New Boater or want to be boater

Hey guys. My name is Mike. I'm not sure if I registered for the correct forum. If as a complete novice on boating I completely aplologize. I am a 34 year teacher/Adjunct Professor/ Painter who is expecting a child in 2 weeks. I used to fish with my grandfather about 20 yrs ago and somehow picked it up again over the past year. For some reason I have really taken a liking to fishing and have been fishing from shore in nearby lakes for the past year. I'm looking to purchase a boat next fall.

Here are the reasons and issues:
I will probably have around $5K to spend
My garage is 21 feet long where I would like to store the boat
I would use the boat primarily for fishing but once my child gets old enough I might want to take him/her tubing
Only my wife and child, and possibly a 2nd child would be in the boat.
I do not want to pay for storing the boat over the winter
I live 20 minuts from many lakes that only allow electric motors and 45 minutes from Long Island sound (New Haven). I would rather salt water fish but I still like to fish in lakes around this area.

Do you guys have any suggestions on the type of boat I may be in the market for?? Again, I apologize b/c I am just strarting this process and I really don't know a heck of a lot about boats or fishing for that matter. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

Welcome to Iboats!!!!

Everyone started as a complete beginner at some point, glad to have you on board.

You mention the lakes near you require the use of electric engines only? This seems much different than what would be required/necessary in salt-water. Also, the electric engine probably wouldn't have enough gusto for tubing in 5 or so years.

Many questions to ask you... all in time.

First off, consider your needs today and the learning curve you will have. Buy a used boat that is reliable (we will help with that) and you can learn with. When tubing and family fun begins, upgrade to more of a family boat that can be used for fishing.

Glad to help and look forward to assisting with your shopping

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

You can get a mid 90s 17' "fish and ski" for that price that's in really good condition. There seems to be a steady stream of them on craigslist here. A center console may be better if you are going in the sound. You can pull a tube with just about anything. Either of these will like have a trolling motor to handle the electric only lake.

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

convergent said:

You can get a mid 90s 17' "fish and ski" for that price that's in really good condition. There seems to be a steady stream of them on craigslist here. A center console may be better if you are going in the sound. You can pull a tube with just about anything. Either of these will like have a trolling motor to handle the electric only lake.

Click to expand...

Just wondering.... what are some model names for fish/ski boats? Been checking CL and people don't necessarily use the designation. Thanks

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new addition soon!

I must warn you, boating with infants is a lot of work and often not very pleasurable, other than short trips or if you can beach or dock somewhere. After about 5 years old, though, it's a blast. And babies require tons of equipment even for a short outing.

With that in mind, think about a small boat for now and a larger one later when they grow up. You can't push a larger boat with an electric (trolling) motor and you especially don't want to be underpowered (stranded or washed out to sea) with a family.

Your 21' garage limits you to a 16' boat, and the "all electric" limits you as well.

You could get a stable 14' or 16' jon boat, whaler-type hull or square-bowed skiff that will hold the three of you and can putt around OK with a trolling motor, then put a 25 HP for the salt water. A J-14 would be ideal. I don't know your area specifically, but you will not be going out in open water or high ship traffic in the small boat, but I'm sure there are lots of creeks, rivers, marshes, etc. to enjoy.

If you want to use the boat primarily yourself without the babies, the 14-16' jon is not a bad way to go. When the family gets old enough to enjoy (and be enjoyable) keep that boat and get a bigger one too!
At $5000 you can get a very reliable rig at 14-16'. Do not be fooled by the cheap, or worse, almost free ones; you do not want to take on a project, deal with stranded mothers and infants, or try to become a self-taught boat mechanic, not as a new father. BTDTx2.

Take your time, and look around the marinas, ramps etc to see what works. A word of caution--do not use the guys in small boats with striper fever as models. They are called statistics. I'm talking about the ones who go out in the cold and dark in little boats, underpowered, into large salt water to catch stripers.

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

Welcome, i'm over in Meriden, and could possibly help you out in your boat search. Have you thought about using a boat on the CT River?

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

For some reason I forgot about this post I wrote over a year ago. I looked at my posts and came across this. I have since purchased a 17' 1989 Boston Whaler Montauk and have been boating in the CT River and the Long Island Sound. My son is now a year and a half and has been on the boat twice this season. When I posted this I thought getting a boat was just a pipe dream but I finally did it. Thanks for all the advise guys. I have learned an awful lot about boating on this site.

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

excellant choice for a first boat (and last boat) and general family boat in open water!

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

Good job on the research and application thereof, thanks for the update! It is real nice to hear stories like yours

Re: New Boater or want to be boater

Nice to hear a happy ending. Great choice.