Light fishing boat, aluminium vs fiber glass weight?

[shingo]

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

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.

Well I did buy a Trailer dolley yesteryday and tryed again, and it's day and night, it's so easy. The problem with my utility trailer is that it's not balanced well, and I do not have a good grip to move it around the yard but with the dolley, it's extremly easy.

1000# should be no issue with that tool.

 

[hungupthespikes]

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

Some great info in this thread.

The 12 foot, first boat, is a great boat. If your going to stay on the hundreds of small inland lakes in your area. It will meet your needs of fishing. Like they say the smaller the boat the more fun.

A 14 foot like Bond_d had, gives a lot more room, console. Just a lot more boat than the 1st in every way.
Like most people do, he moved up to the 16 ft. with some protection from the elements at the console. This will let him go out in the colder temps without a second thought. Lots of diehards add a heater under the dash.

The last boat you found, is what we've been trying to guide you too. Twice the money granted, but lots of room for two, a motor that will get you to and from the dock in a hurry, will take the larger lakes/rivers better, and it will do a lot more than fish.


A boat to get you to the fish?
A boat to get you to the fish that you and/or a buddy can stand/move around on?
A boat that will take 3-4 cruising, tubing, with some creature comforts. You can still handle/trailer by yourself for fishing, and small enough to move around in the yard.

So now we got you thinking. I'm betting your going to make a good decision for your needs.
huts

 

[shingo]

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

I called today for the 16 footer to get more information, seemed like a great deal, I set a meeting for tomorrow but the guy called my back later to tell me it was sold.

Anyway there's going to be other good deal.

 

[Jeep Man]

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

Just cruised through the Kijiji ads for your area. I was surprised how little was available in comparison to here. Your on the right track. A 14' aluminum with a 9.9 to 20 hp on a decent trailer will suit you well. Deeper and wider models will be more versatile and safer. Prices are better south of the border in this neck of the woods. I don't know about your area. Have you checked out Vermont and northeast New York state ads.

 

[bonz_d]

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

I called today for the 16 footer to get more information, seemed like a great deal, I set a meeting for tomorrow but the guy called my back later to tell me it was sold.

Anyway there's going to be other good deal.

That is the right attitude, patience will find exactly what you are looking for and at the price you want to pay.

Looking back at this post we see you originally wanted a very light 12', which is fine. Yet now with more knowledge you've progressed up to a 16'.

The season is very young and as it moves forward you should start to see many more boats become available.

I've missed on a few good deals and have passed on others. The one I have now was a good deal to me though at times I still feel I paid a couple hundred too much. I'll refit it and use it until I can find what I really want. 16' Lund Rebel with console steering.

 

[shingo]

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

Here's one that I'm going to get a look at tomorrow
Chaloupe en fibre Cadormat 14.5 pieds avec moteur Johnson 35 hp - Longueuil / Rive-Sud Vedettes, bateaux ? moteur ? vendre - Kijiji Longueuil / Rive-Sud

This is a double hull fiberglass 14.5 feet boat, the boat is from 2002, it come with a 35hp 1988 johnson engine. The engine had a tuneup a year ago, there's a 500$ bill from the boat mecanic with all the parts that were replaced and maintained (the gasket were replaced and mainly a carb tune up)

There's also an Evinrude 2.5 hp kicker 2003 in almost new condition.

All the boating supply are included (sonar, anchor etc...)

The trailer is in galvazised steel and is not home made

Tires are new

That's about it.

 

[NYBo]

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

Here's one that I'm going to get a look at tomorrow
Chaloupe en fibre Cadormat 14.5 pieds avec moteur Johnson 35 hp - Longueuil / Rive-Sud Vedettes, bateaux ? moteur ? vendre - Kijiji Longueuil / Rive-Sud

This is a double hull fiberglass 14.5 feet boat, the boat is from 2002, it come with a 35hp 1988 johnson engine. The engine had a tuneup a year ago, there's a 500$ bill from the boat mecanic with all the parts that were replaced and maintained (the gasket were replaced and mainly a carb tune up)

There's also an Evinrude 2.5 hp kicker 2003 in almost new condition.

All the boating supply are included (sonar, anchor etc...)

The trailer is in galvazised steel and is not home made

Tires are new

That's about it.

This one might be a winner.

 

[bonz_d]

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

Well shingo looks like you are getting a feel for more of what you would really like. Good luck in your quest! Keep reading and asking questions, you will find the right one.

 

[shingo]

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

I'm still not sure about the fiber glass boat, I think I'm going to wait for a 14' 15/25hp aluminium boat at the right price.

 

[bonz_d]

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

I'm still not sure about the fiber glass boat, I think I'm going to wait for a 14' 15/25hp aluminium boat at the right price.

Might be a good choice in the long run.

Let me ask, what are you realisticly looking for in a boat? What do you want it to do for you? What performence is most importent? Size/room, capacity, speed, ease of use, ease of maintenence? Big water, small water, rivers, ponds? Improved ramps, no ramps?

Think about those questions while deciding how to go. I look at it this way, a boat is one of two things, either a toy or a tool. I see mine as more of a tool. It's used to get me on the water to the fish. If I wanted a party barge then I would most likely have something else.

