Fishing Forum

I'm looking for what BFT members think about flat bottom boats. I realize that they aren't designed for high seas voyaging but I want to get a boat I can stand up in comfortably to fish. I currently have a port-a-bote that works pretty well but it is a little small for my needs and you can't stand up in it very comfortably.

Last year I had a few scares out to Utah Lake in my boat because the motor I had wasn't powerful enough to push through the waves. But I understand that jon boats don't handle choppy water well. Although, I've seen some jon boats with a v shaped nose that I thought might be good. In the end I'd like to get a boat that I can trust on bigger lakes such as Utah Lake or Strawberry, etc. Anyways let me know whether you'd advise just to get a v shape boat or if a jon boat would do well. Ideally i'd want a 14' boat. What motor would you suggest?
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Hath,

I recently faced the same dilemma. Truth is, we all need about four boats for the various conditions. I ended up with a modified V jon boat which is kind of a hybrid between a true jon boat and a true lake boat. I put a jet on it at 90 horse. This was with a 16' so if you are dead set on a 14' you would probably put a 30 to 40 horse prop or about a 65 horse jet. I run lots of rivers where there are rocks but my old boat was a prop job and I would probably go with a prop if I had to do it over. I really like a steering wheel and electric start. You can't see as well if you are back with your hand on the motor and keeping alive is one of my main goals. If I had it to do over, I would buy a prop outboard Evinrude with a cage to protect the prop. I forgot what they are called and who sells them. It was an outfit out of Florida....

Good luck with your decision.
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Flat boats are for flat water.
14' is not big enough for me to feel safe on UT lake or the Berry, even if it's a deep one, Soldier Creek, but not the main Berry.

For me to feel OK in a flat bottom it would have to be something like a BPS TX17 or simular kind of boat. For a V hull a few of the heavier, 20" transom aluminum boats would be OK, but the difference of a 16 to a 14 is huge and I would prefer a 16.
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