For the offshore gang

[eggsuckindog]

When I started blue water fishing the east coast I bought a Sceptre - absolutely a great trolling boat. The cuddy supplies extra storage for rods and dry storage - out of the way. The huge uncluttered cockpit is great for multiple people running around and dragging fish in. I usually fish cc's but that was my favorite for long trips either grouper fishing or trolling, the windshield keeps the wind from beating you up, our grouper trips always involve hours of running in and out - its nice. There is no reason the helmsman can't keep and eye on the fish and fisherman - I wouldn't do brackets as the motors will be way back there though. I had a 650lb V8 on mine and didn't have any issues with water coming into the splashwell which is huge anyway.

In summery - the windshield is nice on long runs - the cockpit being open is very nice - I had 2 movable Pompenette fighting chairs and a 155 igloo and still had plenty of room. Even the infloor livewell worked fine although we didn't have these new ones back then - its like a marine aquarium, you never get it all out LOL - but a feeder well would have been nice - depending on cost.

Being in Fla with the heat I had a bimini with a space between the windshield for air - had a connector but the only time I used it, it quit raining by the time I got it up - that and the side curturins were a total waste of money.