Getting started in northern Washington.

[The John]

good things to think about, the arima boats look really nice. As far as going to shore maneuvers what are the options? I was thinking with a lighter aluminum boat I would basically be able to beach it for camping overnight and shove it back out at high tide. I'm not not sure if this is a bad idea but it was what I had envisioned. I gathered that aluminum boats would be more tolerant of that sort of abuse than a glass boat.

Aluminum will handle the rocks better than fiberglass.

As for pushing it back it all depends on where you are at. Mud/small gravel is usually the bottom composition, but pushing a small boat 25ft in thick mud sucks (ask me how I know). =-)

I use an anchor bungy to put my boat off the shoreline and keep it anchored in water, while utilizing a rope tied to the boat to bring it back in to shore to load (something like this).

 

[bent-grill]

So glad I asked all these questions. Most of this may seem like common sense to you guys but the lights are turning on for me. Another question, motor size? I'm guessing it's a balancing act between fuel usage and having the power to stay out of trouble. Say I have a 20' open aluminum boat, i have seen them with small motors in the 25hp range all the way up to 115hp. If I'm packing 600 lbs of people and gear how much I need? I understand hull shape, distribution, weather, and speed are all variables but punting a number? is 60 hp enough to get up out of the hole and running?

 

[southkogs]

For me: on a boat like that between 16' and 18' on your kinda' water I wouldn't want much less than 75HP on the bottom end.

 

[bent-grill]

We have a vote for 75+. Good to know.

 

[TankerDan]

I wouldn’t consider anything smaller than 20 feet and deep and an enclosed cabin or at least helm with a windshield wiper. the sound can be really flat and easy boating then there’s the other 360 days of intense fog and cold air. The hottest and coldest days of the year might be six hours apart. We joke about heading to the sound to get our face sun burned and our feet and legs frost bit on a beautiful august day. If you can’t get most of your crew covered out of the wind and rain your not going to have company that often.
five miles doesn’t seem that far until your forced to run it diagonal in big waves then it triple the actual distance and I can tell you some fife mile boat rides in the NW will end up in your permanent memory banks. You also have whales giant logs not that a 20 foot boat cant be turned over by them but a smaller boat flips much easier.

And check weather reports. I didn't once and was at Blake Island when a wind storm blew in I didn't expect. It was a damn scary trip back to the launch in Bremerton. My bilge pump got one hell of a work out

 

[bent-grill]

Good advice. The weather on land up there is erratic and it sounds like being on the water really amplifies that.

 

[Grub54891]

is this what I'm looking for as far as hull shape?
View attachment 333301
View attachment 333302
21 foot, center console, 115hp 2 stroke?

21ft starcraft aluminum fishing boat - boats - by owner - marine sale

Fresh tune up on motor. 115hp two stroke. New floor. Fresh tags Comes with trailer. Clean title in hand. Throttle cable needs adjusted Call Bill at

portland.craigslist.org

I have to agree with gc. The plywood floor just stuffed in there is a red flag in itself. Who knows if floatation was installed. Myself may buy it but I know how to fix it up properly. Who knows what else is wrong. I boat on lake superior, and get my butt whooped at times, it changes from flat to 5-6 footers in a heartbeat.