Posted: 4/4/2011 7:14:49 PM EDT
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Don't know squat, but would like to get a simple aluminum boat, maybe 14'-16' to carry 600 pounds of people and with an outboard to boat around small lakes to have fun and catch pan fish.
Where do I start with brands of boats and brands of motors? I am not looking for a "bass boat". Thanks for your thoughts... |
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Quoted:
TO all the craigslist replay... ..OK sure, but how does that help me? I mean, what am I looking for? The word "boat"? 
aluminum boat or if your lookin to put it in a river i would suggest a john boat ETA generally it will have small boat or 14-16 foot listed these are your common aluminum boat sizes |
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Quoted:
build your own http://www.boatdesigns.com/11-15-Power-Row-Skiffs-flat-bottom-skiffs/products/857/ Yup, I just got done building mine and was on the lake all day saturday with a buddy. I just have a trolling motor on mine, isn't fast but gets me where im going. http://www.unclejohns.com/skiff/Default.htm here is a link to the one I built, I did the 9'6" version The 11'6" should work for you edit nvm just saw the money doesn't matter post |
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check craigslist, get a v-hull jon boat and no less than a 15HP motor. i have a 13' vhull jon with a 5HP (too small), trolling motor, fish finder and rod holders, I do a pretty good job of catching crappie and stripers in this thing. eta: i say no less than a 15hp because a 5hp wont get the boat to plane out, a 15HP will plane it out so you can run up the lake if you need to. |
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Some of the best places to largemouth bass fish around here are the drinking water reservoirs, which limit your gas engines to under 10 HP (that's why they make 9.9 HP engines). That would be a consideration around here for a boat like that. All other water, you really need a 25 HP or bigger or else you'll be the slow poke on the water. 15 HP might not plane with other folks in the boat.
Yamaha makes solid motors. |
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Take a serious look at the lakes around you that you will be using the boat on and what you actually want to do with the boat. Don't get a 15HP if the lakes you want to go to have a 10HP limit. On the other hand if you will be useing it on an unrestricted lake and might be traveling some distance to your fishing hole then get the biggest motor the boat will handle. If you like to fish up close to shore in the shallows then get a flat bottom jon boat or one with a modified V. If you are going to be fishing large open water than a deeper V may be better suited. Something a novice doesn't always think about is the trailer. If you can get a drive on trailer, get one. If not spend the extra time and money to add some side bunks and guide poles to help you get the boat on the trailer. There is nothing more anoying for you or everyone else at the ramps than someone who takes an hour to get their boat onto a trailer and out of the water.
Lund is an excelent choice in brand for an aluminun boat. Also look into Lowe, Tracker, and Alumicraft. |
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Take a look at G3 it's a Yamaha company and they make very nice boats .
http://www.g3boats.com/ Edit - I know you said aluminum but take a look at Carolina Skiff's also. http://www.carolinaskiff.com/dlx.html Both are very popular here in my neck of the wood's here in Florida. |
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Thanks, but $$ is not an issue, I will be buying new. In that case, check into Quintrex and other welded aluminum hulls. They are far more durable than a riveted hull. It really depends on what your expectations are and what kind of waters you plan on boating in. Welded hulls can take the beating of salt water and the kind of swells you'd see in bigger bays. |