Aluminum/fiberglass car-topper vs. inflatable for family boat - help!

[mofo83]

And now... ANOTHER question!

How "conservative" are the weight limits posted on a boat?

I ask because I see a nice lightweight Sears 10-footer close by, at the bottom of my price range. It being lighter and easier to handle would be a BIG bonus, and may allow me to use my existing roof racks as-is - another BIG bonus. And it actually has three seats, which I haven't seen on a lot of 10-footers so far. I also like the shape of it.
Here it is: http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/boa/5158933152.html

However... the weight limit is 488 pounds. My wife, kid and I are around 380 total, but add in a little gear and a motor (eventually) and we're getting close to that limit I'm sure.

Is getting near that limit something that should really concern me, or are those limits pretty conservative? (I also wonder about boat weight limits because I see brand new 10' jon boats for sale that show two grown men fishing on them, but have listed weight limits of 275 pounds?!)

Just FYI, I'm not worried about the long-term future (e.g., adding another kid to the boat) because we'll probably be able to upgrade in the next few years, and, seeing how fast boats sell around here, I'm sure I could sell this for $50 more than I paid for it, in about one day on CL!

Thanks

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

I've kept quiet as you seem set on getting a boat (canoes aren't for everyone) My original thought was get a bigger canoe as I've read your thread as it seems you're going to be giving up some weight rating by making a switch.

Overloading a boat is a good way to get yourself into a situation quickly. Even being at the max can make a boat handle poorly and cause problems.

 

[mofo83]

Thanks for the input, TruckDrivingFool.

Yeah, I really think a 12-foot boat is probably better for our uses than a bigger canoe. I think even just having more width will help my wife and daughter be more comfortable on the water.

And, it sounds like I just need to come to terms with needing a 12-footer. That extra weight capacity/safety is probably worth the extra grunt work and initial cost

Thanks again y'all.

 

[mofo83]

Okay... ONE more question! (How many times will I say that?)

Is it a big deal if the transom wood is rotted out? I have seen a couple nice boats with this problem. (e.g. http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/boa/5158704502.html )

It seems like it would be an easy fix? Just get some plywood, cut two pieces to size, slap a few coats of marine varnish on them, then bolt to boat w/ stainless hardware?

Totally guessing so let me know how wrong I am, haha.

 

[MTboatguy]

Transoms in these types of boat are a real simple fix, you pretty much described the procedure.

 

[smokeonthewater]

You will want to stay way under your weight limit... Your reason for doing this in the first place is stability and any boat loaded near it's max capacity ESPECIALLY with moving weight (people animals or liquids) gets real tippy fast.
If you want ur wifey to be happy make sure you don't exceed about 75% capacity.

 

[mofo83]

ONE more question

I am generally looking for "flatter" bottom boats vs. very round, but beyond that, are there big differences between shapes?

E.g., I've found one that is shaped like this, with a more "pointed" bow: http://skagit.craigslist.org/boa/5155473616.html


And one like this (that's $100 cheaper) with a more rounded bow and an even flatter bottom:


Any thoughts?

Thanks again!

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

In theory the more pointed the bow the more efficiently it will cut through the water/chop/waves. In reality on a light little boat it may row a little easier and help keep some of the splash down but the hull will tend to ride up over instead of cut through.

 

[steelespike]

You notice the upside down boat has a good flat run aft; the soft chines aren't as critical.
also try to find a boat with the chines wide as they go forward.
I think that boat has wheels on the transom they might make it so you could load
bigger boat without too much of a struggle.
A longer boat will improve stability as it naturally has more surface on the water.

 

[mofo83]

Ah. Thanks.

So for my actual uses (on calm lakes, mostly), either boat would probably do just fine. And the blunt one might even be more stable.

Given the cool looks of the more blunt bow (my wife will probably like it!), along with the lower price and the loading wheels, I might lean in that direction.

Of course, now I see a boat that comes with a motor (5.5 Evinrude Fisherman that runs GREAT) for $400...

 

[MTboatguy]

Sounds like you found one, I would go with the one with the motor and make an offer for a bit under what is being asked, you seemed to have looked at quite a few boats, so you might want to take the weekend off and drink a beer and mull over what you have been looking for.

