Stupid Newbie question

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

On flat bottoms you can run just about anything. I've seen guys with a 10 footer with a 3.5 hp motor, and have seen them up to 22' long with a 250 hp.

Holy smokes! What would fit my needs? 16-18 footer with 40-60 hp? I'd be happy with a tiller.... nothing fancy... just fun while keeping the cost down.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

Thanks CBK! Let me complicate things.... 4 adults + kids + maybe a picnic lunch(for when we beach her), pulling a tube.... what do you guys think I can get away with as far as size and power? A plain jane fishing boat like Kev's (above) except over 16'? with what, a 30+ hp motor?

Thats a whole lotta people!
Theres a lot of deals on 16 to 18 foot open bow tri-hulls with good running outboards out there that can be had (in my area) for as little as $850.00
Even on my 18 footer...more than 3 gets cramped (to me...lol)

 

[hoytvectrix]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

with 4 adults plus kids as you mentioned above. I would probably go with an 18' with a modified v bottom, that is a hull that is mostly flat but has a slight degree of a v to cut the waves on lakes better giving a smoother ride. But if you want something cheaper just a normal flat bottom would do. I would think a 50-75 horse outboard would be perfect.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

http://erie.craigslist.org/boa/1981002726.html

http://erie.craigslist.org/boa/1978216390.html



may worth a look..of course they arent Starcrafts..lol

 

[JimS123]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

Holy smokes! What would fit my needs? 16-18 footer with 40-60 hp? I'd be happy with a tiller.... nothing fancy... just fun while keeping the cost down.

Please don't take offense, but I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself. From your first post it sounded like an 18 footer was the future dreamboat that you aspire to. But with no funds or time you would "settle" for something lesser. Your comments included "tiller", family, fishing boat and cheap.

I envisioned an aluminum fishing boat with a 10 or 15 HP motor and seats to accomodata a "family". But now you need to accomodate 4 adults and kids, plus you often ask about big HP.

As I said before, in my experience 14 footers with 9.9's can be had for reasonable prices and they usually are in VG condition, so only a little more capital will usually be needed to fixerup. But now it lokks like your family will truly need an 18 footer with a much bigger motor. Sure, you can find them for $850, but chances are that you might need another grand to make it reliable. If you don't have the resources available at the time, you will likely be quite disappointed.

Naturally, there are always bargains to be had from widows or guys navigating a quick divorce, but you just need to be in the right place at the right time.

Good luck to you.....but my advice would be to wait till you can afford the one you want.

 

[Rumley]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

My friend has a 14' deep and wide basic aluminum boat with a 3 cylinder yamaha oil injected (in my opinion the best motor yamaha ever made). We have tubed/wakeboarded/waterskied behind it with 3 ppl in the boat. With 2 ppl we had it on gps at 36mph. The boat I think is only rated for a 20 or 25 but it goes great. Up in northern Ontario those 30hp yamahas are extremely hard to find but a 25 hp merc and 14foot aluminum can usually be had for under 2grand (Canadian, and everything is more expensivehere). Just my 2cents

 

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

Please don't take offense, but I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself. From your first post it sounded like an 18 footer was the future dreamboat that you aspire to. But with no funds or time you would "settle" for something lesser. Your comments included "tiller", family, fishing boat and cheap.

I envisioned an aluminum fishing boat with a 10 or 15 HP motor and seats to accomodata a "family". But now you need to accomodate 4 adults and kids, plus you often ask about big HP.

As I said before, in my experience 14 footers with 9.9's can be had for reasonable prices and they usually are in VG condition, so only a little more capital will usually be needed to fixerup. But now it lokks like your family will truly need an 18 footer with a much bigger motor. Sure, you can find them for $850, but chances are that you might need another grand to make it reliable. If you don't have the resources available at the time, you will likely be quite disappointed.

Naturally, there are always bargains to be had from widows or guys navigating a quick divorce, but you just need to be in the right place at the right time.

Good luck to you.....but my advice would be to wait till you can afford the one you want.

No offense taken... The 14 foot idea would work fine... it's just I was suprised at the power some of those flat bottoms can handle so I started thinking..... maybe I could find a simple one of those relatively cheap. I probably shouldn't think!

 

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

Hoyt... sounds good but like jim said... it's probably alittle too fancy for me. A flat bottom or plain fishin boat may fit the budget better.

CBK... I checked out the links... not too bad... might have to check them out and see what all they need. Looks like that one for $999.00 has been pretty well taken care of.

I appreciate all you guys's thoughts!

 

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

My friend has a 14' deep and wide basic aluminum boat with a 3 cylinder yamaha oil injected (in my opinion the best motor yamaha ever made). We have tubed/wakeboarded/waterskied behind it with 3 ppl in the boat. With 2 ppl we had it on gps at 36mph. The boat I think is only rated for a 20 or 25 but it goes great. Up in northern Ontario those 30hp yamahas are extremely hard to find but a 25 hp merc and 14foot aluminum can usually be had for under 2grand (Canadian, and everything is more expensivehere). Just my 2cents

Thanks Rum! That's kinda what I was interested in to begin with! Would a 16 footer with the same basic setup be comparable in price? I think that would match our weight capacity needs alittle closer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Stupid Newbie question

one comment: while you think of a tiller steer as simpler and perhaps cheaper, you can increase the safe HP when you get console steering. in the used market, the steering won't affect the price; it's all about the motor.

 

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

Yep.. I was thinking it would be cheaper, but you make a good point! I appreciate all the thoughts and advice!

 

[scanman]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

It's pretty boring to me but the boy likes it. That's all that counts.

 

[mj05]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

It's pretty boring to me but the boy likes it. That's all that counts.

awesome! Spending time on the boat with the boy!! He'll never forget it!

 

[scanman]

Re: Stupid Newbie question

That's what I hoped!