03-11-2008, 11:39 AM
You don't have to get an aluminum boat just because you have a V6 Toyota. Before I bought my pick up, my wife pulled my 21' aqua sport with her Tacoma. It was a 2WD pre runner w/ the V6. The boat weighs right around 4500 pounds. Now that we have eliminated that issue, lets move on to the boat. The 18' boats of today have no wood construction, and probably only weigh about 2500 pounds.
Three names you can't go wrong with:
Mako
Boston Whaler
Key West
I prefer a center console for fishability. If you're trecking in the ocean, nothing will work but a Deep V, plain and simple. Consider what you're fishing for before you buy extras for the boat. (downriggers, outriggers, electronics, etc....)
I have an older 21' boat with a 150 on the back, and it will plane out at just over 45 MPH. A lighter 18' boat with a 115 would be more than enough. You might even could get by with a 90 if you weren't planning on going too far offshore. But if you can afford it, the 115 is just fine. So........
Minimum HP: 90
Max HP: 150
I wouldn't go any bigger than a 150 on an 18' boat. Anymore HP on a boat that size is a waste. Besides, you're buying it to fish right?![[Image: fish-on.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/fish-on.gif)
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Three names you can't go wrong with:
Mako
Boston Whaler
Key West
I prefer a center console for fishability. If you're trecking in the ocean, nothing will work but a Deep V, plain and simple. Consider what you're fishing for before you buy extras for the boat. (downriggers, outriggers, electronics, etc....)
I have an older 21' boat with a 150 on the back, and it will plane out at just over 45 MPH. A lighter 18' boat with a 115 would be more than enough. You might even could get by with a 90 if you weren't planning on going too far offshore. But if you can afford it, the 115 is just fine. So........
Minimum HP: 90
Max HP: 150
I wouldn't go any bigger than a 150 on an 18' boat. Anymore HP on a boat that size is a waste. Besides, you're buying it to fish right?
![[Image: fish-on.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/fish-on.gif)
[signature]