Fishing - Buying a Boat

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Hey, I'm planning on buying a boat, motor, and battery (for the motor).
Any suggestions? Oh and it has to be 12-14 feet long, powered buy a
transom mounted electric trolling motor (theres not many lakes or
resivoirs around my place that alow gas outboards). Not like a big bass
boat, something more along the lines of a jon boat, And my max budget
is $1400.

"CTC" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey, I'm planning on buying a boat, motor, and battery (for the motor).
Any suggestions? Oh and it has to be 12-14 feet long, powered buy a
transom mounted electric trolling motor (theres not many lakes or
resivoirs around my place that alow gas outboards). Not like a big bass
boat, something more along the lines of a jon boat, And my max budget
is $1400.

Sounds like a perfect fit for a basic 12-14ft Jon Boat, or a Coleman Crawdad
(if they still make those) which was an 11-12ft plastic hulled jon-boat type
craft. I fished from one of those from the mid 1980s, until I bought me a
bonafide bassin rig just 3 years ago.

The trolling motor price will depend on it's thrust rating typically, and
that is a choice you should make based on what you want to do with your new
boat, based on how big and heavy it is, and how much gear you'll have on
board at any given time. As for brands, I'd recommend either a Motorguide or
Minn Kota. I've used both, and both work just fine.

Same thing with batteries, you get what you pay for. Get a "nice" high
dollar battery if you're going to go out a lot, and it's going to see an
appreciable amount of charge/discharge/charge cycles. If you are only going
to use it "here and there" a cheaper, lead-based off-brand name deep cycle
battery can be just fine. For high dollar batteries ($100), I like Optima
Blue Tops and Cabelas house brand AGM batteries. For a good value, Wal-Mart
sells a 29 sized Maxx series marine battery for about $65-$70. Depending on
how far or how long you want to be out any given day, you may need more than
1 battery too. And FYI, you can squeeze Wal Mart's 29 size battery into a 27
size battery tray.

You're also going to need a battery charger. For occasional and light use, a
basic Schumacher in deep cycle mode will suffice. Otherwise, plan on an
extra couple hundred $$ for a decent marine charger. And definitely spend
the money on a nice charger if you get nice batteries.

(Found the "current" Coleman Crawdad:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...n=B000220L6 Y)

They used to be "assembly required" (and mine is green) and now appear to be
more of a one piece deal. Nice little puddle scooter for the local lakes. I
still have mine for those private ponds that won't allow my 17 footer on.
IMHO, these Crawdads are a lot lighter to move than a similarly sizzed metal
jon boat would be. That's why I chose it some 20 years ago as my boat. But,
it may not be big enough for your needs...so YMMV.

Thanks alot I like this boat, its a bit cheaper than the boat i was
planning to get, the pelican intruder 12. Im down to 2 boats, this one
and the Intruder 12, if given a choice which would you choose
here are some web addresses for the intruder 12, i dont know how to
make a link so you'll have to copy and paste these adresses
http://www.pelican-intl.com/intruder-12.html
http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/over...item_num=30741
http://www.smallwatercraft.com/oz/4/com/plc/fb/jon.html

Thanks much,

Chris

o wait never mind i made links

"CTC" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks alot I like this boat, its a bit cheaper than the boat i was
planning to get, the pelican intruder 12. Im down to 2 boats, this one
and the Intruder 12, if given a choice which would you choose
here are some web addresses for the intruder 12, i dont know how to
make a link so you'll have to copy and paste these adresses
http://www.pelican-intl.com/intruder-12.html

http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/over...item_num=30741
http://www.smallwatercraft.com/oz/4/com/plc/fb/jon.html

Thanks much,

Chris

No prob Chris. Been in your position, and respect it much. I wouldn't have
recommend that product had I not had one for over 20 years now, and it gave
me many good years of service. It's really a tough piece to be "plastic", in
my opinion anyway. Loads up in a P/U truck quite well, and handles the abuse
just as good.

Target also sells the Intruder 12 boat you mention he

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000220DFI

I don't patronize Target that much (there isn't one real close to me) but
their prices for "web only" products appear to be quite competitive. They're
offering that Intruder 12 for the same $499 as the Crawdad at the link
above. I hate to keep linking you to that one site/retailer, but of the
places on the web that came up when I did the search, they appeared to be
the cheapest seller of them...You just have to consider the $199 shipping
charge before deciding to order from them.

Good luck bud. Hope you can score something and be out on the water soon.

Many boat companies have a 14' aluminum Jon boat. I like the "1448" which is
48" at the rear-bottom with a 70" beam. They run $1000-$1500 USD new.

Then get a good 55# thrust 12 volt electric motor (MinnKota) that you can
mount on the front or back for $200-$300.

You can buy a deep cycle 12 volt battery and a 12 volt charger for $100.

This will be great for 1 to 3 people.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com

"CTC" wrote in message
oups.com...

Hey, I'm planning on buying a boat, motor, and battery (for the motor).
Any suggestions? Oh and it has to be 12-14 feet long, powered buy a
transom mounted electric trolling motor (theres not many lakes or
resivoirs around my place that alow gas outboards). Not like a big bass
boat, something more along the lines of a jon boat, And my max budget
is $1400.

"Bill Kiene" wrote in message
. com...
Many boat companies have a 14' aluminum Jon boat. I like the "1448" which
is 48" at the rear-bottom with a 70" beam. They run $1000-$1500 USD new.

Then get a good 55# thrust 12 volt electric motor (MinnKota) that you can
mount on the front or back for $200-$300.

You can buy a deep cycle 12 volt battery and a 12 volt charger for $100.

This will be great for 1 to 3 people.

I have to agree. One of the up and coming local anglers I know fishes out
of a 14' Waco jon boat with a foot control electric TM on the front. For
months and months that's all he used. He would push it off his trailer and
crank it back onto the trailer by hand. I don't think that basic boat is
even that expensive. Recently he acquired a little Nissan outboard so he
can explore the river a bit more.

Anyway, he fishes back seat to two or three "pro" anglers I know locally and
they always seem to do a little better when they fish with him. Nothing
wrong with those little boats, and his fishes very very well.
--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com