If you could pick one type of boat for the northwest, what would it be?

[dkecoleman]

So I have a question for you guys. I'm in the market for a boat, but I'm not sure what type. I'm looking to get the family out on the water but there are so many different options. Which type of boat do you think you get the most bang for your buck? I'm interest in fishing in the sound but I don't have much experience in the salt. Is it worth it? I currently live in Orting so the drive to the sound isn't to bad. I have considered just getting a little utility boat for fishing the lakes, that I might be able to duck hunt out of as well. Or a bigger boat like a trophy, I think the wife might enjoy that alittle more. Or maybe a river boat. Just curious what you guys think is the best way to go?

[duckaholic]

not much for the salt water but a good bang for the buck boat when it comes to hunting and fishing.. my buddy has the 2072 with a console it is a big boat that dose well in rough water, we use it in the columbia river all the time. 


http://www.trackerboats.com/all-welded-jon-boats.cfm

[jeepster]

i think one of the most versatile boats in washington is a hewes craft sportsman or an arima... they are small enough to take up the rivers and out to the lake for trout fishing but i also wouldnt hesitate to go out to neah bay to do some halibut fishing in one...you can also camo them up pretty easilly for duck hunting. the arima is a wet ride, but those little boats are tough SOBs.

if i could have any boat for the northwest/bc/alaska under 10,000$ i would get an old glasply 23 or something. they are the do-anything-go-anywhere-in-any-weather boat. made in marysville. i have a 20 foot glasply and paid 700$ for it. they way they were made was so ahead of its time, it kind of set the standard as to how heavy duty fishing boats are made today. they were the sea-sports/osprey/grady white of thier time. you can pick one up for 2000$ put in a brand new motor/outdrive, repaint it, and you will have a brand new boat for tens of thousands less. with what money is left over id buy a 14' lund and a 15hp motor to do everything else. stay away from anything bayliner/trophy.

 bayliner=henry fords production line mentality+walmart quality

this is an arima

[lawdog]

hands down its the medium small boston whaler, there is absolutly nothing you can do to the boat to sink it for one. there easy to get up on plane and hard to flip, the coast guard, navy and marine corps have been using different versions of the whalers for some 20 years already, there easy to maintain, you can outfit them how you want to, very rugged, and of course you shouldnt be afraid of taking even there 14 footer out on the sound in the worst of weather  and there not too much money either. go to the bostonwhaler.com website and see there video of the 50 people they put in the swamped boat and it still doesnt sink, its pretty cool

[rasbo]

hewes would be my choice,prop not a jet

[longknife]

I will have to say, the Bayliner Trophy boats are great boats, and just screams lets go fishing! Just picked up a 21' walk around bow, cuddy (i have 3 kids and wife), with a merc 175 outboard for 8k. not many hours, lots of extras.(kenniwick area =freshwater use)
Look for fuel capacity, if you want to go out for halibut(Lapush, Neah bay ect).

[CAMPMEAT]

My buddy is the shipping boss at Hewes Craft. If I was gonna buy a boat, I'd get me one of those. Nice boats. You can get them at Clarks All Sports in Colville cheaper than any place in Washington.

[TheHunt]

I would agree with lawdog on the Boston Whaler.  Un sinkable and you can set them up any way you want.

[Rick]

I'd pick the 20' North River Seahawk I bought in '06. Big enough to run 20 miles out in the ocean for Halibut. Small enough to run on local lakes. Will fish 4 comfortably. With the Yamaha F150,it'll run 50mph. Will pull tubers,skiers,wakeboarders,etc. Its aluminum,so you don't need a dock,just pull it up on shore if you want.

Here it is fishing four guys in Curlew last spring.

[Shed Stud]

 Must go aluminum. Check out SeaRaider 22-72. About the same quality as the big name Hewes and north rivers for alot less money. Big enough for family and gear. Safe enough for salt, and small enough to tow around.

[TeacherMan]

Raider boats are nice! I like the look of the 24 and 26.

[teal101]

Has to be aluminum.  Nothing over 20' imo.  Needs to be small enough to get down the wasteways to go duck hunting, small enough to maneuver easy, light enough to maneuver easy, big enough to handle the Columbia, tough enough to park in the rocks or bounce off a piece of floating debris, have flat decks for fishing, and a jet for shallow running.

My dad has a 17' Lowe and it is pretty awesome.  My only gripe is a love hate relationship with it.  Being aluminum its blown all over the lake in the slightest breeze while bass fishing.  But, being aluminum it is very easy to move by hand and we can park it just about anywhere.

[bowtech721]

Must go aluminum. Check out SeaRaider 22-72. About the same quality as the big name Hewes and north rivers for alot less money. Big enough for family and gear. Safe enough for salt, and small enough to tow around.

thats the boat I run

[FC]

Is that your Glass-ply in the picture jeepster?

[jeepster]

i wish, the glasply i had pictured was the 23 footer. sadly i dont have any pictures of my boat on this computer, but here is an example of what i have, same model, same color, except i have a 26 mile radar dome mounted on the hard top and dual antenas. my boat is still inside but im thinking it will on the water this comming weekend.... i was able to pick my boat up for 700$ and the main only had 180 origional hours. the guy got it for his kids and nobody was interested. it was used a few times, but sat for 12+ years un-touched. for being a 33 year old boat, the main fires first turn of the key. i think after fishing a season and a half on it it still only has 220 hours, most of which were put on at while at the shop