I am considering getting a boat for fishing. But I need to keep the
cost down and I need something that is just right for the few persons
that I will take on the boat.

My basic requirements:

o Stable enough for me to mount some kind of shade
to protect me and my loved one from sun. We only
need the shade when we are fishing; we don't have
to have it when we are on the way to the fishing
spots. This is the MAJOR requirement.

o Light enough to be propelled by an electric
trolling motor alone for a couple hours (this
means no gas engine on board when I operate
the boat in electric-only lakes). This is the
second "MUST" requirement.

o Low cost, nothing luxury.

o For fishng and relaxing, not for cruising, nor
water skiiing. This means no running around
in high speed.

o Only to be used in lake, bay, and near-shore
where I can see the land, and in good weather.

With these said, I would like to know the size of boat that I need for
the following requirements:

o What is the minimum size I should look for
if I only need to have two adults (including
me) and one child? Here, I mean all of us can
sit comfortably and safely without worrying
about capsizing. I am assuming that a 12-ft
semi-V hull boat may be OK; but I am not sure
if it will be stable enough when I mount a
shade over it.

o What is the minimum size I should look for
if I need to carry four adults (including
me)? Again, I mean all of us can sit comfortably
and safely without worrying about capsizing.
I am assuming that a 15-ft semi-V hull boat
should fit the bill.

Any idea?

Thanks for any input in advance.

This is a followup question on my post not long ago about choosing
between using a canoe or a row boat with electric motor only.

Jay Chan

Somewhat dependent upon the type of fishing you intend.

But, for two adults and a child I think most 16 footers will serve. For
three or four adults I'd prefer something around 18 feet.

Good luck.

Butch
"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 9 Sep 2005 15:18:47 -0700, wrote:


Any idea?

Thanks for any input in advance.

This is a followup question on my post not long ago about choosing
between using a canoe or a row boat with electric motor only.

16 foot wide beam Princecraft or Lund.

Simple as that.

But, for two adults and a child I think most 16 footers will serve. For
three or four adults I'd prefer something around 18 feet.

OK. This means I should look in the range of 16-ft to 18-ft boat. I
will look around to see if I can find some used boats that match the
criteria.

Thanks.

Jay Chan

wrote in message
oups.com...
But, for two adults and a child I think most 16 footers will serve. For
three or four adults I'd prefer something around 18 feet.

OK. This means I should look in the range of 16-ft to 18-ft boat. I
will look around to see if I can find some used boats that match the
criteria.

Thanks.

Jay Chan


A 14' wide aluminum will handle 2 big adults in lakes and calm inshore days.
12' weighs about 20# less, and carries about 200# less. Most aluminum 14-16
foots will handle 2-3 people. Just by a bimini top for the boat. Not very
costly, and saves lots of dermatologist costs.

You will need a strong electric motor to power a boat that size. Plan
on a 24V as a minimum. You mention lakes and bays. If the bay is in
the ocean, you will want to spend a bit more for a sal****er trolling motor.

What about a jon boat? They are very stable and would accommodate a
bimini top very well.

Dan

wrote:
But, for two adults and a child I think most 16 footers will serve. For
three or four adults I'd prefer something around 18 feet.


OK. This means I should look in the range of 16-ft to 18-ft boat. I
will look around to see if I can find some used boats that match the
criteria.

Thanks.

Jay Chan

A 14' wide aluminum will handle 2 big adults in lakes
and calm inshore days.

In other words, a 14' boat should handle one mid-size adult, one
small-size adult, and one young children. Thanks for the confirmation.

12' weighs about 20# less, and carries about 200# less.
Most aluminum 14-16 foots will handle 2-3 people.

Seem like the range goes like this:
12' 1.5 adults
14' 2.5 adults
16' 3.5 adults
18' 4.5 adults

If this is true, a 17' boat just fits 4 adults, and a 18' fits 4 adults
and adds some safety margin. Sound good to me.

