newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

[AChotrod]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

For what you want I see no reason to go glass. Actually since you want to leave it moored I see more potential issues with the glass boat. Even if you sink a aluminum boat nothing happens to it, where a glass boat may get destroyed.

 

[lncoop]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Welcome aboard, Olympic. I also agree that you need a sixteen footer minimum, but if you don't mind my asking why do you feel compelled to leave it in the water? The kind of boat you want can be easily towed by just about anything.

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Thanks everyone for the thoughts on the glass boats....think I will stick with my original plan of aluminum and look for 16'.

At the 16' size I'm seeing some boats that have a front windshield and then four seats (two across from each other back to back). You gain arguably more comfortable seating but less overall room. Thoughts on whether the fully open boat with benches is better as a utility boat then the closed bow front windshield at the 16' size? Seeing some older aluminum crestliners (60s, 70s) with that closed bow/front windshield. Perceived advantage I can see is this variety -might- allow for use such as pulling a tube. Primary purpose of boat is for fishing...but with a pre-teen and teenager you just know the day is coming when they ask if we can pull them on a tube.

The issue I do see with some of the older aluminum boats with painted hulls is a very oxidized finish. Not sure if those can be cleaned up or if they will always look oxidized. Probably not a huge deal, just something I've noticed on some.

I also agree that you need a sixteen footer minimum, but if you don't mind my asking why do you feel compelled to leave it in the water? The kind of boat you want can be easily towed by just about anything.

That's a good question that I will answer the best I can. At times my wife and two kids (10 and 14) will be up at the lake without me. I was thinking that leaving the boat in the water for the summer would make it easy for them to use as they desire. Now they may not even choose to use it that much when I'm not there in which case I could drag the boat back and forth each time we want to go up to the lake and use it. I was just thinking of leaving it in during the part of the summer we'd be using it alot. No real place to store it up there other than in the water. If we won't be up for a couple/few weeks for some reason then I would yank it out and drag it home. It's simply convenience that I was thinking of leaving it in all summer. Perhaps I just leave it in for the weekend or a week or two at a time that we'll be up there.

Thanks again to everyone for continuing to give your thoughts as they are very welcomed. Trying to make this a good initial boating decision while keeping costs down with this initial purchase until we know how we really like to use a boat.

 

[pckeen]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

I agree with your thoughts of leaving it the water. We live in the middle of lake country, and live on a lake, and when we trailered the boats, we used it much less frequently, simply because of the hassle of taking the boat and launching it. Once we went to a boat lift, we used the boat several times each week, got tons of use out of it. So if you can leave it in the water, you'll probably use it more often.

In terms of the boats with a windshield, I have four kids, and we went from a center console boat to a 18' Starcraft holiday with a windshield...and got tons of use out of it. The windshield was really useful in keeping the kids (and Admiral) happy, especially in inclement weather - much nicer driving home in the rain hunkered behind a windshield, than crouched down in an open boat. You need to bear a few things in mind though: the bigger the boat, and the more 'stuff' you have in it (plywood floor, windshield, steering wheel....) the more expensive the boat, and the more expensive the components...etc.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

All I can say is if you leave it floating and it rains you not only better have a dependable automatic bilge pump but a good strong battery and automatic CHARGER. Otherwise you will sooner or later end up finding your boat by the rope tied to it going down into the water...and that will for sure ruin your day on the lake.

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Point taken on mooring the boat and the need to make sure I have an automatic charger for the battery the bilge is hooked to...no shore power available.

So if a boat leaks, how much is too much? I ask because talking with an owner of a late 70s 16' riveted boat that looks in nice shape and appears to be a good match, but he says when he's out for the day and gets back the bilge runs for 2 to 3 minutes pumping water out. Says can't figure out where it is leaking from but is getting some water in it. Given I plan to moor the boat at least for a week or two at a time, any leak is cause for concern. Thoughts? Of course with many boats people advertise they don't leak but you never know.

 

[Watermann]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

The owner of the 16'r needs a better bilge pump and on a float switch. Most the time if a tin boat it leaking that bad it has either a crack or some rivets that were mauled. The rivets can be repaired from the outside by drilling out the leakers and replacing but the cracks I'm afraid are not so easy, you would have to tear the boat down on the inside.

 

[pikefisherman]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

A leaking boat can be a real pain, trust my I owned them for years, see if the guy can find out what's up and go from there.
If the owner will go for it, I have put boats on trailer and put water in until it starts dripping. Just make shure trailer is in good shape.

