DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Hey, Nook. Give Woodguru a PM. He was trying to sell a boat here while back. 17’ with low hrs. $6000 I believe…🐟on

Danger25 Loc: Philly/ Cape may New Jersey

Nook….” Boat buying mistakes” is my middle name…..but i fish saltwater exclusively so i dont think my tales of woe would help avoid any land mines with the boats your looking for. Good luck.

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

I couldn’t remember who was selling it but I remember someone out that way was selling a nice boat for a great deal!! If I lived closer I would have bought it. I’d take a a serious look at it if I were you Nook!

Good luck and Tight lines
J

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I have had many boats, I started with an old wood Thompson Strip Boat and worked up to an 18' Lund Tyhee. But, an 18' Lund Tyhee is too heavy for your SUV to pull. The Lund was too heavy for me to load and unload and it was too deep for Marion to get into and out of. But, both of those things are something for you to consider when buying one.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

I am a muzzleloader also. Belong to Sonora Smoke Polers, maybe we have been at the same roovoos together. Shoot mostly a trade gun but also have a few 50 CVA's Mountain Rifles .

MoJoe Loc: Springfield, MO

I tow a 16' Tracker Super Guide Deep V with a Subaru Forester, and it's close to the max on weight. Mileage goes from 29 to about 16 mpg. More than 2 in the boat gets a little uncomfortable.

OK John Loc: Oklahoma City,OK

Watch your weight! 1750lbs is very very light for anything "river worthy." You need to consider boat, trailer, motor gas & gear in the boat; plus you will probably need trailer brakes. If I were you, I would get the wife really excited about how much fun a boat would be, pick out a couple of nice ones, then tell her how a new tow vehicle would be a lot safer.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

You my friend are in danger of having your man card revoked, in serious question at the least...I've never heard of a woman wanting a better boat than a man. Lol

My new boat is an upgrade from the last, and it's a lot of things my wife can appreciate, walk through windshield, more room, rod lockers, and her main thing she didn't like about the old boat, cupholders. I teased her about the new boat when I was getting it and saying, "did I mention it has lots of cupholders?"

I have a dream/fantasy where my wife says we should get the 21ft Lund with the 350 Verado motor, and then I wake up

TomTrack44 Loc: Petaluma, CA

Nook, take a look at the 18' Klamath, my wife bought me the walk thru one, deep vee Aluminum, all welded, with a 50 main and 9.8kicker. Great boat, had an 18' center console before that, also great boat for the areas you will be fishing. You can find some great deals on used ones from time to time. Good luck and tight lines buddy!

Omaryam2 Loc: Wi

Depending on the age and proximity of the grandkids you might want to consider a boat that can pull a tube or water skier. My 17’ StarCraft works pretty well for fishing and play but is a bit crowded with 3 or more fishers.

Jim Bradbury Loc: Buckley Washington

Nook,
I went through this about a year and a half ago or so. Out of the Blue my wife told me that I was going to need another hobby besides trapshooting when I fully retire and asked what I thought I would want to do. Before we got married almost 30 years ago, I had a Drift boat and was always going fishing. I told my wife that I wanted to get a fishing boat. I wanted an open boat with plenty of room to fish out of and no cabin which means it is not too comfortable right now in the cold rain of the NW. My wife does not like fishing, so it is pretty much me and our neighbor. After looking at a lot of used boats and either not finding what I was looking for or finding a used boat that was what I wanted but the price was ridiculously high. We ended up Ordering a 20' Alumaweld Adventurer, it took all of nine months to get it and I am very happy with it. Deep side 30" inside free board and a 14-degree Vee and cuts through the water really well. which makes easier to stay in the boat should I fall down. I am currently 63, extremely overweight and do not get around the best anymore due to tearing my body up when I was younger and worked harder than I should of. They do make the same boat in an 18' version. Best advice is to take your time and get what you want. I had never owned a boat with anything bigger than a 6 horse Johnson on it until late June when our boat was delivered. I am very happy with the boat that we got, it fits my needs. I have been fishing the lower Columbia River and the very lower part of the Cowlitz river due to having a prop and not a pump.
Happy Boat hunting,

Jim

19BassMan Loc: Sacramento, ca

Custom weld or Thunderjet are nice reliable boats that suit your needs. Will keep her happy also. I suggest minimum of 18’ with jet propulsion

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Yay Hal! Good news to hear! We’ll chat about it next time we’re out crabbing.

Richard J Loc: Lake Arrowhead, Ca

Thought about a pontoon boat?

trlittle Loc: Chico CA

Here are some starting thoughts from my way of thinking

No matter what size and type of bot you buy, I would always buy one with the4most horsepower available or that you can afford. There are many boats are sold as “cheap” from the manufacture so they can sell them at a lower price with smaller motors. You can never have to much horsepower. Also, you can run a bigger motor at less rpm’s and have less wear and tear on your motor.

Next if you do not buy a boat in the next few weeks, I would then attend the ISE show in Sacramento, or another show in another city, to get an idea of what types of boats are available. You do not need to buy a new one there, just see what is available, and what you like and do not like.

Other people might have other ideas, but this is a place to start