re: Louisiana dream boat for inshore and nearshore

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should see my wifes face when we get on a 34 freeman and i give her a wet bean bag

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That's the main knock against my boat. It's not wife friendly at all. It's a fishing boat and honestly sucks to just boat ride in.

I like the way the blackjack 256 coastal addresses the wife vs fishing issues. It has removable seating and room for a head in the console and a good cockpit layout. That would solve the wife problem 100% for me and maintain the kind of fishing layout I want.

you can see it in the way those americans are setup (i had to edit this based on the last photo above love the folding rear seats). Its a two person boat despite being 28'. Look at that dorado. If it had llebrocs at the helm and a rear bench, two people can run the boat from the tower, that frees up two super comforable llebrocs at the helm for two people to just chill out in the shade on the ride and two to 3 more to ride the rear bench wo being crowded. Tower basically double the capacity of the boat. A few of the zcb have been built w rear llebrocs and that is amazing except they don't fold or stow. A 26 zcb just isn't very big despite having twins and lot of fuel. A 27 young is a little bigger but its hull isn't as advanced as a step hull (not as efficient and doesn't ride as well, build quality is ridiculously good on both zcb and young).

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I have to disagree with you on stepped hulls riding better than nonstepped hulls.

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Same. Stepped hulls are faster and more efficient but IMO non stepped rides better. Maybe not always the case but IMO it typically is. My 33T Contender (non-stepped) rides a little better than the 35ST contender which is essentially the same hull just with steps. But the 35ST is a little faster and more efficient.

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Just looked online at some Prowlers like yours since I wasn’t familiar. What a nice rig! How do you have her powered? Fuel capacity?

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Bought mine used with Zuke 140s. It has 160gal fuel capacity. Most new ones are coming with Merc 225s or Zuke 200s. I'd love to upgrade for speed, but haven't justified it yet. I run 30-33 most anywhere I want like a cushion of air. Those bigger engines will get you a 40-45mph cruise. Dock to dock fuel economy is usually around 2.0-2.2mpg

Made a snapper trip on Saturday with 6 people on board. Not one thing on the deck while fishing. And still have plenty of room leftover. I'm not sure it's possible to fill the storage in this boat and it still float. I could personally never go back to a V bottom because I'm spoiled for the storage. My old man has an Everglades 243 and it feels like a pirogue compared to mine.

Oh, and its half the price of a Costa...and still runs 60+ mph with the Merc 225s.

I agree with a “better” ride on the 35ST in calmer water. In 2ft+ Gulf of Mexico chop I’m taking 33T though. Seems to “eat” better when it’s rough.

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but certain ones (32st), 24 yellowfin,and 26 pathfinder nailed it.

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I fished a good bit on a 32ST in rough water and IMO I wasn’t too impressed with how it handled. Don’t get me wrong it’s a badass boat and is a rocket ship, but in rough water it’s hard to keep engines in the water, have you a good beating and would soak you. That being said I’ve been wet in a 42 freeman too, and there are obviously conditions where you’re getting wet regardless of what boat you’re in.

Most impressive riding step hull I’ve ran in the mid 30ft class is 33T Onslow. Those boats do pretty much everything well.

(End of thread hijack)

22ft Blazer Bay or Mamba dual console. Hit the marsh or the first set of rigs.

Just curious why no mention of Grady White or Sportsman?

Limitless 26 with twins is really nice.

Surprised haven't seen much on here for the Caymas 28HB. Got on one the other day and was incredible.

Why would being tied to Yamaha be a bad thing

Mercury - yeah you’ll go fast and have a strong lower unit, but you’ll be changing power heads, rigging and or sensors every 1000 hours

Suzuki - maybe close to yammy reliability wise (minus the DF350 which lolol) but not quite there yet.

Yammy 300 - bulletproof powerhead good for 5000+ hours. Only weak part maybe being lower unit