Used Center Console Boats

Trolling motors have uses in bay

OCEAN CITY -- Even though we don't see too many of them shooting around local bay waters, most fishermen are well aware of what a bass boat is all about. Averaging 16-20 feet long, these are somewhat specialized boats designed primarily with the freshwater bass fisherman in mind. Sporting fast hulls and big outboard motors, modern bass boats can be considered a cross between race boat and high-tech fishing machine

Often bass boats are equipped with all kinds of livewells, bait tanks, rod lockers, built-in tackle boxes, fish finders, oxygen meters, temperature gauges and pedestal seats. Above all else, one accessory that is found on almost every bass boat is the electric trolling motor.

Electric trolling motors are typically mounted on the bow of the boat by way of a bracket that allows the motor to be tilted up and locked out of the water when the unit is not being used. When needed, the motor is easily pivoted into the water and is ready for service. The term "trolling motor" may be a bit misleading because most of the time the motor is used for positioning or moving the boat little bits at a time. Since they are usually mounted on the bow and may be rotated 360 degrees, these motors are extremely efficient at twisting and turning a boat in tight locations. At the same time, the electric motors produce very little sound, which allows anglers the opportunity to approach fish that might be spooked by a noisy outboard.

So what's all this got to do with local bay fishing? More and more every day. While electric trolling motors are still rare sights on bay fishing boats, they're showing up with greater frequency as anglers discover there's more to bay fishing than bottom bouncing for flounder. Many find themselves using techniques like plugging, jigging, or fly casting, which require precision casting and make boat positioning a critical component of success.

After watching how effectively a local angler was able to maneuver his own boat around the inlet jetty, a number of years ago when I was rigging a boat for bay fishing charters I knew a trolling motor was something I had to have. At that time I had never owned an electric motor, so I did a bit of research to determine the the best brand and model for my needs. It didn't take long to discover that, for saltwater use, either the Great White series made by Motor Guide or the Riptide series made by Minn Kota was the way to go. I chose the Great White -- imagine that. Since my 19-foot center console boat is higher out of the water and heavier than the average bass boat, I needed a motor with a lot of thrust and a long shaft. The model I chose produces 67 pounds of thrust and has a 60-inch shaft.

Offshore Fishing Boats | Windsurfing & Watersports Blog

Center console style fishing boats are an anglers best choice for offshore sport fishing. When your out in the open waters of the ocean, you’ll want a boat that safe, durable and dependable not to mention roomy and easy to fish from at any angle. Center consoles fit that description perfectly.

One of the newer companies on the market that builds quality center console fishing boats is Ocean Master. Making it’s home in Florida, the company was founded a little over 30 years ago by Mark Hauptner and has been run by him ever since. Mark hold 14 world records and 6 national championships in power performance boat racing – the man clearly knows his stuff!

Ocean Master does not turn out hundreds of boats per year as their philosophy is based on quality not quantity. Their hulls consist of 20 layers of hand-laid, solid fiberglass over an inch thick that can literally stop a bullet (yes, they shot the hull to test it!).They give their customers the option of equipping their rock-solid, bulletproof hulls with just about any combination of engines imaginable. They offer 2 stroke, 4 stroke, single, twin or even triple gas outboards, diesel inboard and diesel I/O stern configurations.

Their available models range in size from 18 to 34 feet and can include anything from simple t-tops to customized tuna and marlin towers. The Ocean Master company has proven itself knowledgeable well beyond it’s 30 years of existence and has earned the trust and patronage of professional fishing captains, tournament anglers, commercial towing and rescue operations worldwide and even the US Navy.

One of the more senior companies in the center console boat building circle is Grady-White Boats. If your a fisherman, you’ve probably heard of them. If you are a saltwater sport fisherman and you haven’t heard of them – we’ll send out a search party immediately to pluck you from your apparent isolation. Grady-White Boats has been around for over 50 years and they have earned a stellar reputation among boaters worldwide.

Grady White Boats has made it a practice to listen to the needs of boaters and provide exactly what is desired through close relationships with their customers and dealerships. Their attention to specific details has earned them the highest possible ranking in every third party study in its category ever done in the marine industry.

They offer offshore center console fishing boats ranging from 18 to 36 feet in length that are built to the highest standards in the industry. Heavy focus on safety and durability combined with their exclusive SeaV2 hull design assures that buying one would entail ownership of one of the safest, longest lasting, best riding boats on the market today.

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