Buying a new boat need help!!!

[WishingIwasfishing]

Hi all,

I am about to pull the trigger on a 2018 Phoenix 21 PHX with an Evinrude 250.

I would greatly appreciate ANY feed back good or bad.

Also any set up recommendations or extras I have to have?!?!  I will have 3 or 4 Hummingbird Helix installed and know what trolling motor I want. I will be adding the dual counsel also.

Thanks in advance

Randy

[Hollada]

A few things come to mind:
- heading sensor gps puck on bow, std gps on stern
- padded deck
- I absolutely need a stereo when I'm alone -especially for jerk bait fishing lol
- oxygenator for live well
- dual foot pedal and standard for the G2
- gauges for the G2. Probably wouldn't bother with NMEA - haven't heard of people having much luck with birds and engine info
- After having an ultrex with ipilot link, I won't be without

[Frank]

i think if this boat will cause you to profit $9000 a year for the next 10 years more than your current boat does, you have found a good deal.

[WishingIwasfishing]

A few things come to mind:
- heading sensor gps puck on bow, std gps on stern
- padded deck
- I absolutely need a stereo when I’m alone -especially for jerk bait fishing lol
- oxygenator for live well
- dual foot pedal and standard for the G2
- gauges for the G2. Probably wouldn’t bother with NMEA - haven’t heard of people having much luck with birds and engine info
- After having an ultrex with ipilot link, I won’t be without

Will defiantly have a radio as I fish alone a lot. NMEA??
What is the NMEA??

-" haven't heard of people having much luck with birds and engine info"  Just want to be clear on this statement, are you saying that there is not much information out there or people are having BAD luck with these 2?

I had the Ultera put on my last boat last spring linked with Helix and although I was only able to use it for a couple months it was unbelievable, I will be able to do so much more with that trolling motor!!!

Thanks for the feed back.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Frank I am not that good of a fisherman LOL, I just want to reduce my chances of this happening again. And I wont be using it anymore.

[Hollada]

NMEA is the network spec for communication between your birds and your motor.  A lot out there on bbc about the challenges of getting info into the birds.

For example:

http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=331468

[fishstick]

Hydraulic jackplate if it doesn't already have one.

Minn Kota Ultrex is a game changer so I hope you are putting one of those on!

Talons if you spend any time in shallow water, also great for launching the boat.

Have you given the Humminbird SOLIX units any thought?

[dartag]

Frank I am not that good of a fisherman LOL, I just want to reduce my chances of this happening again. And I wont be using it anymore.

Having a new well equipped boat won't keep that from happening.   Learning respect for the water will.   Start slow.  The boat you are getting will probably do 70 mph or faster.  Things happen really fast at that speed.   Post us some photos when you get it.

[Jay-MadWags]

If your going to fish alone a lot then get a single console. More space for fishing.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Hydraulic jackplate if it doesn't already have one.

Minn Kota Ultrex is a game changer so I hope you are putting one of those on!

Talons if you spend any time in shallow water, also great for launching the boat.

Have you given the Humminbird SOLIX units any thought?

Hydraulic jack plate is a must, comes with a 10"

I will be putting my almost brand new Ultera on it. I also have 2 Helix(again almost brand new, both were purchased last spring) I will be adding 2 more. Why the SOLIX??

I almost fish St Clair and Erie exclusively so do not do very much shallow water except spring time. And with spot lock it has worked great. As far as launching with the Ultera I would back it in, hit spot lock and then use the remote to bring the boat back to the dock.

I am doing the dual counsel mainly because I have grandkids now and plan on taking them out a lot. Along with my SIL who has been going out  a lot also. So what I am saying is I have no use for it, but they will appreciate it.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Frank I am not that good of a fisherman LOL, I just want to reduce my chances of this happening again. And I wont be using it anymore.

Having a new well equipped boat won't keep that from happening.   Learning respect for the water will.   Start slow.  The boat you are getting will probably do 70 mph or faster.  Things happen really fast at that speed.   Post us some photos when you get it.

Trust me I understand that, I have been a bas boat owner for 35+ years and never had anything like this happen(fiberglass delamination).

I will defiantly be posting when it comes in. Hoping to have it April 1st for some Detroit river walleye jigging!!!

[WishingIwasfishing]

If your going to fish alone a lot then get a single console. More space for fishing.

