Looking for fishing boat advice

[Bofire]

  I want to fish local lakes, some bigger lakes (Riffe size) maybe rivers like the lower Cowlitz, Maybe the mouth of the Cowlitz or south sound(mouth of Nisqually) IF the weather is really good. No fisshng in storms, light rain breeze yes. It would be just me mostly sometimes one other, once in a blue moon 2 others (if very calm nice day and small lake).
I am thinking: 14 foot wide deep V, like Lund or Smoker Craft, 15-25 horse outboard tiller steer, bimini top, electric trolling motor???  Opinions??
This will be my retirement present to my self, cashed out no payments.
thanks
Carl

[rasbo]

17ft alumaweld

[gasman]

14-16ft with a 9.9 is perfect.

Make sure you get a wide beam boat so that you can move around in it with out being to tippy. I have a 14ft smoker craft with a stadard width beam and its a bit tippy if you need to stand up and stretch out.

[Ridgeratt]

here could be a possibility.

http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/2367537083.html

[lokidog]

14-16ft with a 9.9 is perfect.

Make sure you get a wide beam boat so that you can move around in it with out being to tippy. I have a 14ft smoker craft with a stadard width beam and its a bit tippy if you need to stand up and stretch out.

I am sorry but a 9.9 on a 14' boat is way underpowered.  I have a 14' Sylvan, not a deep V, that works great with two people and a 15 hp but as soon as you load it with camping gear, or three people that weight over 150 lbs each, it is hard to get it up on a plane.  I am by no means a proponent of overpowering boats but a 25 hp would be the minimum I would put on a 14 footer if I was buying one.  My 14 came with the 15hp from my grandfather.

That Hewes is a nice boat but a bit spendy for a two stroke IMHO.

Good luck.

[fishcrazy]

Are you looking for a prop boat or a jet?

You should check out Willie Boats. The Raptor is a very good haul desighn that works very well in all conditions you mentioned. I have a 21' Raptor and it an awsome platform for doing everything from smaller rivers to Westport. You can run a prop or a jet with them and you won't find a more stable boat.

Their boats are custom biult 1 at a time for the guy buying them so it's biult just the way you want it.

Kris

[bowtech721]

Are you looking for a prop boat or a jet?

You should check out Willie Boats. The Raptor is a very good haul desighn that works very well in all conditions you mentioned. I have a 21' Raptor and it an awsome platform for doing everything from smaller rivers to Westport. You can run a prop or a jet with them and you won't find a more stable boat.

Their boats are custom biult 1 at a time for the guy buying them so it's biult just the way you want it.

Kris

Definetly in a different price range than the boats you brought up bofire but willie could really hook you up with a sweet boat that would do all you wanted and more. For sure worth your time to check them out. Kris i didnt realize you were a willie salesman now?  jk

[Bofire]

 :)Thanks everyone, I am going to be shopping used, I have been looking and watching prices. I want to keep it around $5000. I found a Smoker craft, wide beam deep, 15 foot 20 horse Nissan motor, fish finder 3 padded flip down seat, bimini top, boat cover with arched ribs so it drains, gas tank, trailer all 2002 and a short warranty for $4400.00. I am not in a hurry at all, will retire in January, economy is bad and I have cash.....so........
 I want to keep it small enough I can handle it alone easily.
Carl

[fishcrazy]

they biuld small boats also.
 

Kris

[jboy]

PM sent

[Glockster]

Good time to buy a boat.  There are some great deals out there....you may be able to afford far more boat than you think you can. Especially if you watch CL like a hawk and go shop the dealers right before holiday season when they are at their slowest.

I have a 15ft Smokercraft Lodge with a 40hp Yamaha.  It handles all of the inside waters just fine as long as you don't go out on small craft advisory days.  I fish alone much of the time and even with guests I do everything myself.  It's very easy to handle this size boat.

[wildmanoutdoors]

If you have a trailer anyway, it doesn't matter if your boats 14 or a 20 foot open sled. "Handling" the boat alone is the same?
Drive it up the trailer and walk off the bow. back in, start it and pull it off and tie it up and get in your truck and park.
Its easy to out grow a small boat.

[MIKEXRAY]

I went from a 14 ft to a 16 ft about five years ago and the difference in comfort, fish ability, stability etc is huge. I went with a used 16 ft crestliner aluminum, bow mount trolling motor,  90 hp evinrude, 9.9 kicker. It is set up like a bass boat with plenty of room. I think it is perfect for what we do, I have a couple of down riggers for salmon, plenty of space to lay out and enough power & room to pull the grand kids on the tube.  I vote 16 - 18 ft,   14 ft is small and a lot more limited. As stated 14 - 18 ft on a trailer is about the same to handle as far as loading etc. Good luck. Mike

[NRA4LIFE]

I would go a tad bigger than 14 also.  I leapt from a 14 to a 17 deep V 9 years ago and the comfort factor us unreal.  I had a 20 hp on my 14 and that's as small as I would go, especially on the rivers or sound.

[Bofire]

  thanks a lot guys, I have had a couple small boats and ended up not liking them for one reason or another. So I value your advice, the idea to go to 16 sounds pretty smart I was thinking a 14 and a 15 horse as minimum, but it sounds like 16 might be smarter. Will a 15 horse push a 16 well? sounds like a 25 or so would be smarter.
thanks again
Carl