Savin' up for a boat

[UTCAngler]

Hopefully by late spring ill have some extra $$ saved to buy a boat.Im thinking about a 12'-14' aluminum flat bottom jon.Big enough for 3ppl but not so big the 3 of us couldnt pick it up if we needed to.Probably a 5-10hp motor just enough to get us where we wanna go safely we're in no hurry.I have no clue about trolling motors so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Let me know if im on the right track here i've never owned a boat before.Also how many batteries would i need for that setup?emoScratch ?Any Input is greatly appreciated.Thanks.

 

[Guest]

 to the forum, you will love it here.If you get a flat bottom boat, find the widest you can come across, minumum of 14 feet long, 16 feet would be perfect. Most good flat bottoms are 48 inches wide in the bottom, this is a good width but I would't go below 48 inches, a 52 inch wide or even a 60 inch wide bottom would be super. Most front decks aren't very long so go with a 12 volt hand steer trolling motor with the bracket on the front, never try to use a trolling motor on the back. This is my opinion and I am saying this because I have owned quite a few flat bottom aluminum boats over the years. A 25 hp to 40 hp motor will work wonders on the boats mentioned above. Again this is my 2 cents worth.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

A few pieces of advice:</p>

Make sure that you get out on the water with as many experienced boaters as you can before setting out on your own. The water is a very dangerous place, especially for the novice boater. </p>

I would be glad to take you out sometime. I don't have a flat-bottom, but I can teach you a few things about general safety and where some of the lake's danger areas are. </p>

Stay off the river until you know how to handle your boat and what it's capabilities are. That water can move fast at times, and you had better be prepared to handle it.</p>

Make sure that one of your cohorts knows how to operate your boat, just in case, and don't go out alone for quite some time. NEVER get over-confident on the water!</p>

And don't think for a minute that once you buy a boat you're finished spending money...you're just getting started! You'll need PFD's for 3...a TM...a depth finder...one battery...for starters...unless the boat you buy has these, there's a few hundred smackers right away.</p>

Good luck, and let me know if I can help.</p>

 

[UTCAngler]

Thanks for the advice fellas I may have to take you up on that.Honestly ive never fished on a boat so i definately have ALOT to learn.Im always standing on the shore sayin "if i only had a boat i could get to that spot".It will be a while before i can afford a boat especially on a college income.Thanks on all the info though I really like this site so ull be hearin more from me.Good luck on the water.emoFish

 

[Guest]

When I was in college I could not afford a motorboat, plus I seldom had a place to store the motorboat, however I could afford a kayak or canoe. They will open up a lot of water, easier to store, and alot more affordable.

 

[UTCAngler]

Yea ive considered that I've also thought about those little composite boats at Sportsman's and Dick's but i dont know how safe those would be out here on the river.I think they can only hold a 5horse or so but they are affordable and small.Are these a good idea or should i just save up & get a jon?

 

[Guest]

I have one of the small plastic boats you are referring to. I took it to the river one time and I didn't like the way it handled, too slow and there isn't much freeboard showing over the sides, They are very stable where i mostly use mine and that is in ponds around 8 acres in size. It is very stable with 2 large people on board but I have never had to fight waves or wind in it. I have a 14 foot narrow aluminum boat also and it is an accident waiting to happen, it is 30 inches wide in the bottom and is very unstable, if two people are in it, you have to make sure the other person knows in advance of whatever movement you are going to make. Don't dare stand up to take a leak hahah and you had better move around on your hands and knees in it. This is the reason i stated to buy the widest you can find, this is for safety's sake. I use a front mount trolling motor on both, no gas.

 

[UTCAngler]

Yea something small like that would be ok for where im from (Tellico Lake's coves) and some of the smaller lakes i fish when im back home.(Indian Boundary)I dont know if u've ever been up that way or not.I believe im just gonna save up for a wide-bottom jon that sounds the best for what im wanting to do, and where i wanna go with it.Thanks for all your help, like i said im clueless about this stuff.Hopefully u'll see me out on the water around late spring.Im looking into some boaters safety classes & stuff like that also.Gotta lot to learn!

 

[bottomfinder12]

emoWelcome utc angler

 

[RangerRob]

UTCAngler - 11/16/2007 11:16 AM

Yea ive considered that I've also thought about those little composite boats at Sportsman's and Dick's but i dont know how safe those would be out here on the river.I think they can only hold a 5horse or so but they are affordable and small.Are these a good idea or should i just save up & get a jon?

Listen to R14. You're worried about safety and you want to put three people in a 12-14 foot jon boat? I've never understood the logic of the people with the smallest boats putting the most people in them. emoScratch If you buy a boat that has 1 seat in it, then the only one you have to rely on is yourself. You set your schedule and go when you want. Kayaks access some awesome backwater areas and you'll see things in them you'll never see with an outboard and a couple of your jughead buddies. You can also store a kayak or 10' jon (w/ TM) in your apartment or dorm. If you get the itch to fish out of a bigger boat, just bum rides here on the CFF. Unless you don't pay for gas, smoke crack, or fart an inordinate amount, you'll always get a taker from the CFF members.