Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

[jack7771]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

To meet your specifications you will need an aluminium boat, I have had many and they are great. Biggest problem is the I/O in a 16' ft boat. Not very many ever made as the I/O is to heavy for such a small boat and you will never seat 6 people in a 16 'I/O even if you could find one. I had an 18' alum Starcraft with a 70 hp Johnson that was a sweet outfit, seat 6 adults, more room without I/O on inside and easy on fuel and less than 2000 lb tow wgt. Now have a 22' alum with a 140 hp I/O seats 8 adults and only weighs 3000 towing wt. I would never seat 6 adults in a 16' boat unless it is "very" calm as the handling of a boat this size will be greatly diminished with that much weight. You might want to reconsider your desires.

Airshot

Frankly, my 1986 fiberglass 16' Starcraft open bow with 110hp Evinrude never had a problem with 6 people.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

I can't just look behind me at the dock and tell which way the outdrive is pointing before I slip it into gear. The outdrive is below my line of sight when I'm at the helm.
Food for thought....

Sorry for the hijack... Jay, look at the Davis Rudder Position Indicator. It costs about 25 bucks and IT WORKS. I installed one last spring- best $25. I ever spent on a boat.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

2000 is the tow limit -- yuck!

Definitely check out the new Bayliner Element then. It looks like a fun little boat.

Bayliner?Element (2013-)?2013? Reviews,performance,compare,price,warranty, specs,Reports,Specifications Layout, video | BoatTEST.com

Personally, I would rather have the 60 HP outboard than a jet. You can at least play around with prop pitch for different needs.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

Forget the i/o on a boat that small. As you see, your weight restriction won't work. Worse, they are nothing but a waste of space in an already cramped design.

To get the capacity you want, within the short length and light weight, you will have to go to a high-floating light weight hull. Aluminum is one. Here is another:

JVX 18 Carolina Skiff
Specifications

LOA 17' 9" USCG Maximum Capacity Rating

Maximum Weight: 1652 lbs
Maximum Persons: 7 or 987 lbs
Maximum Horsepower: 70 HP

BEAM 78"
Gunnel Height 19"
Approx Boat Weight 1073 lbs
Fuel Capacity 19 Gallon
Transom Size 15" / 20" / 25"
Draft 4" - 8" inche


Sorry but you can't get a sofa boat. Not that you would want one anyway for "4-6 people in 14-16' boat."

 

[jack7771]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

2000 is the tow limit -- yuck!

Definitely check out the new Bayliner Element then. It looks like a fun little boat.

Bayliner*Element (2013-)*2013* Reviews,performance,compare,price,warranty, specs,Reports,Specifications Layout, video | BoatTEST.com
....

Note -- that Bayliner has just a 12 gal. tank! Did I hear "up the creek without a paddle" -- but then a good boater always has a paddle.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

what--are suggesting that bayliner would sell a boat with a defective design and insufficient equipment? Cost-saving measures (their cost) just to increase sales? I'm shocked--shocked I tell you!

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

Sorry for the hijack... Jay, look at the Davis Rudder Position Indicator. It costs about 25 bucks and IT WORKS. I installed one last spring- best $25. I ever spent on a boat.

Actually, I took care of that and a trim gauge today. Now I do know where my outdrive is pointed: left-right-up-down. It should make things a lot easier for me around the dock.

I had an hour meter in the dead center of my panel which we moved over to the passenger side of the dash. The resulting hole was filled with a Faria trim gauge of the same series as the rest of my instruments. Looks really nice. All the fun was in the back where the wiring had to be replaced. Rather than having to drop the outdrive we ran the wiring through the transom where my transducer wire was already penetrating. It should work out fine and was a lot less work.

 

[OrangeTJ]

Re: Trying to decide on a boat Type Ect

You looking for a new boat or an older boat? When I was a kid, my family had a 1985 Marlin 16 or 17 foot open bow with a 140hp OMC I/O. My dad takes care of things and they still have that boat today. It doesn't look much more than 4 or 5 years old and despite having had a few outdrive issues over the years, it runs and rides great. It's really a lovely little boat. We towed it with a 1984 Plymouth Reliant station wagon (k car). 6 people was no problem in it and you could fit eight using every seat.

Regarding jet boats, if you're looking at anything new, you won't find any that small from Yamaha anyway and SeaDoo is out of the boat business. Sea Ray is stepping into it, but their entry is a 21 footer. We have a 21 foot Yamaha SX210 and absolutely love it. I'm not sure what the hassles are supposed to be - these things have a reputation of being highly reliable and they're pretty light on overall maintenance requirements compared to an I/O. Great layout for recreational/family boating, too. They make a 19 footer as well, but it would likely come in quite a bit over 2000 pounds on the trailer.