What's a decent brand of boat/skiff for Puget Sound? Easily trailer-able? 16' for so? Mainly for chasing SRC and resident silvers.
Kim Hampton
I've never owned one, but the Valco, I think it's called a Bayrunner 16', looks like a great open center-console aluminum boat for our waters. Nice upturned bow with rails and lots of freeboard. An added bonus is it doesn't require much power to scoot it along, so a 60 hp 4-stroke would be great on it.
There are lots of options and I'd suggest making a list of boats you like and then buy the best used package that falls into your list.
One word of advice is to buy a package that will have good resale with manufacturers people in the NW trust and desire. Same is true for outboards - Go with Yamaha, Honda, Merc and Suzuki for resale value - IMHO.... just in case you want to trade up
There are lots of options and I'd suggest making a list of boats you like and then buy the best used package that falls into your list.
One word of advice is to buy a package that will have good resale with manufacturers people in the NW trust and desire. Same is true for outboards - Go with Yamaha, Honda, Merc and Suzuki for resale value - IMHO.... just in case you want to trade up
There's a used bayrunner for sale on craigs list seattle for 4800 with a pic. Even if you just want to see the pic. Seems like a boat you may be able to pop a jet on and use in rivers as well. At least that's what I dream about while it rains and blows every day here in the 'ham. I swear if I don't see some sun soon either my wife will leave me or I'll kill the dog. I'd hate to lose that dog.
Manny for sale,
cds
Manny for sale,
cds
i think it depends on the type of fishing and where. are you going to be spending the majority of your time fishing the beach areas or in deep water.
for the beach fishing - go with aluminum. the ability to beach your boat and wade is nice. as for the bayrunner, it will get you through anything (i ran an 18' at neah for 2-3 years) but it is not a stable boat for fishing, meaning that it moves when you move. for calmer water look for a flatter bottomed boat with a wider beam. i had a small north river that was great for flyfishing inside hood canal / puget sound. very open and could handle the big wind chop if necessary.
be honest about where the majority of your fishing is going to be and buy a boat for that.... also be advised that once you buy a boat you will immediately wish you had 2-4' more feet. doesn't mean you have to buy it, just be aware that it's likely you will want it. even when i moved up to a 26' almar, i wanted something bigger... boats are evil like that.
chris
for the beach fishing - go with aluminum. the ability to beach your boat and wade is nice. as for the bayrunner, it will get you through anything (i ran an 18' at neah for 2-3 years) but it is not a stable boat for fishing, meaning that it moves when you move. for calmer water look for a flatter bottomed boat with a wider beam. i had a small north river that was great for flyfishing inside hood canal / puget sound. very open and could handle the big wind chop if necessary.
be honest about where the majority of your fishing is going to be and buy a boat for that.... also be advised that once you buy a boat you will immediately wish you had 2-4' more feet. doesn't mean you have to buy it, just be aware that it's likely you will want it. even when i moved up to a 26' almar, i wanted something bigger... boats are evil like that.
chris
All the advice is good. I'd go look at a 16' Duroboat. They're made in Woodinville and are awesome aluminum boats. Slap a Honda or Yamaha on the back and you'll have something you can use for the next 20 years. Also very light and trailerable so you don't need a monster truck. It's at least worth the drive to check 'em out. Every now and then you see one advertised on Craig's List.
Thanks for all the ideas. Keep um coming. Even though I make my living driving boats I don't know much about the small stuff. You guys are correct....you alway want more after you buy. Horsepower, size or whatever. I just want to have something manageable and handle a bit of the chop Puget Sound can dish out. Anyway keep the ideas coming. It seems like all the Google searches I type in miss a lot of what is out there. Such as the Duroboat which looks to be a good rig. Oh yeah...for all the guys that have boats...be safe.
Kim
Kim
Best boat ever! Hose it down when you get home and put it away. Plenty of walkaround space. Unsinkable and indestructable.ibn said:
And, it does probably 50+ with the 90hp.
Kim,
It mostly depends on you. Some people wouldn't be comfortable going out in Puget Sound in anything less than a 22' Sea Sport, while others are totally fine being out there in an inflatable kayak. So it will come down to being more about what you want than what you need.
I chose a 16' Lund SSV as my all around Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, Columbia River, and river boat. Since I run rivers a lot, I powered mine with a jet. If I was only going to use it in the sound and other deep water, I'd use a 30 or 40 hp 4 stroke. Part of the reasoning behind this boat is that it's easily handled by one man, I can beach it nearly anywhere, I can fish everywhere I want to go, and it requires no special vehicle for towing.
Have fun shopping.
Sincerely,
Salmo g.
It mostly depends on you. Some people wouldn't be comfortable going out in Puget Sound in anything less than a 22' Sea Sport, while others are totally fine being out there in an inflatable kayak. So it will come down to being more about what you want than what you need.
I chose a 16' Lund SSV as my all around Puget Sound, Grays Harbor, Columbia River, and river boat. Since I run rivers a lot, I powered mine with a jet. If I was only going to use it in the sound and other deep water, I'd use a 30 or 40 hp 4 stroke. Part of the reasoning behind this boat is that it's easily handled by one man, I can beach it nearly anywhere, I can fish everywhere I want to go, and it requires no special vehicle for towing.
