Boat choice

[Bofire]

I am looking at two boats tomorrow. both aluminum tiller steer, both depth fish finders, three pole holders

1. 2009 15 foot Smokercraft Alaskan, 2009 trailer, 2009 Merc.15 hp. four stroke. factory floor,  some storage, very nice shape, three "cheapy" seats with backs.  $5,000.00, consignment boat. down rigger mount.

2. 2004 Lund WC-14, 2004 trailer, very nice!!, no floor, walk thru seats, 2012 (brand new) Yamaha 15 hp. four stroke, 3 really nice pedestal mount seats, and a set of very nice aluminum oars. $4,850.00

thanks
Carl

[Curly]

The Lund sounds like the best deal to me.  Brand new 15hp Yamaha seals the deal.

[gasman]

I would take the smokercraft.

[wraithen]

68 glasply cuddy. That's my vote

[Bunny Thumper]

Once you've owned a boat with a floor, you'll never own one without!

[washelkhunter]

I would deal on the Smokercraft.  Are they asking 5k? if so i would go there with 4500 cash and offer 4250 to start but only after you tied up a salesman for the better part of the day.

[wraithen]

I know with vehicles I do the opposite approach. I give them an offer and tell them they have 1 hour or me and my cash walk. 

[washelkhunter]

Do they sell at your price?

[Bofire]

The smokercraft has a higher price but the owner put a 5000 minimum. The dealership can't go below that without his approval. I have thought of making an offer on it, like 45. but I am not sure that I don't like the NEW motor idea at 48 with better extras??
LOL To me in a little boat like this the motor is everything, you don't do things in this type of boat that really "stresses" it, after all they are both light duty boats.
thanks for your input keep it up
Carl

[carpsniperg2]

I would go towards the lund myself

[et1702]

Smokercraft ALaskan, as it's actually a little bigger and max rated for a 35hp, rather than 25hp max on the Lund.  I'd start at 4K and go up to 4,5K if I had too.  Being a consignment, the dealer is going to try to get his piece.  Too bad you can't go direct to the owner.

ET

[jjdavis2222]

We had a 16' smokercraft with a 50 horse about 7 years ago and it worked great. It is a cheaper made boat but I wouldnt buy another boat without a floor! The floor makes everything so much more comfortable!! And a 2009 motor isnt really all that old. 

[lokidog]

IMO the Yamaha will be a better motor.

I am not usually a proponent of "more power is better", I have a 14' Sylvan with bench seats and a 15 hp 2-stroke pushes it fine with two people and light fishing gear in it.  However, when putting two people, a dog, and a weekend's worth of camping gear into, it was a battle to get it up on plane, if able to at all.  That does not even take the weight of a floor into consideration or the additional weight of a four stroke engine.

For myself, a 25hp would be minimum on a 14 or 15' boat.  But, if you are simply lake fishing, or river, and not hauling three big guys and camping gear, either one would probably be fine.  I do like the sharp bow on the Alaskans for cutting through chop.

[Bofire]

Bought the Lund, the smoker craft guy would not budge. got all I said plus they threw in a fitted boat cover. I'll post a pick when I pick it up Tuesday. thanks for all your help.
Carl

[washelkhunter]

Congratulations Carl.  throw a wave out to us bank maggots ok. 

[wraithen]

Do they sell at your price?

Yep, I don't get crazy deals but I paid 6k under a 30k sticker on my last vehicle.

[lokidog]

If there is not one already on it, I would recommend a Doel Fin to attach to the cavitation plate.  It does several things including help lift the stern up and get on plane faster and helps keep the bow from slapping as much over waves (propoising), especially when you are in it by yourself.

I recommend the Doel fin over others as I have tried one that did not have the hydrofoil (wing) shape and it did not seem to do much to help.  Another nice thing is that if you fall out of the boat, it gives you a good swim step to get back in easily.

Another thing that will help improve the ride/efficiency is to get a long enough fuel line to be able to put the tank farther forward to balance the weight better.

Congrats on getting the freedom to leave the bank behind.   

