Now that we have a little more info on what you really want and your use, I
would still suggest a small pontoon. There are several companies out there
that make them and you should be able to pick up a used one in a 14 to 16'.
However, $2000 is not really enough money to get something that is
dependable.

Looks like your going to have to find an older jon boat w/ a small tiller
handle engine on it for that price.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:EOwuc.17251$3x.8834@attbi_s54...
Based on your condition and towing ability - I would recommend you look
at
a
20' pontoon w/ a 75 hp engine on it. You can leave it in the water
(yes,
there is the dock fee and fuel is a little more expensive) but no
trailer
loading, hookup at the house and all the strenious effort required to
take
a
boat to the lake and back. You show up, crank it and go. Plus the
pontoon
will give you plenty of room for doing whatever you want.

Other option would be to get something that fits your needs and dry dock
it.

Someone in your condition does not need to be trying to load and trailer
a
boat. Plus anything you could tow is going to be very small and not
very
stable.

--
Tony

I wish I could afford a pontoon and dock fees and put it on a fantastic
Bass
/ Catfish lake but as the old saying goes, "If wishes were horses the
peasants would ride."

Besides, worry about the boat ( vandals, storms, etc.) would cause heart
attacks 9, 10 and 11 ... if I survive.

I'm looking at a max cost of about $2000 dollars. On a fixed income you
don't make a down payment on the Q. E. III. VBG

I guess I'll settle for all the stability I can get and, as I did on a old
Grumman canoe used by our Foster kids many years ago, I'll make
stabilizing
pontoons for it, if necessary. Size, capacity and price are the limiting
parameters for me.

Budd

I've seen several boat / motor / trailer combos on the net for 50% to 75%
more than I can afford. That's why I came here looking for advice.

I'm just looking for advice on what I should get within my limitations and
your talking like I should be independently wealthy before even think buying
a boat. Do I need country club membership as well? Nineteen figure income?

Well, excuse me for not fitting into your requirements for boat ownership.

BTW, Tony, please point out where I said I was looking for anything other
than a small boat. The craft you're suggesting would banned because no one
else could put into the water for lack of room at the lake ( Ok, big pond)
that I fish at. I have one vehicle, a 1995 LeBaron GTC convertible my oldest
gave me for my last birthday. It can't tow a big boat. I live in mobile home
community, fer Christ's Sake, and I have no parking for a large boat.

Now, if you have nothing further, I thank you for your contribution.

Budd


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:NXxuc.21549$js4.14432@attbi_s51...
Now that we have a little more info on what you really want and your use,
I
would still suggest a small pontoon. There are several companies out
there
that make them and you should be able to pick up a used one in a 14 to
16'.
However, $2000 is not really enough money to get something that is
dependable.

Looks like your going to have to find an older jon boat w/ a small tiller
handle engine on it for that price.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:EOwuc.17251$3x.8834@attbi_s54...
Based on your condition and towing ability - I would recommend you
look
at
a
20' pontoon w/ a 75 hp engine on it. You can leave it in the water
(yes,
there is the dock fee and fuel is a little more expensive) but no
trailer
loading, hookup at the house and all the strenious effort required to
take
a
boat to the lake and back. You show up, crank it and go. Plus the
pontoon
will give you plenty of room for doing whatever you want.

Other option would be to get something that fits your needs and dry
dock
it.

Someone in your condition does not need to be trying to load and
trailer
a
boat. Plus anything you could tow is going to be very small and not
very
stable.

--
Tony

I wish I could afford a pontoon and dock fees and put it on a fantastic
Bass
/ Catfish lake but as the old saying goes, "If wishes were horses the
peasants would ride."

Besides, worry about the boat ( vandals, storms, etc.) would cause heart
attacks 9, 10 and 11 ... if I survive.

I'm looking at a max cost of about $2000 dollars. On a fixed income you
don't make a down payment on the Q. E. III. VBG

I guess I'll settle for all the stability I can get and, as I did on a
old
Grumman canoe used by our Foster kids many years ago, I'll make
stabilizing
pontoons for it, if necessary. Size, capacity and price are the limiting
parameters for me.

