Need recommendation on boat type

[BeeEl]

So I am preparing to sell/trade my ski boat, but I would like to get everyone's opinion here on exactly what style of boat I am looking for. We normally tube, kneeboard, and ski. I would really like to take it fishing at least occasionally. I thought I wanted a pontoon (as long as the motor was big enough), but it seems like it would be next to impossible to give a tuber much of a ride simply because getting that tube outside the wake looks like it would be difficult with a pontoon. Many of the pontoon boats are setup with four corner fishing seats so it's almost a perfect fit. I just don't think the tubing thing would work well.
This leads me to my next question. What about a deck boat? That appears to be a perfect fit, but I have no experience with them whatsoever. I do not want a fishing boat that you can ski behind. I want a ski boat that I can occasionally fish with.
Your thoughts/recommendations?

Thanks,
BL

 

[Slip Away]

~~Monterey 217 Blackfin

Monterey's 217 Blackfin is capable of everything from fishing to water sports to cruising.

 

[Stumpalump]

Who is buying the boat, you or the tubers? Buy what you want and my bet is it will still pull a tube just fine. A pontoon will haul the tubes on board and out of your way the best..

 

[drrpm]

I don't have much interest in fishing, but can't you fish off of pretty much any boat? Depending on the water conditions a john boat or other similar craft could be obtained fairly inexpensively and used for the occasional fishing trip and you could keep the ski boat as your primary boat.

 

[H20Rat]

A pontoon will pull a tuber, but they are the worst of the worst for skiing/wakeboarding/kneeboarding. Yes, they might be able to do it, people could also use school buses as their daily driver to the office commute!

Look for a fish-n-ski boat that is a bowrider first, and they included a livewell on it. Some fish-n-ski boats are nothing but fishing boats minus the kicker/trolling motor.

 

[MikDee]

A deck boat is pretty versatile.

 

[greenbush future]

Yep the open bow walk through with a nice outboard, would be my choice for what you defined. If this will be a trailered boat, I would stay away from pontoons, and it also would take a fairly large outboard to pull skiers and tubs behind too if gas consumption is a concern. Depend where you will use it and how it will be transported too.

 

[thumpar]

I fish off my boat all the time while the family plays. It has the sundeck on the back and I just stand on it to get a good view and better casting. If the kids are in the water back there I just move to the bow. We have the filler cushions to make the whole bow flat and I can stand there too.

 

[QC]

What I always recommend, is of course, what I own: a 23 foot, 20 degree I/O. There are a lot around, but of course, none of us know where you boat? Lake, river, water type? Usually flat? Usually choppy? etc. etc. etc.

 

[Subman95]

If your lake is not too rough the deck boats are kinda what you might like. They are available up to 26 feet, and with either an outboard or I/O. The choice should be what you want!

 

[moosehead]

Bowrider or deckboat.

We use our bowrider for family, watersports, fishing, cruising, camping, all the above. Just installed a fishfinder on it as well, only thing we don't do with it is troll though some do.

 

[Gyrene]

I'm assuming freshwater on a smaller lake? (Not a Great Lake?) Not many pontoons on the ocean...
You also don't say new or used - because with used a buy may come up that is too good to pass up.