New to thread which boat

[ondarvr]

Re: New to thread which boat

The biggest reason for more cabin boats and less cc on the west coast compared to other parts is weather and wave conditions. Doesn't really have anything to do with fishing species that you fish for. Unless you are talking comfort. You can land fish of any species on any boat if you can get to them. Some boats are better for drifting etc, but that is hull design usually, not wether it is a CC, Wa, or cabin.

While yes...you can catch a fish from just about any boat, but for the most part they are very species and location specific in design, it has little to do with comfort. It can make a huge difference if it's a WA, CC, Cabin, Tiller, Bass type, etc, as to how well it will fish for certain species with certain methods.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: New to thread which boat

you guys better quit bashing my CC dagnabbit


I had a 20' arrowglass siesta cuddy at one point and I really liked it.. The only real complaint I had was that the front deck needed to be a bit higher for more headroom in the cuddy for sitting on the port o pot... Otherwise I (6'4") was able to sleep comfortably even two people could sleep without having to get too close. Chop 3 feet off lengthwise and likely a foot of beam and as stated above it would have been too small for anything throughout the boat.

 

[strokersquid]

Re: New to thread which boat

you guys better quit bashing my CC dagnabbit


I had a 20' arrowglass siesta cuddy at one point and I really liked it.. The only real complaint I had was that the front deck needed to be a bit higher for more headroom in the cuddy for sitting on the port o pot... Otherwise I (6'4") was able to sleep comfortably even two people could sleep without having to get too close. Chop 3 feet off lengthwise and likely a foot of beam and as stated above it would have been too small for anything throughout the boat.

Asked my son tonight. He really likes the cuddy. Not enthusiastic about having a canvased-in cabin. I guess he can't get away from Dad there. Only reason I thought Arima is 6foot length cuddy in the 17' model with 8 ft wide beam, plenty of room. Sounds like the issue is its flat bottom instead of deep V hull and the pounding in waves that occurs due to this. that and co$t.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: New to thread which boat

You really should try to get out on a couple of boats that approximate what you think you'd like. Do you have any friends/acquaintances with similar boats? If not, maybe you could visit a local marina and talk with owners of the types of boats you think you and your family would like.

I do find the above post about cc vs cuddys on the west coast interesting. I live near reedsport and charleston oregon (on the coast) for over 15 years, know many fishermen and guides, and they own more open bow boats by far than cuddys. I'm sure there is always an exception to the rule, but you'll see lots of open boats with canvas in this coastal area of Oregon.

I agree that there are pros and cons to any boat, and once again comes to personal preference. Even some of the "cons" listed above are a personal preference, and become a great pro to others.

It's good to get many different views and opinions, but ultimately you need to decide what factors in boating are most important and realize that no one boat will meet every need in every situation. As an example, for me my bombard C3 inflatable with a 40hp outboard works best in my situation. I can use it on the rivers, small lakes, big lakes and the ocean. Is it the best for most people? Absolutely not.

Once again, I hope the best for you in your search. One last bit of advice imho, buy at a good enough price so if you decide you'd like a different boat you can sell it without a big loss and try another. Either way, I don't think you'll know for sure until you start using one. (and don't forget that you can make modifications if decided in the future).

 

[ondarvr]

Re: New to thread which boat

You are correct about there being more open boats used by guides, a few use CC's (rear mounted) but most are tiller models, the most popular one is an Alumalweld Super V in the 20 to 26? range, they normally have a 150 to 200hp (but up to 300HP) tiller outboard. This is a purpose built fishing boat, being exposed to the weather is down lower on the list of priorities. A tiller model offers the most useful amount of deck space for people and fishing, just no protection. For a guide this makes it possible to fish more people at one time, which equals more money per trip. Most serious salmon and steelhead fisherman that fish rivers use a similar layout, brand of boat may vary though. The guides may fish both the rivers and salt, so the same boat may be used in both places. Serious guides in the salt use cuddies for the most part, they are normally larger, in the 22' plus range.

The OP wants to take his family out on a boat in a cool climate and somewhat big water, this isn't open boat territory for happy cruising.