Budd

Budd, we are just trying to offer options. However, given the following
limits:
1. 1000 lbs w/ trailer and all gear
2. $2000
3. Small enough to store at a mobile home park
4. Stable
5. Carry 3 people plus gear
6. Easy to load and unload

If you had stated all this before, we would not have offered some of the
options.

Sounds like your wanting to beat us up for offering options that we did not
know were out of your range until just now.

Goog luck and happy boating. Sounds like your going to be stuck w/ a jon
boat.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...
I've seen several boat / motor / trailer combos on the net for 50% to 75%
more than I can afford. That's why I came here looking for advice.

I'm just looking for advice on what I should get within my limitations
and
your talking like I should be independently wealthy before even think
buying
a boat. Do I need country club membership as well? Nineteen figure income?

Well, excuse me for not fitting into your requirements for boat ownership.

BTW, Tony, please point out where I said I was looking for anything other
than a small boat. The craft you're suggesting would banned because no one
else could put into the water for lack of room at the lake ( Ok, big pond)
that I fish at. I have one vehicle, a 1995 LeBaron GTC convertible my
oldest
gave me for my last birthday. It can't tow a big boat. I live in mobile
home
community, fer Christ's Sake, and I have no parking for a large boat.

Now, if you have nothing further, I thank you for your contribution.

Budd


"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:NXxuc.21549$js4.14432@attbi_s51...
Now that we have a little more info on what you really want and your
use,
I
would still suggest a small pontoon. There are several companies out
there
that make them and you should be able to pick up a used one in a 14 to
16'.
However, $2000 is not really enough money to get something that is
dependable.

Looks like your going to have to find an older jon boat w/ a small
tiller
handle engine on it for that price.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:EOwuc.17251$3x.8834@attbi_s54...
Based on your condition and towing ability - I would recommend you
look
at
a
20' pontoon w/ a 75 hp engine on it. You can leave it in the water
(yes,
there is the dock fee and fuel is a little more expensive) but no
trailer
loading, hookup at the house and all the strenious effort required
to
take
a
boat to the lake and back. You show up, crank it and go. Plus the
pontoon
will give you plenty of room for doing whatever you want.

Other option would be to get something that fits your needs and dry
dock
it.

Someone in your condition does not need to be trying to load and
trailer
a
boat. Plus anything you could tow is going to be very small and not
very
stable.

--
Tony

I wish I could afford a pontoon and dock fees and put it on a
fantastic
Bass
/ Catfish lake but as the old saying goes, "If wishes were horses the
peasants would ride."

Besides, worry about the boat ( vandals, storms, etc.) would cause
heart
attacks 9, 10 and 11 ... if I survive.

I'm looking at a max cost of about $2000 dollars. On a fixed income
you
don't make a down payment on the Q. E. III. VBG

I guess I'll settle for all the stability I can get and, as I did on a
old
Grumman canoe used by our Foster kids many years ago, I'll make
stabilizing
pontoons for it, if necessary. Size, capacity and price are the
limiting
parameters for me.

Budd

"Tony Thomas" wrote in message
news:6FIuc.21519$pt3.17948@attbi_s03...
Budd, we are just trying to offer options. However, given the following
limits:
1. 1000 lbs w/ trailer and all gear
2. $2000
3. Small enough to store at a mobile home park
4. Stable
5. Carry 3 people plus gear
6. Easy to load and unload

If you had stated all this before, we would not have offered some of the
options.

It's been stated along with my being handicapped and on a fixed income
(Social Security)

Sounds like your wanting to beat us up for offering options that we did
not
know were out of your range until just now.

What us???? Yours was the only suggestion that made no sense in relation to
my parameters and you stuck to in even after I reminded you of a few details
you missed.

Sorry, Tony, but the only one I was having a problem getting thru to was
you.

Goog luck and happy boating. Sounds like your going to be stuck w/ a jon
boat.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

Tis better to be in a friendly Jon boat than to be on a yacht with those who
think they are better than you.

Goodbye, Tony. I hope you learn to be less bigoted some day.

Budd

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...

I've seen several boat / motor / trailer combos on the net for 50% to 75%
more than I can afford. That's why I came here looking for advice.

