help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

[newbytoboats]

I want to buy a 12-14 ft tin boat on the cheap using craigslist. I've never owned a boat before and don't really know what to look for or at. I need a quick tutorial form some guys that know what they are talking about. I need to know what to look at and look for. Also, since a lot of sellers aren't going to take it out tto the lake and let you test drive it, can you reasonably know what you are getting looking at the boat out of the water. I appreciate all help.
Thanks, Chas

 

[dave11]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

It's hard to go wrong with a little tinny. Just make sure it doesn't leak much.
The flatter the hull, the rougher the ride will be in chop.
Get them to put water inside the boat to see if it leaks, if he won't take it to the lake to test.

 

[impatico]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

It's hard to go wrong with a little tinny. Just make sure it doesn't leak much.
The flatter the hull, the rougher the ride will be in chop.
Get them to put water inside the boat to see if it leaks, if he won't take it to the lake to test.

this brings up a question for me, what if he lives up near me and all the lakes are frozen and if you filled it with water this time of year it might be the end of summer till it thawed lol

boats are cheaper in the winter, but how could someone up here try to avoid buying a lunker? guess just put the muffs on in a heated shop?? any thoughts?

 

[erwinner]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

You want a boat like mine. You can see it in my avatar.
There's a bit of wood in the transom, but other than that it's pretty much failproof. Rivets can get leaky, but they can be rebucked easily and even when they're leaking it's not a big deal. Mine leaks some but I just use a cup to bail water outta the back every few hours. Mine has no floor other than the aluminum hull and has 3 aluminum benches stuffed with foam so hopefully it won't plummet to the bottom if a lot of water was somehow taken on. If you have a fancier boat with a wooden deck and seat structures things get more complicated, of course.
My dad surprised me with a new 15hp 4 stroke Mercury motor for my 10 year job anniversary (he was ticked that my work never even made mention of it... ) and it really screams with just me onboard. I've clocked 29 which feels really fast, especially with any chop!
I had a 6hp '72 Evinrude that was a solid little motor despite years of neglect but I'd go for at least a 9.9hp or 15hp in a 14' hull rated for 15hp. (like mine) It was stolen a few months ago and I still miss it and had plans for it to go back on the 14 footer when I got a bigger hull and would use the new 15 as a kicker.
Where are you at? We'd be happy to look over craigslist ads etc. with you to try and find good candidates. Or post pics of unlisted boats for sale that you can find locally.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Welcome to iboats.

First while you are waiting and looking for that "special" deal I would advise a boating safety course

I would also place my vote for a 14 foot boat. A 12' will get small and you will want a larger boat before the end of your first season. It happens ALL the time.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Don't go with any thing less then 14'. The water test is the ne t best to the lake test. Also kinda like said before a 14' jon boat will be great for shallow lakes, a stable fishing platform, and a lot faster then a v hull in flat calm water. the minute you hit chop youll go half the speed and take a beating. v hull tinny will be good for fishing all good if the lake gets choppy a lot. tinnys don't draw much water either way so depth concern isn't that big of a deal but you will draw more water with a vhull compared to a flat. hope that helped a bit.

 

[bryanwess2000]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

I don't know the boat traffic where you'll be boating, but unless it's small lakes I wouldn't consider a flat bottom jon unless you can find a wide one. Any little wake will kill your back and be very scary. If you can find them where your at get a 14-16ft semi or shallow v starcraft, sylvan, sea nymph etc. I got a 16' sylvan sportster same as a starcraft ss for $500 with
a decent trailer in ATL before the economy went south so I'm sure you could find one now in better condition for less money. If your set on a jon boat try to find a 42'' wide or better. I had a 1437 fisher that did not get used much because of all the bass boats on my lake.

 

[5150abf]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

A little tinny like that you can just inspect visually since everthing is open, look for obvious damage like dents and rips in the hull.

Also look at the transom but even if that is bad and a few rivets leak both are real easy fixxes adn I second the wider si better.

Those skinny boats can be a little scary in all but the calmest water, I came up in a 12' jon and they are pretty tippy, take your time looking and you will find the right boat.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Welcome Aboard!

My first boat was a 14' tin boat with a 5.5hp motor. I eventually traded up to a 16' with 35hp and then to an even bigger 16' fishing boat. However, I went back and bought an old 12' Starcraft since I no longer had the 14' boat. Small boats are great for small lakes and bays. They will pound you in bigger waves or if you boat anywhere near where bigger/faster boats will go flying by. Those guys never stop to think about how their wake will make you clutch onto the rails in terror!

