How does a flat bottom boat (18ft)fair in the bays of galveston? From what I've read you'll get beat up if it's 15mph winds or more but other than that any other info would be great.also should I just try to stay shallow and protected?
Rfortson
No other craft rides worse than a flatbottom. nothing rides worse...I love my current 20fter! loved my 18ft flatbottom before that and my 16ft flatbottom before that and my 13ft flatbottom before that. Caught more fish and more trophys in the 13fter than all the rest put together. just go slow and steady when conditions dictate. People overthink this. just go and learn how to angle your boat properly so as not to get yourself so wet. and how much you need to slow down for wakes etc. No biggie.
Yes! Years ago I fished all of East Galveston bay in a 14' with a 9.9 Johnson. Did it for a few years. Alot of people will tell you not to do it. Just go! It's not a big deal.:cheers:
I sold my Carolina J 16 last year and had fished the bay with it for years.
It was wet as all get out but quieter that the aluminum it replaced.
Just had to pay attention to the weather a little more closely.
This big boat mentality is something that has morphed over the last
20 years. Use to be a big boat on the bay was 17 footer.
Easy financing and advertisement of the newest and greatest
brought on a lot of that mentality.
You don't need a 60K Ford Diesel with a 40K boat strapped to it to catch
fish. Half the people today wouldn't even get in my old 15 Lamar or even
know what one is.
It was wet as all get out but quieter that the aluminum it replaced.
Just had to pay attention to the weather a little more closely.
This big boat mentality is something that has morphed over the last
20 years. Use to be a big boat on the bay was 17 footer.
Easy financing and advertisement of the newest and greatest
brought on a lot of that mentality.
You don't need a 60K Ford Diesel with a 40K boat strapped to it to catch
fish. Half the people today wouldn't even get in my old 15 Lamar or even
know what one is.
All of the posts so far are pretty much dead on. Knowing the limitations of a boat is critical. However, you don't have to have a true flat bottom hull to go shallow...seriously skinny, and get a smoother and dry ride. Check out the Cougar Challenger. I've had 2 Challenger 176's and they're hard to beat. I fish South Bay which is extremely shallow but have to cross what at times is pretty bad chop. The ride is to die for and as a rule the only time we get wet it's raining.
Hull shape is only part of it. The other part is weight. A heavy boat rides better. A big heavy flat-bottom will probably ride better than a lightweight 6-degree V in choppy water. Problem is that you don't generally want a heavy boat.
If you are constantly in very shallow lagoons, creeks and back-bays that are relatively protected, a flat-bottom probably makes the most sense. If you cross large bays a lot, you probably want to avoid true flat-bottoms. They will work if it is all you have, but if starting fresh, you may want to consider a little deadrise. It will ride better and warn you quicker when getting into shallow water. You just can't run as shallow.
The other option is the cat-style flats boats. They can run as shallow as the flat-bottom boats (actually shallower, unless your flat-bottom has a tunnel), but they won't float as shallow at rest, or drift as shallow. They will ride better in the chop if you quarter the waves.
I've run plenty of flat-bottoms. The ones with a modified-V on the front do ride and handle better in the chop, but the ones with square front ends are much easier to back off of the shoreline.
If you are constantly in very shallow lagoons, creeks and back-bays that are relatively protected, a flat-bottom probably makes the most sense. If you cross large bays a lot, you probably want to avoid true flat-bottoms. They will work if it is all you have, but if starting fresh, you may want to consider a little deadrise. It will ride better and warn you quicker when getting into shallow water. You just can't run as shallow.
The other option is the cat-style flats boats. They can run as shallow as the flat-bottom boats (actually shallower, unless your flat-bottom has a tunnel), but they won't float as shallow at rest, or drift as shallow. They will ride better in the chop if you quarter the waves.
I've run plenty of flat-bottoms. The ones with a modified-V on the front do ride and handle better in the chop, but the ones with square front ends are much easier to back off of the shoreline.
sgrem pretty well said it all...Used to fish 14D&Y true flat bottom w 25 tiller...Do not overload .Between it and My 13 whaler W/ 40..I caught more fish /and got more forbidden places Than any other boat I've owned..And I had plenty..When I got out the Navy, a 16' 7" Whaler was a considered Offshore Boat ......I am alu 100% now 1660 / 50 hp with slight V in front..and almost flat at stern..My take is Flat all the way want to slap and get wet.not a kill factor (cause the Draft shallower ).That little V seems to reduce that and track better. Big ain't always Better...When you run that 24' with 300 up in mud/oyster reef/sand bar about all you can do is holler help or wait for tide to come in..When you do same with that 14f alu ..jump out Drag her to deeper water and off you go/Most time once you get out it will float better and its easier to drag too...Get out and Learn/keep tabs on weather/Wear life LJ and KS//be safe/enjoy
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