190 and seas

[jeadkins]

Ok, thanks for the info on my last post. Now how dry is the 190 in heavy/light chop? Also would you take the 190 out to ocean and if so how far, sea size recommendations?

thanks again
Jack

[Cincinnati]

The 190 is very dry unless it is windy. Then all CC's are wet in the wind, including the 190.

I take my 190 out in the salt every weekend. If the seas are above 3', I usually hang close or around islands. Now there is a big difference between 3' chop and 3' swells. I can do swells a lot easier than chop - but that is also true of most boats. In 4' chop, I begin to take one out of every ten over the bow. That sucks because the front fish boxes get wet and soak everything I put in there.

If you plan on being out in the ocean full-time, you really need to look at the 210. The 190 is a bay boat.

[jeadkins]

thanks, I am starting to think that as I live in Melbourne, Fl. and have easy access to the Sebastian Inlet. I hae considered the 210 but dont like the price. But I also have a 17DC and wish it was bigger.

[Cincinnati]

I'm not familiar with your area, but around Sarasota/Bradenton, the 190 is perfect for sneaking up on the snook and redfish in the flats. The 210 won't get you there. The 190 also has an awesome casting deck that allows you to stand high like a flats boat without the tower above the motor.

[unkl jessie]

Jeadkins,

I have a 2001 186 (190) and take it to the Morehead City at least once per year. I usually fish in the ocean and stay within eyeshot of land, usually. Had her out about 6+ miles and was doing ok, turn back to show and had a 20mph headwind and 3 to 6 foot breakers. I trimed the prop and had the nose way up in the air and stayed fairly dry - course you are gonna get spray from the sideways breakers and did get some spray.

Had her out at way past the slough bouy at Cape Lookout fishing for whatever would bite, had a quick run of puppy drum (ya'll call em' reds) - with waves 4 to 8 feet twisting every which-a-way - and only got the waves over the nose a couple of times and over the stern once.

don't recommend you do this unless you got another boat close enough to help if there is any trouble.

But I was HAPPy with the way my boat handled and kept me fairly dry.

if you plan on doing the rough stuff, then definitely go with the 210. but if you gonna do the bays and flats with an occasional rough sea trip - the 190 is the only way to go.

unk

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

the body of water between the outer banks of n.c. and the mainland is approx 20 miles across where i fish for tarpon and bull red drum in the summer. the average depth is 12ft near shore and 20 ft mid way. needless to say if the wind kicks up ,it can be a miserable night. on many nights i have had waves break over the bow of the '01 186 at anchor --like 1-2 every 5 min..
in protected waters , you cant beat the 190 for overall versitility---but if you intend to do offshore eastcoast fishing-- better save up for a 210cc. the gulf is a different story.i sold the 186 to a guy in panama city fl. and he loves it.
this past weekend i went out exactly where unkl jesse mentioned in his post with a friend who has a 19ft maycraft cc. who was gonna show me where he caught king mackerals earlier in the week. well he never made it beyond 1 mile outside of the inlet because of the wave height and i was able to run 18 mph all the way out the 20 miles to the fishing hole with the 210cc i now own. there are bargains to be had on 210ccs and the one i have is a no warrenty '01 i bought in '04 and put a new motor and trailer with it and it is just as durable as a new one and was 8 grand less than an 04 new rigged the same way.
since you didnt mention which waters you intend to use , i hope this will give you some insight on the waters i fish in
good luck and welcome aboard to the family
robert

[Bayberry]

I can take my 19 FS across the Chesapeake to Smith Island on a pretty good day with no problem. The bay usually has a pretty good chop in it, but this boat has a real soft ride. It can be a little wet if the wind is blowing right. This boat can handle alot of sea for it's size.

[mwhitaker]

Jack,

The 190 is a very seaworthy boat, I had mine out in the gulf off of Carrabelle, last week multiple times. IF the conditions are 2 foot or less, you can go anywear, we went out 16 miles last Wednesday, with a 4 adluts and 2 children. As with all off shore trips it is important to know the weather the day of and the day after should something bad happen. My family routinely fishes for grouper, kings out to 15 nm on the right days. We also enjoy chasing redfish and trout on the flats. This boat is every bit as dry as in boat in its class, and most larger bay boats I have been on. Rarely do you get wet from a 2 foot chop depending on wind direction. But you will get wet in any boat with the right wind direction.

Good luck and tight lines.

Mark

[MolarBoater]

go out 35+nm in northern Gulf of Mexico with 2' waves with 3+wave seconds. Triumphs float like a cork. Ride in bays can be alot rougher due to low wave seconds. Last week we ran 2' seas with 5 sec waves at 30nmh coming in with waves. If you have a long antennae VHF, EPIRB etc and a reliable motor with strong second or kicker or other boats, stay in your safety zone. Mine's about 50nm out in perfect conditions.

[pdcheek]

I fish Lower Ches Bay in most conditions with this boat. Only on the better days would I go out with a passenger. I don't mind beating myself to death but I wouldn't want to make others suffer (mother in law not included). My previous boat was a Key West 19' CC and it seamed to cut the chop a lot better. Yesterday, 10knot winds 1-2ft swells beat the poop out of me. Boat is noticebly worse when going into the wind.

Would not buy same boat again for the Chesbay, would go to larger Triumph or something with deaper V. Plus the non-draining rod holders drive me nuts!

Paul