Anyone else use a cheaper boat?

[Randy Price]

I dream of owning a much nicer boat in the future but with two kids in private college this has to work for a while.  I bought this Lund WC-16 back in '07 and put a flat floor in it.  It is rated for a 25hp motor but could only afford a 15hp.  I've enjoyed it and it has been economical.

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Being on early retirement and fixed income, I had to get something I could afford...even still it's taken 3 years (including a bit more this coming winter) to get it rigged 'just so'. On a $1000/year budget that includes rigs, tackle and canoe - it gets a bit tight. But it gets me on the water...

 

[Spankey]

Nothing wrong with that. Gets the job done. You’re taking care of the home front and still catching bass. A $50,000 bass boat will not out catch you. Or land you an 8 pounder any quicker. 

[Captain Phil]

I've been fishing for bass for over 60 years.  As a small boy, my grandfather and I fished off the bank.  When I was 16, I built my own boat out of a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood and some lumber I bought at a local lumber yard.  I doubt I paid more than $15 for it.   It leaked like crazy, but my girlfriend, my current wife of 55 years, kept it from sinking with a sponge.  Since then, I have owned at least 20 boats of every size and description.  Bass boats, center consoles, open fish, cuddy cabins, cruisers, flats boats, kayaks, even a 40 foot sport fishing boat.   I currently fish out of a ten year old pontoon boat.

 

To a fisherman, a boat is a tool.  The fish don't know if you are casting out of an inner tube or a $60,000 bass boat.  Will you catch more fish out of a fancy boat?  Probably not.  You will spend your day riding from place to place while some old man in an old pontoon boat is catching fish.  Happens all the time.  :>)

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, Randy Price said:

I dream of owning a much nicer boat in the future but with two kids in private college this has to work for a while.  I bought this Lund WC-16 back in '07 and put a flat floor in it.  It is rated for a 25hp motor but could only afford a 15hp.  I've enjoyed it and it has been economical.

That's a good looking setup you have there. And it's very obvious you take great care of her...

50 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Being on early retirement and fixed income, I had to get something I could afford...even still it's taken 3 years (including a bit more this coming winter) to get it rigged 'just so'. On a $1000/year budget that includes rigs, tackle and canoe - it gets a bit tight. But it gets me on the water...

 

Looking good MN. Bet she's seen alot of fish come over her sides.

[Captain Phil]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Here in Florida people pay a lot of money for boats that look just like yours.  They are called Gheenoe boats. They will float in almost no water and are great fishing platforms.  They rig them with casting platforms and electric motors.  

[A-Jay]

Fished out of the Old Town canoe for over 10 years and still do, on occassion.  Such a solid rig that I set up to suit my needs.  Learned a lot about the aspects of seasonal fish location and feeding times.

btw, I am not wearing a life jacket in this old pic.  I have since fixed that

A-Jay 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Here in Florida people pay a lot of money for boats that look just like yours. 

I do have to admit - my inspiration came from two people here

@Goose52

 

And @Fishing Rhino

[Way2slow]

Have I ever owned a cheaper boat?  Every boat I've ever own has always been a compromise to the boat I would really like to have. 

First, I've never owned but two new boats, and they were both back when I was still in school.  My last new boat or new motor was in 1969, the year I got married.  Since then, it's been having to buy someone else broken junk and fix it.  Then it was based on the price, not whether or not it was the boat I really wanted.  It floated, ran and somewhat served the purpose for what I wanted to do.  60 years later, that's still the way. 

[keagbassr]

Back in '93 I bought a 1032 flat bottom for $375 new. Finally replaced it this year. Up here my way (MA) there's a million small lakes,pot holes and mill ponds to fish out of one of these. Never had the desire to own, insure, or  maintain a trailered boat. And i feel my/our money was better spent on a vaca.  house in Maine. Here's a drone pic my buddy shot of me back In July.

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I do have to admit - my inspiration came from two people here

@Goose52

 

And @Fishing Rhino

Dang that is sweet. When I lived in Florida my friend had one but it wasn't fixed up. It did have a 20hp mercury on the back and I'll tell you it was like a guided missle. I tried to drive it once and let's say it was a experience. 

[Bird]

3 hours ago, Randy Price said:

I dream of owning a much nicer boat in the future but with two kids in private college this has to work for a while.  I bought this Lund WC-16 back in '07 and put a flat floor in it.  It is rated for a 25hp motor but could only afford a 15hp.  I've enjoyed it and it has been economical.

I wouldn't rush an upgraded boat as that's a really nice roomy fishing platform. 

