First Boat dilemma

[jackelope]

Sportfury, mine is a 04.

I don't have a problem fighting fish.

I have fought fish in the back of Phool's boat and can vouch for the fact that I had no problem fighting fish out of it.
You've got to watch the hull's pitch so as to not beat the crap out of yourself.  A flat hull, like a boat built more for rivers, will beat the crap out of you on a lake once you get a little chop.
Lastly, I don't know why a guy would buy a boat like what you're looking at and not want to take it out on the sound. The crabbing alone would get me out there. A  20' boat is plenty of boat out there, you just have to watch the weather a little.

[huntnphool]

Huntphool is your boat a commander or a trapper?

04 Commander X

[huntergreg]

Sportfury, mine is a 04.

I don't have a problem fighting fish.

I have fought fish in the back of Phool's boat and can vouch for the fact that I had no problem fighting fish out of it.
You've got to watch the hull's pitch so as to not beat the crap out of yourself.  A flat hull, like a boat built more for rivers, will beat the crap out of you on a lake once you get a little chop.
Lastly, I don't know why a guy would buy a boat like what you're looking at and not want to take it out on the sound. The crabbing alone would get me out there. A  20' boat is plenty of boat out there, you just have to watch the weather a little.

I have talked to a few guys with the big fancy aluminum boats that wouldn't even think of taking them out in the salt water.    Doesnt washing them off with a garden hose or just running them in a lake afterwords get the salt off??

[MADMAX]

Yup
and salt away through the motors

[lokidog]

Sportfury, mine is a 04.

I don't have a problem fighting fish.

I have fought fish in the back of Phool's boat and can vouch for the fact that I had no problem fighting fish out of it.
You've got to watch the hull's pitch so as to not beat the crap out of yourself.  A flat hull, like a boat built more for rivers, will beat the crap out of you on a lake once you get a little chop.
Lastly, I don't know why a guy would buy a boat like what you're looking at and not want to take it out on the sound. The crabbing alone would get me out there. A  20' boat is plenty of boat out there, you just have to watch the weather a little.

I have talked to a few guys with the big fancy aluminum boats that wouldn't even think of taking them out in the salt water.    Doesnt washing them off with a garden hose or just running them in a lake afterwords get the salt off??

Worse than the salt is leaving it in the water so the barnacles can start growing on it as I think this also holds more salt against the metal.  Until last year (about 6000 miles worth in two years) I had no issues with salt and the hull of the boat because it was trailered after most uses.  Since I have started having to leave it in for a week or more at a time, I now have a little bit of pitting.  I think I need to add a few more zincs but just have not gotten around to it.  I would not stay away from the salt water because of a worry about salt!  I plan to bottom paint mine next spring (of course that is another can of worms with aluminum), when it warms up a bit, since I have a few more years of ferrying my daughter, and then my son over to Lopez Is. for school.

As far as flatter hulls beating the crap out of you, it seems to me it is more about the weight of the boat and how fast you go. 

[Wacenturion]

I like Phool have an 04' North River Commander.  Only difference is his is a Commander X  and mine is a Commander.  I carry 80 gallons of fuel where he carries 70.  Same boat, slight difference in configuration.  Another difference is that mine has the factory hardtop.

Never any problem fighting fish.  Ask yourself this question...How much time does one spend in a normal day fighting fish compared to waiting to fight fish.  That doghouse cover is nice to sit on as far as I'm concerned.  Adds a lot comfort to the day in lieu of losing some open space.  I don't want to stand continually for 6-9 hours in the back, especially running a kicker. 

Easy off, and easy on the trailer.  I could do it myself if need be if I were alone.

Lots of fuel capacity, which I like.  Quick on step and runs pretty efficiently like Phools at low-mid 3000 rpm range at about 8 gallons per hour.  Mine tops out at about 48 mph on GPS, but then again I carry 10 gallons more fuel than his and have a full hardtop.   Mine is also a 6.0L with a Hamilton 212 pump with turbo.

There is no perfect boat.  If it gets nasty enough out there to be a pain to me coming in through heavy chop and getting beat somewhat due to the boat's deadrise, I'm already in.  Common sense goes along way with boating.  Age certainly improves your decision making on that front ...lol. 

I'm certainly happy with my North River.  As Phool says, lots of deals out there, and lots of great boats irregardless of what you choose, just don't get in a rush.  Make sure you find as many toys aboard as possible as they can add up quick....downriggers, electronics etc.  Even if the boat has lots of stuff that comes with it you will find ways to change things.  As an example I replaced all the Scotty rod holders (white...last photo) with brand new Scotty Orca's (black..nest to last photo).   

Probably another reason I don't mind that doghouse cover in the rear over the motor....my boat's name is "The Dawghouse".

