Starter Boat Package

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
21

I have not read all the posts but those that I read, sound like great advice. Members here helped me find my boat.

I used to have a small 12 al boat. Personally, I would buy a larger used boat if I was taking my family out. They just aren’t safe enough on larger waters.

Now, to the Briggs and Stratton Motor. I am sure some won’t like it but I will go ahead and say. These motors are a pile of garbage. I owned one. I was sold on the price and the fact it was a 4-stroke.

It was loud, adjustments weren’t great… I will be happy to PM you more specifics if you would like. Its just my opinion and nothing more.

Check ksl, craigslist.org, local online papers… Be patient and you will find a great deal.

Good Luck

22

Ok, I’ll jump in on this one. Your story sounds similar to mine. My family was camping at Strawberry every year and fishing from shore. I wanted to get a boat to get out on the lake. I ended up getting two little aluminum ones, a 14’ and a 12’. They were both fine within the bays and in good weather. However, the Strawberry wind is notorious for kicking up about 11:00am daily and you pretty much need to find a little hole to hide in for a few hours or get off the lake. It is even scarier if you have kids in the boat with you.

I usually fished chicken creek. We went out to that island at the mouth one time, the wind came out of nowhere, and the waves were climbing the back of the boat as we tried to make it back, they were outrunning what our little motor could put out.

One other drawback to the little ones is comfort. You can sure get a sore back sitting there for a couple of hours, even if you add the little seats. It’s difficult to stand and stretch if there is any weather.

That only lasted me a year, then I went and got my first “real” boat, a 17.5’ tri-hull with a 135hp outboard. I paid $2k for it and it was amazing the difference. I could fish the whole lake, caught a lot more fish, wasn’t afraid to have kids with if there was wind, usually, and could move around quickly if the wind came up.

The drawback is that the tri-hulls don’t handle the large waves well. They climb and drop with them, which can be dangerous in bigger waves.

I used that little boat for 5 years and really loved it. This last year we upgraded to a 19’ Deep V hull with a 305 v8 I/O. It is MUCH, MUCH better. I was in the middle of the lake in some really nasty waves and it cut through them just great. I would have feared for my life on that tri-hull.

With all of that said, I would STRONGLY suggest putting that $2500 toward a larger used boat. Especially where you are going to have kids with you.

One other bonus is that many of the used ones come with a lot of the extras you will end up forking over another $1k for: life jackets, electronics, pole holders, sometimes downriggers, etc, etc, etc.

We just went through this whole long discussion with another person looking for their first boat. Look at the ‘boat help’ thread near the top of the off topic board. There is a LOT of great info there. He found himself what looks to be a really nice boat for just $3500. Go read through the info on that thread before making your decision. :slight_smile:

23

My experience with small boats like that is that you need to max-out the motor HP as per the Coast Guard information plate. I had a 12’ with a 9.9 hp, and even by myself, it was always under powered, especially at Strawberry. I now have a 14’6" Starcraft with a 30 HP oil injected Mariner and it is a great fishing boat. I can hit 25 mph fully loaded at the Berry, even better at Powell. I am looking at selling it and getting a Smokercraft ProMag 162 with a 90 on it. Not so much for the HP but for the room, comfort and convenience my dad needs as he is getting older.
Mr. J.

24

Try to get a bigger and safer boat. See way to many people, especially with kids out in waves that make me very nervous.

25

Welcome aboard to the wonderful world of BFT.
I have a larger boat and I’ll be selling it this spring. I need a smaller one for just me to use. So i was looking. try this link. This boat is more suited to your posted needs. No I don’t know anything about the boat just saw this add.
http://sell.ksl.com/cgi-bin/classifieds.pl?db=recvehicles&website=&language=&session_key=&search_and_display_db_button=on&results_format=long&db_id=76038&query=retrieval

26

I know I haven’t posted much lately but here is my advice. Take up golf, bowling, drinking or cocaine. All are cheaper then boating/fishing. I too have seen the wicked ways of the water, I too was once lured by the evil aqua, no more I say!
I tried to give this advice to Road years ago but he didn’t listen. Here’s how it starts; “they” tempt you with a 14 footer, next comes the upgraded motor, how about a little electric “they” say. Next thing you know your looking for a nice little fish-finder; then a GPS; now add some planer boards, a downrigger.. it never ends.
My name is Scott N., and once I was on the “boat” too. Years and thousands of dollars of thearapy later I thought I was cured. Then I met BearLakeMack. He said come with me and have a little taste of “boat”, free of course, no charge, I like you and “boat” makes you feel good. So, I said, what harm can come from a liitle taste of “boat”, it’s been years, I can kick this whenever I want but, I want to try to see if I still like it. So, I went. Then BLM say’s “Why not go again?”. I’ve already told him I’ve been on the “boat” and it almost killed me. He say’s “You liked it didn’t you?”
Liked it hell; I loved it! Now I’m back on the “boat” full time. I’m main lining Senkos and snorting Lucky Crafts. If a hook don’t touch my skin every 6 hours I get the shakes and I keep a what-a-cricket in my wallet for a little fix.
Do yourself a favor my friend, take up meth, it’s cheaper, your family will forgive you and in the end, it’s an easier habit to break.

IFG

27

An Ideal boat for you just showed up on the for sale forum. Check it out, nice big open walleye boat, 40 hp, elec bow mount, storage, depth sounder and graph. Better check it out. $2500.

28

I guess I’m one of those people everyone gets nervous about. I take 14 foot aluminum out on strawberry all the time. Sometimes I only use the electric trolling motor. Waves come up and I still fish it, I’ve even been counseled at the dock a handful of times by guys with 21’ boats to not go out. You don’t need a big boat to fish big water. There hundreds of people who take float tubes and pontoons out on strawberry and fish it in waves as well. Don’t you think they pose a comparable risk to a small aluminum boat? Small boats are perfectly safe if you understand thier limitations. I don’t travel more than a mile or two away from the launch. I tend to stay in the bays and fish them, well that’s were a lot of trout are anyway. I also travel near a shoreline, in case I need to pull over quickly. I even take small children with me. They wear life jackets and I have mine on in case I need to help out. I don’t take young children in late fall as the water temps pose more risk than drowning. 14 foot is plenty to fish strawberry with, heck, I’ve even done it in a 10 ft with a 30 lb thrust motor and it was a great day fishing. All said, that package doesn’t sound like rippen deal. Take BLM advise and get a sound boat, but it doesn’t have to be huge.

29

[;)][;)]:blush:[angelic]:sunglasses:Funny man!