Give me a run down of what boat you have, engine you are running, and what you like and don't like about your boat. I was in the market for a small boat (was looking for a gheenoe), but wife said if I buy a boat, I need to get something big enough we can all go out in (me, wife, and 2 daughters). So, I've started looking at bay boats...something I can fish in the creeks around here, but also do some inshore/near shore saltwater fishing from.

I’ve been in and around most bay boats models between owning them, flipping them, fishing, and multiple buddies having marine repair and fab shops. What kind of budget are you looking at and how new does it need to be? Is used ok?

Used is what I'm looking for (paying for 2 masters programs and room/board at MSU has put a damper on the new boat funds). I've been looking at boats around the $20K range, give or take a little. I'm seeing a lot of them on FB marketplace that I like but it seems most are underpowered (seen a lot of boats in the 19-21' range pushed with a 115...my 17' bass boat had a 115 on it and that seemed to be the perfect engine for a 17' boat).

Boats have tripled in price over the last few years! I would recommend a used19 Blazer Bay but even they have gone way up in price.

18’ Nautic Star with a 115 Yamaha. Like the boat and good fuel economy but absolutely no storage. Anything more than 2 people in it is too many. Next one will be longer and have rod storage. Just hard to make the leap no more than we use it.

4 adults comfortable you’re gonna need at least a 21’ boat, preferably 22-24. At $20k you’ll be looking pretty used, probably a pre-2010 model. I’d find a 21’ Kenner or seapro sv2100/sv2300 that has been repowered.

2016 24’ SeaHunt bx24br
300 Yamaha
Fairly spacious and ‘enough’ storage
I have a love hate relationship with the T-Top. In the way casting, but provides some nice shade when needed.
110 lb thrust spot lock trolling motor w 72” shaft (a must for me anywhere, especially offshore or nearshore fishing)
A boat for the fam is like a a lot of other things. Bigger is better. If I could afford a 26’, if buy it tomorrow

Kenner Kenner Kenner. Repowered with a zuki. Great hull. Grab a few bean bags to ride across the bay to tacky jacks. Wife and kids will love that.

18.5 original Kenner with a 90 Merc and just had its 20th birthday.
Cons - pretty high step from floor to bow. Not an issue doing it occasionally, but tournament days, it can get to the knees.
Pros - the Kenner brothers know how to build boats.

My next boat will be a 21' Frontier(Kenner brothers) or Blazer Bay with a minimum 150 Yamaha 4 stroke. Plenty of room, but not too big for the creeks and small launches.

I had a 24' Express w/200 Yamaha and loved it and it worked great in places like Venice La. but not so great in smaller bodies of water so I sold it and bought an Excel 20' w/115 Mercury. Perfect size for all around fishing and fun.

22 foot Blackjack. 300 Yamaha.
It’s a heavy and well built boat.
It will fish 3 feet of water and then run 30 miles offshore.

I’ve got a 1999. 21’ Century with a 2 stroke Yamaha 130 Saltwater series.
The bad: No T-Top and little underpowered. Not severely underpowered. It’ll get a slightly obese slalom skier up. It tops out around 46-47.
Could use a 150 and I think that would be perfect match without breaking the bank. A 200 and I think I’d be in a racing boat. ha!
I plan on taking that 130 and putting it on a 17’ Whaler when I find the right one.

The good: That engine is absolutely bulletproof. The boat is perfect size (for my price range) to go inshore, nearshore, and I’ve gone 30-40 miles offshore on several occasions. Sure, I’d love a 26-28’ boat, but not 100% necessary to do what I want to do. Just a luxury if you can afford it.
19-23’ is perfect for the bays, lakes and rivers, nearshore as well. That’s mainly what I use it for now. Very easy to tow. Not too heavy, holds plenty of fuel, and has enough storage.
She’s finally showing her age. I didn’t take very good care of it, but she never let me down. Matter of fact I was very hard on it.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a clean, well maintained Century with comparable Yamaha engine, that’s that old, and believe I made a good purchase.

I agree with rare breed. My last boat was a 218 Century intracoastal and it was a great boat but underpowered with a 115 Yamaha. I lived in Orlando and one day we could be out boating with 5 of us and the dawg, that afternoon I could be dragging shiners on the Winter Park chain and the next morning be chasing kings and Cobia on the Canaveral bouy line.