 

[shingo]

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

Might be a good choice in the long run.

Let me ask, what are you realisticly looking for in a boat? What do you want it to do for you? What performence is most importent? Size/room, capacity, speed, ease of use, ease of maintenence? Big water, small water, rivers, ponds? Improved ramps, no ramps?

Think about those questions while deciding how to go. I look at it this way, a boat is one of two things, either a toy or a tool. I see mine as more of a tool. It's used to get me on the water to the fish. If I wanted a party barge then I would most likely have something else.

I want to be able to fish safely on small lake and rivers, I will fish most of the time alone. I want to be able to go at least 10 knots with 2 people on board.

99% of the time I will be alone with my dog and I don't want a gas guzler.

I need enough space to carry my small fishing equipment, the dog and sometime the wife, so about a total of 400-450#

So it's mainly to fish and some time for recreation with the wife, my wife do not fish but she might someday.

Most of the time when I go fishing I will ride the boat for a total of 10 miles or less.

I want a simple boat that do not have a lot of mechnical component that can break.

Basicly I want to fish on a boat as safely and cheaply as possible.

I calculate the cost this way ( Cost of the boat + engine + trailer + maintenance + fuel on 10 years) / 10

The portion of the river I'm going to fish most of the time is shallow, so I won't go very fast, but other portion have speed boat going full speed, I don't know if I'm going to use that portion of the river.

 

[BonairII]

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

Def stick with aluminum. Lighter.....and easier/cheaper to rebuild if there's water damage etc.

 

[shingo]

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

Def stick with aluminum. Lighter.....and easier/cheaper to rebuild if there's water damage etc.

Which size and type of hull would you suggest ?

The only problem with aluminum hull is that they are very rare in the used market, I would say 1 in 15 boat is aluminium around here.

 

[BonairII]

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

The big problem with Used FB boats is that many have rotten stringers, foam etc etc.

Do what I did(do).....place an ad in your local Craigslist/kijiji etc (in the boats section) stating what kind of boat your looking for. You'll be surprised at the responses you'll get. There are many boat owners out there that want to sell their boats, but don't/won't place a For Sale ad for their boat.

 

[bonz_d]

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

shingo from you post I have a very good idea of what you are looking for. Finding it is the quest.

I would recommend looking for a 14' aluminum V hull with a tiller. For comfort I'd suggest something with a flat floor and pedistal seats. It's just way easier to move around in and the pedistal seats are much more comfortable than a bench seat even if it does has a fold down seat mounted on it. Then for power I'd look for a 20 to 25hp 2 stroke outboard. I'd would leave out the trolling motor to save the weight and expense and on small lakes and river if like me you would hardly use it.

A list to do a search on. Lund S DLX, Lund Pro Pike, Lund Pike, Lund Rebel, Alumacraft Lunker series, Mirrocraft Resorter, Mirrocraft Big Fisherman, Sea Nymph Piker, Sylvan and Smokercraft also make these class boats but I don't recall the model names.

Don't know if it would be worthwhile to come down into US to buy and then take back North.

Anyways that's my stand on it and anyone of those listed above would fill your needs, be the most comfortable, last and hold the best resale value. Also they are very manuverable yet stable even in rougher water.

 

[sludgeguy68]

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

I had luck moving my 12' tinny around the yard by myself using a Seattle Sports Kayak Dolly and some ratchet straps. Supports up to 300 lbs.

 

[shingo]

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

Chaloupe en fibre Cadormat 14.5 pieds avec moteur Johnson 35 hp

Is the hull to deep on this one or is it just the angle?

 

[shingo]

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

Chaloupe en fibre Cadormat 14.5 pieds avec moteur Johnson 35 hp

Is the hull to deep on this one or is it just the angle?

I looked at this one, very nice price for a new and 1/4 of the weight of the old fiberglass model I'm looking at
14 Ultralite Overview - Legend Boats

 

[lncoop]

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

Based on what you've told us I think you'd be very well served by a fifteen or sixteen foot aluminum boat with a tiller steer 25 horse. Light, roomy, fast, cheap and easy to use and maintain, and will last a LONG time. A V bottom would probably be fine, but since you plan to fish rivers I'd suggest a flatbottom for your first choice. I don't think you'd be happy with a deep V fiberglass rig like the last one you posted for the reasons you and others mentioned.

 

[lncoop]

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

BTW Shingo, just for frame of reference I have a very slightly wider (51" vs 48") one of these. Jon MV 1648LW - Polar Kraft Boats I've run it in shallow rocky rivers and decent sized lakes with no problem. It is crazy fast, which doesn't really matter so much, but is nice if you need to outrun a storm of something, and very roomy and stable. I just returned from four days on the lake running Yo Yos and letting kids run the boat. They kept wanting to me to "go fast Mr. Luke!" which I did because I have trouble saying no to kids.:laugh: Anywho, after that I still have well over half of an eight gallon tank of gas left. And, as I mentioned before, I can easily move the rig around by hand including up hill, over bumps, etc.