Biggest little boat?

[Marty B]

Hello to everybody. I'm new to the forum and I would like to pick the brains of some people that know a little more about center console boats. We have been considering buying a vacation house in Gulf Shores AL. Most of the fishing will probably be done in Mobile Bay, but I would also like to get in the gulf some (when the weather is not too bad of course). We also go to lake St. Clair in Detroit every spring and it can get a little rough if the wind blows very hard. Obviously the boat will see quite a bit of traveling so I'm looking for something that trailers easily. I was hoping to stay in the 17-18' range. There are sometimes 4 of us fishing so something with a good sized front deck and good room in the back would be nice. I also have a 75 4 stroke Honda that I would like to use, so there is another reason for the smaller boat. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Marty

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Biggest little boat?

What a relief to find someone who starts at center console!

17 can be a little crowded with 4 people fishing and/or if it's choppy out. Depends on how big they are and if everyone fishes. (I have a 17 bay boat with a 70). If you get a boat with a well-built out innner hull and high freeboard, you'er adding weight so the 75 may be small for you. It's also on the small side for offshore (Gulf). 19 will suit you better; 21 even better, but at 21 you cross to dual axle trailer and of course a bigger engine.
I trailer my 17 everywhere and hardly know its there; I also have a 21 and it is a whale (to me) to trailer.
There is one boat that will do you right: Carolina Skiff J series. I have a 19 with a 50 and it fishes 4 well; light and easy to trailer; high sides and I would feel safe anywhere with it (a friend takes his 40 miles out; I wouldn't!).. The downside is that it is a bouncy ride. Very roomy, like a platform. Rig it with a bow deck and that's all. Very low maintenance and also low frills. next best would be a stripped out Parker. Shop for both of these in AL--just survey Craigslist around the Atlantic Coast cities for an idea of what's out there.

 

[Marty B]

Re: Biggest little boat?

Thanks Home Cookin'. I did look at one carolina skiff and it was a nice open boat, but the flat bottom kinda worried me. Are they all flat bottom?
Thanks,
Marty

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Biggest little boat?

I would strongly seek either a new or used BW Montauk. It will not be the smoothest riding but it will stay on top when she blows. Some years back there was a tournament in Lake Michigan. Dozens of boats were having a great day. The warnings for a squall came out but were either ignored or gotten late. Many boats capsized, the three Montauks drove out of the storm, battered, but afloat and underway.

 

[divimon2000]

Re: Biggest little boat?

Boston Whaler 17, Scout 17, Key West. I have a BW 15 and would not hesitate to take it out in 4'. I have a F60 Yamaha on it (not too heavy).

 

[lprizman]

Re: Biggest little boat?

if your staying with that motor I would not go above 18',you will be grossly underpowered. Yes whalers are good my buddie has a 18' outrage w/a 140 zuke on it. Fishing 3-4 people is max for this boat,,otherwise to crowded and with your intended motor maxed out.
I would stick with a V hull max 24 degree dead rise,,minimum 20 degree.

I own a Dusky 19 CC, which is 21' w/ a 150 Mariner, the boat is a tank,,foam filled and get's me out of the snot w/ no issues and extremely durable.

The weight of the hull makes a huge difference in ride in the soup and going over it,,,the pounding and overal ride increase greatly w/ a v hull and heavy construction.

I don't ride on lakes, granted the great ones can get nasty,,the ocean is the true test. And where you intend on going in the gulf,,,if at all possible trade in the motor and get at least a 21' boat with a 150-200 hp on it. In one season you may find the 17-18' boat with that motor, all be a nice set up, is way to small for what you could be doing and not limited to doing.
just my $0.02

 

[Marcq]

Re: Biggest little boat?

I have a 1979 17' Aquasport CC and I love it, it's a big boat for her size, powered with a 1986 70hp Evinrude (the max is 130hp), she's no speed demon but pushes the boat at 29 mph. We fished in it with 5 people on board a few times but it was too crowded, usually we are 2/3 . Where I boat I don't have to deal with big waves but big wakes from big boat traffic and she handles that pretty good I must say, we feel very safe. Easy to tow with a 3L SUV

Marc..

 

[EsoxRanger]

Re: Biggest little boat?

I like the Scout 17 idea. I have a buddy with one that fishes St Clair a few times a week., great fit and finish, big boat for such a little boat. It ought to run pretty well with a 70 on it.

 

[Old & In the way]

Re: Biggest little boat?

Please check out Arima.

Ed

 

[MushCreek]

Re: Biggest little boat?

I was out diving off of a commercial boat off West Palm Beach, FL. The seas were 10-12' and we were over a mile out in the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby were a couple divers in a 13' Boston Whaler. They were a lot drier than we were! A 17' Whaler would be hard to beat.

 

[lprizman]

Re: Biggest little boat?

a 13' whaler in 10-12' seas,,,sure they were not in distress??

the boat may float,,,,

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Biggest little boat?

He probably meant 1-3 seas. I used to have a 13 Whaler, long ago, 1-3 would be nothing in it, rough but otherwise fine.

A 17 foot Montauk, similar Dusky, Key West etc would do fine in the GOM for near shore fishing. I certainly would not blast off to the "Nipple" or the other over the horizon hot spots. A 19 foot Montauk or Outrage or similar Edgewater would be a better choice but you would need a 135 to 200 horse engine. Move up to a 21 foot and the horizons open wide but towability is gone and now we are talking twins or at least a 225 horse engine. A far cry from were the OP started this thread.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Biggest little boat?

Look at the Cape Horns out of Milton, FL. You're likely to find them used in the Gulf Shores and Mobile area. Very well built and versatile small boat.

The McKee Crafts are very well built boats as well. The Offshoreman in the 17.5 and 18.5 are sweet. Called The Unsinkables.

Your 75 hp will work, just not too quick.

Good luck!

 

[767Captain]

Re: Biggest little boat?

I would strongly seek either a new or used BW Montauk. It will not be the smoothest riding but it will stay on top when she blows.

X2...

 

[Marty B]

Re: Biggest little boat?

Thank you for all the help. At least now I've got someplace to start and some good information.
Thanks,
Marty