Lowe Roughneck

[Bass Seeker]

Hi guys,
I'm wondering if any of you have experience with the Lowe Roughneck jonboat and if so what are your thoughts. In particular how does it handle in a chop or outright waves. Is it seaworthy enough for large lakes? I've been told that it's a very stable fishing platform but the hull configuration has me questioning it's sea handling ability, I think it only has a 3.5 degree deadrise and a blunt bow. I also heard that the latest models look like a spittin image of the bass tracker jon, which is interesting and leads one to wonder. Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

[orrsey]

I have a 16ft crestliner mod-v and I love it. I use it for fishing and duck hunting. All last fall I had it out on the ottawa river right till freeze up, I had no hesitaion to take it out on the windy rough water days at all. It actually really surprised me how well it handled. It is extremely stable. the only thing I would say is that it is a little rougher ride but thats a given considering the flat bottom.

here is a link to the lowe roughneck, looks like a nice boat.

http://www.loweboats.com/showroom/welde ... 1655sc.php

orrsey

[Lunker Larry]

"models look like a spittin image of the bass tracker jon, which is interesting and leads one to wonder"

It may look the same as I was told Lowe doesn't make their own hulls but gets them from a common generic builder, which is common for most of the low end boats.

[Roughneck1860]

I have a 2005 Lowe Roughneck 1860 VT. Thats the 18' mod-vee hull and the mod-vee bow with tiller steer. I have a 50hp 3cylinder 2 stroke Merc on it. It does pretty much everything I want it to. I've fished in up to 4ftrs on Erie with it all though it did get a little exciting at times. Under normal conditions though fishing in a chop is never an issue. Mine will run 31mph with 4 guys and all our gear on flat water up to an honest 1 ft chop 34mph with 2 guys under the same conditions. In 1 to 2 ftrs I can run 25mph if I'm loaded. The only times it gets a bit bumpy is in 2ftrs+ and I'm running empty. It's stable as hell. I mainly cast for Muskie and use this as my guide boat for them and waterfowl. Plenty of room for 4 people for either activity. I've had mine for 3 years now and beat the living crap out of it. It's the perfect boat for that I run mine right up and past ice up and through the winter if the ramps are open enough to get out. I will say though if your looking for a boat for serious big water fishing like Salmon fishing on Lake O and Walleye and Bows on Erie this isn't the boat. On the other hand though it is sea worthy enough to handle it if you dont mind sitting on shore once in a while when its real snotty. I found there's a huge difference in the Jon boats when you go from the 16-17ftrs up to the 18-20ftrs. I've had mine on Huron, St.Clair, Erie, Lake O the Ottawa River, Detroit River, St.Clair river and Georgian Bay. It's done me well. If you have any questions just drop me a line. If your in the Windsor area at all let me know and I'll take you for a ride. I will also say though my in a 2005 and the newer hulls are different than mine.

Good Fishin'
Tim

[Bass Seeker]

Orrsey and Tim thanks, that's the kind of info that I was looking for. No, I wouldn't be using it on water that big. In fact I've been downsizing the past few years from a 22 walkaround cuddy to what I'm looking at now, which will be a 14' - 16' Vee or wide jon for mostly freshwater on small and medium lakes and a bit of backbay saltwater. I like the layout and storage on the Roughneck, mostly wondered about how it handles rough water. Still considering a V such as the Lowe 1667WT.
Thanks
Mike

[Roughneck1860]

Still considering a V such as the Lowe 1667WT.
Thanks
Mike

I had a 16ft Crestliner Angler in a tiller model and My 1860 will take just as much rough water but with more room and stability. If your going to stay in the 14'-16' range though I'd go with the vee-hull

Good Fishin'
Tim

[Bass Seeker]

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