 

[mofo83]

Haha. Yeah, I need a beer... or three!

It would be hard to take the weekend off though, because all of these boats seem to be either 45 minutes north or south, and they sell (literally) within a day of being posted - faster than I can make it up (or down) to check them out.

I can almost guarantee the one with the motor will be gone today. (I still emailed them to see if they'd hold it for me, though.)

The blunt-bow one is not on Craigslist (OfferUp instead) and the owner says they'd hold it, so I actually have a chance! Another reason that one interests me...

 

[MTboatguy]

Take a bit of time off, you know what you are looking for and it seems as if many of them get posted every single day, have a beer and relax man, it is Friday night!

 

[mofo83]

Ended up picking up the "rounded bow/flat aft" boat from a few posts back. Thanks for all your help in the process!

Seems like it's in quite nice shape. No dents/dings/patches. Not painted on hull, so don't have to worry about that. The wheels on back make it MUCH easer to move around.

Not the easiest to get on the roof solo, but I think it will be manageable once I perfect the process.

The only stuff to work on (I actually like having some SMALL projects): replace transom wood/hardware, replace oarlock sockets or just remove rust from them, repaint floor, general cleaning of aluminum oxidation.

I may post elsewhere with specific questions about these projects...

Thanks again though!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Congrats.... ENJOY!

 

[Neuner]

Any updates? Have you taken it out and how does the family like it?

 

[outdoorsman1962]

In the 70's and 80's my parents camped with a group of friends that all hauled either boats or canoes on their tow vehicles. Dad had to be careful as his was a company car (station wagon) so he used the foam pads and didn't scratch the top but tying it down safely was his big concern so he came up with a idea I wish he had patented.
The boat was a 14' Meyers and he used "aircraft cable" and turnbuckles,. He attatched the cables by mounting eyebolts to the boat's sides and crisscrossed them down to the front bumper. Foam between the car and cable prevented scratching. The stern was also secured by crisscrossing the cables but was straight down to the bumper.
A neighbor saw his idea and used it to haul a 16' HEAVY rowboat on his Suburban to Alaska from Ohio but used the 1 man self loader on the stern. He towed his 31' Airstream there every 2 years.
This was before ratchet straps but IMO, I would still use the cable.
They all used these boats as wind deflectors and actually the one jon boat a man used stayed on his truck permanently and I still have that 12'er LOL. You can't lose on aluminum boats and your kids will love you for taking them fishing as I do my Dad. Oh BTW....THE KIDS WERE THE MOTORS!!!

 

[airshot]

Well you have been given a lot of ideas on here, so if your not already bored out of your mind I will give you another suggestion. If you want a good stable flat bottom jon boat you need to find what is called a "river" jon boat or at least that is what they used to be called. When my boys were young we had canoes, then 12' V bottoms and then a 12' flat bottom jon boat, the jon boat was the least tippy but....I then stumbled across a "river" jon boat, still 12' long but much wider and deeper. My boat was made by Smoker craft but other mfgs also made them. The river jon was 48" wide at the bottom and 18" deep along the sides, it had a 9.9 hp rating and an 800 lb capacity according to the plate on it. My youngest at the time about 11-12 yrs old could literally stand on the side of this boat without flipping it over. We naver has an issue with it feeling tippy even with the youngones hanging over the side splashing each other in the water. Even used it one time for swimming and could crawl into it over the front or could use the side if another was on the opposite side. Nicest 12; jon boat I ever saw, kicked myself real hard for ever selling it.
When I did though, the first guy out was so impressed with it ( I had a pond to try it out) he couldn't wait to hand over the money even though I had it priced high.
We typically had 3 people in it and with a 9.9 jonnyrude that thing would fly, but being a flat bottom it needed calm water to go full throttle. If you could find yourself a "river" jon boat it would solve most of your problems. Now to close...if I may suggest...reconsider getting a 14' with a trailer and make it easier on yourself and your family.

 

[jbcurt00]

Mo hasnt been on iboats since Sept and hasnt reposted here since August.

Not likely to be monitoring this topic for posts.

Try to avoid posting to inactive (no posts for 90days) topics.

Thanks

 

[Neuner]

Try to avoid posting to inactive (no posts for 90days) topics.

Thanks

Understood

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