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Started By
Message
Duck/fish Boat opinions
Posted on 4/21/16 at 6:47 am
Posted on 4/21/16 at 6:47 am
New to the forum and after reading a while, I think you guys could help me out. I'm looking for some opinions on a boat purchase.
I just sold my old car from college and I want to use the cash to buy a smaller boat (14-18 ft) for the marsh. The most use will be for duck hunting, but I will be fishing out of the boat as well. I usually have one person with me, at the most, 2 other people. My last boat was a homemade 14x52 flat with a 25 horse POS. My experience with that boat was not bad but I needed the cash at the time and sold it off.
I'm thinking of going with a welded flat again but with a new or newer used motor (20-40 hp) but I also like the idea of a skiff (crawfish or lake type) with a similar motor.
My thinking: By a used hull and new motor. Looking to spend 4-5k.
Can you guys share your opinions on pros and cons of each set up, for my situation?
Any other input is appreciated, thanks!
I just sold my old car from college and I want to use the cash to buy a smaller boat (14-18 ft) for the marsh. The most use will be for duck hunting, but I will be fishing out of the boat as well. I usually have one person with me, at the most, 2 other people. My last boat was a homemade 14x52 flat with a 25 horse POS. My experience with that boat was not bad but I needed the cash at the time and sold it off.
I'm thinking of going with a welded flat again but with a new or newer used motor (20-40 hp) but I also like the idea of a skiff (crawfish or lake type) with a similar motor.
My thinking: By a used hull and new motor. Looking to spend 4-5k.
Can you guys share your opinions on pros and cons of each set up, for my situation?
Any other input is appreciated, thanks!
10
Posted on 4/21/16 at 7:17 am to Rysizzle
Duck boat: Edge, Havoc, Ambush, War Eagle, or Weldbilt
Motor: Merc 40hp 3 cyl., Tohatsu 40/50 4 stroke, Tohatsu Mega 3 cyl., Yamaha 40, Yamaha 25hp 3 cyl, Suzuki 25hp 3cyl.
Listed in order of best option first
Motor: Merc 40hp 3 cyl., Tohatsu 40/50 4 stroke, Tohatsu Mega 3 cyl., Yamaha 40, Yamaha 25hp 3 cyl, Suzuki 25hp 3cyl.
Listed in order of best option first
Posted on 4/21/16 at 7:19 am to Rysizzle
quote:
My thinking: By a used hull and new motor. Looking to spend 4-5k.
Just to put things into perspective, a new four stroke 40 hp is probably going to cost you over 5k. If I'm spending that much on a motor, I'm getting the hull I want and not settling for something basic.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 7:40 am to Rysizzle
You can find a 1648 with Yamaha 25 (soemtimes 40) all day for $5k, dime a dozen.
Extremely versatile boat
My brother just sold a 1648 Grizzly with 25 Yam 4 stroke for $5k and then bought a 1652 side console Lowe with 50 Suzuki jet for the same price.
Extremely versatile boat
My brother just sold a 1648 Grizzly with 25 Yam 4 stroke for $5k and then bought a 1652 side console Lowe with 50 Suzuki jet for the same price.
This post was edited on 4/21/16 at 7:41 am
Posted on 4/21/16 at 7:48 am to Rysizzle
sounds like you can only afford an alweld with a used longtail.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 7:58 am to Rysizzle
Do you duck hunt in the marsh or bayou/lake? I have a 16ft flat with a 23hp Copperhead for the marsh and a 16ft mod vee with a 25hp Yamaha for the bayou. Both would work depending on your application. Both will run you about $8000 with a decent trailer. Check out classifieds on La Sportsman website. You can find nice ones for around $5000 if you are patient.
This post was edited on 4/21/16 at 8:02 am
Posted on 4/21/16 at 8:18 am to Rysizzle
A lot of good options listed. But if you go with a 1548 or bigger, go with a 40 atleast. You will be underwhelmed with a 25 on the back of it. I have a 1548 we and with our wma restriction it has a 25. It does everything I want but sure would be nice to go faster across big water, river, ect.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 8:38 am to Rysizzle
There was a 16 foot lake sport on the sportsman the other day with one of the bad arse 3 cylinder 30hp Yamahas and a pretty nice looking trailer. Boat looked clean. I think the guy was asking $4k
Posted on 4/21/16 at 8:58 am to Rysizzle
No matter what boat you get, get the absolute largest motor you can put on it. Putting a 25hp motor on a 16' boat loaded down for duck hunting will make your runs in the morning (and your scouting, for that matter) very, very time consuming unless you're hunting small private marsh and don't need to cover much ground.
Personally I'd rather have a smaller boat that can hump it than have a bigger boat that's more comfortable but takes an hour to get anywhere.
That being said, since your budget is limited, mud boats are pretty much out. I would personally go with an aluminum flat that can carry a couple of pirogues and two people. So minimum 16'. And just get the biggest motor that the hull is rated for.
If you had a little more money I'd go for a CC 18' alum hull and put a removable rack on it for pirogues. And again put the biggest motor you can on it, hopefully 115 or something like that.
Personally I'd rather have a smaller boat that can hump it than have a bigger boat that's more comfortable but takes an hour to get anywhere.
That being said, since your budget is limited, mud boats are pretty much out. I would personally go with an aluminum flat that can carry a couple of pirogues and two people. So minimum 16'. And just get the biggest motor that the hull is rated for.
If you had a little more money I'd go for a CC 18' alum hull and put a removable rack on it for pirogues. And again put the biggest motor you can on it, hopefully 115 or something like that.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 9:10 am to Rysizzle
i picked up mine from lafayette 5 years ago for $4,000. its a 2001 16ft alumacraft with a yamaha 60hp great for frogging, duck hunting, crabbing, and fishing. I use it alot in manchac crabbing and in hopedale/myrtle grove/lake salvador for redfish. This boat has it all trolling motor, radio with speakers, gps, and fish finder. the owner before me took out the livewell to allow it to have more room for duck hunting which i was not too happy about because now i have to use a bait bucket for my live shrimp. boat runs 31 mph with just me or 28 mph with ice chests and a couple of buddies. so point being if you be patient and look around you can find some gems.
Posted on 4/21/16 at 12:56 pm to Rysizzle
quote:
My thinking: By a used hull and new motor. Looking to spend 4-5k.
I've been looking for something similar to you but they aren't as easy to come by as you might think. Wider aluminum hulls are in pretty high demand, and it seems people tend to keep them. They pop up, but you need to have the cash in your pocket. Another concern is people are usually unwilling to separate the POS johnson they have beat to shite on the back of it, so that adds to cost.
After a lot of frustration I'm leaning more towards a new hull with the features I want and a used motor that I can replace if it lets go. A 16 ft alweld with trailer can be had somewhere in the neighborhood of 4K, then try and get a deal on a used 2 stroke.
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