Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

[erikpn]

And which boat is a better value?
For the waters of elliot bay, hood canal, and the puget sound, where there's chop up to 3' on the worst days, but usually less than 1.5.

Boat 1 is a 16' mirrocraft with a closed bow and a '79 70 hp johnson that appears to be in excellent condition
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980...ats?hash=item2ea7f42ca1&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

boat 2 is a 17' Sea nymph with a 55 hp johnson sea horse. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1386134951.html

I want something stable, that can ride the waters safely. I won't be skiing or swimming off of it, pretty much just fishing/crabbing.

 

[lprizman]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

neither,,to small IMO for 1.5' to 3' you'll get pounded and those pond/small lakes boats will rattle apart

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I agree, you do not want to be in 3' in one of those boats. Can it be done, yes. Is it safe, doughtful. If youplan to be in or get caught in 1.5 - 3' chops, I would look closer at something along the 20' size, and not a bay boat. JMHO

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I think the Sea Nymph looks better for our waters around here. The other boat looks like more of shallow draft bass boat but I can't see the hull shape very well.
I don't know if the other posters are in our area or not but we have a lot of good fishing days here in the sound that the Sea Nymph would handle fine.
I see a lot of similar boats out fishing out of Shilshole and the PT Defiance area.
Obviously you need to watch the weather reports and pick your days but the good thing about Puget Sound is that you can fish some good water without going far.
All that being said, as far as what's the best value, I think the condition of the outboards would be key.
Good luck!

 

[esobofh]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I vote Sea-Nymph.. the open utility style is much better for hauling your traps, floats, bait bags etc.. the extra room will come in handy.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

No, I amnot from your area, but I am coastal and boat the Georgia ICW and the sounds and nearshore ocean. Any water with alot of surface can get to be big water in a storm, and they can come up fast. I stated the 20' range earlier for safety based on my expereince here in south GA waters. If the ones in your area vote for one of the two you listed and know your waters, go with them.

Yes, we have small boats 10-14' on big water around here also, I just never felt comfortable in one...

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I am guessing that you want Aluminum.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1380447121.html

My father has 17' spectrum that he has taken out to Neah Bay and Sekiu. I personally wouldn't do that.

Those little rental boats that Pt. Defience rents out are 12-14' I think.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I vote Sea-Nymph.. the open utility style is much better for hauling your traps, floats, bait bags etc.. the extra room will come in handy.

Great point and another reason to go with the Nymph.

You're right of course Knight Gang about any body of water having the potential to get ugly fast. I've seen some hellish storms and big seas here in Puget Sound that have even halted our ferry traffic.
Like I said you always have to pay attention to the conditions no matter what size your boat is.

 

[wa2712nj]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I vote Sea Nymph also. Crab pots take a lot of space.

The real issue is the condition of the outboards, with any small boat that is where most of the potential expense lies.

I use a 14 foot Al. boat in Puget Sound. Came very close to upgrading to a larger boat this year, but then decided to invest the $ in a new outboard and a marine radio for the current boat instead. Now I've got a brand-new, under warranty 4 stroke on it, and a reliable way of getting help if need be.

No, I don't plan on going out in it if a small craft warning is in the works (that is what my sailboards are for . I probably won't even go out if serious rain is in the works as there is no protection from the weather and I'm not that gung ho about fishing.

On the plus side, I've now got a boat that nothing can (or at least should) go wrong with, and is simple and light to tow and launch, and that I can actually use instead of work on.

Another plus of a small tinny is you will pretty much always have an option on the sound if the weather does come up quickly to simply drive onto shore and drag the boat up a bit out of the water. It maybe get somewhat scratched up, but a good Al boat should survive that.

Note that I don't run great distances in it - the farthest I usually go from dock is 4-5 miles, and rarely am I more than 1/2 mile from shore. If you want to launch in Tacoma and run all the way up to say, Seiku, you'd better have something bigger, and a big wallet to pay the gas bill. Ditto if you are so into fishing that you want to fish in a cold downpour - then get something like a C-Dory, Arima, etc., that will give you some protection.


My $.02,

-dm

 

[erikpn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I vote Sea Nymph also. Crab pots take a lot of space.

The real issue is the condition of the outboards, with any small boat that is where most of the potential expense lies.

I use a 14 foot Al. boat in Puget Sound. Came very close to upgrading to a larger boat this year, but then decided to invest the $ in a new outboard and a marine radio for the current boat instead. Now I've got a brand-new, under warranty 4 stroke on it, and a reliable way of getting help if need be.

No, I don't plan on going out in it if a small craft warning is in the works (that is what my sailboards are for . I probably won't even go out if serious rain is in the works as there is no protection from the weather and I'm not that gung ho about fishing.

On the plus side, I've now got a boat that nothing can (or at least should) go wrong with, and is simple and light to tow and launch, and that I can actually use instead of work on.

Another plus of a small tinny is you will pretty much always have an option on the sound if the weather does come up quickly to simply drive onto shore and drag the boat up a bit out of the water. It maybe get somewhat scratched up, but a good Al boat should survive that.

