? on Livingston boats

[buglebrush]

I am looking at buying a 14' Livingston boat, but nobody can give me a good answer regarding its capabilities.  I would like to know if I can plane with 3 adults ( 35 horse mercury) and if anyone has some feedback about one of these versus an open bowed ski boat for fishing.

[Alchase]

I will take a shot, Livingstons do not plane like a normal single hull boat. Yes, I believe a 35 hp motor will get you up and going just fine. They are extremely stable boats. Just do not expect them to ride like a single hull. I had a 10 ft and a 12 ft Livingston. The 12ft had 25hp Johnson (1978)with center steering console. I fished 4 adults out of it many times with good line awareness. Perfect for two though. Great boat for the sound and Point No Point. The 10 ft was a skiff on a king crab boat out of Glacier Bay, with a 50 HP on it, lol. That is until my Brother Inlaw got drunk and hit a floating dock at high speed and broke the keels (both of them) and ripped the motor off the back. I got it free, after about 100 more pounds of fiberglass repair on her, she was a great little (but very ugly) lake boat.
 
 

[buglebrush]

Thanks for the info, and I typed it wrong it is a 25 Horse motor.  I just can't make up my mind to go for that or a ski/fish boat.   

[Curly]

I used a 13' Livingston with 20hp Evinrude for many years.  It would get on plane with 3 adults.  I bet the 14' with 25hp would do about the same, but I think you'd be happier with a little more horse power.

Livingstons are really great boats and almost impossible to tip over, and would be a great fishing boat.  An open bow ski boat on the other hand I would think would cost more and be less fishing friendly.

[trippledigitss]

I have a 15.5' Livingston center console with a 70hp Merc and I love it. It freaking scoots around the SJ Islands with ease. I dont know about your planing question with a 14' & 35hp. But it seems like they definitely ride shallower on the surface than a v-hull so I would think they plane better?    Our Livingston is SO STABLE and I love to fish out of it. I can fish 4 adults and a kid with 4 d-riggers no problem. Great open & stable platform for sure. I keep it up in the San Juans so that is where I always fish with it. Never did any skiiing with it but have pulled the kids in tubes, it does OK but the back end will get pulled around a bit since it is so light. Personally I think you cant go wrong for a little fishing/utility boat - I feel like ours is bullet proof! Great for crabbing out of too, low gunnels and transom at the stern end makes it easy to pull pots & gear in over - and I can trim the motor to get the nose to ride high which is great for beaching it when we buzz around from island to island. Anyway, thats my 

[Bluemoon]

I had an open bow ski boat once that I used for fishing...Then I had a wave break over the bow at Seiku and fill the boat up.  There were a few intense moments  got it home and sold it...Got a real fishing boat...

[rainshadow1]

I have a 14' with a 25 hp. It's an IDEAL laker and salt-chucker. Love that thing. Like bluemoon said though, I took it out to Dallas bank for Halibut once and it got REAL little REAL fast! Ran it most of the way around Wrangell Island (Alaska) Mt Goat hunting once, it was a long run also, but it did fine.

Planes well with 3 or 4 people. Get it up to 8, 9, 12... people and it bogs a little! SO stable that a herd of kids and 3 adult supervisors can have fun without stressing. It's like fishing off a dock!

[bowtech721]

Just to clarify you are talking about the twin hull livingstons right? I know most of the are twin hull but my dad had one a while back that was a v bottom lapstrake 15' Livingston. It was an awsome little fishing boat. That boat is now made in Oregon City by a company called Sportlap.

[trippledigitss]

Yeah mine is a twin keel hull style

[buglebrush]

Thanks for all the input!  Yes I am talking about the twin hull boat.  The biggest thing that worries me is that I fish on a river and don't want to take all day running from spot to spot against the current with a couple guys in it.

[OSCAR1987]

my boat is made by livingston, but it is a bit bigger...22ft and deep V ... called Viking. Livingston quit making them because they were too expensive to build, Tough old boats.

[buglebrush]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the input.  I bought the livingston.  It is set-up for fishing ( trolling motor, fishfinder, etc...) I am totally amped to take it out, but this weather is sick!  Snowed a couple inches on me while I was pulling it home! 

[trippledigitss]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the input.  I bought the livingston.  It is set-up for fishing ( trolling motor, fishfinder, etc...) I am totally amped to take it out, but this weather is sick!  Snowed a couple inches on me while I was pulling it home! 

Right on, congrats man! Hope you can get out and enjoy it soon and also hope it serves you well for years to come.