Fishing Forum

I am hoping to get some advice from some of you seasoned anglers with a boat. I am looking to get a decent boat just for fishing that I can take my kids fishing in. Currently I am looking at aluminum boats in the 14 foot range. For example one is late 80s Smoker Craft with a Mariner 9.9 HP motor set up real nice for fishing. If it was just me I would get a pontoon and a trolling motor, but I have a couple kids who like to fish, so I want something to take them out with that will be safe and that they can also enjoy. We have been mostly bank fishing with a little canoe fishing every now and then. If anyone would have any insight on how a boat like the one above would do for fishing Southern Idaho, or tips in general for buying smaller used boats I would greatly appreciate it! Some places that we would possibly use the boat are Magic, Oakley, and the Cove Arm area of CJ Strike.
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Consider not just length but also side height and how deep the vee is. I would look for a boat like a Valco or Gregor with a deep vee and high sides. Especially with wiggly little ones. Don't worry about the age of the boat....aluminum boats last forever as long as the rivets aren't leaking. That is one of the reasons I recommend the above-mentioned boats. They are welded, a much better method than riveting. Good luck in your search. Mike
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You are asking an interesting question and pertains exactly to something I've gone through in the past and I'm going through again. When my children were young I purchased a 12-14 foot (don't recall for sure) Sea Nymph and it did nicely. My children weren't overly scared of water and it served me well. I didn't use for several years so a traded the boat and started doing most of my fishing from a pontoon.

Now I have grand kids and I want to take them out. I acquired another boat at no cost and got it ready to go. This boat is not nearly as stable as the other one and one of my grand daughters pretty much freaked out when I took her out on it. I think she'll get used to it, but it will be a battle every time I want to take her out.

From what I know of SC's I think it should serve you well, but if your kids are sensitive to rocking, then who knows.

I personally like to go small for several reasons. And it if was just me, I'd stay small. They tow easy, you can launch anywhere, they are easy on gas both when towing and on the water, easy to manuever, and just plain old less complicated. That being said, I have a desire for a larger boat so the kids will enjoy it more and also if they enjoy it more, so will I.

My recommendation would be to get a stable of boat as possible regardless of size. I don't know how to guide you in that quest as I'm on it myself. I keep thinking a drift boat would be nice, but I've never been in one and I think most if not all of them would require a long shaft motor. I think you will enjoy something with a flatter bottom and higher sides more than something with a V-shape. The SC's are V'd in the front but more flat as you approach the rear which is nice and is similar to the Sea Nymph I had and liked.

I don't know how helpful I've been, but my comments and thoughts may give you something to think about. I saw a great looking boat a few days ago (one I really wanted to go look at) for sale on Craig's list. In my opinion it was perfect and exactly what I was looking for. It was in Payette and looked like it would be very stable, but was still small and simple and appeared to be in great shape yet reasonable priced (or so I thought, but reasonable to one might not be to another). It had a flat bottom and was fairly wide. I've decided to wait for this year though. I'll pull up the ad for you if you are interested.
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Thanks for the great advice fellas. I think that I saw the same boat hooknhunter but if you could send me the link I would appreciate it. Any more advice would be welcome.
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I have a 12ft livingston. It works great for my needs. Simple and very stable. I have an electric trolling and 15 horse gas and I can go about anywhere. I've been is some nasty wind and never felt like the boat was going to tip. Me and my buddy both stand up and fish all the time. I fish with my boys my 6&4 and it has plenty of room. I like livingston for a smaller boat.
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this would work.....
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4398074974.html

awesome if you had the money
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4355513574.html

another good boat, not for river thou...
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4355513574.html

Perfect, just add engine.....
http://boise.craigslist.org/bod/4340611994.html

These are a good representation of good usable boats that should fit most people's budgets, there are a few cheaper and more expensive rigs out there, but these are great starter boats, I started with an aluminum bass tracker with a 90HP prop that were old and I got for 2K, beat the crap out of it learning the river and where I could and couldn't go, went a step up too a 16' crestliner semi V with a 60/40 Jet, and now I run a 18' Sea Ark with a 140/90 Jet, all these boats were purchased used, boats are not hard too work on or maintain, even somebody with little knowledge of tools or mechanics can work on one, not a whole lot of knowledge needed, that being said i'm not a carb guy so I did have my carbs redone for me on the latest motor, if you need any help or what an opinion on a boat don't hesitate too ask, I will give you my opinion on it, also Always and I mean Always take it out where you plan on using it before you BUY it!!!! too many people buy it out of somebody's garage and take it out and it won't start, have them go with you and show you the in's and out's of the boat/motor setup..... other than that Have fun..
Matt

another great deal....
http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4378156345.html
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One thing I like about a flat bottom is the stability factor. Won't cut the waves like a V-hull, but I do a lot of standing and casting. Since it's smaller Jon boat, it's very low side, which makes handling fish or rinsing hands easy.

