I am looking at a 22' Gulf Coast as my next boat and woudl liek to get some feedback from any of you with experience. My last several boats ahve been very skinny minded (majek RFL and a skooter) but I now would like to move on to something a bit more versatile. I have ridden on a few GC/Transport type hulls (it's my understanding that these hulls are both designed on the old Whaler outrage and are very similar) but have never run one. I understand that these hulls don't have the end-swapping problem that some tunnels do, and I know they are not speed demons. I have also heard that they are smooth in chop.

I have located a used Gulf Coast that I think is a good deal, so any feedback from those that have run them is appreciated. Thanks.

A friend of mine has the 20' GC and it is a great all around boat. Like you said, it is not the fastest or the shallowest, but it does handle the chop. He mainly fishes Galveston, and it is probably the ideal boat for that bay system. Another friend had the 18 LS with a tunnel, and it was a great boat as well. How much horsepower on the one you are considering?

150 hp.

From a bit of reseaerch on 2cool it seems that top end with this setup is high 30's-40. No speed demon for sure, but no tunnel hulls are really. I am also not a fan of running a boat skinny AND fast; one or the other is fine, but mix the two and it gets dangerous fast IMHO.

Since the GC is heavy, a 200 hp would be better to help get the boat up. I'm like you, fast means trouble, but I do like the added hp for getting on plane quicker. You will be very happy with that boat.

Amen on the holeshot. I do wish it had a bit more HP.

Thanks for the inpout.

My fishing buddy (back when I lived on the coast) had both an 18' TranSport and a 16' Trans Cat.

Both were excellent boats and worked extremely well in the bays from Galveston all the way down to Copano with little to no problems.

I think he had a Johnson 115 on the 18' and a 75 Johnson on the 16'. The 16' would obviously run in shallower water, but both handled chop pretty well all things considering.

Sunchaser and I disagree on this one, but I think that the Trans lines are some of the best boats you can get for the Texas gulf coast for the money.

Why not go with an El Pescador or something like the new 22' Pathfinder Fusion.

my next door neighbor had a 20' high side gulf coast with a 150 yamaha on it. Top end with just one guy and maybe 10 gallons of fuel was 40 according to the GPS. He had it for at least 5 years and many fishing trips in Matagorda with it. It was a pretty dry boat but it wasn't the smoothest riding by any means. It wouldn't beat your brains out like a flat bottom RFL would though. It would need about knee deep water to get up. Floats shallower than that though.

All in all it was a nice boat...he just wanted something bigger, faster, and smoother.

schmelba,

I completely agree on the transport boats; I love their 21 cat, awesome hull.

Fin,

I would look at a pescador or a pathfinder if I found a good deal on one. I am buying used and looking for the type of deal that seems to be more prevalent during economic times like these. Basically I would buy one of any number of boats, I am more motivated by the deal right now.

88,

thanks for the info, especially the holeshot info.

Take a look at a Mowdy if you can find one, excellent hull.

For value, it is awfully hard to beat the Bluewave 22.

Love my Pathfinder!!!!

Dad has a 20' GC HS tunnel. He really enjoys it. It has the look of a Boston Whaler, but not the price. I like the open deck because I never feel crowded when we fish. We do a lot of drift fishing andmy dad and I can both easily fish from the bow. It makes conversation and such easier. All in all a good boat and well worth it.

PS at top speed there is little to no wake, which makes for great slalom skiing.