Contact dealers for Lund and Alumacraft about used boats. For instance, my
14 ft Lund (just the boat) sold 5 years back for about $2000 new. I got a
deal on the prior year's model for $1600. When I've seen them used, they've
been in the $1000 to $1400 range, mostly from private sellers, not dealers.
But I recently asked my dealer about trade in value and he said he'd have to
give me a price which enabled HIM to sell my boat in the aforementioned
range.

I've run into quite a few Alumacraft owners who are also very happy with
their basic models, so those are worth looking at, too.

Finally, a friend of mine let me borrow a 47 lb thrust MinnKota trolling
motor a month ago to see if that was enough power for my boat. If you end up
finding something in 14' range, I'd go one step higher. My primary use for a
trolling motor is to move around in quiet backwater without scaring all the
fish. The 47 lb motor was fine for that purpose, but if it's going to me
your primary means of propulsion, you'll want something larger.

I'm getting the feeling that used is going to be the way to go but every
used boat I've had so far, like used cars, has come with a load of problems.

I'm getting to a point where it's not so easy for me to patch rock rips in
an aluminum canoe used to shoot rapids in the Colorado Rockies, or to
rebuild a wooden boat from a Stevenson day sailer design ( Winged Dinghy)
into a serviceable rowboat ( Great boat designs, btw)

Nor will I get to build my Stevenson's Projects "Weekender" sailboat I
bought plans for.

Do you have any tips as to what to watch out for in a used boat? The
obvious, of course, is damage to the hull like a rip, but how can you tell
if a weld is cracked or a rivet popped?

I think there is a Lund Dealer in Grand Junction CO, about 3 hours away from
me.

Budd

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...

I've seen several boat / motor / trailer combos on the net for 50% to
75%
more than I can afford. That's why I came here looking for advice.

Contact dealers for Lund and Alumacraft about used boats. For instance, my
14 ft Lund (just the boat) sold 5 years back for about $2000 new. I got a
deal on the prior year's model for $1600. When I've seen them used,
they've
been in the $1000 to $1400 range, mostly from private sellers, not
dealers.
But I recently asked my dealer about trade in value and he said he'd have
to
give me a price which enabled HIM to sell my boat in the aforementioned
range.

I've run into quite a few Alumacraft owners who are also very happy with
their basic models, so those are worth looking at, too.

Finally, a friend of mine let me borrow a 47 lb thrust MinnKota trolling
motor a month ago to see if that was enough power for my boat. If you end
up
finding something in 14' range, I'd go one step higher. My primary use for
a
trolling motor is to move around in quiet backwater without scaring all
the
fish. The 47 lb motor was fine for that purpose, but if it's going to me
your primary means of propulsion, you'll want something larger.

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...
I'm getting the feeling that used is going to be the way to go but every
used boat I've had so far, like used cars, has come with a load of
problems.

I can only speak for the one I own, and what I'd look for. Look at the boat
with and without the motor on the transom. With the motor on, see if you can
spot any sag, which could mean someone towed with the motor up, but the
motor fell. With the motor off, give a transom a few good hard yanks and
look for any play that seems abnormal. As far as the hull is concerned, any
major dents will be obvious, but a properly designed hull isn't going to
suffer much from the occasional bump with a log or rock.

The Lund WC series boats are popular with Canadian guides who sometimes drop
the boat (without motor) from the fly-in airplane before landing to deposit
passengers. They're nothing but hull, and VERY solid metal benches with some
sort of composite board on top. I've encountered some obstacles in 5 years
which should've done more damage to the bottom, but still, I have nothing
but scratches.


I think there is a Lund Dealer in Grand Junction CO, about 3 hours away
from
me.

Call him. My dealer explained that he's more likely to TAKE a small boat in
trade if he knows he's got a serious buyer who's looking. This is especially
true as the season progresses. The dealers don't want to be stuck with
inventory, especially low-margin boats which take up space they could use
for fancier boats.

Thanks, Doug.

I'll call him tomorrow and see what's available. Gas, locally, is over $2.10
a gallon for 85 octane and even at 29 mpg, it would be an expensive trip.