As much as I want the single counsel(I don't need it LOL) for family reasons I will be adding one. It is detachable though

[1BADAIR]

 I believe all G2's have to have a Nmea and a GPS antenna installed

[Hollada]

I believe all G2's have to have a Nmea and a GPS antenna installed

I'd heard that about the gps, not the nmea.  They use the gps for speed input to the auto trim feature I believe.

[fishstick]

Hydraulic jackplate if it doesn't already have one.

Minn Kota Ultrex is a game changer so I hope you are putting one of those on!

Talons if you spend any time in shallow water, also great for launching the boat.

Have you given the Humminbird SOLIX units any thought?

Hydraulic jack plate is a must, comes with a 10"

I will be putting my almost brand new Ultera on it. I also have 2 Helix(again almost brand new, both were purchased last spring) I will be adding 2 more. Why the SOLIX??

I almost fish St Clair and Erie exclusively so do not do very much shallow water except spring time. And with spot lock it has worked great. As far as launching with the Ultera I would back it in, hit spot lock and then use the remote to bring the boat back to the dock.

I am doing the dual counsel mainly because I have grandkids now and plan on taking them out a lot. Along with my SIL who has been going out  a lot also. So what I am saying is I have no use for it, but they will appreciate it.

If you already have 2 Helix units it may be smarter to just stick with all Helix so they can share transducers along with waypoints. Helix/SOLIX can share waypoints but not transducers.

The biggest advantage to SOLIX is how the screens are setup. You are able to run up to 4 windows on it and can also run 3 windows with SI going the whole width of the screen and 2 windows below like mapping and one of the down looking sonars. I was going to put 2 Helix units at the console last year but went with a SOLIX 15 instead. I can get the same amount of data with 1 unit vs 2 and one unit was easier with operation and rigging.

SOLIX also makes it way easier to name/organize waypoints since its touchscreen. A keyboard menu comes or if you just color code or use icons it is easier to get to those menus.

They also make it way easier to change settings with the SOLIX. The most common adjustments are just a touch away as they show up at the top of the screen, so there is no need to navigate menus.

[LennyB]

If your getting older and fish alone alot I would make sure you have a boarding ladder. Nothing worse than falling in 2 miles miles off shore in cold water by yourself.

[WishingIwasfishing]

Hydraulic jackplate if it doesn't already have one.

Minn Kota Ultrex is a game changer so I hope you are putting one of those on!

Talons if you spend any time in shallow water, also great for launching the boat.

Have you given the Humminbird SOLIX units any thought?

Hydraulic jack plate is a must, comes with a 10"

I will be putting my almost brand new Ultera on it. I also have 2 Helix(again almost brand new, both were purchased last spring) I will be adding 2 more. Why the SOLIX??

I almost fish St Clair and Erie exclusively so do not do very much shallow water except spring time. And with spot lock it has worked great. As far as launching with the Ultera I would back it in, hit spot lock and then use the remote to bring the boat back to the dock.

I am doing the dual counsel mainly because I have grandkids now and plan on taking them out a lot. Along with my SIL who has been going out  a lot also. So what I am saying is I have no use for it, but they will appreciate it.

If you already have 2 Helix units it may be smarter to just stick with all Helix so they can share transducers along with waypoints. Helix/SOLIX can share waypoints but not transducers.

The biggest advantage to SOLIX is how the screens are setup. You are able to run up to 4 windows on it and can also run 3 windows with SI going the whole width of the screen and 2 windows below like mapping and one of the down looking sonars. I was going to put 2 Helix units at the console last year but went with a SOLIX 15 instead. I can get the same amount of data with 1 unit vs 2 and one unit was easier with operation and rigging.

SOLIX also makes it way easier to name/organize waypoints since its touchscreen. A keyboard menu comes or if you just color code or use icons it is easier to get to those menus.

They also make it way easier to change settings with the SOLIX. The most common adjustments are just a touch away as they show up at the top of the screen, so there is no need to navigate menus.

Great info, I will look into them. I can always sell the 2 I have if it makes sense.

[WishingIwasfishing]

If your getting older and fish alone alot I would make sure you have a boarding ladder. Nothing worse than falling in 2 miles miles off shore in cold water by yourself.

Great point!!! I had to look that one up on this model. Doesn't appear to have a ladder just handles might be needing a E Ladder or Champion Ladder

[21XDC]

If your getting older and fish alone alot I would make sure you have a boarding ladder. Nothing worse than falling in 2 miles miles off shore in cold water by yourself.

Great point!!! I had to look that one up on this model. Doesn't appear to have a ladder just handles might be needing a E Ladder or Champion Ladder

Consider this one>>> https://www.thebassboatladder.com/