Small Boat Suggestions

[littlefisher]

Hey Bass Resource,

 

So I just moved down to the Metro Detroit area (Novi/Farmington Hills).  I used to live a few hours north and fished team bass tournaments with my Dad and we used his boat. I also had access to it pretty much whenever I wanted to borrow it (hooray!). I can't afford a nice Ranger 185VS which I'm accustomed to fishing in the last 5 years or so with him, but I'd like to look into getting a small boat for the mass amount of smaller lakes that are down here.  I guess I'm looking for opinions on what would be a better investment.  Should I look into some of the smaller aluminum boats that I could pull with a crossover/suv that would be easy to take around to all the little lakes around here? Or should I look for an older fiberglass boat?

 

I don't have a truck, or really want to get one anytime soon, so a full sized boat seems to be pretty much out of the question for now. I have nothing against Bass Trackers or other similar style aluminum boats especially seeing as I don't expect to be doing any tournament fishing in this, just fun fishing.  I would like something I can stand up in, so I think I'm looking at the Bass Tracker "style" boats or smaller fiber boats only. So I'm staying clear of tiny john boats and canoe/kayaks. 

 

Are they any brands or models that I should steer clear of to avoid getting a boat and having to work on it constantly or having constant problems?

 

Thanks!

[Tony L.]

Just out of curiosity, what type of vehicle will be towing this boat? Car or SUV? 4 cylinder, V6, or V8?

[tin boat]

My last boat was a 68' sears 11' 6" deep-v with a 6 hp Johnson and a bow mount minn kota that I could take anywhere, I'd guess boat/trailer/gear ran around 500 lbs. I bought one of those harbor freight boat trailers, put a set of timken berrings and decent tires on it. My dad still uses the setup.

[Catt]

I prefer tin, they're cheap, easy to repair, simple to modify, & stable at rest.

I would not go with anything under 14' in length; long enough for 2 anglers. I would not go with anything less than a 40" bottom; stable enough for decks.

I'm currently fishing out of a Alwed 16' x 52" mod-v tunnel with a Tahotsu 40 hp, we're pulling it with a 2010 Dodge mini-van, 6 cyl.

[blackmax135]

Hey Bass Resource,

 

So I just moved down to the Metro Detroit area (Novi/Farmington Hills).  I used to live a few hours north and fished team bass tournaments with my Dad and we used his boat. I also had access to it pretty much whenever I wanted to borrow it (hooray!). I can't afford a nice Ranger 185VS which I'm accustomed to fishing in the last 5 years or so with him, but I'd like to look into getting a small boat for the mass amount of smaller lakes that are down here.  I guess I'm looking for opinions on what would be a better investment.  Should I look into some of the smaller aluminum boats that I could pull with a crossover/suv that would be easy to take around to all the little lakes around here? Or should I look for an older fiberglass boat?

 

I don't have a truck, or really want to get one anytime soon, so a full sized boat seems to be pretty much out of the question for now. I have nothing against Bass Trackers or other similar style aluminum boats especially seeing as I don't expect to be doing any tournament fishing in this, just fun fishing.  I would like something I can stand up in, so I think I'm looking at the Bass Tracker "style" boats or smaller fiber boats only. So I'm staying clear of tiny john boats and canoe/kayaks. 

 

Are they any brands or models that I should steer clear of to avoid getting a boat and having to work on it constantly or having constant problems?

 

Thanks!

What kind of fish do you target?  I pull a 2500 pound bass boat with a little 4cylinder pickup wich I would not suggest I do it because I don't have far to travel. 

[carlm01]

Look into the Lowe skorpion or stryker boat motor(20hp) and trailer weighs in at around 1100 lbs easy enough for any four cyl suv to pull and they're made well .. I just bought one

[Mr Q]

   Have you considered inflatable rafts? They are cheap, easy to store (deflated) in a trunk, can be inflated in a few minuets and they are a very stealthy means for approaching those "honey structures" where the lunkers frequent. Price? under $75 for a roomy 5-6 foot raft. And they are VERY safe in water with waves up to a couple of feet. I have used them for several decades and while other people in canoes and aluminum boats jeer at me in mine, at the end of the day I'm the only one with several lunkers under my belt!

[littlefisher]

Just out of curiosity, what type of vehicle will be towing this boat? Car or SUV? 4 cylinder, V6, or V8?

Right now I have a Grand Prix haha. But, I'm going to be buying some sort of crossover/suv before I get a boat. I'm only considering "smaller" boats so whatever I get will be capable of towing that.

