BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Looking for recommendations on power boat for fishing, crabbing andgeneral play

Short Wave Sportfishing

On Mon, 3 Mar 2008 08:44:19 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I know next to nothing about power/fishing
boats, but from talking to a few neighbors with boats their general
recommendations seem to be:

Starting opinions for discussion.

1. Buy a boat small/light enough to use the davit crane.

Based on your description, I'm guessing that something in the 16/18
foot range might be right up your alley. Aluminum boats will be
lighter and in your case, most likely an open type "guide" boat,
tiller steer/electric start.

2. Aluminum hull is way superior to fiberglass for this application,
since the beach is rocky and full of oyster shells. The feedback I've
gotten is that a good aluminum hull will tolerate being beached when
the tide is out and we can't use the dock.

I would agree, although as you mentioned later in your post, an
inflatable RIB is a good option. They are very rugged and virtually
indestructible with decent maintenance.

3. An outboard in the 15-20 hp range on a boat with a 300-400 pound
dry weight should be sufficient to pull teen-agers around on a tube,
but still work for trolling.

Iffy at best. I'd certainly look for more horsepower for tubing and
skiing - say to the 40 hp range.

4. Four stroke is better than 2. Yamaha is better than Honda which is
better than the others..

Well, that's opinion. Modern two strokes are certainly more efficient
than four strokes and with the introduction of 25 horse ETECs, more
fuel efficient and newer technology than dated four stroke horespower.

Over all, cheaper to run and operate also.

5. Welded hulls are better than riveted.

Again,opinion. Welded hulls are solid all right, but not necessarily
lighter in weight than riveted. I often use a Lund I had 30 years ago
- open guide boat I used for duck hunting when I was active - which I
sold 20 years ago as an example. Damn thing has been beat to heck
with dogs, rocks, dragged across sand bars/rock reefs, flipped upside
down every winter and in general treated like a duck boat. It still
looks good and doesn't leak. That says something. On the other hand,
I know somebody who has a welded aluminum hull that is only ten years
old and the sides are warped, a couple of seams have been rewelded a
couple of times and the bottom looks like a rock beach at low tide.

A good riveted aluminum boat is as solid as a good welded boat. Where
welded boats take advantage of strength is in the bigger, heavier
boats that are welded with plate aluminum - sheet aluminum doesn't
weld easily.

With respect to price - well, you will probably have to look around
and take your time - practice patience in looking. I think you will
probably have to pay more than you think, but with patience, you might
find what you are looking for.