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haven't fished in the 20 ft Skeeter. Now I know Skeeter makes a good boat but the thing that jumped out to me when looking at the Skeeters was the hull.

It looks like more of a bass boat hull underneath without as much of a deep V compared to other bay boats. I'm sure that will make it faster and skinnier but not so sure for crossing choppy bays.

Maybe someone who owns one can give some personal insight.

I have a ZX22 and you're right. It's very fast, gets really shallow, and handles like a go kart. That being said, it's a pretty wet boat, and you get knocked around pretty good on bigger days. 80% of the boat's hours came from Lake P. It's fished out and all around Breton Sound, and fished out in the Mississippi Sound a few times. While I've only been scared in it a couple times, I've gotten my arse kicked plenty.

One of my good friends (He actually owns Dockside Marine in Bogalusa, and I highly recommend them like earlier poster said. Good prices and good service.) ran a 24 Skeeter for a while, and that extra 2ft makes such a huge difference. I love the fishability and the layout of the Skeeter, so it outweighs the pretty big con of having a shallow hull.

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I have a xpress hb 20 wit the hyperlift hull and it rides very well for aluminium

Great boat.

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I can think of but one application where I would really ever think about cutting across a large lake or bay. I wouldn't mind being able to launch at the Rigolet's and cut across Lake Borgne to Biloxi Marsh. Have always just launced at Hopedale or Rigolets so never really thought it over or attempted it.

You can do anything you want to do in a 19ft boat. The real issue is whether you can do it as OFTEN as you want to. That's something only you can answer.

You won't have a problem crossing Borgne in a 19ft boat so long as you pick your days. Borgne and the Rigolets (yes, the pass) can kick up high in a hurry though, so learn the area and play close attention to the weather and wind when you fish. In my not so learn-ed days, I crossed Borgne in a 16ft boat with a 30 tiller.

This post was edited on 2/16/15 at 5:40 pm