"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Budd Cochran wrote:
OK, folks. I'm thinking of getting my first new boat and I need some
advice.

I'm thinking I need a light, trailerable boat ( my tow vehicle is a 95
Chrysler LeBaron FWD) with about a 1000 pound capacity (I'm physically
handicapped and I figure a somewhat larger craft will be more stable for
entry and egress but I need it to be pretty light in weight ( because
the
car has only a one ton tow capacity) so I can load and launch it easily.

My physical limitations are from blood pressure and heart trouble,
diabetes
and Post Polio Syndrome.

So, what styles / lengths / brands should I look at?? I once had a used
12
foot aluminum Jon boat, but it was a bit narrow and quite tender when
approaching hull capacity. I borrowed my brother's old aluminum 12 foot
Sears rowboat once and lightly loaded it was fun, but it was a bit heavy
to
cartop (this was before the health probs hit.)

Oh, price is important too. I may go for a used boat / trailer if I find
a
great deal. VBG

TIA

Budd




A 16' carolina Skiff....wide, stable, not too heavy. But one of your
considerations should be where you are planning to use the boat.,

I have two grown sons, one 130 lbs and the other 280, myself and the wife
total 450+. While the boys are not going to be home much, they both love
fishing, so I want to be able to go on an all day, family outing. I want it
big enough to handle a large reservoir if I ever get a chance, like Blue
Mesa near Grand Junction CO or Lake Powell, but I have to be able to handle
it also.

I looked at some Carolina Skiff sites and the craft is too heavy.

Budd

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...


A 16' carolina Skiff....wide, stable, not too heavy. But one of your
considerations should be where you are planning to use the boat.,

I have two grown sons, one 130 lbs and the other 280, myself and the wife
total 450+. While the boys are not going to be home much, they both love
fishing, so I want to be able to go on an all day, family outing. I want
it
big enough to handle a large reservoir if I ever get a chance, like Blue
Mesa near Grand Junction CO or Lake Powell, but I have to be able to
handle
it also.

I looked at some Carolina Skiff sites and the craft is too heavy.

Budd



Too heavy for what, Budd? Launching & loading back onto the trailer? If so,
there are ways of making that MUCH easier by adding the appropriate trailer
accessories. I find I expend the most effort when I'm trying to get the boat
straight onto the trailer in a crosswind. If I wasn't a cheapskate, I'd add
a set of guideposts for under $100. I'd add rollers instead of carpeted
bunks, which would make it much easier to push the boat off the trailer.
And, you can put an electric winch on the trailer instead of the
hand-cranked version.

You're talking about fishing here. This is religion. You MUST find a way.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

Too heavy for what, Budd? Launching & loading back onto the trailer? If
so,
there are ways of making that MUCH easier by adding the appropriate
trailer
accessories. I find I expend the most effort when I'm trying to get the
boat
straight onto the trailer in a crosswind.

A few years ago, before my health probs, I found myself aiding a guy with
the retrieval of his fiberglass boat in only a 10 mph breeze. Solo, he
couldn.t handle it and he was about 6' 3". I Iearned quickly about
winds!!!! BG


If I wasn't a cheapskate, I'd add
a set of guideposts for under $100. I'd add rollers instead of carpeted
bunks, which would make it much easier to push the boat off the trailer.
And, you can put an electric winch on the trailer instead of the
hand-cranked version.

The hand crank wont be a problem as I do plan on some guides and roller
bunks. By using only a trolling motor, I won't have any power to spare so,
if I can get it to self-guide, the better off I'll be. Heck, if I can
figure out how, I may use the winch to launch and load.

You're talking about fishing here. This is religion. You MUST find a way.

LOL Well, fishing's not a religion to me, but it is one of my favorite
pastimes. I'm blessed also with a loving wife that also enjoys fishing, but
will also send me off to fish when she sees me getting stressed out. With
the frustrations from a forced early retirement, I get to drown lots of
worms.

Budd

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
news
By using only a trolling motor, I won't have any power to spare so,
if I can get it to self-guide, the better off I'll be.

On lots of ramps, the angle's all wrong anyway for driving the boat onto the
trailer.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
news
By using only a trolling motor, I won't have any power to spare so,
if I can get it to self-guide, the better off I'll be.

On lots of ramps, the angle's all wrong anyway for driving the boat onto
the
trailer.



The lake I'm fishing doesn't even have a paved launch ramp so I'll probably
be making some kind of extension to the tongue to keep the car from getting
stuck. Most of the trailers I've seen have straight tongues and a sawsall
cut, a little drilling and a length of tubing that will just slip inside the
tongue and I can gain a bunch of length.

One spot, two years ago, was just the right slope for the deck of the
utility trailer to rest level with the water while I loaded and launched a
small Penguin Pedal boat.

Budd