good as some of the others listed so far.

 

After owning a Bigfoot for sometime, I would say it's the best riding do a little of everything boat. Rides better than other Vhull tunnel boats I've been on and way better than any cat I have been on. It will take chop with the best of them, float more shallow than you would believe and is pretty easy to work on things yourself due to lots of room everywhere there is rigging. The only drawback is your not getting anywhere quick.

 

I'm absolutely loving my 25' Haynie Magnum. Gets plenty shallow enough for me and handles rough water very well.

 

I am mainly look for a used boat, I have been wanting to test some of them out, so far I only have been on a catalyst talon.

 

I own the JH B225 paired with an F series 200 Yamaha mounted in next to highest holes. Also have a Bob's jack plate and tabs.. I love my boat. However.....I did ride in a Haynie and it handles chop better than my boat. Now I believe my boat will perform better in skinnier water but we are talking inches as opposed to feet when it comes to chop. My top speed is 46 and most days is 44 at 5800RPM's. The Haynie I rode in paired similarly (except with a heavy 300 Mercury) would outrun me......but he is much heavier. I might get mine out if I stick it.......that Haynie better have Sea Tow . It really boils down to your personal preferences and the water you frequent. I cant go where a Majek RFL with a TRP goes......but neither can most others. That Majek is a specialized boat paired with tools for optimal shallow water performance.......but it will beat you to death in chop. Truly.....getting a boat dialed in for your enjoyment is a part of the fun. Enjoy.

 

You will need a really big outboard maybe at least 400 H/P with a 6 blade prop .Something in the range of 23 FT and will run in 4 inches of water at 85 MPH. Remember "If your not First Your Last"
Seriously most of the boats mentioned above will be great. One thing to remember is how well can you handle launch and loading it by yourself. I have a 24 Tran SVT, getting it on and off the trailer by myself is kind of comical at times !

 

How long have you had your transport, I have found a few of them for sale and really like the setup and heard about of great things about Transport dealer in Palacios, Tx. What kind of feedback would you give on, the one I have been looking at is a 2020 24ftSVT w/ 300hp Suzuki?

 

.....by yourself or with somebody. Lol

 

I'm just going to say from experience the Evinrude isn't all bad. I have the 300 G2 on my 23 SW and it has been phenomenal for me. Great hole shot and lots of torque, will push my boat with raised console full load at 53 and still jump in a foot. I had the steering stern and swivel replaced under warranty otherwise normal maintenance with zero issues. I know they don't make them but parts aren't tough and BRP is now making a Rotax engine for pontoons so they still making parts and motors. Barnacle Bill's has extensive parts, Waypoint still services them as do others along the coast, and there is a ton of support in both forums and FB pages. I was reluctant buying mine used but have put over 300 hours and total engine is 550 total hours now so I am a believer. Problem is you only see and hear the bad stories and not the good experiences, kinda like anything else I guess.
That being said all the cats listed are good ones depending on what you consider chop, a foot is ok but 2-3 is not fun in a cat in my experience. I'd agree with Grem about looking for a Haynie if you plan to run that area, Chris is top notch.

 

I loved my Etecs, they are a great fit for a cat boat. You dang sure can get a better deal on a boat with one on it. Resale is what had me concerned, so i ditched mine before their value dropped off a ledge.

 

I'd take a look at the Gulf Coast Saber Cat as well. Gulf Coast Marine is also the closest dealer OTB. They are fast, dry, run skinny, and turn like it's on tracks. The layout is well thought out and makes a great boat to fish off of when you aren't wading. I'm keep mine in Corpus and could test ride if you pm me. I also loved my previous JH Outlaw and would take a 250x over every other boat on your list. Sport Marine builds a fantastic boat. I wanted slightly higher gunwhales for running near shore

 

I'd take a look at the Gulf Coast Saber Cat as well. Gulf Coast Marine is also the closest dealer OTB. They are fast, dry, run skinny, and turn like it's on tracks. The layout is well thought out and makes a great boat to fish off of when you aren't wading. I'm keep mine in Corpus and could test ride if you pm me. I also loved my previous JH Outlaw and would take a 250x over every other boat on your list. Sport Marine builds a fantastic boat. I wanted slightly higher gunwhales for running near shore

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How long have you had your transport, I have found a few of them for sale and really like the setup and heard about of great things about Transport dealer in Palacios, Tx. What kind of feedback would you give on, the one I have been looking at is a 2020 24ftSVT w/ 300hp Suzuki? You can PM me also.

 

Go find a well maintained Explorer 23TV . Save yourself a ton of money and get the handling qualities you seek.

Save 35k

 

Lots of good info above... remember, there is no 'perfect boat'. The V's will handle chop better day in and day out. Your original post sounded like you fish a lot of deeper stuff with some open water and big water. Unless you run the skinny flats a lot, I'd lean toward a V hull vs the Cat. Hull shape is important obviously and day in / day out it's the Shape (V vs Cat), Length and Weight of the boat that will determine ride. And if you ride a lot of skinny flats that might cause some of the V's to not be able to run those flats. From what you've said a Modified V with a tunnel would probably be a better boat.

 

OSO The 24 SVT has lots of room it is no speed demon at all. When I first bought mine it would run in the low 60s then I added a T-TOP and 3 heavy deep cycle batteries now I do good to get 50 MPH. The boat is very stable cuts through the chop very well,when with the trim tabs are adjusted correctly, it took me a while to figure this out and a lot of experimentation . The fuel economy is around 2.5-3.5 MPG with a 4 blade prop at just around 3600 RPMs give or take . I have only had one prop blow out as I was pushing to see what it would handle turning at speed. Runs shallower than it drafts, floats in about a foot of water. It will get up in soft mud bottom in 1 foot but not anywhere else. It will get stuck and your SOOL if you are by yourself. I take it offshore and beach front frequently in the summer months . You can put four people on and be very comfortable, I have had 6 and it does ok. Great boat overall. Holds its value really well and is pretty bullet proof when it comes to durability. Hope this helps. FYI your PM does not work.