How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

[zapblam]

I have a boat sitting in my yard. Its stored here untill the old home owner finishes building his new home. He offered to sell to me for $500. 78 Vanguard Trihull, 85hp Jonson with unknown leg problems. Filthy dirty and rotten seats. Floor is solid. Trailer needs tires and possible rewire.

Boat dream started with almost buying a deep 70's 14' aluminum boat that was heavily modified. The closed bow was opened up to create a nice fishing boat. $1800 with 20hp and tilt trailer. PERFECT BOAT FOR US Deep Wide Light for fishing large often choppy lakes. Open fishing layout. He sold the motor before I could pay him the next day. And had a offer on the trailer. BOOOO

Found this now. Same 14' aluminum boat with original closed bow that I could possibly open up in the future. New floor, foam, seats, bilge pump, wiring. 25hp motor. $2000

BIG Question should I ditch the $500 (price got me thinking) trihull and go with the $2000 aluminum V. Wife wants a roomu open bow though but likes the $500. I like the possibility of opening up the bow (heavy guage well structured aluminum tinny) and the deep wide V for often rough waters.

We fish in Lund country.

How much would the Trihull weigh? I am guessing its a lot heavier than the aluminum boat of same dimensions.

 

[lemo32]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

If i had to guess i would say tri-hull, i opened one up around the same era, and everything under the floor was rotten, water soaked, and done, it took two good men to lift it up and put it on the ball of a truck. You say the floor is sturdy on the tri-hull? it maybe that someone has put a band-aid on the old floor, you never really know until you go digging around, tri-hulls ride better to me, but if everything under the floor is gone, it wouldnt be worth 500 dollars, unless your a handy man looking for a project.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

Maybe 1400 lbs with the motor. I sure wouldn't pay $500 for that thing though given the condition you listed. Might take it if it were free.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

if the motor is in running condition on that tri hull $500 would be worth it.

that being said, you keep mentionint choppy waters... all 3 of those boats are going to beat the hell out of you in choppy water. you need to find a fiberglass v hull to suit your needs.


on the tri hull, if you are somewhat handy and can follow direction and are ambitious, go for it. the price isnt bad if the motor is running like i said. 2k is pricey for that tinny with a 25hp on it. on a 14 footer its not going to move you that fast.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

if the motor is in running condition on that tri hull $500 would be worth it.

He said: 85hp Jonson with unknown leg problems.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

My '75, 17' 3" Arrow Glass Cheetah tri, per the brochure is just under 1,100 lbs fittout but dry and the 115 V4 Johnnie is about 340 lbs. Look for transom rot and rusted deck mounting screws that let water in the under deck foam floatation or voids.
Mike

 

[zapblam]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

Father-in-law has spoken. He says there is a reason you see only aluminum V boats on the lakes we go to. Lots of rocky shores where we often shore lunch. Half the weight of fiberglass for easier towing. And he said most of the trihulls he ever rode in were great untill the whitecap chop starts. He urged us to look for a aluminum V. He liked the orange springbok boat we are going to look at in a few days. As long as the hull does not leak and is not paper thin on the bottom then it may be a good purchase. May even get a better price as its been for sale for 4 months now. (owner bought a pontoon)

$2000 seems to be the normal listing price of most 14ft tinnies with trailer and motors. Without motors they are listed $1200 - $1600(Lunds)

$3000 gets a 16ft bench seater. Wife grew up in those and isnt interested. She wants a floor and seats lol. Especially with the kids.

Our budget is $2000 - $3000tops. Hence the very older boats. I am very mechanical however hoping to gradually restore a boat and just have the normal maintenace to do. The trihull is way more work than I want to do before getting to fish from it.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: How heavy is a typical 70's 15ft trihull?

It sounds to me like your looking for a Starcraft Super Sport 16 footer. A bow rider configuration, great multi purpose boat, and pretty common. I wouldn't recommend cutting open a closed bow aluminum boat, as the gunwale structure is different and you will loose some rigidity in the hull. The open bow models have more material in the forward gunwales to support the sides.

That trihull will probably fall in the 1200 to 1400 lb range total. I've got a 17' Starcraft with a Mercury 115 and tandem bunk trailer that weighs in at about 1580 total. The hull itself on mine is light, light enough that four big guys were able to lift it and move it off it's trailer without the motor or seats installed.

Trihulls do give a pretty rough ride in light chop, but not many lakes offer much of an issue around here, and I run mine mostly in the rivers. Their great fishing boats as they're super stable at rest and handle like their on rails. Some hull designs are better riding than others. I'm partial to the Starcraft version after having several others. A close second is probably the MFG Gypsy but their a lot heavier hull.

If your beaching the boat, then by all means look for an aluminum hull, and maybe still a keel guard if your encountering rocky shorelines. I've owned dozens of Starcraft boats, so far I've not had a leaky one. Most all aluminum boats in your price range will be semi V hulls, or flat bottomed in the stern. The later you go the more V shape they seem to retain. I've got three Starcraft aluminum boats right now, they ride fine, I've never had a complaint about how they ride, but a little common sense goes a long way when dealing with rough water in a small or light boat.
I'm sure any one of them would jar my teeth out if I hammered it through the surf or in 2 foot chop, but simply backing off the throttle a bit works for me.
I'm not a fan of pounding the hull on any boat for no reason.