As for buying, everyone above has nailed it. For a basic tin boat with metal benches, don't worry about the water tests during the winter. If the hull visually looks to be in good condition you'll be fine. You can always fix rivets later on if needed. One nice thing option to have in a 12-14' boat is oar locks. My 12' has those and they allow me to sneak up on fish without motoring up with my old 2-stroke, allows me to get into really shallow waters, and is a great backup for the times that the old girl coughed up black smoke and died.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

As the others have stated just look it over closely. The obvious stuff will show itself quickly, rotten wood on the transom, seats loose or missing, oarlocks missing or loose, dents or missing rivets. Leaks will be difficult w/o water.

A 12'er would be fine for small calm waters and if fishing mostly alone. They can also be loaded into the back of a pickup truck easily and a 5-8hp engine is more than enough to push it. Best of all it's hard to lose money on a 12 to 14' rowboat.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

I'd go for the 14' wide body jon (square bow). A boat that small, it doesn't matter how it rides. Look for cracks in the ribs and at the transom. Rotten transom wood is a breeze to replace. Leaks are easy to fix, unless each rivet shows corrosion (can happen in salt environs).

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is be sure the hull is flat; some boats are bent from accidents.

It's a low risk purchase. No seller is going to take time to let you test it (the motor is another story).

One deal breaker: no title. It's not worth it to try to get one. You need a title if you have a motor unless you are only on a private lake. Same with the trailer.

Don't over think it.

 

[newbytoboats]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Thanks for the replies. I live in Southern California and the boat will live at Big Bear Lake. It's a decent sized lake but can get windy and chopy. In the summer there are lots of wakes from the guys that like to go fast and the damned PWC. Because of this I've pretty much decided that I want a V hull. Another question. Will a 14 ft boat be much harder to launch by myself than a 12? I'll be fishing alone more often than not.

 

[erwinner]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Nah, they're both really light. I've even pulled the motor all the way up and drug mine all the way outta the water onto shore by myself. Was a lot easier with the 2 stroke Evinrude than the big 15hp 4 stroke Merc! The biggest challenge with the little boats is pulling back onto the trailer in a crosswind! But if it's too bad I'll just get my feet wet and walk it on with a rope on the boweye.
What do you want to do with the boat? Fishing? Just hanging out?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

a 14' boat in a windy chopy lake with boat wakes will be bumpy regardless of design. get a square bow and add stability.

 

[steelespike]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

There are 12 and 14 ft boats that are small,intended for car top easy carrying,less money etc there are larger 12 and 14s that have real size go for the big 14 not weighted down with floors and consoles etc.Just compare sizes on new boats on the net you'll get the idea you'll see they are wider,deeper and longer.
I had a friend with a small 14 and you would bet money that it was a smaller boat,even on a trailer where all boats appear larger.
The big 14 will get up on the water easier than a boat with a smaller footprint and carry a load better.
And will feel much bigger on the water.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

I agree with everyone that says don't go smaller than 14'.

My dad and I have this one which is a 14:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w200/ezmobee/DSCF2577.jpg

It's a little shallower than I'd like but it does well. We've even had it out in pretty snotty weather. He got it for $600 with a fairly crummy single cylinder 5HP Merc. We sold that and run it with my twin cylinder Evinrude 4HP. Obviously it doesn't plane, but it moves pretty well with just the 4 and we've covered a lot of area with it. It is dead simple to launch and load even solo. (for what it's worth, anything "row boat" style is going to be real easy to launch and retrieve, even up to like 16')

 

[richardgreen]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

I believe you'll find little difference in difficulty launching a plain bench seat style boat like this from a trailer whether its 12' to 16' long. All are easy for one person to handle.

I believe you'll find a huge difference in comfort on the water and overall satisfaction if you choose a deep & wide model over a standard version.

RG

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/boa/2789812833.html


Tell him to keep the outboard and see if he will take 250-300..

I miss Big Bear...My Grandma had a cabin at Arrowhead growing up

 

[Pontoon24]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Your off to a good start. A 14' aluminum V hull is a great first boat. (don't get a 12')
With the boat upside down sight down the bottom center (keel) of the boat. If it's bowed up in the middle it may have been beaten up. Look inside for any broken pieces.
Expect it to leak (a little) and be happy if it doesn't.
I wouldn't pay more than $150 to $300 (the higher end if it includes oars, anchor, seats)
Now did you say anything about a motor and or trailer to go with it?
A motor would need to have a much closer look.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: help me choose 12-14 foot alum boat.

Thanks for the replies. I live in Southern California and the boat will live at Big Bear Lake. It's a decent sized lake but can get windy and chopy. .

After reading all the posts and your reply above I too would suggest going with a 14'. Next you need to ask yourself, a small 14' rowboat or a larger 14' utility boat with a flat deck and maybe a remote steering console.