re: Why aren't "coastal" bass boats more popular?

All valid points. Point of the thread really wasn't to say it's stupid that more don't use them. I am truly wondering what the drawbacks are and I see a lot of good points. Although I think none are nail in the coffin type of issues.

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price was always high

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I do agree the price is high, but a lot bay boats on the water are pushing 70k+ now.

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they squat out the hole

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I'd be leery about taking these in places I'd fish a flats boat (would in a lot of bay boats too), but at the same time, plenty of bass fisherman take their boats in shallow marsh, so I don't think that's a huge issue

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no room for a large ice chest

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Ice chest is a good point, but I'm sure there's ways to work around. We had a yeti 65 or 75qt in the boat I was in this past weekend and it fit nicely between the consoles. You could always throw ice in the live well or something, smaller ice chests in the deck storage, etc.

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people like to stand in rough water

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It's not ideal to sit in rough water, but I'd think the benefit of using the boat for multiple types of fishing may outweigh the issue.

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most don't need to do 75 mph in salt

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Going 75 isn't necessary, but it doesn't hurt to have. And then you would have it on the lake. I see how using it more for salt would make it not worth it, but again, this is to have a little of both.

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no sharp bow entry and less flare for spray

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It's not like bass fisherman don't see some choppy water. I realize it gets worse in some salt areas. I'm not saying this takes the place of a bay boat that goes out to rigs for snapper either. Purely inshore. Plus bass guys fish when it's cold more than most salt water guys. I'd think they have the getting wet thing addressed at least a little. It wouldn't be ideal, but this isn't meant to be the best saltwater inshore boat. It's a sacrifice to get both.

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No trim tabs

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I think some of the coastal models do have trim tabs

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no hard top option

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I know a lot of people who wouldn't' put a hard top on their bay boat either.

Again, I do think all your points are valid, but nothing really makes it a clear cut "they will never work" type of thing. I wouldn't expect them to be super popular.....just a little more popular then they are.

Pawpaw fished out of grand isle for many many years in a old skeeter bass boat. He was trolling oyster reefs for specs with top water when everyone thought you could only catch them anchored down with shrimp. It definitely works if you need it to and it has a few advantages compared to a bay boat. Given the option though, he'd have had a center console bay boat. Bass boats have no advantage over a center console in south LA other than dry storage space.

Only Cajun commander does that and I've got the video to prove it

If I went back to bass fishing, I'd get one. I much prefer that to a bay boat. And, I hate carpet, so it would be perfect.

Carpet in a boat can frick off. If I had to have a bass boat, it most definitely would not have carpet.

Things I miss most from a bass boat:
Storage
Hot foot
Handling
Speed

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In terms of people, I could easily fish 4 out of a bass boat. Now seating for 4 to ride is different.

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So what would you do? Fly them out to your boat on a heli?

My neighbor has a bullet like this if I remember correctly and he absolutely hates it.

You can take 4, but you can't go 60, haha. You can haul arse with 3 all sitting in actual seats though. 4....someones going to be uncomfortable, I admit that.