Best boat for crabbing

[HuntingtownCrab]

Looking for a new boat trying to get some advice on the best boat for crabbing in the pax river

currently looking at Carolina skiffs and a key west


Thanks for the help

[soggybottomboyz]

Privateer Did I spell that correctly?

[TAJcrabs]

I had a polar craft 1448 for the last three years and loved it. 25 hp evinrude pushed it across the water nicely, and I caught a lot of crabs on that boat. 3 weeks ago however I bought a Carolina Skiff 17 and I cant wait to crab off of it. So much more room and more stable on the water. This boat is awesome and will continue my crabbing adventures for years to come!!!

[HuntingtownCrab]

Yeah i really want to find a Carolina skiff... getting close to start of the season.

[crewstation]

Love my Carolina Skiff.  Stable.  Roomy.  Not enough storage, but I built a rear compartment out of marine plywood and put cushions on top of the lids for more seating.  $100 upgrade and it's given me some great days on the water.  60hp Mercury gives me more than enough speed.

I'm not familiar with the Pax, so I will say that in rough waters, the bow smacks the waves.  No real "V" to the hull, so I just keep an eye on the weather.

[Grizzly36]

the best one is the one your in as far as I'm concerned.

I don't have any experience with the Pax so I can't answer specifically but my suggestion would be once you decide on a boat do a little motor research and find out what the real minimum horsepower would be for pushing the boat along at a good pace and then get the biggest motor you can afford. and from what i've seen the motor offered in most boat packages are usually more on the under powered side.  I guess as a way to keep the sticker price down. You may think the minimum will be ok but at some point you may find yourself wanting more power. Due to conditions or water body, or intentions changing.

I have a 1654 tracker grizzly that was offered with a 25.  I took it thinking it would be enough and only planning to pond fish.  It moves along quite nicely when I'm alone in the boat but if you add another adult it moves like a barge.  I also have spent 85% of my time crabbing rivers which was not my intentions when purchased.  My family has since grown from me, wife, and baby boy to me, wife, 9yo son, baby girl, and 85lb lab.

I've always preferred aluminum for the the durability but I have wondered about a skiff. I don't crab a lot of open water and the extra space would be nice with a growing family.

[Crabbyd]

Yeah i really want to find a Carolina skiff... getting close to start of the season.

depending on what size you are looking for, there are a ton of J16's for sale all over the place right now

[hammermaninmd]

I'm undergoing the same exercise right now.. I have a 17' Swan Point (long since out of business) with a new 60 on it..  its a Whaler knock off tri-hull. its an great crabbing boat - but with a growing family that wants to go fishing and crabbing and cruising I need something else.  I can fit 1 other adult in my setup comfortably.  Its not very wide and when we run a trout line the boat lists quite a bit.  But is tracks true and is easy to maneuver. So i have been looking at the Carolina Skiffs and the Key West-  I think they both make a great boat - I'm looking at the Carolina Ultra Elite 21 - but I think that is to much boat - its hard to find the trade off I'm looking for - but I'm in no hurry.  The regular DLX or DLV would make a great crabbing boat.. they are wide around 97" and stable and not overly expensive and will last for years.  But you will sacrifice comfort for functionality.  The Skiffs will bang you around and get you wet when the water gets snotty.  Ideally I'd like to find a 19 - 21' with a semi-V that is wide that does't have a bow casting deck (as you loose so much space) -

I've been looking and I haven't found that perfect boat yet either - no easy task..  I feel your pain..  but Im also taking a close look at the Carolina Skiff and the Key West - they are my top two - I don't think you can go wrong with either..

[Dirichlet]

The perfect boat is the one you can afford that is safe and allows you to get on the water.  Beyond that, everything else is just a luxury.

Keep in mind that a lot of older boats, with a little bit of elbow grease, can be true gems.  My buddy and I restored a 13' 1966 Boston Whaler.  When we found it, it had 5' maple trees growing out of it - it had been sitting in the woods for at least 17 years.  A few weekends of work, and it was as good as new.  I've used it for the past 5 seasons and I'm still completely in love with it.  Long story short, don't be afraid of a good used boat.

[TAJcrabs]

Here is my new favorite toy!!! It has a 50 hp Yammy and 50 lb thrust trolling motor. dry storage up front and a removable bench seat. I have been out 3 times since I bought it, (Perch fishing) and love the space and performance. Does lack in storage place, but you make due with a plastic bin or something.

[Dipper]

canoe with a 50 on 

[Dipper]

canoe with a 50 on  it

[king crab 48]

canoe with a 50 on  it

    Jet Drive ??

[reelhyper]

Judge22 crabber caddy of small crab boats