tunnel hull

Just sold my old boat and looking for a new/old boat . I need some help about tunnel hulls . I fish port o conner tx . I have access to marsh to bay to nearshore rigs. My question is ...would a tunnel hull be suitable to go to near shore rigs on days that are 3' seas or less ?

Re: tunnel hull

dhughes49 said:

I fish ...would a tunnel hull... ?

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No. Tunnel hulls are for "go really fast" boats.

Re: tunnel hull

Do you really mean a Tunnel Hull? (1 tunnel inside of 2 Sponsons)
And not a Tri Hull Or Cathedral Hull? (2 tunnels/3 hulls)

Re: tunnel hull

saumon said:

No. Tunnel hulls are for "go really fast" boats.

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My bad, after some Googling it seems that they make CAT tunnel hull fishing boats Shoalwater Boats - V Hull Flats and Catamaran Fishing Boats Not sure that I'd want one, as it seems like the "tunnel" take up a lot of precious interior space, but they could run on really shallow water (6" draft)...

Re: tunnel hull



This is a small tunnel, go-fast boat. Notice the size of the tunnel compared to the hull. It is good in light chop and small wakes (see the photo) but in heavy wakes--beware. Probably the same for larger tunnels: Above a certain height, waves will be too much for it.

Looking at the photos, did you really mean a tunnel or did you mean a catamaran? Two different animals. A cat will be like two deep vee hulls joined by a center deck with a much larger center opening or "tunnel" The cat can handle heavier seas.

Be aware that both cats and tunnel hulls have a deeper draft off plane than deep vee hulls. (generally speaking)

Re: tunnel hull

dhughes49 said:

Just sold my old boat and looking for a new/old boat . I need some help about tunnel hulls . I fish port o conner tx . I have access to marsh to bay to nearshore rigs. My question is ...would a tunnel hull be suitable to go to near shore rigs on days that are 3' seas or less ?

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I've got no experience on 'em, but several charters use a CAT down on the gulf in the Grayton Beach, FL area when I go down each year. The dude I use has a V hull CC, but those CATs seem to do just fine.

Re: tunnel hull

My Penn Yan tunnel hull......and yes, I have been in seas greater than 3'.

Re: tunnel hull

dhughes49 said:

Just sold my old boat and looking for a new/old boat . I need some help about tunnel hulls . I fish port o conner tx . I have access to marsh to bay to nearshore rigs. My question is ...would a tunnel hull be suitable to go to near shore rigs on days that are 3' seas or less ?

Click to expand...

You're better off asking this question on the boating forum over at 2coolfishing, as they are more specialized in flats boats. Tunnels mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, ranging from full-tunnel pickle-fork boats and catamarans, to little 2-3' pocket tunnels that really don't do much for running shallow. What you are looking for is a monohull with a 5-6' tunnel, or a shallow-tunnel cat made for running in flats.


If you tend to fish bays and slightly offshore quite often, then something like a Kenner bay boat with tunnel would probably suit you. If you plan on getting into the really shallow backwaters along the ICW, then maybe something like a Flatscat would be better, while still handling three-footers on occasion.

A good custom tunnel prop will work wonders for any tunnel-equipped flats boat.

Re: tunnel hull

Thanks for the help

Re: tunnel hull

The Captn next to me when I chartered had a Penn Yan- made in NY. It was a 22' or 23' tunnel hull cuddy cabin. He fished Lake Erie hard up to 5' ers. No problems according to him. I had a 17' McKee Backwater that had a tunnel hull and mostly fished the creeks, rivers, and ICW. At just 17' and came in from 8 miles or so in 3'ers-- bumpy and wet but not a handling problem.

Re: tunnel hull

Probably the same as mine at 23', Crabby Capt'n. They were very popular charter boats up that way. With an inboard and very little rudder, following seas in a tight spot.....like an inlet....can get harry. Hey, dhughes. How about a pic of what you are looking at?