Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

ddcalny

Recruit
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
1
My husband and I are looking to purchase a new boat. My husband would like a 14' or 16' Aluminum boat. The problem is, we don't know where to begin! :( What is the difference between "Deep Vee" and "Modified Vee"? Can anyone offer up some good advice to first time buyers who are completely confused by all of the choices out there? :confused: :confused: <br /><br />Thanks in advance. :) Have a great evening. Oh, and it's for fishing freshwater. He fished a lot for Pike and Walleye.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

Howdy, DD.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. :) <br /><br />A Lund or Alumacraft semi-vee aluminum about 16-18' with at least 50HP is an ideal walleye and snake boat. I recommend the Suzuki/Johnson DF70 4 stroke for power.<br /><br />Good luck. :)
 

KCook

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
1,624
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

"deep V"<br />
FM165S.jpg
That "deep V" label gets thrown around pretty loosely. These are more correctly called "semi-V", as JB noted. Designed for bigish lakes. Just how big a lake depends on how big the boat. This type is the usual preference for pike and walleye.<br /><br />"mod-V"<br />
165.jpg
You could also think of this as a "shallow V". Low profile design, often with big casting decks. Great for bass fishing on quiet lakes.<br /><br />Lots of boat brands for both types. You might also want to give some thought to what brand and type of outboard motor you want. Then hunt for the boat dealers that offer that brand motor.<br /><br />Kelly Cook
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

The best way to work out the difference is to 'feel' the difference. Even if you're only looking for a secondhand boat, take a test drive. Put the sort of passenger and equipment load on that you'd normally expect to take and take it out on the water. Pick a day with a bit of chop and, if possible, have 2 or 3 boats to test at the same time.<br /><br />Each type of hull will have it's strong points and it's weakness. A deep vee for example, is more stable on the move when the weather turns a bit nasty, bit suffers from 'slop' at rest (on anchor). The opposite for a flat bottom, great as a stable platform for fishing, relaxing or skiing, but you wouldn't want to be caught short with a bit of a blow. The other thing to remember is that many, many boat builders over the decades (dare I say centuries) have been trying to build a boat that is 'all things to all men'. Nobody has succeeded yet! The requirements for say, a deepsea fishing boat and a skiing boat are at opposite ends of the scale. It's like trying to get a car that will go very fast and uses very little fuel. Not in this lifetime! <br /><br />Chris...............
 

Spidybot

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 4, 2002
Messages
1,734
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

Yes, testing and checking is way to go. There is an almost unlimited number of designs, variations and combinations - both regarding hull, interior, layout and equipment. <br /><br />Go visit some dealers, marinas etc. and talk to the owners - normally those guys love to tell about their boat and you'll pick up valuable info - and maybe even have demo :) <br /><br />Pay attention to the size - once out on the water a small vessel feels even smaller.
 

cobra 3.0

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
1,797
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

I wouldn't get too caught up with deep or modified "V" descriptions. Just realize that the more depth you have at the nose, the better it will perform in rough water because it cuts and handles the waves better. Large bodies of water require a deeper "V" construction.<br /><br />The range of boats for walleye fishing can vary quite a bit from a conventional bare aluminum boat with tiller handle steering motor to a large, high horsepowered boat with steering wheel, electric motor, separate gas powered trolling motor, electric start and trim, wind shield, bimini roof, etc. <br /><br />Things to consider are:<br /><br />What lakes and rivers you are mainly going to fish?(i.e. small or large bodies of water)<br /><br />How bare or deluxe (comfort) do you want your boat to be? <br /><br />How much do you want to spend?<br /><br />Will you be trailering with a small car or large pickup?<br /><br />Do you need the boat to be light and portable? (i.e. are there boat ramps where you intend to fish or do you need to carry it down?)<br /><br />I have two rigs; a 14 ft carryable cartopper aluminum boat with a 15 hp motor ...and also a 16 ft fiberglass, bowrider with an inboard engine(not designed or really suited for walleye fishing). Comfort cannot be compared between the two, but the small aluminum boat has it's function and place on many smaller lakes and rivers.<br /><br />If you will be doing any slow trolling for walleye, a four stroke engine would definitely be in the cards. Super smooth, quiet, and smoke free! <br /><br />As some have already suggested, check out what others are using at your local fishing hole and/or marina.
 

mellowyellow

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 8, 2002
Messages
5,327
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

to add a bit to good advice from UU above...<br />go to the local boat launch and look at all the<br />different designs and speak with the owners.<br />people love to talk about their boats!
 

snowshoe

Seaman
Joined
Jul 6, 2004
Messages
52
Re: Need Help.. Please educate me! :)

I go with the advice cobra 3.0 posted -- very well presented. Any boat will do but how comfortable and safe will you be? Do go to the boat launch are like mellowyellow suggests and eyeball what is being used and how you like the different types.The only thing I might add is to consider if you would like/need livewells on your walleye boat. I use them all the time to keep the boat clean or fish.
 
Top