Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

[barrynfla]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I have a 13' fiberglass tri-hull with a 25 hp Johnson on it and can move it around pretty easily and I'm 70 years old. I tow it with a Honda Civic with no problems at all. I don't know where you're located but the roads are flat here in Tampa. Maybe you have mountains to contend with.

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

A boat trailer has better balance than your utility trailer, with the motor/s on the back. They really do move around better than most trailers.
A trailer dolly start under 50 bucks if you need one.

The 12 footer with 2 motors and trailer does sounds good. A 16 footer with a console, side/center and then never sell it sounds better. :facepalm:
huts

Well the 12 footer is 1000$ all included in great condition, so it's a great deal.

For the dolly, it's exactly what I was looking for, I didn't know how it was called so I couldn't find one.

You really made my day

I'm going to buy a dolly today and now the weight is not an issue anymore.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Just glad we could help. This is a great place for info. Lots of very knowledgeable old salts to learn from.

Welcome aboard
huts

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I'd really recommend a 14' over 12'. I realize there are probably wide and deep 12' and skinny tippy 14' but on the whole, I think you'll find a 14' to be vastly roomier and more stable than most 12' boats. When my dad was looking for a boat just like this I told him to only consider 14' and up. He got a nice 14' Alumacraft but I'd still prefer one that was a little more high-sided and stable. Unless you're literally car-toppin' it, look for a 14'.

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I'd really recommend a 14' over 12'. I realize there are probably wide and deep 12' and skinny tippy 14' but on the whole, I think you'll find a 14' to be vastly roomier and more stable than most 12' boats. When my dad was looking for a boat just like this I told him to only consider 14' and up. He got a nice 14' Alumacraft but I'd still prefer one that was a little more high-sided and stable. Unless you're literally car-toppin' it, look for a 14'.

I had the exact same comment from someone else, go 14' minimum...

I'm looking into 14 footer but they are a bit more expensive but also more recent.

they are around 2500$ for an aluminium boat with 15 hp and a trailer, still not that bad.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

You should update your profile with your location. We love spending other people's money. Here was one I just saw listed in my area and thought of you 14' mirrocraft v-hull, motor, trailer

 

[lncoop]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Shingo, if you don't mind my asking, where are you? Around here a fourteen footer with trailer and outboard (likely 9.9 to 15) ready for the water can be found for a grand just about any day of the week.

 

[Part-time]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Aluminum is deffinately lighter than glass, so are the plastic john boats.
A buddy of mine had a coleman crawdad, one guy can load that on top of a car or like we used to do, on a rack on top of an ATV and go fishing in small lakes that would otherwise be inaccesable.
I had a 12' car topper that I could do the same.
The V bottom tinny was a little tippy compared to the flat bottomed crawdad but cheaper to buy (around here you can get a good one for around $300) and it still has a lot more room than a canoe and much more stable.
Now I use an infatable, folds and fits in the trunk of my kia.

I still think the crawdad was the #1 for being lightweight and robust.

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I can driver a few hundread miles for a good boat, but a that price range, if I go too far or it will cost to much versus the cost of the boat.

Here's a couple of deal I found around here : Chalouppe Princecraft - Longueuil / Rive-Sud Vedettes, bateaux ? moteur ? vendre - Kijiji Longueuil / Rive-Sud

2003 Princecraft 14' with 2 seats 2003 Mercury 9.9 2 stroke and a trailer with 13" inch wheel everything well maintained 3000$

Chaloupe 14 pi remorque et moteur 9.9 - Longueuil / Rive-Sud Vedettes, bateaux ? moteur ? vendre - Kijiji Longueuil / Rive-Sud

This one is 1996 with 9.9 hp engine same year, trailer included.2500$

Thats the average deal I can get here.

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I found a really good deal for an older boat, 1500$ for a 15.5 footer, with 9.9 evinrude and a trailer, both the boat and engine are 20 years old.

I'm just affraid 15.5 is too big for a fishing boat and my car. My car is extremly powerfull but it could suffer from the wind.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Unless the boat has a really involved interior in it, with a 9.9 it's probably still pretty light. I towed a 16' tinnie with an 85HP motor with a FWD Buick Regal and it was fine.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Unless the boat has a really involved interior in it, with a 9.9 it's probably still pretty light. I towed a 16' tinnie with an 85HP motor with a FWD Buick Regal and it was fine.

Yep. I have a wide and deep sixteen foot john with a 25 horse on it and I can easily roll it anywhere I want by hand. Not sure what car you have, but unless it's a Smart car or something you should be fine. Now, you won't be able to cartop it, but I don't recall that being a priority for you. I think you'd really enjoy the stability and space of a fifteen footer.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Here, I just sold this one to my little brother. It is now sitting on a 1998 Spartan roller trailer. $1500.00

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Here, I just sold this one to my little brother. It is now sitting on a 1998 Spartan roller trailer. $1500.00

Wow, that is ridiculously cheap

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Well he is my little brother after all. Seriously with spring coming I may have been able to market it and been able to get $2200.00 for it but then again in this area that would have been top dollar and $1800.00 probably would have been closer.

He's wanted it for a couple years now and I was able to find a bigger unit more suitable to what I wanted to do. Paid $1100.00 for this one. Needed the engine replaced.

 

[DonHof]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

10 foot Lund Jon boat is 80#, a 12 foot is 90#

 

[shingo]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

I found a "good deal" around here :

It's 16 footer, come fully equiped and a 35hp engine and an electrical trolling engine.

Everything in great condition and fully maintained.

Asking price is 2800$ but I could probably get it for 2300$

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

Looks like a nice rig and reasonably priced. That Johnson is a great one too. Very reliable.

One word of caution with this one. Being new, pay attention to that very high bow platform. It's not that it is unusable or unsafe but just be aware that at that hieght the boat will be very rockey while up there in rough water. Stay seated and it will be OK.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

That looks a like a nice rig. If the price is right for you, go for it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

It's a leveled grass yard, I can tow my current 500# trailer but I wouldn't say it's easy but it's not hard too.

I'm a software developper, so my muscle might not be as developped as the average joe.

I just don't know if going from 500 to 1000# is going to be much harder to pull.

If y0u cannot move this light boat on a light trailer on flat ground by yourself you really need to eat more Wheaties. I suspect I am "ancient" in relation to you and routinely move heavier stuff than that by myself. Hit the health club young man.