which boat for me?

[GatorTeeth]

Which boat satisfies these requirements?
 
1. 6 person capacity or more!
2. higher gunnels, keeps kids on boat (want something higher than a pathfinder) also being to walk on the gunnels is better for me
3. Shallow draft 12-13 inch max
4. Handles Tampa Bay chop well, and you could go offshore if it wasnt too hairy out there.
5. 22 - 24 feet Center console.

The interior depth is important for the little ones. It needs to be at least knee deep or more.

[fabuck71]

22 CCP.

[southsider]

Thats the question of the century. Does a ccp draft that shallow?

[John Jones]

I have a '78 22-2 CCP.  It might float that shallow but not with 6 people.  BTW, the official capacity is 5 persons.

[Capt. Bob]

84 222 CCP

Cap. 9 (that what the plate says)

Only way to fall overboard is to have someone throw ya.

Draft 18"-24" still (at prop/skeg)

12" properly trimmed underway (but don't stop)

Tampa Bay chop?  That's its meat.

Offshore? Went to Bimini once, does that count?

[Undertow2]

Guys, correct me if I'm wrong but this guy could use a standard 22 or a FB.
I had 4 people on mine and was moving steady thru 10" with the Porta full up and the tabs 3/4 down.  Even at like 10mph.
The CCP pulls more draft (I guess) but has more freeboard.  Personally, I'd go with the taller gunwales if children are involved in the name of safety.  If they are older and fairly well coordinated children, the standard 22 should do you fine.
You will not get close to your draft specs with a 24.  No way.
AS 22-2 top caps on the gunwales are not really designed to handle very much weight without aftermarket reinforcement.  Thats an FYI.

[Capt. Bob]

UT2,
you're dead on. The main reason I went from my 170 to the 222 was because of the high sides. We had our second son and he was (still is) a terror onboard. My wife refused to go out in the 170 if her sole purpose was to watch him (hey I had to fish and dive). So......

The 222 has been a great "do it all" craft. She'll rattle your teeth at times but overall she has served me well. She is however NOT a flats boat

[RickK]

If you want something that will go skinny AND go deep - you won't find it in an Aquasport.
If you're willing to compromise a bit then we have the right boats for you.

An older Osprey is not a good boat to have out deep because the sides are not very high (knee high on my 170) - they're great inshore and bay boats though.  Very wet boats when the chop stands up and not a deep "V" for the comfort, so they'll beat you up.

A CCP is not a great skinny boat because it can't but it has nice high sides to give you something to lean against and protect you and your family, they have a nice deep V for the ride and they're pretty roomy because they're 200 and 222.

The newer Ospreys combined a lot of the best of both so they can go both places comfortably depending on the size.

If you're into more flexibility you could go Family Fisherman or Explorers but again, they're not for the skinny stuff.

Compare the size of these 2 boats side-by-side:

The boat under the cover is my 170 Osprey - she needs to stay close to shore. Super for handling by yourself. The other boat is my 230 Explorer and is great for the comfort side and going deep.  She's still not too big to handle by yourself but getting close.

[GoneFission]

If you want the higher gunnels and yet some skinny water capability, the 222CCP is the way to go.  The 222CCP officially has a 10 inch draft, whereas both the 200 and the 246 both have 12 inch drafts.  With the motor trimmed out, the hull actually touches botttom on the CCP before the motor at slow speeds.  The 222 (Osprey, etc.) has a 9 inch draft, so the CCP takes 3" more water.  

Capacity on the 222CCP is 2000 lbs - take 500 off for the motor and another 500 for gas (85 gallon tank maybe not quite full) and you have 1000 lbs. left - that's officially 6 people using the USCG numbers.  Note the CCP has a 25 inch transom height and a splashwell.  Most 222s have a 20 inch transom height, which limits capacity to 1200 lbs.  Figure a 400 lb. engine and 400 lbs for gas (70 gallon tank - not quite full), and you are left with 400 lbs - that's about 3 people.  

No doubt the 222 will run skinny water better than the CCP, but if you like the taller gunnels, want to haul more people, or want to get into the rough stuff a bit, you might be willing to give up 3" of draft for the other features.  I run pretty shallow water in my CCP - my depth finder goes nuts under 1 foot - starts reading like 800 feet of depth or something - and I get a little nervous about that time.     I feel a lot more comfortable with a few feet of water under the hull...     On the other hand, I have had 6 people on the boat several times and it handles fine with that number.  I've been offshore with 3-4 on board many times and a few times when it was pretty humpy/bumpy - no problem except getting a little (!) wet with a front quartering wind.  Maybe a lot wet once...  

If you really want a skinny water boat with decent gunnels that will hold a ton of people, you may want to consider one of the big Carolina Skiffs.  Their 24 footer is big and open with a 93 inch beam, only drafts some 3-6" - that flat-ish bottom runs fine with a 125 outboard on the back.  But - when it gets choppy you either run slow and sit way back or get the fillings in your teeth loosened up a bit...    :P  

See ya on the water!

[GatorTeeth]

Carolina Skiff is out of the question, .



Thank you for the replies, as they are greatly appreciated!

[GoneFission]

If you don't want a Carolina Skiff, maybe something like this is your boat:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 0213819483

See ya on the water!

[BOB DOC]

I fished out of Horseshoe Beach ,little west of Gainesville on my friends Aquasport 246 Family Fisherman. We often had to handle ugly water because of the shallows, and quick storms, but that boat never waivered.
He died of cancer a couple years ago, and I was lucky enough to buy it from his widow. She was thrilled to sell it to me because she knew it would be used by the same alley cats that used to run with her hubby.
It's got a cuddy to get out of the weather, 30in freeboard, deep V, wide open cockpit, and only draws 12in.
Right now it's in Chattanooga, TN but headed for Fairhope Alabama and more fun in Mobile Bay and the Gulf.
This one's a 1980 and so they may be hard to find but because of the cuddy it was VERY easy to convince THE WAR DEPT , since it can have privacy,a PORTAPOTTY , a place for the grandkids to get out of the weather. and it wouldn't be unthinkable to overnight on it. They aptly named the boat The Family Fisherman, and the model produced since 1980 incorporate more features.
Take a look at their FF models.
Good luck,Bob Doc

[GatorTeeth]

How deep is the inside of the boat on a ccp vs. a flatback or other similar boat. Meaning, when standing, how high up your leg is the top of the gunnel?

What are the different freeboard measurements for the most popular boats on this forum? ;)

Thanks a ton!