Note that I don't run great distances in it - the farthest I usually go from dock is 4-5 miles, and rarely am I more than 1/2 mile from shore. If you want to launch in Tacoma and run all the way up to say, Seiku, you'd better have something bigger, and a big wallet to pay the gas bill. Ditto if you are so into fishing that you want to fish in a cold downpour - then get something like a C-Dory, Arima, etc., that will give you some protection.


My $.02,

-dm

Yeah, for those not in our area, many people and marine parks rent and run even smaller boats in the sound. It's not bad at all, the chop does not average 1.5 feet, it's under 8 inches most days. I won't be fishing in the rain or bad weather either. It looks like I'll be checking out the sea nymph first.

This is the side profile on the mirrocraft. Do you think the bow and sides aren't deep enough? http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18129&d=1221711844

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

This is the side profile on the mirrocraft. Do you think the bow and sides aren't deep enough? http://forums.iboats.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18129&d=1221711844

That's a little better view and it looks plenty deep enough for what you're looking to do.
As the other poster pointed out you have more storage for your crab pots on the Sea Nymph.
Again though I'd be looking at the condition of the outboards in making my decision between the two.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

So did you check those two boats out?
Did you buy one?
Just curious.

 

[esobofh]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

As an aside... i regularly take my 14' crestliner open utility aluminum crabbing out in the chuck.. never even thought twice about hitting rough seas or if i was safe or not.

Keep alert, face into the waves, be safe. A '14 aluminum will take a lot.

 

[erikpn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

So did you check those two boats out?
Did you buy one?
Just curious.

I've checked out and test drove the sea nymph. The sea nymph is in better shape cosmetically. Solid floors, solid transom, only a little rust on the trailer. But the motor stalled twice while we were trying to reverse it. It goes into reverse with grinding sounds and shaking. Maybe it was because we were shifting too slow, but it didn't do that in forward. I haven't checked out the mirrocraft yet. The sea nymph came with a bunch of functioning goodies, like an anchor, rod holders, a depth finder, a bilge pump, a working livewell and pump etc for 2200.

The mirrocraft looks more rusty, and especially the trailer is beat up pretty bad. haven't test drove it yet. any advice?

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

any advice?

Yes. Find someone that's qualified to advise on the condition of the motor.
I'd help you if I knew enough but not sure what to say about the stalling and grinding noise although I think noise when going into reverse is fairly common.
As far as stalling, perhaps the idle is a little low or the carb could use servicing. That damn e-10 is not the greatest for our outboards.
Did you see that Lund in todays CL?
That looked like it might be worth a look see but I think it was in Grays Harbor somewhere. Maybe Montesanto..

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

I guess it was yesterday when I saw it. http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/boa/1388332327.html
Looked like it was in the price range you were looking at. Lunds are nice boats and this looks like a good P.S. boat.
Now just for fun here's what you should get if you don't mind me helping you spend your money.
I love the Hewes Craft but I'm happy for now with my Smoker and I can only spend other peoples money right now.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1390743909.html

 

[erikpn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

Yes. Find someone that's qualified to advise on the condition of the motor.
I'd help you if I knew enough but not sure what to say about the stalling and grinding noise although I think noise when going into reverse is fairly common.
As far as stalling, perhaps the idle is a little low or the carb could use servicing. That damn e-10 is not the greatest for our outboards.
Did you see that Lund in todays CL?
That looked like it might be worth a look see but I think it was in Grays Harbor somewhere. Maybe Montesanto..

Yeah, it's a 3 hour drive to there though, and I've been disappointed often enough that after a couple months of looking at a boat that was advertised to be in excellent condition, driving off a couple hours of my time and a couple 20s in gas only to find a rusted out hulk, I just refuse to drive more than half an hour to see any boat anymore.

I asked the guys in the johnson forum and got some good advice and possibilities. I'm going to drain the oil, look for metal chips, and walk away if I find any.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

Yeah, it's a 3 hour drive to there though, and I've been disappointed often enough that after a couple months of looking at a boat that was advertised to be in excellent condition, driving off a couple hours of my time and a couple 20s in gas only to find a rusted out hulk, I just refuse to drive more than half an hour to see any boat anymore.

I asked the guys in the johnson forum and got some good advice and possibilities. I'm going to drain the oil, look for metal chips, and walk away if I find any.

Been there and done that on the long drives and finding out what was advertised wasn't actually as advertised.
Sounds like you're doing everything you should and maybe we'll see ya out on the water.
Good Luck!

 

[mdunn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

Yeah, it's a 3 hour drive to there though, and I've been disappointed often enough that after a couple months of looking at a boat that was advertised to be in excellent condition, driving off a couple hours of my time and a couple 20s in gas only to find a rusted out hulk, I just refuse to drive more than half an hour to see any boat anymore.

I asked the guys in the johnson forum and got some good advice and possibilities. I'm going to drain the oil, look for metal chips, and walk away if I find any.

This will go fast. http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/1393494856.html
Did you walk on the other one?
I just love looking at boats.

 

[erikpn]

Re: Which boat is a better crabbing/fishing boat?

No, I'm going to take off to look at it in an hour. If the oil is clean, it's a deal. The mirrocraft shifts well and runs with lots of power when it starts, but it's pretty sensitive and harder to get to start. (is that normal?) also it doesn't come with the niceties. it doesn't even have a bilge pump haha.