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I think I would be asking myself what kind of fishing I wanted to do. Then look for the boat that would serve me the best with the the family. I have a Starcraft Islander. Good for 4 and great on gas. You can tube if you want too and man fish like crazy down rigging or perching, and is light to tow great on gas.
Sorry, I meant Seadoo and I was talking about the boats. The jet drive sucks in everything including sand an silt which damages the seals.Quote:
Originally Posted by pikeattack
To the OP,
If you look early enough in the spring, you can get deals on boats that were traded in in the fall. Look on the boat dealer websites starting now and you might be surprised. I got my Lund used from a dealer in March of last year for $8,000.00. It's a 2003 and in great shape. The 40HP Honda on it is a miser on gas and it has ample power.
Things to consider;
1. Are your kids going to drive it?
Eventually they will want to. Under 16 with a boater's license, they are only allowed to drive up to a 40 HP. My daughter had to wait until she was 16 before she could drive the Peterborough because it has a 50. If kids are driving it, how much horsepower are you comfortable with them handling when they go out with the boat on their own?
2. Remote steering vs. tiller
When you get into the larger motors (ie. 40 HP) there's a little more to handling them than a 9.9. Remote steering is far easier to handle which is why my daughter drives the Peterborough and not the Lund.
3. Power tilt and trim vs. manual.
The 40 HP Honda has power tilt & trim, the 50 HP Evinrude has manual. The Honda weighs 225 lbs., the Evinrude weighs 185 lbs. The Honda wins this battle.
4. 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke
The Evinrude (2 stroke) is lighter and has a better hole shot than the Honda. The Honda trolls better, uses less gas and there is no fuel mixing required although with oil injection this has been eliminated. The 2 stroke is better for water skiing and tubing, the 4 stroke is better for hunting and fishing. You can still waterski and tube behind a 4 stroke, but for skiing a 2 stroke will get you out of the water faster.
These are just a few of my personal observations from owning 2 completely different types of boats and having a daughter want to drive a boat. These are just considerations to look at before you make your purchase.
Roe+
Hey Congratulations on the approval to get a boat. I see that your on the right track to get something that both you and the family can use. Now is a great time to get your research done and start to narrow down something that you can see yourself in for 5-10 years down the road. Once you have figured out layout Tiller, Side Console or Full Windshield.
The next important thing would be horsepower and manufacture. I would recommend you choose the right horsepower for your needs. If it involves skiing/wake boarding or some sort of sport. Having a horsepower that's close to 80% of what the boat is rating for is the way to go. Choosing an outboard manufacture that has been around for a long time is great but also ensure they have a service centre close to where you are is very important for quicker turnaround.
Finally ENJOY IT :)
Henry Nguyen
40 isn't enough you need a sixty at least
Don't know if there is a local Power Squadron in your area but I would try to sign up for a seamanship/navigation/marine course over the winter and start looking at used boats in the early spring. Being on Lake O, you will have open water much earlier than most so you will be able to try your new boat sooner. Buy something within your budget, get the wife out and make sure she enjoys herself. You can always trade up in a year or two when you both decide what you want...
We have the Sylvan 22 ft pontoon with 150 Yamaha with a ski bar. Kids fish from the sides in safety, tube at 28mph haven't tried waterskies yet. Tons of room seats 13, tons of storage, lots of room for coolers for all day outing. No cramped walking around, lots of room. Gets in the same depth of the 14ft'ers on our lake, bass, pan fish. Ride out in the St Lawerance without porposing like the small 16ft. Full out 35 mph, but sucks huge amount of gas, keep it thottled back to 4100 rpm (20mph) and get about 6-8 hours of crusing time for 100L. 14 ft bimini top, can lay down, jump off the sides. Might not be pretty or fast but meets all our needs and is fun. Use more gas pulling down the road with my F250 than loaded dump trailer.
a 16 with a 75 should do you....a 50 hp will pull a tube but you would be running close to wide open all the time
I have three pieces of advice:
1) Stay away from Legend Boats. The underprice and underpower their boats. By the time you add the engine upgrade and the "options" that many times are standard equipment on other brands, you are usually close to doubling the sticker price.
I bought a 16' Crestliner aluminum with a 1200# trailer and 25HP Johnson triple for less money than the Legend dealer was going to sell me once I priced out my "options". The Legend trailer was also rated for 900# and the winch was 300-500 # range. My boat alone weighs 350, plus another 150 for the engine, plus battery, fuel, tackle, etc. That would have maxed out the trailer axle and the winch would not be able to handle it either.
2) Size your engine to at LEAST 75% of the rated horsepower on the transom sticker. Mine was rated for 40 and I went with a 25. It is fine with me and a partner, but add a few more people and it struggles.
3) STAY AWAY FROM LEGEND!!!!
Last point if you’re going out on Lake Ontario, get the biggest boat possible. Been out there with our 22ft Pontoon Boat and my brother following in 16ft Lund Rebel with 50 2 stroke. His boat was porposing all over the place, and really made the ride wavy. Even on the St Lawrence around Mallorytown, it is rough for 16ft boats. You should consider length and Beam size if your gonna be L.O.
Well after a bit of a set-back (I was laid off in December) I am back looking for my fishing boat. Going to take this opportunity to buy the one I want. The typical fishing I do is anything from perching in Erie, bass/pickerel fishing up north, chasing pickerel on the Detroit River. I want something big enough to pull my daughters on a knee board or a small tube and seat 5 (will not be boarding/tubing with 5 people at the same time), but not so big that it is difficult to store or tow around. Boat must have a flat floor and initially I wanted a tiller but now I am town between SC and a tiller - a 25Hp 4 stroke is a big engine and I will need power tilt/trim anyway.
I went to the TO boat show (cuz that is what you do when your unemployed I guess - LOL) but this is not the show to be looking at these kinds of boats. I will be at the Sportsman Show and probably the Hamilton boat show as well.
I have shortlisted these but ideally if I can find a mint used one I will jump all over it:
Princecraft Yukon DLBT (....only has a 4 person capacity)
Princecraft Springbok DLBT
Lund Fury 1400 or 1600
Lund WC16 DLX
Mirrocraft Outfitter 16'
I have looked at a few Legends but to be honest (not knocking anyone that has one) but they do not seem as rigid as the ones listed above - thinner gunnels (I can actually flex them if I lean into them hard), and most of hte used ones I see are under powered for what I am looking for. I guess a lot of people buying them are just using them for fishing.