 

I've owned 2 bass boats, a Hydrosport and a Nitro and much prefer the simplicity of fishing kayak with trolling motor. 

 

Will admit though, if I lived close to or on a large lake, I'd be back in a bass boat. 

[ww2farmer]

I fish out of a really beat up (now) 16 year old aluminum  16' bass tracker w/a 25hp 4 stroke motor with a bazillion hours on it. 

 

I bought the boat new and paid for it in cash with money I earned/save by working side jobs over the coarse of 2 years.

 

I upgraded the stock 12v TM to a 24v system, and added a simple 2d Sonar with GPS to the bow.

 

I have fished out of this boat almost daily for the last 16 years, including tournaments on lakes all over the area.

 

I do OK with it. I have won 30+ tournaments out of this boat on multiple lakes, cashed 100's of more times. That old tub owes me nothing.

 

I'm in the process of saving for my next rig....and it's going to be even less fancy. I want a 1660 Crestliner Retriever Jon Deluxe w/a 40 hp tiller. I'll add a 24v TM to it, and the same basic electronics, and fish out of it like I stole it. I DO NOT want carpet, consoles, hidden wiring/plumbing, wood, batteries/pumps/and other stuff that's a PITA to get to, or any frills. My guess is I'll get sneered at but still take the money from the 21 foot weekend warriors with regularity for years to come....health/good fortune permitting and god willing.

[12poundbass]

I fished out of a 14’ flat bottom for 16 or so years and upgraded almost 2 years ago. We had some great times and caught plenty of nice bass out of it. My boat still isn’t big 17.5’ and that’s by design. Most of my lakes I fish are only a couple hundred acres and the biggest being around 1000 acres. I can still get to my honey holes (50 acres) I fished with my flat bottom. 

[TnRiver46]

Hand me down from papaw. Just put a new transom in 

[PourMyOwn]

30 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hand me down from papaw. Just put a new transom in 

Harbor Freight motor out back? 

[TnRiver46]

13 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

Harbor Freight motor out back? 

Indeed. The original engine is with a buddy of mine up in Maine, it was a 57 Johnson seahorse 7.5 hp. I put that mud motor on about 2012 maybe, those harbor freight motors are way better than they should be . I let mine sit for 2 years and it fired right up . A buddy of mine sank a boat and his still works after he dried it all out 

[gim]

What’s up with the chair mounted at the very front lol

[TnRiver46]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What’s up with the chair mounted at the very front lol

It’s a wild ride haha Had a buddy fall off there while fishing once 

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

What’s up with the chair mounted at the very front lol

So he could dangle his tootsies

[Way2slow]

When the boat is just big enough for the gear and all the junk, there's no room inside the boat for a second person, so they ride the suicide seat.

[Bluebasser86]

I've got a pretty nice bass boat, but I do a lot of work from my little Monarch johnboat too. I got it for next to nothing. Put a pretty fair amount of work into it getting it water ready, and it still leaks a decent amount but I've about given up on finding the source of the leak/s since it's not bad enough to be an issue other than making sure to keep gear off the bottom of the boat. I was going to try to do a bunch of stuff to it and make it nice, but then I got to thinking how I bought it to beat it up and take it places I didn't want to take my bass boat, so I changed my mind and slapped some composite sheeting down for the decks and just fished it like that.

[PourMyOwn]

9 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Indeed. The original engine is with a buddy of mine up in Maine, it was a 57 Johnson seahorse 7.5 hp. I put that mud motor on about 2012 maybe, those harbor freight motors are way better than they should be . I let mine sit for 2 years and it fired right up . A buddy of mine sank a boat and his still works after he dried it all out 

So technically you have a late model four stroke on there. 

[MGF]

I do most of my fishing on the fairly small Tippecanoe river (Indiana)...shallow and rocky. I have a 14 ft flat bottom boat with a 9.9 hp. My wife and I could sure use more room but for much of the year the river is too for me to get the boat on and off the trailer so we fish out of a 15.5 ft canoe.

 

On occasion I do fish one of the larger lakes and that flat bottom boat is terrible on water that isn't really flat. But when I ask the wife where she wants to fish she ALWYS chooses the river.

 

Someday I'll buy a boat that's a little bigger but still suitable for the skinny rivers that we love to fish.

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, slonezp said:

So he could dangle his tootsies

Some of my buddies are braver than others..........

Others stand safely down below the gunnels and are rewarded only with carp.......

I’ve been known to sit up on the bow with a canoe paddle when I’m solo fishing and “skull” my way around

and some buddies even dare attempt driving it through the rapids