If I?m not out in my own boat I?m out with friends that are guides (I don?t pay), either just fishing for fun with them, or helping on guided trips.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to thread which boat

The right center console is the best general use boat design, in my opinion and hands down among experienced boaters in this boating town.
The criticism above about seating and storage is absurd. Although there are stripped out CC's like the Parker, most are made today for recreational use, with generous seating in the bow, with storage under the seats (which are also fish boxes) and in the console, wide seating at the console, and seats in the rear. Go to Sea Hunt's website as an example. Way more room, comfort and seating than a sofa boat of the same size.
You can add dodgers and curtains, especially with a T top.
The hulls are usually more seaworthy than other styles (although any style can be a CC, so avoid, in your case, a flats or bay boat).
The problem presented by the OP isa typical one: opposing objectives and limitations. If your climate is too cold for recreational boating, you can't go recreational boating. Ask all the guys here from the northern midwest who have stowed the boats. If you want a cabin for cruising, buy a cabin cruiser. If you limit your boat by your garage, you can't have the boat you need--don't let storage force you into a boat you can't use--that's penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: New to thread which boat

The statement about buying a boat. Just to own your first boat...NOW... is totally correct !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait for more money to buy what by now, you may think & know is a ... MORE CORRECT.... sized boat.

We can not impress upon you how important taking long rides in ...CRAPPY WATER CONDITIONS... in many different boats is. Make sure you have all 3 of you on board for a vote on which boat is best & why.



YOU have a lot of rides to schedule on the nex CRAPPY DAY. Sales people like customers who want a ride in crappy conditions. They know you are serious and a possible sale.

Do the work, then buy..............That includes larger boats. You really need to say. " This IS THE BOAT " . Then you can join the rest of us on the water with that satisfied hand wave of a boater saying.

" I am so glad I picked this boat ".

Rich

 

[ondarvr]

Re: New to thread which boat

The right center console is the best general use boat design, in my opinion and hands down among experienced boaters in this boating town.
The criticism above about seating and storage is absurd. Although there are stripped out CC's like the Parker, most are made today for recreational use, with generous seating in the bow, with storage under the seats (which are also fish boxes) and in the console, wide seating at the console, and seats in the rear. Go to Sea Hunt's website as an example. Way more room, comfort and seating than a sofa boat of the same size.
You can add dodgers and curtains, especially with a T top.

Is a CC versatile?for fishing yes, but we aren?t talking about fishing.

People confuse what they would buy for their own purposes, or what they see used by serious fisherman on local waters, with what will work well for a beginner family on the other side of the country that just wants to cruise around at this point. If he asked what would be a good boat for dedicated fishing here on the west coast it would be a totally different answer, and depending on the type of fishing it may include a CC.

I?ve had my current CC for 12 years, and I can tell you that my wife and kids have no interest in being on it in cool weather. They really don?t like being on it even in warm weather due to being constantly buffeted by the wind while cruising. This has nothing to do with storage or seating comfort, just the fact that there is little or no protection from the elements.
Yes I could go and spend a few grand and buy an enclosure to try and make it into a different style of boat, but why when there are better designs for family cruising if that?s what it was going to be for.

As I said before, boats are just tools for me to get where the fish are, I am not in love with a certain style, my judgments and preferences are based how well a certain design will work for the task at hand.

Which of the following designs would your family rather cruise around in in 60 degree over cast and foggy weather, then let it start raining.


http://seahuntboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=103

http://striperboats.com/walkarounds/1851.php

http://seahuntboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105&Itemid=131


http://www.arimaboats.com/sr17.htm


Washington, Oregon guide boat

http://www.alumaweldboats.com/custompage.asp?pg=superveepro

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to thread which boat

I stand on my dock at home and see 13 boats on the docks at people's houses. One is a cuddy, one is a walk-around, one is a dual console. The other 10 are center consoles. Of the center consoles, one, a parker, is used by the teenage boys mostly for fishing. All of the others, including mine and my sisters, are used for general family use. For some, that includes fishing as one of the uses. Many are never used for fishing.

Most recreational boaters aren't going out when it's cold and wet, so most recreational boaters don't need a boat that is designed for cold and wet, because dry warm enclosures are usually incompatible with recreational boating. The typical family would rather stay home than stay below. yes, I know there are lots of people who like to bundle up and go out in unpleasant weather, but we are talking generalities here.