I looked at Lund boats back in the mid 80's just before losing a good job
due to a downsizing. I liked the solid look and was considering a 17 foot
with a 20 hp motor, trolling plate, fish finder (flasher) and remote
steering. It was a package I could tow easily with a 6 cylinder Valiant.

Budd

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...
I'm getting the feeling that used is going to be the way to go but every
used boat I've had so far, like used cars, has come with a load of
problems.

I can only speak for the one I own, and what I'd look for. Look at the
boat
with and without the motor on the transom. With the motor on, see if you
can
spot any sag, which could mean someone towed with the motor up, but the
motor fell. With the motor off, give a transom a few good hard yanks and
look for any play that seems abnormal. As far as the hull is concerned,
any
major dents will be obvious, but a properly designed hull isn't going to
suffer much from the occasional bump with a log or rock.

The Lund WC series boats are popular with Canadian guides who sometimes
drop
the boat (without motor) from the fly-in airplane before landing to
deposit
passengers. They're nothing but hull, and VERY solid metal benches with
some
sort of composite board on top. I've encountered some obstacles in 5 years
which should've done more damage to the bottom, but still, I have nothing
but scratches.


I think there is a Lund Dealer in Grand Junction CO, about 3 hours away
from
me.

Call him. My dealer explained that he's more likely to TAKE a small boat
in
trade if he knows he's got a serious buyer who's looking. This is
especially
true as the season progresses. The dealers don't want to be stuck with
inventory, especially low-margin boats which take up space they could use
for fancier boats.

Find an Alumacraft (AlumIcraft?) dealer, too. Based on conversations with
owners at launch ramps, they seem to be well constructed, too. Slightly
different layouts, but still serviceable.

Earlier, I mentioned the friend who let me borrow his trolling motor.
Because he lives out in the sticks, he spends more time driving around rural
farm country. A couple of years back, he was looking for a second boat.
After a week of driving around, he'd seen a dozen parked on lawns with for
sale signs. In many cases, they're very much underpriced. And, he worst
thing he saw was boats which were filthy, needing nothing but an afternoon
with a scrub brush. He ended up finding a 16 ft aluminum boat for about
$300.00.

Might be worth a tank of gas to pack a big picnic lunch and drive around
aimlessly. :-) Or, if you're going to see that dealer, take some back roads
on the way home.

-Doug

"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Doug.

I'll call him tomorrow and see what's available. Gas, locally, is over
$2.10
a gallon for 85 octane and even at 29 mpg, it would be an expensive trip.

I looked at Lund boats back in the mid 80's just before losing a good job
due to a downsizing. I liked the solid look and was considering a 17 foot
with a 20 hp motor, trolling plate, fish finder (flasher) and remote
steering. It was a package I could tow easily with a 6 cylinder Valiant.

Budd

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"Budd Cochran" wrote in message
...
I'm getting the feeling that used is going to be the way to go but
every
used boat I've had so far, like used cars, has come with a load of
problems.

I can only speak for the one I own, and what I'd look for. Look at the
boat
with and without the motor on the transom. With the motor on, see if you
can
spot any sag, which could mean someone towed with the motor up, but the
motor fell. With the motor off, give a transom a few good hard yanks and
look for any play that seems abnormal. As far as the hull is concerned,
any
major dents will be obvious, but a properly designed hull isn't going to
suffer much from the occasional bump with a log or rock.

The Lund WC series boats are popular with Canadian guides who sometimes
drop
the boat (without motor) from the fly-in airplane before landing to
deposit
passengers. They're nothing but hull, and VERY solid metal benches with
some
sort of composite board on top. I've encountered some obstacles in 5
years
which should've done more damage to the bottom, but still, I have
nothing
but scratches.


I think there is a Lund Dealer in Grand Junction CO, about 3 hours
away
from
me.

Call him. My dealer explained that he's more likely to TAKE a small boat
in
trade if he knows he's got a serious buyer who's looking. This is
especially
true as the season progresses. The dealers don't want to be stuck with
inventory, especially low-margin boats which take up space they could
use
for fancier boats.