Plus I can get into real shallow areas, a plus for catting and carping.

But there's divantages if if gets very wavy, or dealing with the Powersquad on bigger lakes. But I can launch things a bigger boat couldn't manage.
Aluminum is nice - lighter, but also noisier than a fiberglass - if you look into something bigger. My bigger boat is a tri-hull, but it's narrow.
[inline "GreeenBoat on Lake.jpg"]

Whatever you end up with, make sure it has enough power that you can get to shore quickly. On large bodies of water, the wind can come up suddenly and become a real problem real fast. On CJ I have seen it go from minor ripples to 3' whitecaps in under 15 minutes.
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Most people that start out with a small boat wish they had a bigger one . One storm is all it takes .
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Just my input, but we had a 14' Alumicraft with a 25 four stroke for a year or two. Nice boat and able to walk down the middle with steering in the middle side. VERY small.
Upgrades to a 16 foot (can't recall the name) that was lower sided. Still with the 25 four stroke. When we stopped, water would come up over the back.
We now have a 14' Gregor (which is actually 13'). Very well built as this is probably 30+ years old and has been drug across gravel to the Snake river by the old owner.
We have a Honda 9.9 motor on it now. Deep V. Thing I don't like is the bench seats all the way down. Makes moving through the boat harder and yes it rocks...a lot.

I would think a Jon boat as well.
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If you can find one, I too vote for a Livingston boat. We have had a 12 ft Livingston for 30 some years now. They are as stable as you can get. Alone in the boat, I can still lean over the side and stand just about anywhere. We have had it on everything from small lakes to fishing in Puget Sound.

The catamaran hull design allows for a bench straight up the middle. It worked well for several kids and two adults to fish from as they could face different directions. They are wide for lots of room, but still only draft abt 5 inches with a 9hp motor. About 12" freeboard.

We have friends that put a plywood deck across theirs with built-in storage boxes in the hulls. Then they use it like a flat deck bass boat.


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Lots of great input fellas. I am taking my time and will see what direction we go. Much thanks!
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Couldn't find the boat I was talking about so sorry, no link.

I do like this one though. [url "http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4399837774.html"]http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4399837774.html[/url]

If I could talk my wife into it, it would already be in my drive way, but I do have other options I should exhaust first, so I haven't pushed for this one yet. Maybe something like this one next year if plan A doesn't work out.
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That is a sweet deal there for $2000. Our trailer was $450. alone then add the boat and that motor.
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[quote flygoddess]That is a sweet deal there for $2000. [/quote]

Agreed. It's tempting to buy it for resale. IMHO, if the motor runs good (which is an unknown), this boat combo could sell for much more than what he's asking. The boat and trailer without the motor would be worth about $2000 or maybe more. I wish I could convince my wife it is necessary.
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[quote hooknhunter][quote flygoddess]That is a sweet deal there for $2000. [/quote]

Agreed. It's tempting to buy it for resale. IMHO, if the motor runs good (which is an unknown), this boat combo could sell for much more than what he's asking. The boat and trailer without the motor would be worth about $2000 or maybe more. I wish I could convince my wife it is necessary.[/quote]



Let me talk to her[][laugh]
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[quote flygoddess][quote hooknhunter][quote flygoddess]That is a sweet deal there for $2000. [/quote]

Agreed. It's tempting to buy it for resale. IMHO, if the motor runs good (which is an unknown), this boat combo could sell for much more than what he's asking. The boat and trailer without the motor would be worth about $2000 or maybe more. I wish I could convince my wife it is necessary.[/quote]



Let me talk to her[][laugh][/quote]

I appreciate the offer, but that's not a good idea. [][]

Thanks for the bobbers, BTW. I'm not sure if I ever thanked you. I'm hoping to give them a try on Friday.

Boats are free, motors cost. The two happiest days of your life, are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. I've had lots of boats from float tubes to expensive bass boats and the best one is the aluminum jetboat I call Gertrude. I still spend a lot of time in my bass boat but Gertrude will take me anywhere on the snake and the grand kids are safe. She also has a 350 Chevy so maintenance and replacement is cheap compared to 2 stroke outboards. Years ago I had a small sears boat that had a self contained 5.5 hp and a 12 volt troll, you could throw it in the back of the truck and go about anywhere. Now the wife has been talking pontoon. Good luck, your just getting started.

Some times monthly payments are cheaper than repairs, a lot to be said for warranties on outboards. Seems every one I've had needed a power head.

Signed,
Just another jackass in a boat
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Great deal for that price!!
TinMan
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who mentioned wanting a drift boat? just so happens I have one for sale[]
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