Whats the most stable 10-12' boat

[PolarBear]

Yep, tough to beat a Whaler.  I had an 18' Southern Skimmer (now Carolina Skiff) and it was the only boat that I have found that was more stable than my Whaler.  However, the Skimmer would beat you to death in really rough water unlike the Whaler.  The gunwales were also a lot higher and sturdier on the Whaler.

[Happy Gilmore]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/bod/6166765704.html
Inflatable w bigger powerhead.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/6176983302.html
sweet ride....

Good deal here...
https://abbotsford.craigslist.ca/boa/6161046777.html


When crabbing, a Livingston is probably the most uncomfortable boat in the world. To start, it's hard to keep your footing with the hump in the floor. It's hard to pick up a pot and turn around because you have to juggle which side of the hump you want your feet on. you can't stand on the side so, lifting the pot over the bow isn't easy either if you use round commercial pots. I crabbed from a Livingston one summer and cursed it every day I didn't have my Whaler.

[lokidog]

That's a great setup on the livingston with the steering position forward, nice whaler too, no way in heck I'd pay 10k for that inflatable though.

[Curly]

Both the Livingston and Whaler would be sweet setups for what the OP plans to do.  That is, if the OP can step up in boat size a little bit and go with a boat on a trailer instead of placing a small boat in the back of a pickup.

I used a 13' Livingston for several years in my late teen/early 20 years.  Started out with a center console (like the craigslist add) with a 9.9 Johnson and after the 9.9 got stolen it was replaced with a 20 hp Evinrude.  It was a really good boat.

I used to put a 12' aluminum boat in the back of my pickup.  That was a real pain having to transfer all the gear into the boat.  I loved it when I was able to use the other boat/trailer and keep all the gear in the boat and just trailer it to the lake; made things way simpler.

[lokidog]

Both the Livingston and Whaler would be sweet setups for what the OP plans to do.  That is, if the OP can step up in boat size a little bit and go with a boat on a trailer instead of placing a small boat in the back of a pickup.

I used a 13' Livingston for several years in my late teen/early 20 years.  Started out with a center console (like the craigslist add) with a 9.9 Johnson and after the 9.9 got stolen it was replaced with a 20 hp Evinrude.  It was a really good boat.

I used to put a 12' aluminum boat in the back of my pickup.  That was a real pain having to transfer all the gear into the boat.  I loved it when I was able to use the other boat/trailer and keep all the gear in the boat and just trailer it to the lake; made things way simpler.

Yep, best thing I did with my inflatable was buy a trailer for it, so much easier to load decoys and such the night before. It was handy though living in So Cal to be able to keep it in the basement of my apartment.

[N7XW]

Another vote for the Whaler.  Love those boats.

[Alchase]

The biggest drawback for the Boston Whalers in these lengths is cost. Even an old Whaler sells for a good price. You can pick up a used Livingston or Sorenson for a few hundred dollars if you look. If money was not a concern, I would go with the Whaler.

But for the price a newer Whaler, you could get a fully configured much larger boat.

[Special T]

Yep, tough to beat a Whaler.  I had an 18' Southern Skimmer (now Carolina Skiff) and it was the only boat that I have found that was more stable than my Whaler.  However, the Skimmer would beat you to death in really rough water unlike the Whaler.  The gunwales were also a lot higher and sturdier on the Whaler.

My father has a Carolina Skiff 14' I think. Very stable. We have unswamped it In the past by pulling the plugs and hammering down the throttle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Alchase]

Yep, tough to beat a Whaler.  I had an 18' Southern Skimmer (now Carolina Skiff) and it was the only boat that I have found that was more stable than my Whaler.  However, the Skimmer would beat you to death in really rough water unlike the Whaler.  The gunwales were also a lot higher and sturdier on the Whaler.

My father has a Carolina Skiff 14' I think. Very stable. We have unswamped it In the past by pulling the plugs and hammering down the throttle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I came a crossed a guy who attempted this in a really old Lund on Alder lake.
He did not make it back to the dock, he was bow up about 40 ft from the ramp.
Someone should have told him you have to have some serious speed to do this.
His old Johnson 6 HP, probably did not have it.
LOL.

[Smossy]

Livingstons hands down. Fiberglass usually so pretty heavy and stabilized on the sides.

[singleshot12]

Check out Walker Bay boats. Semi-v hull, beautiful and sturdy little boats. Not near as ugly and square as a Livingston

[fish vacuum]

I don't see many whalers in pickup beds, or in the price range of 10' livingstons.

[The scout]

Didn't sound like a beauty contest , Livingston for sure

[Gobble Doc]

I like my whaler. 13' so more than than the OP was asking about. We crab easily out of it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[Happy Gilmore]

I don't see many whalers in pickup beds, or in the price range of 10' livingstons.

I've spent a lot of time fishing in a 10' Livingston out of the back of a pick up and just wind waves and two people in one gets real sketchy. Not a stable platform at all for anything more than flat, calm water. My brother in law and I barely made it off Spada Lake one night.

As far as pick up bed boats, nothing less than a 12' Smokercraft. I regret selling my smokercraft to this day. Don't miss the Livingston at all. Uncomfortable, no floor space and really heavy for hauling in a pick up by yourself. And, they suck to trailer. Trying to turn around in a Livingston is a pain and there isn't barely any room for a tackle box and your feet in a 10'er.