Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

[PrinceValium]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

The problem with any dual purpose item is that generally they don't seve either purpose as well as something made to fit just 1 activity. The F/S will not be as good at fishing or towing/lounging as well as a boat for each thing. I fish Alum Creek, which is very similar to Deer Creek, & where I catch the fish you couldn't get to on a 22' boat. I frequently lift up motor & drift or pole into very shallow water.

In Ohio a boat pilot has to be 16 to be on their own. They actually require a boat license like a driver's license to pilot a boat (or jet ski) in that state if you were born after 1982 (I think).

I agree with the dual purpose comment to a degree. Our boat came in the ski/fish model and it had a few seats you could attach one in front and the other in the back. It came with a live well spot for your rods, but when you just want to get out and have fun it would do that comfortably I am sure. They also come fitted with a trolling motor on the bow.

[video]http://www.tahoe-boats.com/video/8_2012-TAHOE-Q5-SF.cfm[/video]

This is the smaller version of the boat we have...of course ours in not a ski/fish but you would get the point. I am not trying to say you should buy a Tahoe...just giving you an example of one that I have seen and considered. In the end you have to decide what you will be doing more of and go with it. Like others have said you could always get another small fishing boat a little later on if the runabout doesn't suit your fishing needs like you want.

Oh also the floor is I believe fiberglass and has drains on the ends for hosing the floor of fish guts if needed. (I would just not put the snap in carpet for the fishing days if you have that equipped.)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

problem with that boat is there is no room to do anything. It's all loaded up with padding. try this design instead--it's the best set up for family recreation of all kinds

http://www.scoutboats.com/191BayScoutImageGallery.html

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

Those scout's look nice. Just to throw another one out there, take a look at Triumph boats. My parents have the DC215 and do a fair mix of fishing, cruising, asd skiing with it.

 

[hostage]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

The more things you have, means the more maintenance and more storage you will need. That being said, my grandfather, lived on a lake so storage wasn't an issue and he had a small john boat. Though the john boat was oar powered, we never fished from it, but we only fished from the dock.

Though if I was you I would just got with a fish n ski.

 

[BF]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

At our cottage, I've opted to go the 2 boat route... An I/O that is used but in very good shape for water sports, and a bare bones 16' aluminum with 25 hp for fishing.... It has swivel seats, but otherwise no upholstery or carpet etc to worry about. I have considered trying a fish 'n ski type to replace the I/O, but really, I'd probably rather fish out of the low tech tiller steer boat. Scratches, blood, pulling into a rocky shore etc, are just what it's there for. My 1990 Searay Mercruiser I/O was $3K, so you could probably do both for $5K.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

problem with that boat is there is no room to do anything. It's all loaded up with padding. try this design instead--it's the best set up for family recreation of all kinds

http://www.scoutboats.com/191BayScoutImageGallery.html

To me that looks much more like a fishing boat than a leisure/fishing boat. There is no place for the family to lay around or put skis or tubes. They would be crawling over all the stuff on the boat just to have it all with them. I do really like the Scout layout and think it would be a great comfortable fishing boat from the looks of it.

I do see your point of all the padding not being very conducive to fishing...that's why it is hard to find a good combo boat.

To the OP...is $5000 your limit on price for finding a boat??

 

[drrpm]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

I'd say 2 boats is the way to go. A 19-21 foot bowrider will be great for water sports with the family. A fishing kayak would also be a good low cost, easy to store option as a fishing platform it tight areas.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

To me that looks much more like a fishing boat than a leisure/fishing boat. There is no place for the family to lay around or put skis or tubes. They would be crawling over all the stuff on the boat just to have it all with them. I do really like the Scout layout and think it would be a great comfortable fishing boat from the looks of it.

I do see your point of all the padding not being very conducive to fishing...that's why it is hard to find a good combo boat.

trust me, it works. comparing two 19' boats, one with a crowded interior before you add the people, stuff, tubes, coolers, snacks, skis, etc and compare to an open interior design, then add the same people and stuff. There's more room for everyone and everything, and it's a whole lot easier to move around--for one thing you're not confined to a padded cell--I mean, seat. I've sat in the padded bow of a sofa boat, skin sticking to vinyl, everyone's knees between everyone elses, no moving around or dodging spilled drinks, the wet guy who just had a turn on the tube climbing over the next one, bleh.

So I say padding isn't conducive to active boating, not just fishing. Around here, families who seldom if ever fish agree. Boating, of any size, is all about maximizing usable space.

From observation and experience I know--the families who start with the scout-type boat stick with that design, and the families who start with that tahoe type design, if they stick with boating and see the other boat in action, switch. Moreover, when you outgrow that smaller first boat and it's a durable fiberglass self bailing boat, you keep it AND get the bigger boat, taking us back to the OP's question.

I know it's all a matter of preference and no right or wrong. But when a person new to boating, or who looks for suggestions on a good fit, asks, or seems to assume (or hear) that the sofa boat is the only option for family boating, I share my broad, but contrary, experience.

 

[hillbilly321]

Re: Fish n Ski or Two Boats?

To me that looks much more like a fishing boat than a leisure/fishing boat. There is no place for the family to lay around or put skis or tubes. They would be crawling over all the stuff on the boat just to have it all with them. I do really like the Scout layout and think it would be a great comfortable fishing boat from the looks of it.

I do see your point of all the padding not being very conducive to fishing...that's why it is hard to find a good combo boat.

To the OP...is $5000 your limit on price for finding a boat??

Not really, more of a self imposed limit to get my first boat. I assume that I'll learn from the experience and want something else later, so trying not to go crazy at first.