Time for another SC-but which one?
 

OK......so I recently moved to St Augustine and need another boat after being inland for a while. I owned a 23 previously and it was a great boat. I also have fished on a 20' and really like that boat. I am leaning toward the 20 but would like some opinions. I fish alone sometimes particularly in the ICW and on the beach. I don't plan on going offshore more than say 15 miles or so and I pick my days. The boat will live on a trailer in my driveway. Opinions appreciated.

i had a 20sf used to run offshore 15-20 miles alone quite a bit but dont recommend doing it in 3-5' sea alone any more. in shore its small enough to get most places you'd want

For what you describe (and quite a bit more) a 20 should be plenty.




A very wise uncle once told me: "Figure out what you want a boat to do for you. Then get the smallest, simplest boat that will do that."

i vote 20 as well. also since it will be living in your driveway.

I'm with the group. The 20's are so much fun because of their size easy to beach and get into tight places skinny water etc... I was thinking a Master angler would be a good boat for your needs. You can fit 4 no problem.

strick

If your Master Angler has the large console, which I believe was standard, then 4 can ride in the boat. But walking fore/aft past the console with the wide gunwale/cap is a bit tight. And fishing with 3 is tight.

I removed the vertical rod holders on the starboard side of the center console to allow better fore-aft movement. I kept them on the port side where my VHF antenna is.

I think a bracketed master angler would be a whole lot better. The higher freeboard and the splashwell gate are huge plusses for that boat if you actually fish with it as opposed to cruise/ski. A suggestion, though- I keep a collapsible rope swim ladder tied to the rear cleat thru the hawse pipe when I beach, because the higher freeboard makes getting back in damn near impossible without it. (With lots of tide, running at 2 feet an hour, you can't truly beach a boat like this- it is more like float it off the beach. In Florida, you probably can.) One more reason why a bracketed one would be perfect. Or getting one and adding a bracket.

Also a 20 footer you can crank up a roller trailer single handed with a two speed manual winch. Even up here with 10 foot tides and very steep ramps. I can't imagine doing that with a 23 footer.

A 20 in any of the 3 configurations would get the job done nicely. An 18 SF might just get it done a little smoother and dryer...

I vote for a 20 over the 23 for coastal applications in north Florida. I have fished the St Augustine area many times and feel the 20 would treat you well.