Question:
I am ready to buy a bass boat. I am seriously considering
Procraft V-200 (20 foot dual console). Would appreciate any
information from anyone with experience with these boats. I
fish in large tidal rivers such as the Potomac and large lakes
such as Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) in Virginia. I am
especially interested in their structural integrity and
performance and how they might compare to Ranger and Stratos
boats. I'm moving from an aluminum bass boat to fiberglass.
Answer:
Sounds like your in my area. I've got a Procraft V-170B (17') that I've had for just
over a year now and I love it. I've looked at the V-200 myself lately as a
possible upgrade, but it's just too big to get into the spots I like to fish. I have
talked to owners of the V-200 that bought it for big water and they were very
happy. One I met down at Lake Chesdin had just come back from the bay bridge
tunnel.
As for the Procraft and rough water, I launched on the James one day as a couple
guys with a 20' Sprint were coming in because the water was too rough. It didn't
bother me at all in my 17 footer.
As for Ranger and Stratos, you're talking about boats that are $5,000 or so more
than the V-200. As I understand it, both of them are built for speed, not for
comfort. If you want a big water boat in that price class, check out the Champion.
Unless the Ranger/Stratos name is important to you, you'll be happy with the
Procraft.
-I saw another post that mentioned Ranger and Stratos. I
have never considered a Ranger to be a fast boat, nor
have I ever ridden in any Ranger model that I thought
was a good rough water ride. Maybe I'm spoiled, I run
and old ('86) 18' Champion with a '93 175 EFI Merc. As
far as rough water ride is concerned, after the Champion
I like the 201 Pro Stratos. Length solves a lot of "rough
ride problems". In the tournaments that I have fished I
have not had the opportunity to ride in a Procraft so I'm
not qualified to comment.