In certain parts of the country, where the weather is seldom warm and dry, the boaters have to resort to closed in boats. It's no coincidence that boating is not as popular there. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, where it's seldom cold and if it rains, at least it's warm, boating is very popular and the open boat is the most versatile, comfortable and practical.

I've been to San Fransisco and the climate is similar to ours. I've also been to Seattle and Vancouver, which is similar in some respects but cooler and wetter. I agree with you, that you don't want to take one style boat and try to make it into another, which is sort of where we started, the OP looking for opinions on a 17' cabin cruiser.

 

[strokersquid]

Re: New to thread which boat

Is a CC versatile?for fishing yes, but we aren?t talking about fishing.

People confuse what they would buy for their own purposes, or what they see used by serious fisherman on local waters, with what will work well for a beginner family on the other side of the country that just wants to cruise around at this point. If he asked what would be a good boat for dedicated fishing here on the west coast it would be a totally different answer, and depending on the type of fishing it may include a CC.

I?ve had my current CC for 12 years, and I can tell you that my wife and kids have no interest in being on it in cool weather. They really don?t like being on it even in warm weather due to being constantly buffeted by the wind while cruising. This has nothing to do with storage or seating comfort, just the fact that there is little or no protection from the elements.
Yes I could go and spend a few grand and buy an enclosure to try and make it into a different style of boat, but why when there are better designs for family cruising if that?s what it was going to be for.

As I said before, boats are just tools for me to get where the fish are, I am not in love with a certain style, my judgments and preferences are based how well a certain design will work for the task at hand.

Which of the following designs would your family rather cruise around in in 60 degree over cast and foggy weather, then let it start raining.


http://seahuntboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=103

http://striperboats.com/walkarounds/1851.php

http://seahuntboats.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105&Itemid=131


http://www.arimaboats.com/sr17.htm


Washington, Oregon guide boat

http://www.alumaweldboats.com/custompage.asp?pg=superveepro

Seaswirl link does not work. Thanks for the Sea Hunt link, that looks to be in the running.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: New to thread which boat

From this dock (River) I see about 98% open tiller jet boats, a few row boats and less than 1% CC?s. At the other house (salt water, no dock) I see about 70% cuddies, 29% open Ski type boats and maybe 1% CC?s. This doesn?t count the large yacht?s that go past.

The SF area doesn?t get very warm in the summer or very cold in the winter, today the high is 63 and the low 49, this could be any day of the year. On the water the temp is 50 with a dense fog advisory, again this could be just about any day during the year.

The type and style is ultimately up to the OP, but if he wants to take the non fishing family out in cool conditions they should have a warm and dry boat to do it in.

SF bay seasonal conditions.

?Summer:
During the months of June, July and August the eastern Pacific high is well established offshore while a trough of low pressure is a nearly a constant feature over California?s interior. The inland low pressure is often referred to as a ?thermal trough? because its formation and strength are primarily driven by robust daytime surface heating that persists throughout the great Central Valley during the dry and sunny summer months. The pressure difference between the eastern Pacific high and the thermal trough over the interior maintains both northwesterly winds over the coastal waters and onshore winds through the coastal gaps and across the Bay. Persistent northwest winds over the coastal waters in turn continue the cold upwelling near the coast. Meanwhile, subsidence under the strengthening eastern Pacific high produces additional warming aloft which strengthens the low level inversion, effectively placing a ?cap? on the marine layer. Because these meteorological conditions tend to prevail throughout in the summer, the marine layer is a semi-permanent fixture along the California coast from June through August. Fog and low clouds can remain entrenched along the coast for days, sometimes weeks, at a time. ?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: New to thread which boat

Sea Chaser makes a nice WA. They are light and inexpensive--made by Carolina Skiff. The smallest of course is 21'; as we said, cabins on small boats dopn't work well.

http://www.carolinaskiff.com/sc-offshore-wa.html

 

[cyclops2]

Re: New to thread which boat

ondarvr

I definately would spring for some type of safe heat in the bow area to warm up everybody with coolish & damp weather like that.

I thought New Jersey was bad. I am gratefull now. Many thanks for the update.

Rich