Time for another SC-but which one?

[Barefoot Serpent]

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.

[wattaway2]

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

[cdavisdb]

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."

[Blue197320]

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

[strick]

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

[FishStretcher]

Originally Posted by strick

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.

[76Red18]

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...

[red20]

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.