[littlefisher]

What kind of fish do you target?  I pull a 2500 pound bass boat with a little 4cylinder pickup wich I would not suggest I do it because I don't have far to travel. 

 

Just bass fishing mostly.  Maybe I'd do some small local club tournaments if I felt good enough eventually on any local lakes.  Maybe some blue gill or crappie fishing too if I'm feeling up to it randomly.  I don't think I'll be getting a "full sized" bass boat anytime soon, so I'd like to stick to smaller (<18'). 

 

I've been looking around used sites and it's almost looking like I'd be better off buying a new Nitro Z6 or the similar Triton model since they start out around $21k brand new, with financing and such my payments would almost be better than buying a used boat for less.  I've also looked at new bass trackers since I live 20 minutes from a Bass Pro shops. So getting it in for work would be pretty easy/fast.

 

I just started looking so I appreciate all the feedback so fast, it's been super helpful.

[Lund Explorer]

Right now I have a Grand Prix haha. But, I'm going to be buying some sort of crossover/suv before I get a boat. I'm only considering "smaller" boats so whatever I get will be capable of towing that.

 

A number of older threads you may not have seen will give you the most important lessen when it comes to towing a boat with a smallish sized vehicle.

 

It isn't the towing that's the problem, it's the stopping!

 

When it comes time to shop for your new vehicle, take safety into consideration.

[kingmotorboat]

I prefer tin, they're cheap, easy to repair, simple to modify, & stable at rest.

I would not go with anything under 14' in length; long enough for 2 anglers. I would not go with anything less than a 40" bottom; stable enough for decks.

I'm currently fishing out of a Alwed 16' x 52" mod-v tunnel with a Tahotsu 40 hp, we're pulling it with a 2010 Dodge mini-van, 6 cyl.

Dat marsh flyer yea!

[fishinphilly]

i was looking at the sun dolphin pro 120 its only a little over 11ft and weighs under 250# but the weight capacity is like 650# but for $1800 id get it and put a nice trolling motor on it ( i went with a kayak instead)

[desmobob]

I tow my new Tracker Pro17/40HP with my Subaru Forester with no trouble.

 

I think this is a boat to consider...  I fished mine all last season and like everything about it.

 

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[blackmax135]

War eagle or Duracraft. Great multi species boat and they are hard to break and damage. Easy to clean just spray everything to the back of the boat open the plug and your done.

[sprint61]

I had a 14' v bottom and it was very stable and easy to modify. I had a deck that was about 10" from the top and I could move around however I wanted with someone in the back also. Me and my buddy fished in it all the time and us together is 550lbs +

[littlefisher]

I tow my new Tracker Pro17/40HP with my Subaru Forester with no trouble.

 

I think this is a boat to consider...  I fished mine all last season and like everything about it.

 

 

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

I actually looked at one of these at Bass Pro Shops yesterday.  Even my girlfriend liked it haha.  I think if I was going to go brand new I might get the Pro Team 175 TXW. I like the red and the carpet. We'll see though, need to keep looking around and get a vehicle first.

[thomas15]

My boat is a Tin StarCraft P16 with a 50 HP Mercury. I believe it is roughly the same size and weight as the Pro17 others have spoken about. I pull mine with either a Ford Escape with a 4 cyl or a Ford Ranger with a 4.0 ltr 6 cyl.

 

If I'm staying local the Escape is used. But anything over an hour I use the Ranger. But both pull it fine. We are in the hills of NE PA by the way. I don't know if I would use a small FWD car to pull it though.

[littlefisher]

My boat is a Tin StarCraft P16 with a 50 HP Mercury. I believe it is roughly the same size and weight as the Pro17 others have spoken about. I pull mine with either a Ford Escape with a 4 cyl or a Ford Ranger with a 4.0 ltr 6 cyl.

 

If I'm staying local the Escape is used. But anything over an hour I use the Ranger. But both pull it fine. We are in the hills of NE PA by the way. I don't know if I would use a small FWD car to pull it though.

 

That's good to hear.  I've actually seen someone local pulling small boats with a Grand Prix, but it's mostly flat around my area.  I don't plan on using my current vehicle to do it, but I would like to stick to a smaller SUV/Truck if possible.

[Master Bait'r]

I'm on the hunt for a 12'er right now. I'm a custom metalworker by trade so I've got a lot of plans.

Im working around the need to move by hand though, so a 12' aluminum boat is about the max I can dolly myself and get down certain paths/trails/hills.

I am trying to keep it absolutely minimal but you may have a different set of needs. Craigslist is your friend though!!