Just by a bimini top for the boat. Not very
costly, and saves lots of dermatologist costs.

Yes, this is a MUST to me.

Jay Chan

You will need a strong electric motor to power a boat that size. Plan
on a 24V as a minimum. You mention lakes and bays. If the bay is in
the ocean, you will want to spend a bit more for a sal****er trolling motor.

Yes, you are right. Between the weight of the boat and the wind, I will
need a strong electric motor. I didn't realize that 12V trolling motor
will not be up to the job. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Yes, the bay that I am talking about is sal****er bay. But I will not
use the trolling motor as the propelling power when I go to sal****er.
I will definitely use a gas engine. May be I have misunderstood
something about the idea of using trolling motor in sal****er. Do you
mean that people use trolling motor in sal****er instead of running the
gas engine in slow speed in fishing spots? Is this really true? Will
people simply follow the current to sweep through a spot instead of
using a trolling motor? Honestly, I haven't seen anyone use a trolling
motor in sal****er (may be I am just not looking carefully). This is
the reason why I ask.

What about a jon boat? They are very stable and would
accommodate a bimini top very well.

Really? The jon boats that I saw seems to be very flat and narrow. The
jon-boat that my co-worker has is only 36" wide that is even narrower
than the canoe that I was eyeing on before I decided to get a real
boat. Moreover, I want a semi-V boat in order to have the option of
fishing in protected salt water.

Jay Chan

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:18:47 -0700, jaykchan wrote:

I am considering getting a boat for fishing. But I need to keep the
cost down and I need something that is just right for the few persons
that I will take on the boat.


how about this:

http://www.user.dccnet.com/lsumpter/...t_Bimini2s.jpg

In calm lakes, 12ft is plenty for 2+1. I've had that many on my 8-footer
many times, although 12ft adds some moving-around room.

I use the 9.9 to get that boat to where I want to fish, then the trolling
motor once I'm there. I have a Minn Kota Max40T with moves it nicely at a
couple knots. Get the Max (Maximizer), NOT the Endura: the savings in
battery life is worth the extra cost.

Not so for the "sal****er" series: I've had a cheap Endura used
exclusively in salt water and never rinsed off (unless it's raining -
fresh water is precious on a cruising boat!). It's over 5 yrs old and
showing no signs of wear.

BTW: That boat is for sale: $3000CDN. That's an almost-new 2005 Merc
4-stroke on the back. Email me for details.

Lloyd Sumpter
"The Tin Boat" 1975 Mirrocraft 12

In calm lakes, 12ft is plenty for 2+1. I've had that many on my 8-footer
many times, although 12ft adds some moving-around room.

Seem like a small boat can do well if the water is calm. If what you
said is true, I should be able to fit 4 adults in a 16-ft boat
(combined people weight is around 700-lb). But I expect to use the same
boat in both calm freshwater lake and protected sal****er area where I
may get some waves from passing boats. I probably need a boat that is
slightly bigger than the minimum -- something like 17-ft or 18-ft.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Chan

On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 10:39:53 -0700, jaykchan wrote:

In calm lakes, 12ft is plenty for 2+1. I've had that many on my 8-footer
many times, although 12ft adds some moving-around room.

Seem like a small boat can do well if the water is calm. If what you
said is true, I should be able to fit 4 adults in a 16-ft boat
(combined people weight is around 700-lb). But I expect to use the same
boat in both calm freshwater lake and protected sal****er area where I
may get some waves from passing boats. I probably need a boat that is
slightly bigger than the minimum -- something like 17-ft or 18-ft.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Chan

At this point, length is only one of many factors. I've been out in
English Bay in some fairly snotty weather in a 13ft Laser sailboat. I've
seen Cal 20s out in stuff that would make you puke in a 30-ft powerboat.

If you're looking for "seaworthyness", look for at least lots of freeboard
and something covering the bow so if it gets "buried" it doesn't scoop
water into the boat. Or, get one that's self-draining, like a Boston
Whaler.

Lloyd