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Night Crawler
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Joined: 07 Nov 2008
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: The best economic boat |
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Ok, I don't have the money to buy a fan boat but I think I can modify something out there to be great competitor?
Boat: What do ya'll recommend as the best economic competitor boat for bowfishing in terms of boat model and length?
Engine: What Hp and model do ya'll recommend?
Trolling: Do ya'll recommend a trolling motor or a kicker motor (and how much do each cost for a good one)?
What's a cheap / reliable generator and how do quite it if it's so loud you can't hear no one?
What's the best lighting system? How do I set them up? How many do I need and what can I expect to pay for them?
Do you have any preferences on GPS systems? |
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Bowfingers
Site Admin
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 104
Location: Statesville N.C. |
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: |
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Ok. I will try to answer as many questions as I can although this is only opinion answers. Keep in mind your budget. You can be a successful bow fisherman/woman from the banks or a small john boat. it is all up to the individual on how much he/she wants to spend. The boat don't shoot the fish nor does it win tourneys.
Yo first need to consider how many shooters you are going to take with you. If you shoot by your self a 10' john boat will do the job. I run a 16' polar craft aluminum flat bottom boat. It was a great crappie fishing boat. I added a platform lights and genny and converted it to bowfishing. I run 5 high pressure sodium lights with 5000 w genny. I started with a spot light then went to 2 500 watt flood lights then went up from there. As far as the hp of the motor it don't really matter around here as there is plenty of boat access that will let you cut down on boat ride time. as far as trolling. If you run a light boat a trolling motor will do fine. I have weighed out the options. If your set up requires a big trolling motor like 80# thrust or more I feel you can do a kicker set up cheaper. That will be my next direction. We have shooters that have all types of boats. Fiberglass to alum big to small. Lights range from cheep 500 watt flood lights to expensive Sodium lights trolling is from A tiller steer trolling motor to kickers to fans and even one team has a full fledged air boat. I guess what I am trying to get at is don't spend lost of money trying to keep up with the Joneses. Just spend the time on putting together a package that works for you and have fun in what you do. I would like to see you come out at the next shoot we will have in January. though winter time is not producing big numbers it is all in the fellowship and friendship of the fellow bow fisherman/woman
_________________
Team Drawing Attention,
Saving Your Bass One Carp At A Time |
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tadpole
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Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Lexington NC |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:02 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with you David.See you soon |
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RIVER_CAT
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Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 42
Location: PUMPKINTOWN,SC |
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: The best economic boat |
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| Night Crawler wrote: | Ok, I don't have the money to buy a fan boat but I think I can modify something out there to be great competitor?
Boat: What do ya'll recommend as the best economic competitor boat for bowfishing in terms of boat model and length?
Engine: What Hp and model do ya'll recommend?
Trolling: Do ya'll recommend a trolling motor or a kicker motor (and how much do each cost for a good one)?
What's a cheap / reliable generator and how do quite it if it's so loud you can't hear no one?
What's the best lighting system? How do I set them up? How many do I need and what can I expect to pay for them?
Do you have any preferences on GPS systems? |
atleast 1860.....prefer 1872 flat bottom.....v hulls are nice but flats draft shallow. I have an 2003 SeaArk 1860 up for sale soon..... Pm if interested.
Anything from a 50 up. A 90-115 is what you need when you start pileing in the weight in the boat so that you can get on plane. Also great from running long distance in a shorter time.
The prefect bowfishing boat would have a kicker, a fan and a troller. One thing will not work for all types of fishing. Numbers or grass i would want a fan. I can get shallow to the small fish. Chasing big fish i would want a fan or kicker. Kickers track straighter and are easier to manuver at faster speeds. Trollers work great for all but are a must for daytime fishing due to not being able to see out as far and the fish spook more. Also anyone fishing with a troller at night needs an converter that runs from the genny that way they can run it wide open all night. More water covered means more fish seen and more fish in the boat. Take it from someone that knows.....Covered 67 mile of water in a 6 hour tournament with only 2 mile ride to first hole and then 2 mile back to truck after making a complete circle in my airboat......and winning big fish and placing 3rd overall)
Cost....trollers- $150- $1000
Kicker setup (using 5hp Briggs motor)- $400-$1200
Fan setup- $800-$4000 depending on size motor,reduction or not,prop type and size, work of mount building, material. ( my 24hp honda with 42" powerfin prop, me doing all the work- $2800)
Troybuilt from lowes i would say. I bit the bullet and bought the 3000eu Honda. But then again you get what you pay for. Size of genny will be dertimined from power needed for lights.
IMO......High Pressure Sodium lights are the best. Halogens are great for fliping on and going fishing but i can see more and have less glare with the HPS lights. Only down fall is they are kinda heavy and they have a warm up time and a cool down time. But they produce alot of light and require very little power there for giving the advantage of a smaller genny and less weight in the boat.
GPS system......I prefer the GARMIN 172c with loadable maps. I have a bunch of cards for it loaded with over 40 different lakes that i have shot on. But then again i bought it like 6 years ago. Im sure Garmin has some newer up to date models out there. |
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