[Alchase]

I use Smart Tabs on my 13 ft Smoker and they work great, especially with only myself in the boat. It gets up on a plane instantaneously and levels right out.

http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabs.htm

[Rick]

Bought the Lund, the smoker craft guy would not budge. got all I said plus they threw in a fitted boat cover. I'll post a pick when I pick it up Tuesday. thanks for all your help.
Carl

Good call.

I've owned both of those boats (currently own a WC-14) both are very well made and will last forever. The Yamaha would have sealed the deal for me.

[Bofire]

  what is a good way to carry my registration on my boat??
Carl
Finally got to pick it up today!!!

[lokidog]

Wrap it up well to waterproof it and tape it up underneath something to keep it out of sight but handy if needed.

[Bofire]

  You guys are gonna laugh.. I just got home from my maiden voyage. I scairt my self!! I managed to remember everything, went to the lake got unhooked and in the water, motor started first pull and we drive off. The boat guy said run lot of rpms do not just drive along at the same speed alot. The lake I went to has 5mph in some spots and not in others. So I am driving around, the bow kinda high, but we be cool. I get out in the fast area give it a bit of gas and it starts to flatten out, hmmmm, alittle more gas, wow!!! flattens out, 'on the plane' sheeeet fire this thing flies!!! I slow down turn slowly and give it some gas, abit more, flattening out...... move gas!!!!HOLY COW I am riding a rocket!!! *censored* too fast!!! I slow down to quick I think I came close to swamping the rig   I drive around a while, speed up a bit a couple times but not much!! Glad I didn't get a 25 horse I'd have flew right up in the air!! I need more practice.
Carl
 

[Mossy]

That's funny.  I had a 20, 18 and 7.5 on my 15ft welded gregor.  I know the feeling.  20 was too much, 7.5 was not enough but great for trolling but 18 was just right with the boat loaded. 
Light boat like that it doesn't take much.  Glad you made it home alive!

[Curly]

You must have gone to Lk St Clair.  Did you do any fishing?

Congrats on the boat. 

[Bofire]

  Yes St. Claire, no fishing took a pole but frankly was just too nervous for fishing. I am going to Lawrence tomorrow, there is no speed limit and it is wide open so I can practice I think I am going to love this boat when I get used to it but right now I am thinking its a race boat!!
Carl

[lokidog]

Sounds like fun, St. Claire is my favorite westside lake to fish!

With one person in there, it may be zippy, put two people and gear and you'll be glad you have that much power and maybe want more.  A doelfin will help get the backend up at slower speeds.  Also helps in cornering at higher speeds so it doesn't skitter over the water.  Whatever you do, you'll get used to it with practice.

[Wacenturion]

what is a good way to carry my registration on my boat??
Carl
Finally got to pick it up today!!!

Carl.......Here's what I use for my boat registration as well as fishing licenses etc.  They come in different sizes so you can tailor them to keep just about anything dry while out boating.  Fairly inexpensive for the quality and convenience.  Target carries them (link below).  Google it (Dry Pak) for other sources.

http://www.target.com/p/Dry-Pak-Waterproof-PDA-GPS-Pocket-PC-Case-5x8/-/A-10545621

[Alchase]

I put my Registration and a ziplock and put it in a waterproof pocket I mounted to the back of my seat.

My 15 hp 4-stroke Yamaha will make my 13 ft Smokercraft do 21 MPH with four of us in it. The funny part is with only one or two it will still go no faster then 26 MPH. But that is screaming along pretty good for that boat. If you have bench seats be very careful at high speeds. Two years ago at Curlew, I was driving my wife was in another seat mounted at the bow, and my son was sitting in the middle bench on a flotation cushion. I staggered the two seats with the stern seat to the right of centerline and the bow to the left of centerline so I would not have much weight shift. While we were cruising from the State park to the north end to fish I made a quick turn to avoid a large wake inbound from the port side. Well my sudden turn sent my son sliding a cross the center bench totally throwing our weight distribution off! For a second we had water coming over the side and it happened freaky fast. I corrected quickly luckily, but it really woke us up on how fast things can go from normal to disaster in a heartbeat. I have been in some rough water where I have to slow way down to get back to the dock, but that was the worst situation I have averted.