Whats the most stable 10-12' boat

[Rob]

just poked around on the web.  10 foot Livingston has a 700 Lb capacity.  the 9 foot 2" foot avon takes 1048 lbs.  Looks like a 14 foot smoker craft takes 1,000 pounds.  Looks like an 11 foot Whaler will take 750 pounds.

[Alchase]

just poked around on the web.  10 foot Livingston has a 700 Lb capacity.  the 9 foot 2" foot avon takes 1048 lbs.

Nice

[SeaRun1]

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.

Brings back some very vivid memories Rob!  You forgot to mention the Coast Guard wasn't impressed with the 12' RIB being out there that day.

That wave was crazy!

SR1

[Rob]

Funny how the coast guard does not like to be rammed...

No one believes me that the wave was 10 feet tall...  but it was!  Came at us like a brick wall.

[lokidog]

Ha, I stood on the transom of my 12.5 Zodiac launching through the surf in SoCal, it was 2/3 full of water when we got past the surf line, pulled the plugs and  headed out, it eventually emptied... don't think our `12' Livingston would have done as well.   

[Happy Gilmore]

The ratings have a lot to do with the floatation in the boat and a calculation which doesn't always represent capabilities. I mentioned deck space in an earlier post. RIB's don't have the deck space of a whaler. Been all around the islands on my Whaler. Haven't spent much time in RIB's except on a small Achillies which was very stable but, lacked space and the transom was really flimsy for anything bigger than a 9hp yet, the overall size of the boat was about the same footprint of a 13' whaler.

[Rob]

Totally agree.  So you have the extra weight capacity, but less space to put the extra weight!  This was the curse of diving out of them.  They are harder to mount things like pot pullers and downriggers (although that problem can be solved).

But for stability and weight capacity, I have not found a better option. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Totally agree.  So you have the extra weight capacity, but less space to put the extra weight!  This was the curse of diving out of them.  They are harder to mount things like pot pullers and downriggers (although that problem can be solved).

But for stability and weight capacity, I have not found a better option.

harder to crawl into if you don't have a dive ladder too.. I always stepped on the cavitation plate on the motor and pulled myself right up when swimming out the back of the whaler. Can't really swim out of an aluminum boat. you'll dunker under 

[lokidog]

With my inflatable, I had a Doel-fin on my outboard which helped reduce porpoising and made a great swim step.

[Ghost Hunter]

Here's an 8'.
https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/6181668412.html

[Rob]

I've always just executed a sea-lion move and flop over the pontoon.  Since I am shaped like a sea-lion, it seems natural!

My whaler knock-off is even easier to get into since it is only a few inches off the water near the transom.

[Happy Gilmore]

I've always just executed a sea-lion move and flop over the pontoon.  Since I am shaped like a sea-lion, it seems natural!

My whaler knock-off is even easier to get into since it is only a few inches off the water near the transom.

My neighbor and the guy like my second dad growing up was one of the guys who made Bayliner. He started as youngster running a chopper gun and worked up to head of sales. He taught me how to do fiberglass on a boat like a whaler when I was 12. He was always rebuilding landing crafts and wrecked boats when he was home from trips selling Bayliners around the world. When I got done, it looked good. I put it in our pond to test it out and it had about 4 inches of freeboard...that sucked but, I learned to glass at a young age from a guy who built an iconic company. He's passed on. Spent many days following Dick around and we were the rat pack kids when the boat guys were in the neighborhood and up on the beach in Roche Harbor back in the heydays of the early 80's

[Rob]

Sounds like good times and fond memories!

[Happy Gilmore]

My brother in laws best friend brings his aluminum boat up to our yearly fishing trip. Its a 12' boat and extremely stable. Just thought of Marks. I can't remember the brand. He got it with some damage. He works in an metal fab shot so, easy for him to fix a few things. I can't remember the brand but it has real nice looking lines. Fairly sharp V and it is a all welded boat. Probably would be higher priced than a used whaler if you buy one in usable condition though?? It's a bit on the heavy side for a 12' boat. Takes three guys to lift and move it.

[h2ofowlr]

Your boston whaler or livingstons will probably be the most stable in that size range, unless you have a custom built flat bottom sled.