All purpose fishing boat questions

[yorketransport]

I'm looking to pick up a new (more likely used) fishing boat this summer and I'd like some advice. I've been using a 10' fiberglass with an old 9HP Evinrude. It's worked for me but now I'm looking for something a little bigger so I can get the kids out with enough room to move around on the boat.

I would never consider myself a "boat guy", so I'm reluctant to go to a showroom to ask questions. I may as well just walk in with a sign that says sucker taped to my shirt. So any tips or info you more experienced guys can give me would be appreciated.

Here's what I've come up with as a wish list so far:
- 16'-20' length. This seems like it would give enough room to take my kids and another person or two along, while still giving room to move around.

- Some sort of shelter or cuddy cabin so that the kids can get out of the weather if they need to. If they aren't comfortable they won't have any fun.

- Something I can take in either fresh water or salt water. I live right by Clear Lake and a few others out here in Yelm so I'd like something I could take on the lake to get the kids and my wife used to being on a boat. I will use it most often in salt water though, just up and down the Puget Sound.

- Either an open bow or walkaround style. Everyone has told me that having an open bow will make launching the boat much easier if I'm out alone or just with the kids.

Those are the basics which I've come up with. I don't know much about motor styles and the advantages of one over the other. All I know is that it's worth it to buy quality equipment. Right now I like the look of the Bayliner Trophy series, but I'm not really sure what else is out there.

If you have any specific tips on buying a used boat, that would be helpful too. What to look for, specific questions to ask, that sort of thing. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money ($10k or less would be ideal) since this is kind of an entry level purchase. If this price range isn't reasonable let me know.

Andrew

[bone collector 12]

Iv been looking for the same kindof boats,and i havnt found anything under 20 grand,i would recomend looking at alumawelds,they are very nice boat and everyonce im a while you can find one.for pretty cheap,best of luck boat shopping!,iv been at it for about 4 months

[rasbo]

Im thinking the trophy boats are a little big for some of these small lakes...this is a 17ft stryker 1998 11 grand I paid...not a ton of room,the newer boats are wider but costs rises fast, great all around boat,18 ft or better I would suggest...

[buckhorn2]

Rasbos boat is about the perfect size any bigger then you need more help to use it.

[yorketransport]

Thanks for the tips so far.

Rasbo, good looking boat!  Do you run it in both fresh and salt water? If so, do you feel like it's better suited to one over the other?

Andrew

[rasbo]

Thanks for the tips so far.

Rasbo, good looking boat!  Do you run it in both fresh and salt water? If so, do you feel like it's better suited to one over the other?

Andrew

its not a ruff saltwater boat foresure,I would run it in the sound in decent weather,of all the boats I have had this one fits the pic for my wife and I.Its an awesome lake and river boat{prop}use...

[lokidog]

Rasbos boat is about the perfect size any bigger then you need more help to use it.

I would agree 17 to 19 foot is probably good but there really is no more work to run a 20 footer than a 17.

I have a 21' Trophy, walk-around cuddy cabin with a 2000 Yamaha 150hp 2 stroke AND a 19' Alumaweld Stryker.  And a few others.....

I would not think of using the Trophy to lake fish, well, maybe Chelan.  Those heavy boats/big motors use lots of fuel and are not real maneuverable.  Yes, it is nice to have a cabin but for family fun, if the weather is nasty, they probably won't want to be out in it anyways. 

The problem with the aluminum boats is their weight rating/carrying capacity sucks.  My Stryker is only rated for 5 people.  If you have a family of four, like I do, then only one friend can go along, if the Coast Guard checks you anyways....  They are well suited for salt-water and other hard uses though.  They are much more durable if the boat is beached much.  I have put 12000+ miles on mine in less than four years of having it.   

I also have an old 70's Sea Swirl 14 1/2 foot, bow rider with a 70 hp, but no canopy/cover.  I have had it on the salt with no problems, though I would not likely use it much in the winter out here.  They are very stable, relatively light compared to a cabin model, and pretty cheap on the used market.  If I was on a budget, looking for a family boat for lake and salt use, I would also keep an eye out for a 16 to 18 foot bow rider type like this.

Some food for thought.  Good luck with your search.

[runamuk]

In my early 20's a good friend had a 19 foot reinell cabin cruiser.....it was a piece of cake to get in and out of the water I know I was designated driver, put boat on trailer girl more than once or twice after making the rounds to the bars on Lake Washington.  That boat was great for fishing, cruising, water skiing.  It was the summer fun ship on Chelan every summer even after they tried to lose it in a gnarly storm making a beer run.  I went to my first Hydro races on the log boom in that boat, it was sweet to operate, very stable in big water, and fun.....the little sleeping cabin was a great place to stash gear and keep it dry or to sleep, or change clothes....
If I ever were to own a boat it would be something similar to this for the simple fact that it was a fun multipurpose boat.

That said I grew up on the sound and we had old glaspar's/ glasply's in the 16 foot range, friends had boston whalers and there were all sorts of boats on the salt that were perfectly fine for some fishing and whale watching....

[jbender]

I have a 20 foot Thunder Jet which by the sounds of it are a little more boat than what you are after.  However I would lean towards aluminum vs fiberglass.  They are much more durable.  I have two buddy's that bought 20 alumaweld sleds within the past two years off Craigs list for $10.000 a piece, both of which are nice boats.  I agree that I probably wouldn't look at the Trophy's as my first choice especially for lake fishing unless they are big deep lakes.  As far as motors I would stay with an outboard.  You have to be mindful of your depth but they are easier to steer than jets especially at low speeds and reverse.  There are a lot of people that are toy heavy right now and are motivated sellers.  Be patient and keep looking.  Good luck.

[yorketransport]

Since I will likely be buying a used boat, is there anything special to look for? I imagine the obvious things to look for are similar to buying a car. As in the condition of the interior/exterior can tell you a lot about how the owner cared for it. I just imagine that a boat with a dull, scratched up exterior/hull would be an indication that the motor may not have been maintained that well either.

As much as I'd love to go drop $20K + on a new boat, I just won't use it enough to rationalize that. If I'm lucky I'll get out once a month. But again, I would rather buy something nice than something cheap. Everyone keeps telling me that a boat is just a money pit. I'm hoping that like a car, buying a quality product will minimize the long term expense.

Andrew

[Huntbear]

Always pull the grease plug on the lower unit...  check for water.  Make them start it up pumping water through the system so that you can see the water pump actually works...

[lokidog]

A compression test is pretty easy to do on an outboard.