SRC Fishing - Boat Size

[Anyfish]

Just wondering on peoples thoughts.........

I have a small boat (12' with 7.5 hp outboard) that I have fished with in lakes for a long time. Would this work in south puget sound (Olympia, Shelton, etc.) or would it be too small for safety?

[Sterling silver]

There are probably as many opinions about boats as there are people, however, a good 12 foot boat will be OK.........sometimes. I used a 12 foot Hi Laker for years, but I was always watching the weather with one eye and watching my rod with the other eye. It was a bit nerve-racking. That said, a 12 footer with a bit of a v bottom, with decent depth, i.e. freeboard, will handle quiet water. If you want to run some distance or even be out all day it gets a little more iffy. One advantage of a small 12 footer is that you can manuever with the oars, a nice advantage. Also, you can get out and walk back to the ramp towing your boat if necessary. A flat bottom, low freeboard, short transom, lightweight boat designed for some pond would be best left at home. Remember all the PFDs and Coast Guard requirements.

Sterling

[andyk]

Being on salt vs. lakes is a whole different ball game. You need to constantly watch the weather, water, other boats, etc... more than you might on a lake (of course, depending on which lake you frequent). Things can turn on you quick if you aren't careful.

[ibn]

Should be fine, just watch the weather. You might consider fishing beaches or inlets that are protected. Keep in mind when fishing for SRC most fish are caught right on the shorline up to like 20 or 30 feet out, so you don't need to ever get far away from shore.

[Milt Roe]

I have a 14 ft boat that I made specifically for SRC. Works great as long as the launch is close to the fish.

[Jon Borcherding]

:thumb: THAT THING IS FLAT OUT GORGEOUS!!!!!:thumb:
Nice work!

[hendersonbaylocal]

I have a 14 ft boat that I made specifically for SRC. Works great as long as the launch is close to the fish.

Milt, that boat is so sick!

Lately, I have been fishing on the sound from a POS 10ft Mirrocraft with a 4hp engine. It works, although a bit small for two people. All good comments here. You will probably be surprised about how seaworthy your boat is and chances are that you will never be out fishing in weather that tests it anyway. Oars and a lifejacket are a good idea.

[BuckHumpy]

that boat is fantastic....makes my current project look like ... well yeah..a 12 foot alum that i drug off the bottom of the lake... the 2 horse going with it is pretty new... all this is what I'v been thinking about... used to row the hood canal with 12 foot and just stayed close to shore and often headed home when it looked ugly... do have a question ... do i need registration numbers for this boat... according to what i see in state.. no.. except federal waters ... does that mean the sound and hood canal.... for sure going to cover the pfd,flares,fire extinguisher,cell phone,air horn and all

[ibn]

that boat is fantastic....makes my current project look like ... well yeah..a 12 foot alum that i drug off the bottom of the lake... the 2 horse going with it is pretty new... all this is what I'v been thinking about... used to row the hood canal with 12 foot and just stayed close to shore and often headed home when it looked ugly... do have a question ... do i need registration numbers for this boat... according to what i see in state.. no.. except federal waters ... does that mean the sound and hood canal.... for sure going to cover the pfd,flares,fire extinguisher,cell phone,air horn and all

You will need to register it if you plan on putting a motor on it and using it in the sound. I just got my 103$ renewal for 2007.

[ibn]

Milt, that boat is so sick!

Lately, I have been fishing on the sound from a POS 10ft Mirrocraft with a 4hp engine. It works, although a bit small for two people. All good comments here. You will probably be surprised about how seaworthy your boat is and chances are that you will never be out fishing in weather that tests it anyway. Oars and a lifejacket are a good idea.

Heh, when I saw your boat for the first time, I thought to myself "that dude's got balls." At least it has character. I was suprised the motor worked. :P

[gt]

such a nice day yesterday, i stopped off at P-No-P and ate my lunch. lookin' at all the folks mooching with my binos and i noticed W-A-Y out there a guy in one of those old timie twin hull glass boats. motor looked like one of those air cooled jobbers from the days of yor'. he was doing fine as it was pancake flat. when he gave up and motored in, albiet it slowly, he ended up at on the homes along that beach. probably some long time resident who runs his, ahem, boat when the conditions allow, the key to any boating no matter the size. after all, its really not the size of the boat but the size of the ego which gets all of us into trouble.

