Camping from a smaller boat

[keninaz]

We have a 14' boat that while it has quite a bit of capacity I am certain that if I loaded all the stuff we want to take camping would overload it.
There are several lakes in the area that allow camping anywhere on the lake with no fee and I thought that just might work for us but I worried about the capacity of our boat.
Then I came up with idea of buying an inflatable to carry the gear behind us. Anybody every done this?

 

[gm280]

You could always make a few trips from the dock to the came area. I've done that before myself. There is always a way! :thumb:

 

[WIMUSKY]

What gm said, or just take your time. When I was in HS, me and my brother loaded down a 14'/18hp utility with a very heavy 4-6 man canvas tent, fishing gear, coolers, cooking stuff etc...... Went out to an island and camped. Came back in heavy winds with good sized whitecaps. Once on shore we found out a guy was watching us the whole time to make sure we didn't capsize. I think the extra weight helped in the caps. Yes, we wore our PFDs...... Just be smart about it......

 

[ondarvr]

I do lot of camping like that, summer and winter. I will frequently make a couple of trips if needed, but I have also narrowed down what I bring so most of the time I can do it in one trip.

 

[keninaz]

I would like to hold this down to a single trip for the camping gear as two of the lakes I want to fish are very large.
Lake Powell for example is the 2nd largest lake in the US and has almost 2000 miles of shoreline.

 

[jbcurt00]

Then a towed portage vessel when necessary, a 2nd boat and motor or a larger boat sounds like the solution....

If you can secure it to the top of the 14ft boat while towed, a lightweight canoe would be my suggestion. More rugged then a blow up, you might like a quick paddle every now and again while camping, fairly easy to load, tarp and tow across the lake, it can be drug up on a rocky shore and flipped over for the duration of the camp out when not in use, plus just leaned up beside the garage, in or hung from the rafters out of the way between trips.

 

[thumpar]

We have a boat in only campground here that we have stayed at a few times. The first time the boat (20' wide beam) was full and barely enough room to fit people in. I have figured out that I don't need all that stuff. Just keep it to the minimum. If you need to make a couple trips, it is better than sinking.

 

[keninaz]

The canoe may be a good option for me too. Lots of them for sale around here and I would not have to deal with the inflatable.

 

[BWR1953]

So now it's MBS?

Let me be the first to say it...

 

[keninaz]

Had bigger boats over the years. My 14' Lowe is ideal for where and how I fish now.
Camping is just a sideline.

 

[Vintin]

Look into hammock camping. Bug screens and rain flys. It's what I do and it works out great. Very comfortable and take almost no room on board. I sleep in the War Bonnet Black Bird.

http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbird/

 

[keninaz]

Look into hammock camping. Bug screens and rain flys. It's what I do and it works out great. Very comfortable and take almost no room on board. I sleep in the War Bonnet Black Bird.

http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbird/

Not too many trees here in AZ to support the hammocks where I camp on the bigger lakes

 

[sphelps]

I'd feel like a caterpillar in one of those ... And when I fall/climb out I sure wouldn't look like a butterfly ! :lol:

 

[southkogs]

Lotta' folks use those hammock rigs out on the Appalachian Trail. I've heard they're actually very comfortable ... and a heck of a lot lighter than a sleeping bag.

 

[ondarvr]

You still need the the sleeping bag.

 

[ondarvr]

Here is a pic of our camping trip that started the day after Christmas, we go every year at that time, this year it was an island on a river. The green tent in the foreground didn't last too much longer, it was flattened when the wind started blowing with gusts to 40mph. The owner slept in my tent after that.

IMG

 

[bruceb58]

I would like to hold this down to a single trip for the camping gear as two of the lakes I want to fish are very large.
Lake Powell for example is the 2nd largest lake in the US and has almost 2000 miles of shoreline.

Been to Lake Powell many times. Not sure I would ever want to take a 14' loaded boat far from the launch ramp. That lake can get 6' waves on it in a heartbeat and if you are miles from the marina can get very dangerous.

Canoes don't do well at Lake Powell.

 

[kenmyfam]

My gut feeling tells me a bigger boat would be the answer.

 

[Grandad]

My gut feeling tells me a bigger boat would be the answer.

In my experience, I've found that to be the best answer to almost every question, including those not related to boating. - Grandad :lol: