runabout vs centre console

[laugag]

Good points 'FISHING-ROD'

I think Bars can nearly always be an issue no matter where you live

it summer it is v.hot so perhaps a bit of shade from a cuddy may be the go. My only problem with cuddys is getting at the anchor would be a P.I.T.A especially on some of the older types which would be likely in my price range.

I have tried binimis before and they make fishing life too difficult

One question I have about runabouts that someone else made previously, do they tend to punch through waves as opposed to ride over them (like CC) because the weight up the nose?

[Hamish73]

I've been thinking of the bow rider option, with the seats removed from the front and a plyfood floor fitted instead, this would appear to offer the best of both worlds. Seats could go back in for a social day cruising. Anyone done this? I think some manufacurers offer this as an option

[haggis]

I have a runabout and love it . cc is more of a fishing boat but the runabout will
still get you to the fish. catching them is up to you .
cheers fae haggis

[charleville]

The big diff between the 2, is that a CC can run a bow mount electric easily, while a runabout will have difficulty getting past the windscreen to lift and drop it.

I have a runabout and love it for all of the reasons stated in this thread. The trick to solving the gecko's problem is to get a runabout with a walkthrough windscreen. Mine (Quintrex) is very good in this regard as when up front pulling up the anchor, I can lever my knees against the front of the walkthrough structure and there is no strain on my back in piulling up the anchor.

Also, it took me a while to work this out (Duh!! ) but retrieving crabpots from the front of the boat is much easier than over the side of the boat as it is easier to position the boat right behind the float to pull it up with a boat hook and then wind in the rope to the crab pot over the anchor rope pulley on the bowsprit. The front deck then becomes a good working height spot to empty the crabpot.

I have been caught out in some pretty foul weather at night on my own in my runabout and have been pleased at having the windscreen deflect a lot of water, including green water on one night last year.

The downside of my boat is that I regret not having the canopy just a little higher so that I don't have to duck my head so much as I go back and forth from helm or bow to the stern. On the other hand, a snug canopy can keep you drier in a shower and offers less "sail" area to cross winds when you are retrieving the boat on to your trailer on your own.

[Wahoo]

for me a C/C would be the go, a runabout would be a wast of space on a boat
a propper set up C/C you can stay out of the weather and sea spray and have enough hatches to store all your gear to stay dry, just a bit of imagination on haveing a proper set up, and have all the fishing room on a boat
buy a boat for what you will make most use for, alot of fishing go C/C......
and other things go a runabout

good luck with your choice

Daz

[charleville]

The Gecko PM'ed me asking for some pictures of the walkthrough arrangements on my Quintrex runabout which I have sent him but I thought that they may be useful to a wider audience also to illustrate my comments in my previous message in this thread...

Click on the following URLs and they will take you to some pix that I just took...

View from inside...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/view...311-093501.jpg

Front deck ... (sorry about the contrast - it is a bit glary out there this morning.)...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/skit...311-095057.jpg

Front deck hatch ...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/skit...311-100049.jpg

Making pulling up the anchor easy...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/skit...311-095824.jpg

Windscreen supports...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/skit...311-100425.jpg

Handling crab-pots...
http://myskitch.com/charleville/pres...311-101550.jpg


The boat is now five years old and is a 4.75m Quintrex BayHunter Caprice. They call them Coast Runners these days. The "Caprice" model had the extras such as the walk-through windscreen but I don't know what the equivalent current model is called.

It is also through the walkthrough bit that I alight from the boat when I beach it beside the boat ramp.

[cervelo]

My 2 brother's and I recently rebuilt and converted an old half cabin 17'oceaneer. It is now a centre console, on a windy rough day it is very wet, good wet weather gear takes care of the discomfit. It really has paid for itself when you are lucky enough to have a big fish run you around the boat a couple of times.

We were previously limited to fishing only 2 out of the back and we can now fish 3 comfortably and 4 in a pinch.

There is no perfect boat though and you need to choose the configuration that will best suit your style of boating.

PS we have a 55' mothership to get dry and warm on.

Cheers
Glenn

[STUIE63]

Laugag
Its Like They Say Do You Want To Fish Or Go Boating If You Want To Fish Go The C/c If Not Go The Runabout As For Anchoring And Crabpots The C/c Is Easier As You Have So Much Room To Walk About. As For Storage Get A Cast Deck In C/c And Plenty Under Floor. As For Waves Coming Over The Nose I've Had No Dramas In Some Big Seas.i Would Look At Things Like Hull Shape Gunnell Height To Fix This Not A Windscreen .