Fat guys in a little boat

[mxcarne]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Are you going to put an outboard on the boat? I though you were looking for a boat to mostly use at electric only lakes. Bigger boats will require a bigger trolling motor and that 17'er will be a lot for a 12V trolling motor

I think that 17ft is fiberglass looking at the transom and the supports near the console, and considering its free(?) when you buy the trailer, makes me wonder how bad it is. Plus its a bit too wide for my storage, trailer alone would leave me about 2" on each side trying to wheel it through the 7ft fence.

I was thinking of trying to stick to electric only lakes, but a lot of the responses here are kind of leading me to think I need a gas motor for those OMG moments and I need to get off the lake. So, now I'm really looking more at size than anything, I would like the option to go electric only if I can, but also want a motor for those 10hp or less lakes.

Found a 16ft semi-v? It's V in front and flat in the back. http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/2788716366.html. I think deep V is V all the way back? How are we looking stability wise here? Its electric only right now, but there are a lot of motors in the $400 range in my area, so easy to pick one up.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

go look at your gate too.... can you widen it? an 8 foot gate would let you drag most boats under 20' through

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Found a 16ft semi-v? It's V in front and flat in the back. http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/2788716366.html.

Looks good, I'd check it out.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

The 16 looks good. That decked jon looks terrible. No freeboard on that baby whatsoever.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Looks good, I'd check it out.

+1. That's not really a semi-v, but I think it would meet your needs very well, and it looks like a really nice little boat. One thing to consider; when at rest, on the hook, etc. a V hull will feel less stable than a flat or semi-v hull but will do better in chop and slop. Every boat's a compromise. Definitely go take a peek. By the way, what kind of fishing will you be doing? Based on where you are I don't envision a lot of flipping and pitching or chunking and winding in really skinny water. If my assumption is right I think a v hull would be a good choice. If not, the inverse would be true, but only to a certain extent. Keep us posted.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

By the way, just for comparison's sake:

V
http://www.alumacraft.com/2012-models/v-14-15/v-14-15/

Semi-V
http://www.alumacraft.com/2012-models/mv-2072-aw/mv-2072-aw/

Flat (Click through to photo five to avoid any confusion.)
http://www.alumacraft.com/2012-models/crappies/crappie-deluxe/

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

There is nothing cheap about electric power. All people who think a electric motor & battery can equal a gas motor, have NO experience with both.
BIG people in normal groups need 16' + boats.
They also CAN NOT even look at a SHORT SHAFT 15" deep, boat. Even if it is free.
They need a good sized motor to get back to SHORE SOMEWHERE. I have ran my 16' 15" shortshaft boat with a 9.9 hp motor up on a beach DOWNWIND & or tied up to the closest dock that had a DOWNWIND side OPEN.

Little boats NEED TO plan a LOT MORE about sinking or flooding the boat.

Rich

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

That 16' looks nice, and at $600 (offer less of course), you'll have plenty in reserve to outfit it the way YOU want. Good luck.

 

[oops!]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

hey.......what about a rib?.....

low center of gravety.......electric or gas....

very stable....

this will also take care of your space requirements

 

[mxcarne]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

hey.......what about a rib?.....

low center of gravety.......electric or gas....

very stable....

this will also take care of your space requirements

What is a Rib?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

rigid inflatable boat

fiberglass bottom and rubber air filled tube around it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

What is a Rib?

Rigid Inflatable Boat. It's basically a raft with a floor and transom. Here's an example. http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_boat_sd430.asp They're very cool and make a lot of sense for some, but IMHO, you're not one of them. Again, just my opinion.

 

[mxcarne]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

rigid inflatable boat

fiberglass bottom and rubber air filled tube around it.

Oh no, I don't want anything like that at all, I don't like inflatables and fishing combined. You know, hooks and sharp pointy objects all over the place. Plus here in Colorado, all the experiences I have with inflatables were holes, and having to rush back to the car to re-inflate after it sits on the cold water for a while and air pressure drops.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

TOTALLY different animal.... you would need pliers and a small hammer to get a fish hook through the tube.... the problem tho is that you won't be able to get one anywhere near your budget.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Sorry, I've been resisting the urge for two days.:redface:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFfKUF2kFPQ

 

[roscoe]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Sorry to say, but a lot you guys are forgetting his budget, $1000.

He will also be on hp restricted or electric only lakes.

Most of the lakes in the Denver area are small, he doesn't need a big outboard or to go fast to outrun storms.

He needs a stable boat that can handle the weight, and a decent power-mizer trolling motor, something in 24v would be nice, but adds weight and $$.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

I forgot to mention. NO 48" wide boats! Not good for everybody leaning over to look at or help land a fish.
You have 6' to pass a boat thru. Use ALL of it. Good neighbor on that side ? Maybe let you go to 7' just long enough to move the boat in & out?

There are side tilting race boat trailers. Who knows. $$$$$$ But would work down the road if needed.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

Sorry to say, but a lot you guys are forgetting his budget, $1000.

He will also be on hp restricted or electric only lakes.

Most of the lakes in the Denver area are small, he doesn't need a big outboard or to go fast to outrun storms.

He needs a stable boat that can handle the weight, and a decent power-mizer trolling motor, something in 24v would be nice, but adds weight and $$.

So what do you suggest? $1000 is pretty impossible unless you get a Jon boat or some of the other small boats already mentioned.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

So what do you suggest? $1000 is pretty impossible unless you get a Jon boat or some of the other small boats already mentioned.

I think he'd be really happy with the sixteen foot V bottom in Denver. Talk them down to $450, get a Minn Kota Endura and DC battery at Wallyworld, find a little 9.9 Johnnyrude for four bills and get after it. Life is good. Heck, I'm starting to want a little rig like that for myself. Hmmmm, wonder how I could hide it from the admiral.............

 

[scipper77]

Re: Fat guys in a little boat

The biggest problem you are going to have with anything really small is weight distribution. I am 200 lbs and in my 12' aluminum with 1.5 gallons of gas and my 5.5 evinrude I only have 1 or 2 inches of freeboard at the transom. Any sharp turn and water comes in at the corners of the stern. I added a 50lb sandbag to the tip of the bow and now I have no worries about the stern sitting low. This raised the stern up at least 4 or 5 inches. I would think that maybe a 12 and certainly a 14 foot boat would be fine for you plus a child as long as you had a little ballast in the bow to help the boat sit level.

Additionally, because my boat is so small I allways wear a life jacket if I am in more than 5 feet of water or there is any near by boat traffic. I restrict my fishing to sheltered portions of bays where general traffic is not an issue. Frankly if I ever find myself somewhere where a 24' boat could go by me at speed I am pretty nervous and certainly on my way to somewhere else.

I think my point is that safe operation and awareness is more important than a safe rig. Staying within weight and HP limits for example is the base upon which safe boating begins. Improper operational awareness negates all equipment based safety requirements.