Bankes 19’ vs. 21’

S

Shawn B

New member
New to the forum and looking for some insight. Considering between a Bankes 19’ Crusader or 21’ Goliath. Hunting Lake St. Clair mostly but trading between Saginaw Bay and Erie as well. Chasing puddle ducks and divers. Max is usually 4 guys. What would you guys recommend? Would a 19’ be too small with 4 guys while bringing out a layout boat? Any insight or thoughts would be awesome!

Thanks!
 
21 period

Unless the 21 is much taller, they will both hide about he same, but you will appreciate the extra room. I would anticipate the 21 might perform a little better in the snotty stuff. The drawback is a bigger motor.
 
Phil Nowack said:
21 period

Unless the 21 is much taller, they will both hide about he same, but you will appreciate the extra room. I would anticipate the 21 might perform a little better in the snotty stuff. The drawback is a bigger motor.
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Do you intend to hunt out of the Bankes most of the time, or the layout boat, using the Bankes as a tender?

Four guys and a layout is pretty crowded on a 19', particularly if the layout is on-board.
 
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Shawn I would suggest reaching out for Cpt. Jeff Coates and spend a few minutes on the phone with him. He has been running the bigger Bankes boats for some time now and should be able to answers most if not all of your question. I think he is running a 25' boat now

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/
 
Bomber said:
Shawn I would suggest reaching out for Cpt. Jeff Coates and spend a few minutes on the phone with him. He has been running the bigger Bankes boats for some time now and should be able to answers most if not all of your question. I think he is running a 25' boat now

http://www.pitbosswaterfowl.com/[/quote]

And then try to fit what he says to a shallow freshwater body where wave period is shorter and wave amplitude isn't quite as high, but the wave face is steeper as a direct consequence of the shortened wave period. Ocean waves are a bit more forgiving and take longer to build-up than where you intend to use the boat.
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For what’s its worth, with a bit of chop on LSC my Bankes Freedom starts to feel pretty small with nine dozen decoys and two hunters. If cost is not an option, nor will you be hunting it solo, I’d go bigger.
 
Thanks for the help guys! Decided on the 21' Goliath! Going to pair it with a Bankes Pumpkin Seed and get after them this season! Can't wait!
 
I have hull #3 of the 19 footer, bought it from Michael in 2008. I hunt a lot by myself or with one other person but I have hunted 5 from in it. Three people is perfect for the hull. The 21 footer is a big boat and overkill if you hunt alone or one other hunter. It is a lot of boat. I haul a lot of decoys but there are times I'd like more room too. The 21 footer would be a great boat if you are hunting 4 but it might be too small for 4 hunters plus the pumpkinseed and all the decoys for the layout and a rig for the tender. Its all in what you are going to do with it. But no matter which one you go with you won't find nicer folks to work with than the Bankes family.
 
buy my SWAT listed in classified at $12500 and I'll give you your money back if not satisfied , have hunted in Bankes , just as seaworthy and can buy your significant other a diamond necklace with the difference , win , win. Past 70 and retired from boat hunting , will throw in a first class diver hunt my St. Lawrence lease.
 
One point of consideration: you are buying a boat with a wide and high stepover width and length (Bankes 21'), coupling it with one of the harder layout boats to enter...
 
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