How about MirroCraft???

Carl

Carl

Well-known member
Staff member
Here's another hull from my search for a boat to buy next year, MirroCraft 14 Deep Fisherman 3654.
Nice open floor plan,has livewell & storage and it is deep-sided.
Also the lightest boat I have found in this size & layout, only 290 pounds.
Since I can get it in a 15" transom, might be able to push it with my Nissan 18 2 stroke.
Only problem is the nearest dealer is 700 miles away. But if I visit my brother & sisters in PA, I can pick one up then & bring it back
Any comments or opinions on these hulls?
Thanks!!
[inline Mirrocraft.JPG ]

View attachment Mirrocraft.JPG
View attachment Mirrocraft.JPG
 
Carl
I used to have an older model 14ft Deep Fisherman with just bench seats, 15 inch transom and it was a great boat. Mirrocraft makes a good boat. I ran a 9.5hp and 25hp on it. The model you want has a the option of a 20 inch transom height. This would be much better if you are going run open water with it. However, if you watch your load and keep some trim weight in the bow when running light for fishing or hunting, it should be fine. I now have an older model 16ft Lake Fisherman and is great boat for running loaded with decoys. I also put 75 lbs of weight in the bow to run waves well while fishing in Lake Eire. I never had any type of leaks in either boat.


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Nice boat, have known guys over the years that were real happy with their MirroCraft. I think that 18 Nissan should do fine.
 
Hi Carl,
You are smart to shop around. There are some that believe a tin boat is a tin boat. Taint so. Mirrorcraft has been around for a long time as have most of the other brands you have mentioned in earlier posts. I'll bet the 18 Nissan will push a light weight 16' boat almost as well as the 14'. You might just need that extra 2'. I bet the 16' boat doesn't cost much more than the 14' either.

Get what you want and if it doesn't work out for you sell it and get something else. Bet I've had 15 different boats in the last 30 years. I have found out that there is no "perfect" boat for all uses.

JMO,
Harry
 
I agree with Harry might want to look a little closer at a sixteen footer. Since you trailer it the two feet don't matter.
the extra two feet make a big difference in what you can haul. My main boat for going to the blind, ten min away, is so full I don't think I could get another person in. That's a fourteen footer. I also like the safety factor. Sixteen feet is the min to use on big water. I like the lay out on the boat in the picture.
 
I have a 14 ft Starcraft Patriot model. I really like it, but I haven't seen too many of this model around. It is very wide and very deep and all welded, which I think is a big plus. It is also rated for 40 hp. It is a pretty open floor plan, this is a picture of it with a 15 hp, but I run a 25 hp four-stroke on it. I was on a search like you last spring and I eventually found this boat and I highly recommend it. I have fished in the ocean in this boat (on a calm day).

Good luck with your search.

starcraft1.jpg

 
Only problem is the nearest dealer is 700 miles away. But if I visit my brother & sisters in PA, I can pick one up then & bring it back
Click to expand...
Carl:I am heading to Florida(Naples) from SE PA mid March.
If you close a boat deal on a PA boat,
I'll tow it down for you and meet you in Jacksonville,FL.
Should cut your round trip down significantly.
Tom
 
Tom,
Thanks for the offer but you are a year to early!!!
Cant buy until next spring after the wife graduate from grad school.
But thanks for the offer!
 
That is a sharp looking boat, do you have a shot of the interior?
I looked on their website and cant find that model, wonder if they still make it?
What kind of draft does it have with the 25 on the back (floating, not running)?
Draft is my biggest concern with going from a mod-v jon to a semi-v.
Thanks!
 
Dennis,
Thanks for the advice.
My biggest concern with going from a mod-v jon to a semi-v is draft, do you know how shallow you can float your hull, with the motor up?
Also, not sure the 15-vs 20" transom is a big concern. I run a 15" now and have never gotten into a position to take waves over the stern. However, after seeing the pics of the 20" Princecraft sea ducking, I've thought about adding some removable splash panels on the lower transom.
 
I have a 19' Mirrocraft for diver hunting and love it. With 6-7doz decoys 2 guys, dog and gear I can float and run with the trolling motor in about 1.5ft of water. If have to run the motor trimmed up I need 2ft. I gutted mine to remove all unnecessary weight, so there is 3/4" floor decking and two post and a piece of plywood for my console. I would highly recommend adding a free draining splash catch. I have never had water come in while running or free floating, but while anchored I have had water come over the transom. They can handle some rough water. On a side not with all the decoys and gear out of it the boats are light enough that if you are stuck in some really shallow water you can normally lift up on the transom and push the boat off of whatever you might be stuck on, or to deeper water.
 
"I would highly recommend adding a free draining splash catch."

Iam having trouble visualizing how this would work and how it can be built.
E.g.What keeps the water from coming in where the water drains out?

Does someone have a diagram &/or close up picture(s) they can post up for
the "mechanically challenged" :)
Thanks
Tom
 
Not sure about the draft and I'm not sure if they make that model currently. Mine is a 2001.

Here is a shot of the interior from a while back:

P4300092.jpg

 
Carl,

Draft on the V-Hull should not be a real concern over the semi-v. It is how much of a load you have with the motor size. The V-Hull will not be as bow low as the semi-v and you be able to handle rough water better if you encounter some. I know someone that uses a large 12ft V-Hull and loads about eighty decoys and a dog in it. He has enough motor to get it up on plane with no problems. He uses a long tiller extension to keep his weight more forward. I can wade through the same shallow water with my 16ft and 10 dozen decoys with a 15hp motor and it would be about to the boot tops on my waders. You do not have a splash tray at the transom and the 20 inch height may be better for that one time you get into some sea conditions you did not expect. However, if like the price on the 15 inch model, OK. Adding some slash panels like back trollers use would be good in case you have to backup to keep away from lines get decoys. .
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Nice rig, that is what I am looking for except for the center bench. But I could live with it if the rest of the hull layout was good.
Next time you put it in the water, if you could estimate draft, that would be great.
Thanks!
 
Thanks for the input.
As far as motors (and weight), if I go with the 14' model, I will try my Nissan 18, it is only 87 pounds. If I go with the 16', I will be getting a Yamaha 2 stroke, 105 pounds. I should be able to get them both in almost as shallow water as my mod-v jon.
I am leaning toward the 16' models. More fishibility, more room for when I've got me, Youri & another guy. Also leaning towards keeping my mv-jon, selling the Nissan and getting a small mud motor for sheltered water.
Thanks again,
 
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