Here's a couple pictures of the boat and occupants.  Third one was previous owner photo when brand new in the Straits near Port Angeles, and gives a good side view of it doing what it likes to do.

[Rick]

Lastly, I don't know why a guy would buy a boat like what you're looking at and not want to take it out on the sound. The crabbing alone would get me out there. A  20' boat is plenty of boat out there, you just have to watch the weather a little.

No kidding. Fishing the Sound is 99% of the reason I own a boat.

[huntnphool]

I like Phool have an 04' North River Commander.  Only difference is his is a Commander X  and mine is a Commander.  I carry 80 gallons of fuel where he carries 70.  Same boat, slight difference in configuration.  Another difference is that mine has the factory hardtop.

Never any problem fighting fish.  Ask yourself this question...How much time does one spend in a normal day fighting fish compared to waiting to fight fish.  That doghouse cover is nice to sit on as far as I'm concerned.

Lots of fuel capacity, which I like.  Quick on step and runs pretty efficiently like Phools at low-mid 3000 rpm range at about 8 gallons per hour.  Mine tops out at about 48 mph on GPS, but then again I carry 10 gallons more fuel than his and have a full hardtop.   Mine is also a 6.0L with a Hamilton 212 pump with turbo.

 Right, I too use the engine cover to sit on while running the kicker and made a shellfish tray for my shrimp/crab pots, it keeps the salt water out of the boat nd makes cleaning the shellfish easy.

 On the Commander X they incrased the length to 1/2' totals and added 6" to the beam, so its a little wider than the Commander and is 21'6" rather than 21'

[Yak-NDN]

Why a pump if mostly in the sound I had a Duckworth and it picked up so much crap i almost had to jump over to clean the inlet of the pump.  In the river I loved a pump I hated the pump in the sound and the salt water was a disaster to the boat. I spend most of my time in the Columbia river and decided to go with a prop on my new boat I do miss the pump at times but I fished with my new boat all last year without a problem and saved allot on gas.

[fishingnut71]

THUNDERJET! Get the outbord transom. Get the biggest hp it will take. Trust me it will pay off. With kids you will enjoy more hp as they will allways want more. Its easier on the motor and SO nice in every WAY! Luxor is nice but many options. Buy the cheaper boat and spend money in the motor. You can always upgrade interior in small amounts, not the motor.

[kenzmad]

A lot of manufacturers have .187 bottoms, I would be looking for a manufacturer that uses .250, I know North River, HCM and the larger Northwest Jet boats do. Also, a single piece bottom is nice if running rivers, I have seen buddy's welded bottom boats develope cracks along welds.

If you are on the wet side and want to go for a run sometime just send me a PM, we might even be able to talk wacenturion into joing in with his boat.

I would be in for giving a ride in my boat Northwest jet 218 lightning. lets all get together on Lake Washington and let him ride and drive all the different boats

[Wacenturion]

Phool....I think the dimensions are just the reverse of what you said.  The Commander is 22'. 

By the way...nice shellfish tray.  Looks like it has pretty good inside depth.  What's it made out of? 

[wildweeds]

You do realize that the dissimilar metals contacting each other will case the softer of the two to corrode more quickly right? The stainless rivet in the aluminum will cause the aluminium to chalk up and drift away like a fart in the wind,Another tip for you aluminium boat owners is DO NOT USE your hull for anytype of electrical equipment ground spend the time and money to ground to the battery and ground the battery to the water, not  relying  on ground through the zinc in your motor.

Hey Loki, pick up some small plastic washers, about the diameter of your snaps. Put one behind each new snap when you rivet them back on. Then fill the inside of the male snap with clear silicon, they will last a lot longer.

I actually put marine grease behind each that I replace as well as replacing the aluminum rivet with stainless ones.  I also put a little between the snaps so they will pop loose easier if I need them to.  thanks for the hint though.

[huntnphool]

Phool....I think the dimensions are just the reverse of what you said.  The Commander is 22'. 

By the way...nice shellfish tray.  Looks like it has pretty good inside depth.  What's it made out of?

 The Commander X came in 21'6", 22'6", 23'6" etc, and as I said before it also has a wider beam.

 The tray is made of Sanatec HDPE http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/category.php?bid=39

[huntnphool]

A lot of manufacturers have .187 bottoms, I would be looking for a manufacturer that uses .250, I know North River, HCM and the larger Northwest Jet boats do. Also, a single piece bottom is nice if running rivers, I have seen buddy's welded bottom boats develope cracks along welds.

If you are on the wet side and want to go for a run sometime just send me a PM, we might even be able to talk wacenturion into joing in with his boat.

I would be in for giving a ride in my boat Northwest jet 218 lightning. lets all get together on Lake Washington and let him ride and drive all the different boats

 I'm up for that. After that we  can hit the Nisqually River and show him what the prop boats can't do.