Opinion on boats

[Whaletail 2019]

I am a newby who is interested in buying a fishing boat, new or good second hand. Mainly for river fishing but also with the ability to go deep sea fishing.
I really don’t know where to start and had a look at a few websites but still feel that I will get better advice here since you can’t teach an old dog new tricks    I suppose a Butt cat is a more expensive boat and ideally I am looking for a boat where three to four people can fish comfortably. I would like to have some opinions please as I also had a look at the Bandit series.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks.

[FishStyx]

Hi. Are you wanting to use it offshore? If so, will you use protected launches or will you surf launch?


I have a Bandit (the littlest) and luv it, but I mostly fish alone.


And 

[Whaletail 2019]

Will use protected launches preferably. I just try to establish what I should concentrate on buying as I want something decent and reliable. Budget of around R225k

[FishStyx]

The Bandit boats are all cathedral hulls and I wouldn't recommend taking one offshore. Your choice will really come down to mono or cat, and center or forward console.


My personal opinion is get a less expensive boat and spend time on it to find out what you really want. The truth is that very few folk stick with their particular boats for the rest of time. As we develop in our boating experiences, our ideas change and we upgrade, downgrade and side grade, but there's always something out there that get's us itching, regardless of what we have at the time. A boat bought new loses value at a frightening rate. The best value is to be found in boats between about 2 and 5 years old. The other option is the fixer-upper which only the most hardened DIYers should consider.


If you do want to make a heavily considered, once-in-a-lifetime purchase, then try and get on as many trips on other peoples boats (preferably varied styles) before pulling the trigger.

[Big B]

The Bandit boats are all cathedral hulls and I wouldn't recommend taking one offshore. Your choice will really come down to mono or cat, and center or forward console.


My personal opinion is get a less expensive boat and spend time on it to find out what you really want. The truth is that very few folk stick with their particular boats for the rest of time. As we develop in our boating experiences, our ideas change and we upgrade, downgrade and side grade, but there's always something out there that get's us itching, regardless of what we have at the time. A boat bought new loses value at a frightening rate. The best value is to be found in boats between about 2 and 5 years old. The other option is the fixer-upper which only the most hardened DIYers should consider.


If you do want to make a heavily considered, once-in-a-lifetime purchase, then try and get on as many trips on other peoples boats (preferably varied styles) before pulling the trigger.

Great advice

[Whaletail 2019]

The Bandit boats are all cathedral hulls and I wouldn't recommend taking one offshore. Your choice will really come down to mono or cat, and center or forward console.


My personal opinion is get a less expensive boat and spend time on it to find out what you really want. The truth is that very few folk stick with their particular boats for the rest of time. As we develop in our boating experiences, our ideas change and we upgrade, downgrade and side grade, but there's always something out there that get's us itching, regardless of what we have at the time. A boat bought new loses value at a frightening rate. The best value is to be found in boats between about 2 and 5 years old. The other option is the fixer-upper which only the most hardened DIYers should consider.


If you do want to make a heavily considered, once-in-a-lifetime purchase, then try and get on as many trips on other peoples boats (preferably varied styles) before pulling the trigger.

Great advice

Thanks for your advice, sounds good to me. Will keep that in mind.


Cheers.

[maganything]

To fish comfortably with 3-4 people on board i wouldnt go anything less that 17ft.
On a 17ft cat you would need 70Hp motors, thats if you want 4 stroke, you will be able to get away with 60HP if you are not planning on surf launching.
There are many different options in the 17ft range.
I personally fish off a seacat 520, but you can also look at an older yeld 17, kingkat170 or even the 17ft tomcat. I dont have much experience with buttcats, but i do beleive the smaller ones are quite wet.


Just make sure buoyancy is up to date and the trailer is in decent conditions.


good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.


oh and stay away from any boat made by Bluewater boats.

[John F]

The Bandit boats are all cathedral hulls and I wouldn't recommend taking one offshore. Your choice will really come down to mono or cat, and center or forward console.


My personal opinion is get a less expensive boat and spend time on it to find out what you really want. The truth is that very few folk stick with their particular boats for the rest of time. As we develop in our boating experiences, our ideas change and we upgrade, downgrade and side grade, but there's always something out there that get's us itching, regardless of what we have at the time. A boat bought new loses value at a frightening rate. The best value is to be found in boats between about 2 and 5 years old. The other option is the fixer-upper which only the most hardened DIYers should consider.


If you do want to make a heavily considered, once-in-a-lifetime purchase, then try and get on as many trips on other peoples boats (preferably varied styles) before pulling the trigger.

To fish comfortably with 3-4 people on board i wouldnt go anything less that 17ft.
On a 17ft cat you would need 70Hp motors, thats if you want 4 stroke, you will be able to get away with 60HP if you are not planning on surf launching.
There are many different options in the 17ft range.
I personally fish off a seacat 520, but you can also look at an older yeld 17, kingkat170 or even the 17ft tomcat. I dont have much experience with buttcats, but i do beleive the smaller ones are quite wet.


Just make sure buoyancy is up to date and the trailer is in decent conditions.


good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.


oh and stay away from any boat made by Bluewater boats.

Could not have said it better myself!!!

Solid advice gents!!! 

Will only emphasise that before you make a decision regardless of type/size/budget.... spend as much time on the water on as many different boats as possible. You will fine tune your choices based on what works for YOU and not only on 3rd party advice.

[Whaletail 2019]

Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated. I will consider everything mentioned before pulling the trigger.

[Whaletail 2019]

To fish comfortably with 3-4 people on board i wouldnt go anything less that 17ft.
On a 17ft cat you would need 70Hp motors, thats if you want 4 stroke, you will be able to get away with 60HP if you are not planning on surf launching.
There are many different options in the 17ft range.
I personally fish off a seacat 520, but you can also look at an older yeld 17, kingkat170 or even the 17ft tomcat. I dont have much experience with buttcats, but i do beleive the smaller ones are quite wet.


Just make sure buoyancy is up to date and the trailer is in decent conditions.


good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.


oh and stay away from any boat made by Bluewater boats.

Where are they (Bluewater boats) ? Sounds like you had a bad experience with them ?

[Visenvryheid]

Bluewater boats, everyone did (have bad experiences), the guy got rough, threatened a bunch of people who posted bad things about their boats falling apart, lawyers threatening lawsuits for defamation etc..all the posted info about leaks and bad workmanship and unseaworthy boats got taken down, this happened on the forums more than once I remember..But then there was that precedent setting court case last year that miles from boatfishing.co.za took to its conclusion (and won) where Carrycat was trying to sue them and all those that posted on his forum against them and they (carrycat) lost with costs if I am not mistaken, so that set precedent that in SA if you can justify what you say, you can say it without having your pants sued off. Bluewater boats has been quiet with threats since then...

[maganything]

To fish comfortably with 3-4 people on board i wouldnt go anything less that 17ft.
On a 17ft cat you would need 70Hp motors, thats if you want 4 stroke, you will be able to get away with 60HP if you are not planning on surf launching.
There are many different options in the 17ft range.
I personally fish off a seacat 520, but you can also look at an older yeld 17, kingkat170 or even the 17ft tomcat. I dont have much experience with buttcats, but i do beleive the smaller ones are quite wet.


Just make sure buoyancy is up to date and the trailer is in decent conditions.


good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.


oh and stay away from any boat made by Bluewater boats.

Where are they (Bluewater boats) ? Sounds like you had a bad experience with them ?

Not me personally, but one of my mates specifically had major issues.
I have followed all the complaints etc as i (a few years back) nearly bought one.
Stick with the trusted names in boating and you wont go wrong.