Lake Erie Boat

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JumboPerch#r
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2008/02/21 14:46:02 (permalink)

Lake Erie Boat

Need to know your opinions on a Mitchell 18ft Fisherman Center Console w/70 hp Johnson Outboard. Safe for Lake Erie, What do you recommend for equipment such as radio, sonar etc.
#1

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    captdanerie
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/21 15:45:37 (permalink)
    JP,
    I ran an 18' Starcraft for years with a 90.  It was ok but a few times I wished I had a bigger boat.  Now I have a 20' FourWinns and that feels much better when the wind kicks up.  As long as you can get back to shore quickly when you see a storm coming, it should be ok.  How old is it?  I have never heard of a Mitchell boat.  Also, you need a good radio and GPS and fishfinder.  A combo GPS/fishfinder would be good as well.  Also a compass!  That way if your fuse blows on the GPS you can find your way to shore in a fog.
    #2
    pghmarty
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/21 20:14:19 (permalink)
    It is not just the size of the boat that matters.
    My 20' Glastron G20 handles rough water a lot better than my 19' Four Winns Horizon did.
    The Glastron is deeper, wider and heavier.

    Is this the boat?
    http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1993-MITCHELL-18%27-Fisherman-91808299
    #3
    saltflyfisher
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/21 20:52:45 (permalink)
    is it alu. or glass, seems very underpowered if its a glass boat. Fixed radio w/ an 8ft ant., hand helds are nice as a back-up. Gps or fishfinders the color versions of both a great. Pick your budget and call all those manuf. and ask them to send you info on each model.
    ORIGINAL: JumboPerch#r

    Need to know your opinions on a Mitchell 18ft Fisherman Center Console w/70 hp Johnson Outboard. Safe for Lake Erie, What do you recommend for equipment such as radio, sonar etc.
    #4
    joedirt
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/21 22:22:20 (permalink)
    Jumdo, im new at this baot thing myself. 18 ft sounds ok. #1 thing i would do is watch the weather before you go out on the lake. #2 is think about a kicker motor. good ins for when the big one wont start for the first time. I have 2 lowrance gps/ sonar units for my boat. one on the bow and one on the dash. plus a hand held in the cubby hole for back up. i have a lowrance ship to shore radio that is wired into my gps. if i put out a distress call it sends out my cordence. when i was perch fishin this fall the lake was pretty flat and i saw guys in 12 ft boats 5 miles out. so whats that tell ya. its all in the weather. the bigger the boat the rougher you can go. all boats have their limits. we just need to know what they are before we try them.
    I ask the same thing before i bought mine. Is it big enough.
    i got a 20 1/2 ft 2008 lund 2000 sport angler with a 225  and 9.9 mercurys on the back, 50 gal tank, 3 gps's, ship to shore radio, cell phone, flares, and im still nervous. never take mother nature for granit.
    enjoy your new boat use your head and you will make many good fishin memories

    "Life is a garden, Dig It"
    #5
    JumboPerch#r
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/21 22:55:36 (permalink)
    PGHMARTY, that is the one I was looking at. Still looking, so I am not locked into anything. I am just wanting to be able to fish the big pond this year.
    Ray
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    MuskyMastr
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/22 00:25:50 (permalink)
    you have pm

    Better too far back, than too far forward.
    #7
    Brad1
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/22 19:13:07 (permalink)
    That looks to be a bay boat. I could see you getting out on the lake with that boat, but you'd have to be very picky about the weather and I wouldn't go too far out. I've fished in 25 ft water for smallies in a 16 ft side console when I knew the lake was going to be flat. On the flip side, I had green water come over the bow and the windshield in those same waters in a 22 ft Proline. Personally, I wouldn not consider the Mitchell boat you are looking at for Offshore Lake Erie walleye fishing. For near shore smally or perch fishing when the weather is good, I'd fish that boat. For offshore walleye fishing I use a 22 ft Grady White walkaround powered by a 225hp outboard. And even in 22 ft boats, there are occaisions when I think I'm nuts for not being in a bigger boat. Lake Erie can be unbelievably treacherous.
     
    That Mitchell is a nice looking boat though. Looks like a decent rig for the money. Might not be a speed demon with a 70hp, but that might be all you need for fishing. Check the motor out thoroughly (compression test) and make sure there's no wood rot in the hull. Never buy a boat without a sea trial.
    #8
    JumboPerch#r
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    RE: Lake Erie Boat 2008/02/22 20:12:13 (permalink)
    Thank you for the reply, advice appreciated.
    Ray
    #9
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