First Boat dilemma

[Sportfury]

Okay guys I am going to purchase my first boat this year, but I am having a dilemma. Well it's a family dilemma. My perfect boat would be a nice 16' to 18' jon boat that I could fish and hunt out of, but my wife has other ideas. She wants something that we can load the family up in and head out to the dunes and do a little tubing, skiing, or just hanging out. I have looked at some fish and ski setups and most of them look okay for doing something, but they just don't reach out to me. Out of all those boats that I have looked at the only one that I really like is the Lund Tyee 1950. It has storage, livewells, and extra seats with a ski pylon. It might not be as cushy as my wife wants, but it is a nice 20' boat that looks like it would do it all.

One thing that has peaked my interest is a topic "Show Your Boats" that I looked at today with all the alumawelds, North Rivers, Northwest Jets, etc. They look like great boats. The other day I found a 07 22foot FishRite Explorer with all the bells and whistles, but after reading the thread mentioned above it seemed a lot of you prefer outboards vs. inboards and that boat has a big 8.1L inbd. Anyways I am hoping that you can help a fellow hunt-wa member out and give me some advice. Here is some more info that I am sure will be asked.

I prefer aluminum - not sure why
The boat will mainly be used on lakes of variable sizes and maybe some bigger rivers
I highly doubt that I would ever take it in Puget Sound or any big waters.
I like to fish for bass, trout, panfish, walleye, etc.
Absolute smallest I would want 18' and willing to go up to 22'. I think a 17' would be to cramped.
Has to fit a family of four and probably up to two to four guests depending on family or the kids' friends who might tag along.
Have enough engine to tow a tube, skier, or a wakeboard.
I am not to concerned about the hunting aspect - I think I can talk the wife into a specialty boat later 
My budget is 10K to about 45k.

[BLKBEARKLR]

One thing I can tell you is that I was a diehard Aluminum fan. With that being said

I own a fiberglass now, handles the water better and I dont get the crap beat out of me.

As far as inboard, they take up most of your space in the back area. They are a big motor crammed into a little hole that is an absolute nitemare to work on.

Joe

[Cap.Silver]

  Had 19' aluminium Thunder Jet with 175HP inboard Sportjet - I wasn't really happy . ..... unfortunately there is no universal boat but if I could I would do outboard on offshore bracket .
At this point I don't think it matters ,because in year or two you will buy bigger,better boat 

[fair-chase]

You're going to NEED a Yellowfin 24bay boat (my dream boat) then you're going to NEED to take me for a ride in it. 

[lokidog]

Be sure to check the person capacity of any aluminum boat you look at.  My 19' Alumaweld Stryker is only rated for 5 people plus gear.  I know it can handle more as I have tripled the weight rating hauling building materials, but I am glad the Coasties didn't catch me.  The stupid little 10' plastic dinghy we use at the dock has a three person rating so I don't know why the aluminum boats are so sucky on that.

Aluminum is a lot less maintenance than fiberglass but it is definitely a rougher ride since they are lighter.  But, they use less fuel as well.

[huntnphool]

You will be hard pressed to find a more versatile boat than an inboard aluminum jet. We have been in local rivers, local lakes, Stehekin on Chelan, Pend Oreille,  Puget Sound, Inside Passage Port Hardy to Rivers Inlet B.C.,Outside Passage to Barkley Sound, Alberni Inlet, Ucluelet, Bamfield, Port Alberni, Snake River, Salmon River, Columbia River, Neah Bay, Buoy 10 and too many other places to mention.
 
 We not only fish out of it but we ski, tube, party, cruise and do Seafair. I've got a full canvas top that completely encloses us in during bad weather and can take off the side curtains and roll back the center section for hot days and a little shade.
 
 From deep ocean to just under 4" in rivers, sometimes a little shallower with no issues.
 
 I have a 70 gallon tank that comes in handy everywhere, except at the gas pump, and can make long runs without having to worry about pulling it out all the time to run to town.
 
 One thing to remember on the lengths, they take the length right out of the middle. So the difference between a foot may not seem like much but when you are sitting in the boat and see how it effects the interior you will understand. Get as long as you can afford, a 22' sled can handle a lot better than you might think.
 
 They are very easy to operate and maneuver, the last pic is my daughter driving.
 
 Lots of great deals out there right now on pre owned boats, great time to be buying if in the market.

[high country]

I have an 18' walleye type boat that I bought to fill the same needs. I wanted a jet sled, she wanted a ski boat...now we do our thing and it is great. Mine has a 115 2stroke that I played with and it is quick out of the hole and get great mileage. I have taken it up to stehikin for the high hunt and it is the smallest boat I would ever want to take up there. I would love an inboard jet, but I can do the trip up to stehikin for 13 gallons in my boat....never in a jet. You will find that your really need 3 boats.

[huntnphool]

 I have a 6.0L and it burns about 8 gallons/hr. at 3200rpm, top speed is 52mph by Garmin gps. You will lose up to 30% of your power running through a pump.

[Sportfury]

Phool what year is your boat? That looks like what want.

[DeerHarvester]

Also take a loot at the Weldcraft Maverick.  They come with a ski pole and off shore bracket, which gives you a lot more room.  For me the boat does everything I need it to do.  It also has a deep V, which helps with the ride.  Not so much with shallow water. 

[MADMAX]

My current boat is an 18 ft Duckworth, its a great boat  powerd by a 115 yami and T-8 kicker used on CL within your budget.

Theres a bunch on craiglist

I sold both my 20 ft NW jet, 351 and hamilton 212 pump and My 22 ft Hewes with a 150 Honda.

The jetboat was big, loud, black and flashy, had all the bells and whistles and would do 50+, the only drawback was mostly the gas pumps, it was a 100 bucks everytime I went out.
The 22ft hewes was a beautiful boat, sipped gas , stable, big, lots of range, but it was pain to put on trailer alone and I go out alone alot to fish Hood canal.
The 18ft seems to fill the void nicely, go with a 4 stroke outboard watch where you buy gas cause ethanol sucks, you'll be happy

[rasbo]

had all the boats and drives except a jet ,Nothing but an outboard for me now...

[Dhoey07]

The main problem i have with most inboards : there is no room to manevour when fighting a fish in the back because of the giant motor and cover sitting smack dab in the middle.  And jet's are less efficient that outboards 

[huntnphool]

Sportfury, mine is a 04.

I don't have a problem fighting fish.

[JLS]

The main problem i have with most inboards : there is no room to manevour when fighting a fish in the back because of the giant motor and cover sitting smack dab in the middle.  And jet's are less efficient that outboards 

Jets are less efficient, but much more versatile.  I've fished out of a jet for salmon and sturgeon and we did fine.  You don't have to worry about tangling your line on the lower unit of an outboard.