We love our TC. Got it to go fishing, and for the DW to be able to hang out and read a book, or just plain kick back and no phone. Have found that I want to be out on the water...not on the bank.
So I want a Boat.....to complement the TC.
Torn between the a large number of directions.
1. porta boat...small folding boat...inexpensive, seems like it would be easy to use. Might get more use than a big boat.
2. Small Aluminum open boat...ie a 12' or 14' Westcoaster or similar...with small Outboard 9 - 15 hp...inexpensive...but limited to lakes and inshore fishing.
3. Smoker craft or similar....15'-18' small fishing boat with big motor to be cross over boat...to pull the kid on a tube...or o fishing. Hard to find clean used ones.
4. Bowrider....virsital...fishable, but can also take the grand kids tubing or skiing. Lots of these at a reasonable price.
5. Trophy...more the kind of boat I am use to...but seems like much more involved..and defiantly more much more money. Not sure I want to tie up that much money..and not sure there would be enough places to use it. Also would have to pay to store it when not in use.
I live in Oregon...Eugene area, have not really been on the water here. However there are somthing like 5+ lakes with in 20 minutes, many rivers, and the ocean is only an hour drive away. Way too many options..but I can't have them all darn it!!!
limited budget.... proably should not spend more than $10K and I am not sure I can justify that much.
I want something that will complement the TC so that we actually use both.
While I live here the the Pacific NW, I am use to boating on the east coast where I grew up as a "bay rat" on the water...have owned everything from small dinghy to 85' commercial boat.
I also know the old story..."the best days in a boat owners life are the day you buy it and the day you sell it"
So what would you do, and why?
* This post was
edited 05/22/08 05:52am by TCBob *
Id go with options #1 or #2
Lots less money and you will be able to afford to use them
We have a small boat with a 50hp and with 12 gals of gas its still $40 to fill up
Also less hassle to get it to where you are camping
Wow I love boating too! Just to kick off the dock at sunrise and bass fish for 3 hours in the morning and at dusk is great. We have a 26 ft Winnebago Aspect and a 17ft bass boat - Nitro. This is a great combo. 50 HP very good on fuel and can pull a tuber and you can ski off of it. It cost me under 10K in 99. The boat will see its 9 year on the water and boy am I glad we did not wait to get one. It is a perfect lake boat for us. We have a property on a small lake and use the boat whenever we go. My children are late teens and early twenties so no grand kids yet but when they arrive I am sure we will have fun pulling them around. We also were thinking the Porta Boat since we have a 5 hp motor and would like to tow our car on longer trips instead of the boat. That is in the future but we are enjoying the present now!
Good Luck and remember life s short so get what you can afford and have fun while you can.
What kind of water will you be using your boat on? Around here there's lots of blow off days on Lake Erie and Ontario. There's other places to fish but the best fishing always seems to be on the lakes. Will you be using your boat on big water? Do you have a lot of time when you go, or is it just for weekends. You could get away with a smaller boat if you can sit out the bad days. I think there's good value in the 16' side console/tiller range with about 40-50 or so horsepower. The standard around here is a 19' Lund, but then you're in for a few bucks. I think aluminum is a better and more durable material than glass.
If you are willing to tow I would not get a portaboat. I had an inflatable but was concerned every time I saw a sharp stick in the water. I would look at a Bass Pro Shop Grizzly 16 footer or so. heavy aluminum, all welded, no rivets to loosen up. put a 20-30 Hp motor on it. could pull a tube etc. for $10,000 you are somewhat limited. A V bottom would be more seaworthy than a flat bottom jon boat.
I have a grizzly 1448 and with the flat floor kit cost about $2,000. a motor will push $3,000 or more.
the boat will also be a handy place to carry a grill, leveling blocks etc. with your camper.
bumpy
I recently sold the 19' Bayliner Fish & Ski in my sig pic. Thought I had to have a 13' aluminum with a 15 hp Honda. Slow, uncomfortable, dinky, can't move around, hated it. Sold it first year. Even with the gas prices that Bayliner was the best of both worlds. I am certainly regretting it now.
I wouldn't care for a fold up or blow up boat just for the hassle of every time you wanted to use it. And the PITA of putting everything together at the dock vs backing it in and tie it off. And where would you carry the smelly gas motor in a TC?
05 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT SC DRW 4X4 CTD G56 373's CAI,Edge Juice/Attitude,Jake,Rancho9000x,Torklift tie downs,Superhitch,Stable Loads
04 S&S Avalanche 9' with slide 26th Marines RVN 69-70 Semper Fi M-14 was the only Woodstock I saw in 1969.
If you decide on a bow rider, check out Yamaha jet boats. The Yamaha jet boats have several advantages over other boats. No drive hanging down below the hull to snag logs, etc. they have a 16" draft. No exposed prop to chop people up. Very simple maintenance, no gearbox, U joints, propellers, gimbal, etc. They are very reliable and very maneuverable. They have twin engines. They have an excellent stern swim platform with lounge seats, a table and easy access to the water. They have superior acceleration out of the hole, excellent for pulling skiers up. They are relatively affordable ranging from $32,000 to $40,000 including a trailer. Most competitor boats nickel and dime you with optional engines, etc. and don't include the trailer. Yamahas are relatively lightweight even with twin engines, competitors have cast iron V8's the Yamaha engines are modified versions of their 4 cylinder aluminum sport bike engines from the R1 motorcycles (10,000 RPM red line). The AR230 is Boating magazine's 2007 boat of the year.
There are, of course, some cons: Handling is different from conventional boats, requiring a learning curve. At slow docking speeds there is not a lot of directional control. There are aftermarket fins (Cobra Jet Fins) to help this. It is recommended that jets not be stored in water because crud can build up inside the jet pumps. There is a close tolerance fit between the jet impeller and the pump walls. Weeds & jets don't mix well, they require cleaning out of the pumps, which can be done from above the water on the Yamaha by pulling quick release plugs in the stern.
With all the repo's going on I bet you can get a nice $15-20k boat for $10k. Unlike DJ I have kept my 87' Chris Craft LTD even though I have gone through the phases of wanting a jet boat, john boat, bigger rec boat, Pretty much would like all but have not won the Lottery yet. Sounds like you know boats and you have to define what your goal is in boating. Figure out what you are going to do with the boat at least 60% of the time and go for it. We Fish, waterski, tube, wake & knee board and just like to go boating. We normally have the family and freinds in the boat so size is an issue and a good 18'-21' boat would be comfortable for freinds and family. Now if it's just you and wife then a smaller boat would be great and ease the towing.
Good luck and look at the Auctions and buy used. You think RV's are bad at resale.
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