[humpy man]

I have a 12 foot 40 year old starcraft that i use frequently on the sound. I'm a very experienced boater and I'd trust that boat with my life and i have had it out in all kinds of terrible weather. i've only been out in one really big storm because my sailboat was dragging it's bouy in the strong winds and it did just fine. You just have to know your limits and never challenge the sea.

[DeanHosh]

Buck Humpy,

You are exempt from registration. Exemptions are:

"Vessels that are not propelled by a motor (canoes,
kayaks, etc.) and sailboats under 16 feet in length
without a motor
Vessels less than 16 feet in length with a motor of 10 horsepower or less if used only on non-federal waters
Properly registered vessels owned by residents of another state or country and using Washington waters for 60 or fewer days

Federal waters I believe are those that are offshore. That point was not crystal clear.

[ibn]

Buck Humpy,

You are exempt from registration. Exemptions are:

"Vessels that are not propelled by a motor (canoes,
kayaks, etc.) and sailboats under 16 feet in length
without a motor
Vessels less than 16 feet in length with a motor of 10 horsepower or less if used only on non-federal waters
Properly registered vessels owned by residents of another state or country and using Washington waters for 60 or fewer days

Federal waters I believe are those that are offshore. That point was not crystal clear.

Puget Sound is a federal waterway. You will need registration.

[D3Smartie]

there is a perfect SRC boat for sale on the suquamish side of the agate pass bridge right now. Old whaler maybe 13' or so. saw it yesterday as i drove past. could be a good boat if anyone is in the market.

[PT]

I also know of a 13' Coho for sale. Same hull as an early 80's Whaler. 2000 40 hp honda 4 stroke on the back.

It'd be a great boat for South Puget Sound

[Eric Tarcha]

I just posted this on an other thread, but does anyone have any experience with canoes out in the salt? I have a 15' Old Towne with a trolling motor setup that I was thinking about trying out there, but I am a little nervous about the stability of a canoe with trying to fish out of it etc etc.

Thanks,

Eric

[Roger Stephens]

Eric:

Years ago I used to fish out a 16 1/2 ft. Mad River canoe. I always hugged the shoreline and it worked fine. Just needed to watch the weather(wind). I would sometimes paddle to 8-10 miles in a day of fishing. One advantage of a canoe is that it is probably easier to spot fish since you are more observant and slowed down vs. a motor boat.

I have been fishing out of a motor boat for many years now but do look back fondly on the canoe days that got me started fly fishing on Puget Sound.

Roger

[salt dog]

I just posted this on an other thread, but does anyone have any experience with canoes out in the salt? I have a 15' Old Towne with a trolling motor setup that I was thinking about trying out there, but I am a little nervous about the stability of a canoe with trying to fish out of it etc etc.

Thanks,

Eric

Canoes are inherently unstable craft, and as long as you stay a "little nervous" about it, i.e., pay close attention and don't take chances, you should be fine. Keep a close eye open for rogue rollers coming from large ship traffic, know the tides and the weather forecast, stay close to shore.... have a great time Eric.

[Eric Tarcha]

thanks guys...i think i will give it a try!

[Benni]

I just posted this on an other thread, but does anyone have any experience with canoes out in the salt? I have a 15' Old Towne with a trolling motor setup that I was thinking about trying out there, but I am a little nervous about the stability of a canoe with trying to fish out of it etc etc.

Thanks,

Eric

i have the exact same set up as you. i use it alot in different lakes around the state. i have taken a few times in the salt on a calm day. however i have over recent years added one more thing... stabilizers. they are like foam outriggers, impossible to tip the canoe even while sitting on the side. with the added off center weight of the motor and battery i have found the stabillizers extremely useful and sometimes have saved me and my gear from going into the drink. just a thought

- ben

[Eric Tarcha]

yeah, i saw some of those and thought they would be a good addition to the setup. Thanks for the info.

Eric