I have a situation that warrants advise from those that have been there. I currently own a 21' Duckworth built sled with a big block V-8. It is fantastic for the bigger rivers, but way too much for the rivers that I fish.

My fishing buddies own smaller sleds and driftboats and we have been discussing the possibility of me selling my boat and buying a 23'-25' Trophy style prop boat for open water fishing (Salmon, halibut, ect.) The feeling is that we would have everything covered. Has anybody done this, gone from Aluminum sled to a plastic boat? Was it a good decision? Any regrets? Please help. The time is drawing near!

How about buyin a drift boat
. Then you would have the best of both worlds!

Gotta agree. You should be able to cover any salt that you'd really want to w/ a 21' Duck, V8, & Hamilton. Ain't gonna cover it a whole lot better with 24' of plastic anyway. And for the cost difference U can have the driftboat & about a 3 month supply of table dances at Goodtime Charlie's in Soldotna!! ..shtick

Skiffman,

It's a legitimate question. Loomis missed the point of your question as you are wondering about saltwater applications and a drift boat obviously is not the answer-didn't you say your buddies already have driftboats anyways?

Interestingly, I have not one but two friends who were in the situation you are now. One owns a 20' North river, the other had a 19' Wooldridge. Both fish year around fresh and saltwater......I have the driftboat so that end is covered. As it turns out one sold his for a 24' bayliner trophy because a) he fishes more saltwater than freshwater and, b) the bayliner offers a much better ride in waves out in open water; more freeboard too. The other guy kept his sled because he was just the opposite-he mainly fishes steelhead salmon and sturgeon in freshwater. Not a good application for a fiberglass ocean boat!

So there you have it. Ultimately, you have to be honest with yourself and decide where the majority of your fishing will occur with or without your buddies and go from there.

Skiffman, I've been in a similar situation and made the move to a plastic boat, I would make 1 suggestion though, step up to a better boat, theres a reason everybody has a Bayliner (there cheap pieces of crap) I've operated many boats as a guide in Ak. and a Bayliner would be my last choice.

Skiffman, it makes a lot of sense to me. I own plastic for salt water and leave the sleds and drift boats to guides and friends. That way all basis are covered and we all have great fishing oppurtunity throughout the year. For me sleds are a lot of work and i will leave the tieing leaders and operating the tiller at the same time to someone else. The plastic will also give you oppurtunity to do other things like head up to the San Juans.