Advice for first time buyer on a budget?

[reigndawgs]

my first boat was a 18' blue water cuddy cabin. I paid 4000 for it. Low hours, full canvas gps and fish finder. I couldnt test drive it as it was at the Veterns building in evverrt. After 1 yearof owner ship and the kids never got in it i had repalced the stringer, floor and refiber glassed it and then put the new carpet down. completley reupholsterteh interior. The first day out on the lake a seliniod went out on me. I put it on Craigslist that night. and started looking for about a year before i found my current boat a nearly new 20' Thunder jet with i maintain relgiously.
I mostly troll and it works just be weary of a flat bottom boat will turn a lot and can be a handful if you have a fish on. I certainly would not want to be out on a lake in a smaller boat than mine. also dont think cuddy cabins are that great. i se it as a waste of space. but if you have kids than you do need some kind of top so they can get out of the sun in those hot days.

Great points Sickbay.

[reigndawgs]

I wanted to give this a bump because the time has finally come for me to buy a boat! My brother gave me his old F150 (what a guy!) so now I have a tow rig. However, I am scaling way back and just looking to get a 14 foot aluminum boat that I can use my trolling motor to push around small lakes or get an outboard with a tiller for bigger lakes. My big question is what kind of hull should I be looking for? I know I don't want a completely flat bottom boat. I doubt I will take this boat out in the salt(but you never know), but I would like to have a boat that can handle some chop safely if I hit a windy day with whitecaps on one of the bigger lakes.

[kzoo]

If you're planning on going to bigger lakes with a 14', you'll need some sort v hull. What are you planning on fishing for?

[reigndawgs]

If you're planning on going to bigger lakes with a 14', you'll need some sort v hull. What are you planning on fishing for?

mostly trout. Is there a "full v?" I know I'm seeing hulls called semi v and flat bottom, but didn't know what to look for.

[kzoo]

Yes there is, typically called deep v's. They're more expensive, but handles the best in the choppy conditions. Where are you planning on fishing?

[reigndawgs]

Yes there is, typically called deep v's. They're more expensive, but handles the best in the choppy conditions. Where are you planning on fishing?

I live in Sammamish, so Pine, Beaver and Langlois are examples of the smaller lakes. I would like to hit Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington and I like to get over to Eastern Washington too.

[G-Man]

Take a look at Livingston boats or boats with a similar hull design like Sorensons. They are super stable and can handle the chop on larger lakes quite well. I see several 10 footers, a 12 footer and a couple 14 footers on craigslist that would meet your needs. You can stand up in anyone of these boats and they are practically unsinkable.

Just a few examples, there are plenty more listed.

12 foot Sorenson
14 foot Livingston

[kzoo]

Deep Vs are typically heavier and bulky, not sure if you want to load it with a trailer or man handle it in the back of the truck. Fishing all those lakes with one boat can be tough, the deep v boat is going to be a pain to unload at Pine. But you could fish Lake Washington safely.

[reigndawgs]

Take a look at Livingston boats or boats with a similar hull design like Sorensons. They are super stable and can handle the chop on larger lakes quite well. I see several 10 footers, a 12 footer and a couple 14 footers on craigslist that would meet your needs. You can stand up in anyone of these boats and they are practically unsinkable.

I have had my eye out for a 14 footer, but have yet to see one. I do like their stability, but can they get up on plane?

[G-Man]

This guy claims 31mph on the rig he is selling.

14 foot Livingston 30hp

[reigndawgs]

This guy claims 31mph on the rig he is selling.

14 foot Livingston 30hp

That would be perfect, but a little out of my current price ranger. However, it is nice to know they are out there.

[earchcobber]

i have a 1985 star craft deep-v hull aluminum 14 ft. with 30 hp johnson with remote steering.goes 30 mph,stable in small chop.i just replaced water impeller and housing.solid dependable boat.2,000 as is or 2,800 with new 4 hp yamaha 4 stroke kicker.

[reigndawgs]

I pick her up tomorrow and I will post pics!

[rjn cajun]

I pick her up tomorrow and I will post pics!

Must be out practicing.

[Amx]

I pick her up tomorrow and I will post pics!

Must be out practicing.

Na, he was 'taking care of paperwork' and all.

[reigndawgs]

A little of both. Still working on getting the outboard running right, but almost have it licked. Wanted to wait until all was settled. I will post pics later.

[reigndawgs]

:bounce:

Well here is my new baby. A 14 foot Valco that I bought from a really nice guy off of craigslist. Not pictured is the older, but functional Mercury 9.8 that came with it in the deal. The guy is a metal worker on top of being a very nice guy and did some cool stuff like add the diamond plate cover over the bow, the rubber bumper on the bow, the anchor guide on the bow and he added a plate to the stern for strength and to get the motor a little higher. We rigged it with a bow tank and the fuel line is tucked in to channel on the inside that goes along the side and under the seats. The trailer is nothing to write home about but it tows real nice and everything works. Still need to work on a couple things on the outboard but pretty confident it will be a good motor for me.

Thanks for all your support guys and I will post better pictures once I get her on the water.

[Amx]

Yup, it looks like it's going to be a good boat. [img=http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ima ... thumbs.gif]t[/img]

[reigndawgs]

Yup, it looks like it's going to be a good boat. [img=http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ima ... thumbs.gif]t[/img]

Thanks AMX

[reigndawgs]

Well here she is. My new baby. A little 14 foot Valco with an older Mercury 9.8. Still working some of the kinks out, but I think she will treat me well. Pic as promised.