I mainly fish by myself and have thought about one of these boats. Just seems safer and less getting up and down on the decks. Anyone running these or have experience with the setup and what do you think about them? I have a Bass Tracker tx17 I have had a few years and just thinking about going a different route.

i dont know anything about stick sterr boats but ive got an older tx17 thats been a good boat for as hard as i use it

I had a G3 setup like that. Easy to fish out of, simple to operate and drive onto the trailer. Mine had a Yamaha 50 hp four stroke. Wish I still had it. I traded up even when I was happy with the boat. I have a nice boat now but that G3 was a fishing machine.

Only type I've ever owned,and I like them...
You could always make a fine one out of that BassTracker

I owned one named a Falcon Tiger. It was made in Texas. The main thing I loved was that you have a superior view of the water in front of you. When fishing timber filled lakes it was awesome. Mine had a 50 on it, I'd love to own that boat now. it was the first boat I owned.

First boat you owned perch? Perch, you're old as dirt! If it was your first boat then Noah must have started the company building these falcon tigers soon after he finished the ark and survived the flood.

I was thinking about the same thing. I was going to ask what kind of log was it hewn from. LOL.

I've never owned one of them Deerchop but I always thought that if I ran up on the right deal on one, I'd own it.

I have one that I haven’t used in years. They are great boats for smaller water. I’ve seen a a lot of them but I’ve never seen a big one, or a wide one. I can say this from experience: if you ever fish lakes as large and flat as Guntersville, you do not want to be out there when the wind gets up. They’ll break your teeth out in rough water.

They are a blast to drive and great to fish out of. Stop and fish. No getting up, no nothing. Just fish.

They even make a high tech aftermarket seat now that has weight adjustable springs in them. Like a high dollar cab tractor seat.

When I get older I will own another one, if I can find a big un.

18' is the biggest I have seen. I may look into them a little more. My balance ain't worth a crap anymore and it sure would be safer.

I have a xtreme 18/60. Built in Bonifay, Fl. Awesome boat. Very stable. Mine has hydrolic steering. There is several places down here right along the florida line. They do ride rough in rough water. But the ease of fishing out of one out weighs the negative of the rough ride for me.

The company that made mine is no longer in business, but they made a wide one too. You could have an aluminum one made with a wide hull.

If I can find a 20-25 horse motor I'm going to get mine up and running again. If I do, you'd be welcome to come try it out one afternoon to see if you'd like one before you bought one. Also keep a check on the crappie.com classified ad section. I've seen them on there from time to time.

A stick steer would be a below the dam drifting machine. Would be awesome to never have to get up

Just gut the tx17 and make it like you want...

Better get a boat atleast 48in wide in bottom. Even then thats too narrow for a big lake in 20mph wind. My boat is not stick steer. Its a tiller handle. Its 48in wide in bottom floor and it sucks to me. I need atleast a 60in and im young and pretty fit. I miss my semi v hill boat. That thing rode like a cadillac. I could handle dangerous water pretty good.

My TX17 is to nice to rip up. Just kind of thinking out loud, not sure if I will make the plunge or not. I would want a larger one with at least a 60 on it.

Mine is a Lowe’s 16’ with a 30hp Johnson I bought new in ‘84. I like it for several reasons. My dad had one and we mostly fished rivers in NW FL with it was great for. The other was it felt safer for my small boys as I wasn’t as concerned about them falling off the side. I am also spoiled not having to stand all the time while fishing.
The downside would be its size when getting caught in really rough water. Sitting up front you can take a beating in choppy water.

Used to have a 13'-8" Randallcraft with a 30 Horse Johnson. Bought it in Panacea Florida in '85. A Helluva Bream/Crappie machine....also caught a many of a Trout and Redfish out of it!!

Mine had a semi V bow, and I don't remember it running that rough. I used it in a lot of rough water too. The motor was big enough to lift the bow a pretty good bit too. It wasn't like the hulls that had no lift. it was a very stable platform. I carpeted the front and made a small deck to stand on and fish.