BIGRIGZ

Well, I mostly fish the bay now. I have an 18' jonboat but, it has kinda low freeboard and it makes me nervous when it gets rough out. Plus, it's rather slow at 22mph WOT.

with a 26'

I would look forward to camping on the boat, fishing the pass and close offshore like <1mile from the beaches, fishing around the bridges with my 4-5 buddies onboard. I dont really have any heavy fishing tackle to go out and troll so, I'd probably be bottom fishing for a while...

BlueWater2

When you land your first Wahoo or see a bill fish come up in your spread it will be hard to keep a boat like that close in !!! I still bottom fish and enjoy putting Snapper and grouper in the box,, But there is nothing like blue water fishing !!!!!!!!! Good luck. I run around 150 miles in a day of fishing in blue water.

one big one

Personnally, I will never own another inbd un less it was a deisel, 26 ft is tuff to trailer, 22-24 will do what the 26 will do, just my 25 yr exp. , if you can, stick with a dependable o/b with low hrs.

X-Shark

You are really stepping into a whole new ballgame financially. It's like there is no comparison.

wet slip or dry stack fee's alone will go a long way to paying the fuel bill on a trailer boat.



My buddies 27 Tira got .9mpg @ 3000RPM= 24mph.



From what you have stated above. I would forgo this boat. Move into a 24ft with big outboard.



Your experience right now is limited and thus you seem to want to stay close. This will change with experience and time, but the ability to pour, yes pour money into the fuel tank may not change. I actually quit going with my buddy that had that Tira. I couldn't afford my part of the fuel bill.

He has gotten rid of that boat a while ago. He now has a 30ft twin outboard boat that he trailers.

dockmaster

And..................It ani't the only boat in FL!! Gas is probably gonna kill ya. Look around, EVERY boat is for sale..............



BillD

401 Cay

Ditto the above comments.. twin 350's on a 26 are gonna provide poor fuel economy and speed compared to an outboard powered boat. You have stated that you dont plan to go out far due to lack of experience and equipment.. then why not buy a good 22-24 with an outboard and get 3mpg or more? In addition to all these factors resale is gonna be hurt as fuel priced climb.. I dont know many people lookining for a 26 that gets less than a mile per gal!

LITECATCH

twin inboard gas motors are a PAIN to keep running in salt water. trust me i have had 350's then repowered to 454's then converted to boat to diesel cummins 250's and now repowered to 300 cummins. you could not pour me on a gas inboard boat! save more money and buy a 4 stroke outboard boat. you would not believe the amount of money i have spent running and maintaining those gas inboard motors. wish i could get it all back!!

oh, i forgot to answer your question. with my flow scans i was getting .79 mile per gallon. that was with the 454's. i don't remember what i got with the 350's.

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Capt. Scott Byrd
36 Topaz
33 Concorde (for sale)