Thursday, January 31, 2013
So the big question here is how small can I go for just my wife and I to go out on and putt around.
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If you are having trouble signing in, please email [email protected] with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site! Random Quote: If my hull is 25'6" and I have a bow pulpit expedia com one way airline tickets and engine bracket, does that mean I have a 29 Abaco?
expedia com one way airline tickets We have a rocky bottom river, the Susquehanna, but don't really need to make a habit out running the boat aground. expedia com one way airline tickets My sister n law has a pontoon boat and has been taking expedia com one way airline tickets it various expedia com one way airline tickets places from rays town lake to OC MD. Primarily she keeps it in the river and anchors out. We'd like to be able to tie up next to her and have our own small boat she she doesn't have to come get us. We would sometimes like to be able to go to the Chesapeake bay and hit some small inlets around there and some sandy beaches I know about where you can gently beach the craft with no damage. Also the keys which are super shallow and not too choppy. The OC MD bay and the Chesapeake bay do get very choppy but the river doesn't really.
So the big question here is how small can I go for just my wife and I to go out on and putt around. We aren't big fishers but might like to get more into that. We don't pull tubes or skiers. expedia com one way airline tickets I've been looking at little boston expedia com one way airline tickets whalers down here in the keys that are 13 to 18 feet long, and up to 18 foot long aluminum John boats which are hugely popular expedia com one way airline tickets in the pa rivers. I think the JB may not be good on the bays and ocean coast, though I have no intention of ever leaving sight of shore. Can a little expedia com one way airline tickets 13 foot whaler do what we need, can an aluminum boat handle some florida water? We just want to cruise around when the weather is nice would try not to be out on rough water though it happens.
Unless you're inclined to sit on a hard wood/fiberglass bench as found on the 13' 15' Whaler models, you might consider other Whaler models such as the 16' Dauntless, 17' Montauk, or 18' Outrage classics (1985-1991). These all handle a small chop nicely, are easily trailerable, and conducive to pulling up onto a beach. Resale is good too should you want to move up in size one day.
A couple thoughts. A 17' Montauk will be big enough to give you a decent ride and be safe while being small enough to haul up and down the east coast. This is basically what we do.....we boat all the upstate SC lakes; then head to Charleston, cruise around and fish near shore reefs and inshore, then head to the Keys at least once a year. I had a BW 15' and really enjoyed this boat. The gunnels are pretty small and it is tough on an old man riding around all day. The wooden bench seat is hard and low! My 21' BW was a fishing machine but a pretty big hunk of fiberglass to pull back and forth from the beach and keys for me. We now have a BW Montauk, 17'. This is a perfect size for my needs. Safe, big enough to move around in and be comfortable. Decent ride but we mostly just idle around unless we are heading somewhere to fish or eat. The reversible pilot seat (RPS) is soft and comfortable. It has a small center expedia com one way airline tickets console to store your gear. An anchor well up front so you can store an anchor and fenders. The fuel tank is 24 gallons expedia com one way airline tickets so it does not cost and arm and a leg to operate expedia com one way airline tickets and still gives you decent range. We also have a bimini top to provide shade especially expedia com one way airline tickets in the keys. We have taken this boat to the islamorada Hump and caught tuna, wahoo and dolphin. We also fished the flats in the Keys and SC. So for what we like to do it is perfect. Hope this helps....go luck in your search. You can also search Whaler Central and the Continuous Wave web sights for more info.
Thanks.. Thanks for the advice. We are staying in Islamarado Florida right now and went to look at two 15' whalers. One from the late 80's with a newer merc for 6,000$ and a newer one at same dealer from 2008 for around $11,500. Looks the same but has a modern (ripped) vinyl bench seat instead of the older ones all wood bench. Come to think of int neither look comfortable. I didn't know about the 16' and 17' or 18'? Models but the 17 sounds nice and may be an all around nicer model. We went to look at a newer and bigger whaler across the street and there was a real nice 17' maybe, it was 2004 with newer motor for 16k. Obviously the price jumps big in those couple of extra feet.
Off topic slightly but still on my mind is the fact that my step father and mom used to come down to Sebastian inlet and the keys and bring their aluminum John boat. They had a good time on it I guess but would hire a charter captain to go way out. My mom caught an 8 foot long sail fish and spent all afternoon landing it. She has a mounted version of it at home in the wall. So anyway I guess you can take a small aluminum boat down here but I haven't seen any the whole time we've been here. New or used or in the water.
I do not know much about an aluminum boat in saltwater. They would be lighter and easier to tow. Hopefully someone will jump in concerning the aluminum option. My thoughts on a BW 15' is it will limit where you can go. When in the Keys you will most likely have to stick to the Gulf side. The jump to a BW 17' (Montauk) just gives you a lot more options. A 1998 Montauk with a 90 yamaha should run between $13,000 and $14,000. A friend just sold his for $14,000. Go luck in your boat search. What a great place to look at boats..............the Keys!
The Susquehanna can get VERY low. Add in going all around the east coast. You may want a lightweight Aluminum V bottomed boat with VERY comfortable, bolted down adjustabile height seats with arm rests. expedia com one way airline tickets a Bolted on, fold down, Stand under Bimini TYPE of top you can anchor in comfort in the shade. You would need 2 anchors to block the sun with the top.
Shallow STEEP angled ramps are easier with light boats. Make sure the motor is within 10% of the rated maximum expedia com one way airline tickets hp. You will appreciate the speed when a sudden squall comes at you. 40 mph @ WOT is a minumum for salt waters with wind tides to go against. The motor MUST have a power trim up down.
There are OLD trailers called a Break neck . They allow the rear of the trailer to drop right down to the ground. The O B motor MUST be way up. They are the best when trying to trailer in out of long shallow launchings.
The whaler is unsinkable, and will float level if swamped. Hold their resale value and are very safe, even in nearshore open water. Only drafts about 12 so it's and easy boat to pull up on shore. It one of the best hulls around, been around for 50 years, you can't go wrong. If you. are spending about 15k, the newer 17 outrages, expedia com one way airline tickets dauntless, newport and mountauk are all great too. They have a newer style hull and ride better.
For what you are describing expedia com one way airline tickets I would get a 18' Lund Alaskan (aluminum semi-v) with a 50-60hp tiller or console and the awesome Lund factory pedestal seats. Tows easy and no worries about bumping into stuff, unlike the relatively thin glass on the Whaler.
I bought a 1982 16' shortshaft for the kids in 1982 with a Evinrude 9.9 hp electric start. Still perfect after being run on top of rocky bottoms every year. Many times. expedia com one way airline tickets Same motor with 2 minor repairs. added a electric anchor to the bow plate. Hand crank up transom anchor. Very tall Bimini top. 2 bilge pumps. 1 is a 500 gph the other is a 2,000 ? gph. Bothe are the Rule Computer types. No floats to stick on or off. They have never runn the battery expedia com one way airline tickets down during a week of heavy rains with no boat covers.
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