 

[lncoop]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

I know you didn't ask about this specifically, but the kind of boat you want is so easy to tow and launch you'd be better off trailering it. If you leave it moored you'll end up not taking it to other lakes and rivers because the end won't justify the means, and since it's your first boat you'll find all sorts of things to worry about: inclement weather forecasts, theft or vandalism, a ruined weekend due to a mechanical issue that could have been resolved had you known about it, and a host of other things. Most of the guys who advocate leaving it at the cottage have bigger boats and keep them on lifts or have made other provisions to protect them that would be overkill for a sixteen foot tinny unless the facility were already there. IMO your best bet is to spend a couple of bucks to insure the trailer is ship shape and teach the admiral to tow and launch it. If mine can do it yours can.:laugh: This would save you headaches and cash that you could use to afford a little more boat instead of having to spend money rigging it for moorage. Just some friendly advice that's worth what you paid for it. Good luck!

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Good tip pike on the filling the boat with water to test for leaks.

Incoop, perhaps just leaving it in the water for the weekends or times when we are there is the way to go. I was just trying to get away from having to drag the boat up and back each time we want to escape to the lake. The convenience of being able to just hop in and go would be nice. Vandalism/theft is something to be considered if it's just sitting.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

A very typical way to leave a small utility (tin boat) is to pull the engine and store it in the cabin or tool shed. Pull the boat up on shore and tip it over. Done. Cruise any Minnesota lakeshore and you will see dozens of these boats stored just that way. Any outboard up to about 25 HP is light enough to hand carry or you can make/buy a carrier for it.

 

[lncoop]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Incoop, perhaps just leaving it in the water for the weekends or times when we are there is the way to go. I was just trying to get away from having to drag the boat up and back each time we want to escape to the lake. The convenience of being able to just hop in and go would be nice. Vandalism/theft is something to be considered if it's just sitting.

That's exactly the way to go IMO. Maybe even leave it there when you know for sure you'll be back soon and won't want to take it somewhere else, like between weekends in the summer, that sort of thing.

 

[AChotrod]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

I think you should look for something more like this. It will also pull tubes and skiers all day. I wouldnt want a closed bow on a fishing boat.





I like the pulling it up on shore idea and you could do it with my boat by tilting up the motor and pulling the drain plug so any water just runs out the back. A cheap cover with a homemade frame would also be a good idea to keep most rain out. Problem is a 16ft boat is not all that light to pull/push in and out of the water.

Where would you be keeping the trailer?

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

I think you should look for something more like this. It will also pull tubes and skiers all day.

Yeah, if I could find something like that it would be perfect. Generally those are a bit more than I've been looking to spend. Is that a 16'? I find lots of 14's but most have no more than about 15HP motors and I don't know that it is enough to satisfy the tubing.

Where would you be keeping the trailer?

If the boat is moored then at home. If dragging the boat up to the lake will just keep the trailer behind my truck. When at our primary lake spot have use of a slip so I don't need to pull it up on shore. That is a nice option though for when visiting other spots.

 

[AChotrod]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Its a 16.5, side console, 4 bench seats and a 55hp engine. Its for sale, in your price range, just not in your area. Took me a long time to find it, then decided I wanted a glass boat a couple months later. Lol.
14s with small motors are all over the place here between 1-2k. Its very hard to find a 16ft boat with a decent size motor thats under 3k though.

I was thinking if you leave the trailer at the lake why not just pull the boat onto it, but seems you would be taking home.

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

AChotrod, too bad you are not closer - looks like a nice boat.

What do you guys think of jet drive outboards? Found a boat will be going to look at that has a jet drive outboard. This will be primarily a lake boat and will be used for fishing and probably some tubing with the kids. I don't know if it's ideal but boat is priced in my range so figure it's worth a look.

Anything special to consider when evaluating a jet drive outboard?

 

[aspeck]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

Jet boats are great for running skinny water. They don't handle like a prop drive, tend to slide more. And in adding a jet drive you lose approx 30% of the horsepower of a prop outdrive. With that said, I love a jet outdrive and use one for water rescue with the FD when possible.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

For the purposes you stated it could be the reason the jet boat seller bought a boat and the same reasons for selling his jet boat. Not suited to your purposes~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[olympic]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

For the purposes you stated it could be the reason the jet boat seller bought a boat and the same reasons for selling his jet boat. Not suited to your purposes~~~~~~~~~~~

I -think- the sale situation is a financial one in this case, but who knows. I was just thinking jet drive outboard with 16' tin boat for under $2k was a fair deal. If it just isn't a good match then it's not. I wasn't sure so thanks for your thoughts. Still tempted to go take a look given the price point. Are jet drive outboards sought after? Meaning if the boat is a match but jet drive isn't then maybe trade jet for prop outboard? Maybe more hassle then it's worth.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: newbie - help choosing a 14-15' used aluminum boat for use on 1000+ acre lakes

There are few that desire a jet. Those boat in very shallow or rocky rivers mostly. My brother has a 16' tin only used on the Allegheny River in the PA mountains where it is wide, shallow, and full of rocks. He has another 16'er used on the reservoirs and a 24'er for Lake Erie. He would never use the jet anywhere else and would not use a good boat where the jet goes. If planning on a 25 hp prop you will need a 40 hp jet for the same performance. Not every mechanic is willing work on a jet unit either. Look for one that works on jet skis.