chansonjr said:
Be careful with the El Pescador. Those boats can easily swap ends on you when running due to the deep V nose and almost flat bottom back end. Also, powerpoles are great but too many people have drowned when trying to swim after their boat that drifted away after the power pole worked free.
Swapping ends isn't unique to the El Pescador. All Tunnel Vee hull bay boats are similar, some better, some worse. Always wear a kill switch and everyone in the boat should wear a lifejacket (inflatables vest are awesome for adults). Most swapped ends are guys trying to run flat out, jacked all the way up. There just isn't much left in the water to hold it in place in a turn or something like quartering chop. Slow down, jack down as needed.
Swimming after a boat drifting away just isn't smart. That isn't really the fault of the power pole. The power pole isn't meant to be a set and forget anchor and it isn't "working loose". Tide changes or just stronger winds than the pole can handle need to be factored in. In the past, plenty of anchor ropes have come off cleats and other issues that caused boats to drift when someone isn't being smart about tying off. It really isn't a new thing, you just have more people on the water now so things happen more often.
Personally, I am not a fan of sides being the tool to prevent kids from falling off. Just my anecdotal experience, but i've seen more people (adults and kids) in the drink from leaning over medium and high side boats too far than I've seen hit the water in no side boats like a shallow sport classic. With a no side boat, kids are sitting or on their hands and knees at the sides, they can actually play in the water like like they want to and not be off balance. With sides, they have to be leaning over it and younger kids are more top heavy. Again, just a personal opinion, but something to think about.
We just upgraded from a 18' shallow sport to a 24' El Pescador CAT. Never had issues with kids on the Shallow Sport. We had the front deck extended on the El Pescador when we had it built to increase the no side area. Flat front deck extends all the way to the front of the console now instead of just a small deck up front. The cockpit area around the raised console is just low side.
