Ideal Frostbite Boat

Share info on fishing Champlain.
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ThreeBuoys
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Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by ThreeBuoys »

Question for the experienced frostbiters.
What would be the ultimate boat for winter fishing?
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Surprise
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Species: FROSTBITING

Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Surprise »

Hey,

All my boats were aluminum, garaged and trailered to the "best" spot.
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We started in a 16ft open Starcraft Tiller steer and caught a lot of fish. Layers of clothes sure helped.

Then to a Sylvan Super Sport 16 ft. All Canvased up complete with tail curtain with a Mr. Buddy heater.
Had it for 23 years & sold here in 2hrs when I moved up to a 18 ft Alumacraft, All Canvased up by Dennis Carman of Vermont Custom Canvas on Georgia Shore. He Did my first boat too.

I think my 18 is the perfect boat for Champlain easy to haul, store in a plastic shed ready like a Fighter Jet and safe in any water you want.

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I run 1 motor 90 hp Evinrude E-Tec runs 30 mph and at 1000 rpms gives me 2.4-2.6 mph sipping 0.2 Gallons per Hour of Non Ethanol. All I have ever run is 1 motor and say it's about maintenance. We never fish alone in Frostbite. Too much can happen in a hurry and extra help needs to be at hand, Plus it's more fun.

Diggitroll:
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Have a look at the Posts thru time every Captain here has the Best Boat and there are some nice ones.
Make it the way you like it & take your time.

Get out and enjoy it.

Randy
Last edited by Surprise on Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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keithm87
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by keithm87 »

How do the rear curtains work? I have a full enclosure for my boat, but the rear part is just a piece of canvas, no vinyl to see through, I think its a mooring cover by definition. How do the vinyl curtains work? is there a zipper in the middle, or is it held closed in some other manner allowing easy pass through?
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Surprise
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Surprise »

A zipper door with 2 zippers between 2 panels. the center also rolls up and is secured with straps when it is warm enough to leave the door open. The whole thing is removable for summer.
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ThreeBuoys
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by ThreeBuoys »

Thanks for the posts and the pics.
I currently have a fiberglass center console which is less than ideal for cold weather fishing.
Nice boat, but more suitable for down South in warmer temps.
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Surprise
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Surprise »

Several have asked about my shed and here it is :

A 12 X 24 plastic garage that I kept my 16 Sylvan in for 20 years & went thru 2 covers.

My new Surprise needed more height so Pete Young and I built a Knee wall and raised it up from my original Rail road tie foundation. I added a 24 x 30 20oz reinforced vinyl tarp to the top for a more permanent cover. Wired up with a couple lights and a drop cord to plug in my onboard battery charger makes sure we are Good to go.



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Hawkeye
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Hawkeye »

Randy
It looks like just what I need. Your frame looks like it is metal rather than the PVC stuff that a lot of the plastic garages are made out of. If we have any other Frostbiters that have invested in a Plastic Garage for their boat I sure would like to hear what has worked for them and what tore apart in the first good storm, before I go out and buy something and have it come apart the first year!
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Reelax
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Reelax »

It’s not just the welded hull that I have had on plane in 1/8” scimm ice... it’s what you do when you get to the launch and it’s snowed in....

Here’s my rig...
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Matt B
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by TUnamas »

Nysrx01
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Nysrx01 »

This was my ideal boat but Sold it last fall to someone in the Burlington area. It was getting to much for me to handle as I found myself going fishing alone more often. I trailered it everywhere. It even had a built in diesel stove/heater. A dinette, sink and ice box. The hull weighed in at 1950 lbs. which made it trailer great. It had like 7 to 9 inch draft. I had all my electric downriggers mounted with gimbal mounts for easy removal.
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Reelax
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Reelax »

That C-dory is sweet... I know Crazy Ivan loves his!
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Nysrx01
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Nysrx01 »

It was my dream boat that I acquired 15 years ago. It was very hard to let it go. But one thing they do not depreciate much.
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ThreeBuoys
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by ThreeBuoys »

That is a sweet boat (C-Dory). More common out West I gather.
Reelax, I like how Smokercraft comes equipped with full canvas for cold weather.
I assume that works well for you?
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Reelax
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by Reelax »

ThreeBuoys wrote:That is a sweet boat (C-Dory). More common out West I gather.
Reelax, I like how Smokercraft comes equipped with full canvas for cold weather.
I assume that works well for you?

Yes the top has been a dream. Room for 4 without crowding and a full back panel with a center zipped section removable or roll up center section. It stays in my truck and after 4 years the plastic still looks new. Key is rolling the windows not folding them. On a 10 deg day we can get the cab up to 65 deg for a comfortable day in th winter lake. The mr buddy propane heater is hooked to a gas gril tank in the bow and a 20lb cylinder usually lasts all frostbite season. It stays on all day...
Matt B
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tamiron
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Re: Ideal Frostbite Boat

Post by tamiron »

Matt:

How big is that Mr.Buddy?/ Jim
Lures designed by fishermen for fishermen
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