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Thinking about a boat


BowhunterNJ

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I'm not ready to pull the trigger yet, but thinking about starting the groundwork for a saltwater river/bay boat that I can also take into freshwater lakes.

Not looking to go all saltwater yet (i.e. a "big" boat, maybe down the road), but want to start with something that's definitely beefy enough to take around the Navesink river, Shrewsbury river, and Raritan Bay when the weather cooperates.

Realistically, I'll be fishing the rivers mostly for fluke, but would definitely like to take this on freshwater lakes here in NJ and maybe other states (enjoyed fishing in upstate NY for smallies).

I know here in NJ it's electric only on most freshwater lakes/reservoirs, so the prop comes off the gas engine and I'll get an electric trolling motor for it.

 

I've been renting boats up around Atlantic Highlands and in Belmar over the years and they are fine size wise...just painfully slow in AH with the tides there running on an 8-9.9 HP engine.  They are heavy boats to push against tides with that little engine.  It's workable, but pretty difficult to cover ground effectively...pretty much time the tides and try to use them to my advantage to move around.  I'm definitely looking to upgrade and be able to fish on my own time (especially into late afternoons/evenings).

 

Few things I'm giving consideration:

1) Size wise thinking the 16-18' range...comfortable certainly for 2 and occasionally 3 people.  Fine with trailering where I need it.

 

2) Design wise thinking a deep/wide v-hull with an adequate 4 stroke on the back to give it some speed and let it get on plane (leaning towards Yamaha or Honda).  Engine size will likely depend a lot on the actual boat chosen, it's weight, and max HP rating, etc.

 

3) Build wise welded vs riveted, leaning towards a welded boat given what I've read thus far. 

 

What boats do some of you guys own, or would you recommend for this purpose?

I'm in no rush to buy, maybe this year, maybe next.

 

Few brands that I've been checking out (some of which are riveted, not welded design):

* Starcraft

* Lund

* G3

* Duranautic

* Lowe

* Tracker

 

Any insight would be great, thanks guys! :)

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TIL flotsam, great word! I thought you misspelled something, then I looked it up! :)

Ah lots of people use the tin cans, but understood...a nice quality marine boat sure is nice!

 

That's the dilemma. I could get a light/smaller (cheap) tin can for freshwater with an electric and invest in a saltwater boat. It's just that, a BIG investment. The only reason I'm looking at tin cans, is the flexibility to use them in FW and SW without a BIG investment.

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I had an old 1960-something Fabuglas boat with a 40 on the back of it.  Did well in most NJ waters and probably could have done salt too.  Never took it out there, but it floated and it ran.  I could have pulled up the 40 and plopped an electric on it to motor around larger bodies of water, but never did that either.

 

Bought it for $1, put about $600 into it, sold it for $1,200.  I was happy with the whole thing.

 

Here's the ancient marketing add for it.  Kind of reminds me of something I'd see in an old Flipper episode.

 

fabuglasb69013.jpg

Sapere aude.

Audeamus.

When you cannot measure, your knowledge is meager and unsatisfactory.

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Just out of curiosity why are you so set on a metal boat? Don't get me wrong there are a lot of advantages to metal but there are a lot of fiberglass boats that will do what you're looking for and possibly do it better for the money you will spend. A used 17 ft Carolina skiff will do wonders if set up properly and do it for a small amount. On the other hand if you have a decent amount of cash an 18 ft mako AIV skiff will be an awesome boat for you. I had an opportunity a few years ago to purchase one and regret it quite a bit.

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Yes it's mine and yes it's a great boat when I use it, but that's the problem it spends more time in the garage than on the water.  With the trolling motor it's a great rig for flounder and she get's up goes pretty good too.  

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I went this route.  Here's my thoughts.

 

Around 20 years ago I bought a 16' Starcraft with a 25 hp and a 9.9 so I could fish the bay and Round Valley.  A few of the guys I fished with were on the larger side and the boat was slow with the 25 and slower with the 9.9, so in a couple months I upgraded to a 50hp.  It's a great boat for when you're young and fishing the bay was not a problem, but you will get wet if it's on the rough side.  I caught plenty of fish from this boat, and still have it, but you are limited.

A few years later We bought a larger boat and I can explore further.  Now the Starcraft sits and hardly ever gets used, and I rarely hit the freshwater anymore.  

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I went this route.  Here's my thoughts.

 

Around 20 years ago I bought a 16' Starcraft with a 25 hp and a 9.9 so I could fish the bay and Round Valley.  A few of the guys I fished with were on the larger side and the boat was slow with the 25 and slower with the 9.9, so in a couple months I upgraded to a 50hp.  It's a great boat for when you're young and fishing the bay was not a problem, but you will get wet if it's on the rough side.  I caught plenty of fish from this boat, and still have it, but you are limited.

A few years later We bought a larger boat and I can explore further.  Now the Starcraft sits and hardly ever gets used, and I rarely hit the freshwater anymore.  

 

Yeah that's the dilemma.  What did you wind up getting for the salt?

 

The main advantage to the smaller boat like that Starcraft is the maneuverability in drifting the rivers.  I'd imagine easier to stem and control drifts, although I could be wrong.

And certainly if I had a bigger boat, I'd spend less time in the rivers fishing and just go oceanside :)

It's just a whole other level of investment.

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