Whats the most stable 10-12' boat

[lokidog]

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

I actually have a 10' Walker Bay with the inflatable ring that I would be interested in selling.

[Alchase]

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.

Totally disagree!

I have had both a 10 ft Livingston and a 13 ft Smokercraft Alaskan.
The Livingston I would not hesitate to take out to Point no Point and did to many times to count. No way I would take the 13 ft Smoker unless it was glass.
You really can't compare the two for stability.
The Smoker is a great lake fishing boat, but the Livingston is a much more stable platform.
Livingston is one of the few that are coast guard approved for skiffs without inspection.

[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.

Totally disagree!

I have had both a 10 ft Livingston and a 13 ft Smokercraft Alaskan.
The Livingston I would not hesitate to take out to Point no Point and did to many times to count. No way I would take the 13 ft Smoker unless it was glass.
You really can't compare the two for stability.
The Smoker is a great lake fishing boat, but the Livingston is a much more stable platform.
Livingston is one of the few that are coast guard approved for skiffs without inspection.

I wouldn't take either on anything in salt. I really don't like Livingstons. Worse yet, ever had to get towed in a Livingston? That's a real suck pot of a ride.

[lokidog]

We run our 12 foot Livingston all the time out here, as I said, the biggest annoyance is that the stern rides low with a 9.9 Honda four stroke hanging off of it.

[Alchase]

I used a center mount steering setup (Livingston accessory - Low profile helm station with rotary steering)

Worked great!

[Happy Gilmore]

I have a lot of time in a 10'er. Those who say it's a stable platform and safe for salt water and own one..(I'd do the picture but, my BIL got rid of his we used for 20 some odd years) ...

I want a picture---- Two guys, two dozen decoys, a dog, two batteries and an electric motor. We did this down the Walla Walla river to duck hunt for years before a bazillion people flooded wallula. Those who are old school knew the Livingston guys then, I got smart and ducked out the Whaler....

With two guys a dog and gear, there is barely ANY freeboard at all. Inches at best. We used the Livingston just to go down the flat water of the Walla Walla. We sat still, didn't move at all and made many safe trips. This was in early 1990's. Trout fished every lake around Monroe in that boat through junior high and high school. Pre 90's. It was also tender on Inlaws place at Center Island in the San Juans. I've used that boat in every condition possible for 30+ years. I've also had my Whaler since I was 7. Add a few more years. I hate Livingstons even though, it was "what we had for a long time". It worked, because it was what we had. It was NOT the boat of choice for most all situations. Search for a Whaler. Do some repairs on it. Find a trailer, spend a little more than planned. It will last you and be 100% more versatile than a little Livingston and that versatility will make that extra money spent worth far more pennies.

[jay.sharkbait]

I have a lot of time in a 10'er. Those who say it's a stable platform and safe for salt water and own one..(I'd do the picture but, my BIL got rid of his we used for 20 some odd years) ...

I want a picture---- Two guys, two dozen decoys, a dog, two batteries and an electric motor. We did this down the Walla Walla river to duck hunt for years before a bazillion people flooded wallula. Those who are old school knew the Livingston guys then, I got smart and ducked out the Whaler....

With two guys a dog and gear, there is barely ANY freeboard at all. Inches at best. We used the Livingston just to go down the flat water of the Walla Walla. We sat still, didn't move at all and made many safe trips. This was in early 1990's. Trout fished every lake around Monroe in that boat through junior high and high school. Pre 90's. It was also tender on Inlaws place at Center Island in the San Juans. I've used that boat in every condition possible for 30+ years. I've also had my Whaler since I was 7. Add a few more years. I hate Livingstons even though, it was "what we had for a long time". It worked, because it was what we had. It was NOT the boat of choice for most all situations. Search for a Whaler. Do some repairs on it. Find a trailer, spend a little more than planned. It will last you and be 100% more versatile than a little Livingston and that versatility will make that extra money spent worth far more pennies.

lol

The things we do when younger. I used to run an 8' hydro from Johnson Pt  to Horsehead when my parents were at work.

[Alchase]

I have a lot of time in a 10'er. Those who say it's a stable platform and safe for salt water and own one..(I'd do the picture but, my BIL got rid of his we used for 20 some odd years) ...

I want a picture---- Two guys, two dozen decoys, a dog, two batteries and an electric motor. We did this down the Walla Walla river to duck hunt for years before a bazillion people flooded wallula. Those who are old school knew the Livingston guys then, I got smart and ducked out the Whaler....

