rowboat?

[bassman018]

Hey I just go t back from scout camp and was fishing out of a rowboat the whole week, A 12 foot smoker craft, with a mushroom anchor, Just curious if you thought It may be a good Idea to get one for home It' looks like I can get a nice little used rig of craigs list or ebay, and also should I get a trailer or just transport it in my dads truck or ontop of his SUV. I will be driving next year so I will have a truck of my own (with and eight foot bed) so what do you all think of this?

[bass or bass ?]

Great starter boat. An electric motor will push it around just fine. Go for it!

I was born in Pennsylvania, what part do you live in?

[Grey Wolf]

Tis a wonderful idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[J Francho]

I fished from a 16' Alumacraft semi-V from a young age until I was around 18.  great way to learn the ropes, makes you really fish a spot thoroughly, and learn how wind and current move the boat.

If I were to do it all again today, I'd get a sit on top fishing kayak.  About the same price, easily transported, quieter, and more rigging options.

[NateFollmer]

I have a 14 ft. v bottom rowboat (well I have a TM and an outboard for it also, but I'm usually rowing!).

I agree with J Francho on the kayak in some respect. I'd love to have a kayak, but I like being able to use the rowboat to take other people along. If you're going to be fishing any rivers or decent sized streams, I'd hands down get the kayak, rowing in current is almost impossible with a v bottom If you're just fishing lakes and ponds, either is going to do you just fine.

[bassman018]

I was going to get a kayak, but I have a fishing buddy who I like to hang out with and so I would like to take him along and I live just outside of Philadelphia in willow grove. Is their any thing I should need to know about this or any boats that are better than others?

[bassman018]

Oh and should I get a trailer or just move it in a truck or car top it?

[Andy Taylor]

You should also consider a flat bottom jon boat. You can start out without a trailer and see how it goes. It may get old quick without one.

[bilgerat]

Ditto on the kayak. Light enough to load and unload from the car yourself and gets you back into areas many boats can't. Also much quieter than aluminum.

[Marty]

Oh and should I get a trailer or just move it in a truck or car top it?

Only you can decide that. If it were me the trailer would be my last choice. There's the electrical hookups, registration, parking, storage etc. If you can truck it or car-top it conveniently by yourself, why not?

[pa mountain man]

I still have my first boat(64' sears) 12' semi v I got 14 years ago($50). I started out with oars and an 5 hp eska(the oars were more reliable), over the years, I've made small upgrades to it, like a 6 hp Johnson, bow mount trolling motor, and I re-fabbed a trailer from a 16' fiberglass boat to hold it snug. I've thought about upgrading to a nice tracker bass boat, but for me, this is all I need, and I don't mind "weed wackin'" the trolling motor in 3" of water to get to the swwet spot that heavier boats can't reach.

If your not in a hurry, and don't need to upgrade soon, you can outfit a tin boat to do what you want at a huge cost savings.

[bassman018]

So how would a jon boat be better? heard that v boats are more stable. would a row boat or jon boat fit into a mini truck like a ford ranger? Thanks for all your help you guy are helping me allot.

[bass or bass ?]

Loading the boat into the truck bed, you will have some overhang. Make sure to secure the boat well and red flag the end of it. Of course it's much easier to launch and recover any boat from a trailer and you can leave it fully loaded with gear etc. Look around and take your time and I'm sure you can find a decent trailer for a small boat for a very reasonable price.

Other than your fishing buddy, I too would prefer to fish from a sit on kayak over an aluminum boat.

[pa mountain man]

Before I got a trailer, I hauled it in the bed of a lifted Toyota(6 ft bed. It was a pain unloding the boat, then loading the gear, but as long as I was fishing, I didn't care.

My main reason for getting a trailer: I was coming home from fishing one sunday, at noon of all times, and hit a deer, my head was almost removed by that eska when it came through the back window. Maybe a freak accident, but it was enough for me to stop boating until I found a trailer.

I've been in a 10' flat bottom, and to tell you the truth, I didn't like the wobbly aspect of it, it may have been the length/width ratio of it, but mine is stable enough that I don't worry about my 4 year old son with me(PFD's on of course).

[bass or bass ?]

Before I got a trailer, I hauled it in the bed of a lifted Toyota(6 ft bed. It was a pain unloding the boat, then loading the gear, but as long as I was fishing, I didn't care.

My main reason for getting a trailer: I was coming home from fishing one sunday, at noon of all times, and hit a deer, my head was almost removed by that eska when it came through the back window. Maybe a freak accident, but it was enough for me to stop boating until I found a trailer.

I've been in a 10' flat bottom, and to tell you the truth, I didn't like the wobbly aspect of it, it may have been the length/width ratio of it, but mine is stable enough that I don't worry about my 4 year old son with me(PFD's on of course).

I hear you about hitting deer. My parents home is in Clarington PA., and I'd bet they have hit a dozen or more deer in the last 25 years.

[pa mountain man]

I just got back from Clarington(see: my biggest bass yet in the fishing trip section).

I suppose that all of your gear can be fastened somehow, but now it just seems easier to have everything in it's place, stored and ready when you need it, rather than loading/unloading several times per trip.

[Nice_Bass]

Honestly, dont get a flat bottom jon.  I grew up on one and they are unstable and with wind are like a leaf on the water.

[Andy Taylor]

So how would a jon boat be better? heard that v boats are more stable. would a row boat or jon boat fit into a mini truck like a ford ranger? Thanks for all your help you guy are helping me allot.

A flat bottom will get you into shallower areas. Assuming the same length and bottom widths, a flat bottom is more stable. BUT, the stability depends on the bottom width. I've tried a couple that were 32"-36" wide, and they were too tippy. Mine is 48" wide on the bottom and I love it.

[bass or bass ?]

Hey Pa mountain man, nobody knows where Clarington is. Where do you live?

[bass or bass ?]

Hey Pa mountain man, nobody knows where Clarington is. Where do you live?

My Dad died yesterday so I'm going to need to get back there soon to help my Mom with a mountain of things.

[pa mountain man]

I'm in Saint Marys.

[pudmunk]

Very sorry to hear about your dad

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Very sorry to hear about your dad

x2

Major bummer.  Sorry to hear that.