With two guys a dog and gear, there is barely ANY freeboard at all. Inches at best. We used the Livingston just to go down the flat water of the Walla Walla. We sat still, didn't move at all and made many safe trips. This was in early 1990's. Trout fished every lake around Monroe in that boat through junior high and high school. Pre 90's. It was also tender on Inlaws place at Center Island in the San Juans. I've used that boat in every condition possible for 30+ years. I've also had my Whaler since I was 7. Add a few more years. I hate Livingstons even though, it was "what we had for a long time". It worked, because it was what we had. It was NOT the boat of choice for most all situations. Search for a Whaler. Do some repairs on it. Find a trailer, spend a little more than planned. It will last you and be 100% more versatile than a little Livingston and that versatility will make that extra money spent worth far more pennies.

First you compared a 12ft Smokercraft "v-hull",  to a Livingston.
Inherently a cat hull will always be more "stable" then a V hull of the same length.


Smokercraft Alaskan 12 (V-hull) - max capacity = 3 people 700 lbs

http://www.smokercraft.com/showroom/2017/utility/alaskan

Livingston LV12 (Cat hull) - max capacity = 5 people 900 lbs

http://worldcat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/LV12_SalesSheet.pdf


I added the Whaler 11' 4" for reference. - max capacity = 4 people 845 lbs

https://www.bostonwhaler.com/family-overview/super-sport-boat-models/110-tender/https://www.bostonwhaler.com/family-overview/super-sport-boat-models/110-tender/

[Happy Gilmore]

Weight of the boat itself and ability to fit into a pickup started. YOu can't fit a 12' Livingston inside a pick up bed. A 10' fits. A 12' smoker fits over the tailgate as the Livingston and they are about the same weight.

I threw in a whaler mainly to say, take a little step up and it's a HUGE difference. A 13' whaler is comparable to any other 16 and often 17' boats in stability and motor handling capability.

[Westside88]

If your set on a max of 12 foot, I'd really recommend a duroboat. They are very stable for their size and probably the lightest of any that have been mentioned. They are essentially the same boat as the 14, just shorter. My dads had a 14 footer since 1998, 
Very good boats.

[Alchase]

Weight of the boat itself and ability to fit into a pickup started. YOu can't fit a 12' Livingston inside a pick up bed. A 10' fits. A 12' smoker fits over the tailgate as the Livingston and they are about the same weight.

I threw in a whaler mainly to say, take a little step up and it's a HUGE difference. A 13' whaler is comparable to any other 16 and often 17' boats in stability and motor handling capability.

Agreed, before I got a trailer for my Livingston I use to put it up on a rack on my truck.
Life is so much easier with a trailer, LOL.
I would not even think of trying that with a 12 ft. Livingston.

[fish vacuum]

The OP is looking for a boat to fit in his truck bed for lakes and a little crabbing. Now people are talking about trailers, 50hp outboards, dogs and decoys, multiple batteries, and running across the sound.
People do lakes and a little crabbing out of small Livingstons and aluminum boats all the time.
Look for a deal on an Alaskan, lund, duroboat, valco, gregor, whatever, and have fun.

[Happy Gilmore]

The OP is looking for a boat to fit in his truck bed for lakes and a little crabbing. Now people are talking about trailers, 50hp outboards, dogs and decoys, multiple batteries, and running across the sound.
People do lakes and a little crabbing out of small Livingstons and aluminum boats all the time.
Look for a deal on an Alaskan, lund, duroboat, valco, gregor, whatever, and have fun.

Doing a little crabbing usually involves an outboard, gas tank, oars, couple crab pots and often another person. Weight and stability means a lot to safety. It's a good topic to discuss expected loads and gear IMO.

[Curly]

It's also worth pointing out that stepping up slightly in size (13 footer) would help greatly, not just with stability, but also ease of use with it being on a trailer.  Going from 10' - 12' boat range to 13' - 14' range is a big step up in usable size and stability.

12' boats that are stable and will fit in the back of a pickup are going to be rather heavy (Lund or Alaskan...Hi-Laker) and would be difficult to load and unload with one guy.

If a traler is definitely out of the equation,  I'd seriously look into a carrier. http://boatloader.com/car_a_boat.html

[Rob]

There is nothing in the 12 foot class that is more stable or can take a heavier load than a RIB (Ridged Inflatable Boat).  I have been in 6-8 foot swells, with chop on top at tatoosh, with 3 people and 6 scuba tanks (i.e. very heavy load) and we were taking swells and chop with style.  you can fill a loaded boat like that to the gunnels and it will still float.

I took a ten foot wave broadside while anchored in 10 feet of water at Neah Bay in a 14 foot soft hull inflatable.  We were loaded with 2 people and 6 scuba tanks.  Put 50 gallons of water int he boat, but we slide up the wall of the wave and down the backside broadside.

I have been in 8 footers with a short interval in a 16 foot inflatable doing 25 mph and nearly going airborn. 

Simply no more stable boat out there. 

I have a Whaler style boat and used a 12 foot Livingston for years and they are great boats.  but nothing compares in terms of stability and weight capacity to a RIB.  Only down side is reduced deck space.