Have fun shopping.
Sincerely,
Salmo g.
Kim:
I use to have a 14' Duroboat and really liked it. It had a pretty deep V-hull so it could take some pretty heavy waves. A 16'er would be even better for Puget Sound safety wise.
If you can, I would get a 4 stroke engine vs a 2 stroke. The 4 strokes get about twice the gas mileage, are much quieter, and no oil fumes.
Roger
I use to have a 14' Duroboat and really liked it. It had a pretty deep V-hull so it could take some pretty heavy waves. A 16'er would be even better for Puget Sound safety wise.
If you can, I would get a 4 stroke engine vs a 2 stroke. The 4 strokes get about twice the gas mileage, are much quieter, and no oil fumes.
Roger
I WOULD GO FOR THE WHALER, OR A LUND SKIFF. PEOPLE WOULD TAKE A LUND 15' MILES OFF SHORE UP IN KETCHIKAN. ONE YEAR, A GUY WHO RENTED ONE WOUND UP WINNING THE HALIBUT TOURN. WITH LIKE A 310 POUND FISH.
YOU CAN CUT A WHALER IN HALF AND SHE WILL STILL FLOAT, YOU CAN BEAT THE LUND TO CRAP AND IT WILL BEG FOR MORE.
TY
YOU CAN CUT A WHALER IN HALF AND SHE WILL STILL FLOAT, YOU CAN BEAT THE LUND TO CRAP AND IT WILL BEG FOR MORE.
TY
Whaler or Lund -iagree Both are "harder than woodpecker lips" as we used to say in the Corps. Tough as hell. If you have money falling out of your rear end, than Grady White makes a fishing machine. Lots of dinero though. Too much for most anyone I fish with. Coach
We each address our needs differently and any boat ends up being some sort of compromise. That said I solved my needs with a 16 foot lund Alaskan, powered with a 40hp Yamaha 4 cycle. Has worked well for my fishing in Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Willapa bay and several lakes.
I really like the extra width that Alaskan provides - made a stable and open fly fishing platform for two. I got a central console and wasn't sure whether I wanted/needed it but have to say it was a wise choice as my back takes a much less beating that with a tiller - an important consideration as we get older. Movable pedestal seats provide options for various fishing applications.
The 40hp pushes the hull at about 28 mph at wide open (5300 rpm) and 20-22 at 4200 rpm. More than enough for my fishing though if you are going to make long runs more horses may be nice. At cruising speed I get about 7 miles/gal. The lighter Aluminum hull (whole package fully load is about 1300 #) let me get by with a smaller outboard and being able to tow the rig with my ranger pickup.
After 2 years of hard use - more than 100 days on the water there still are little that I would change with my set up. Added a good color depth finder, down riggers, electric motor and a few other goodies.
Good luck with your search
Curt
I really like the extra width that Alaskan provides - made a stable and open fly fishing platform for two. I got a central console and wasn't sure whether I wanted/needed it but have to say it was a wise choice as my back takes a much less beating that with a tiller - an important consideration as we get older. Movable pedestal seats provide options for various fishing applications.
The 40hp pushes the hull at about 28 mph at wide open (5300 rpm) and 20-22 at 4200 rpm. More than enough for my fishing though if you are going to make long runs more horses may be nice. At cruising speed I get about 7 miles/gal. The lighter Aluminum hull (whole package fully load is about 1300 #) let me get by with a smaller outboard and being able to tow the rig with my ranger pickup.
After 2 years of hard use - more than 100 days on the water there still are little that I would change with my set up. Added a good color depth finder, down riggers, electric motor and a few other goodies.
Good luck with your search
Curt
Thanks for the info Smalma and everyone else,
I took a look at some Lunds today at Sound Island Marina. Nice boats but I want to look at the Duro boats before I do anything. I agree, I'd want a steering console. You said yours is a center console. I don't see that option as it looks as if everything is off to the side or can you place it in the center? I know a Boston Whaler is a great boat but I'm not sure if I want to throw that much coin at something realizing I spend over half the year in Alaska working.
Boy you got me thinking when you mentioned Willapa...about how old I'm getting. I grew up in the Grayland/Westport area and started working on the charter boats as a baitboy when I was 12 years old. Myself and my two older brothers ran the things for several years. The two older brothers owned their own. I remember going inside the N. Spit of Willapa close to shore at times and fishing kings. It was great fun when the fish were there but I kind of lost the desire to fish that way (gear instead of flies) after baiting hooks and taking care of tourists that long. Of course we called small boats like a 16' Lund coffins. That was over 25 years ago.
Anyway getting all this information is great and gives a direction to research. That's half the fun.
Kim
I took a look at some Lunds today at Sound Island Marina. Nice boats but I want to look at the Duro boats before I do anything. I agree, I'd want a steering console. You said yours is a center console. I don't see that option as it looks as if everything is off to the side or can you place it in the center? I know a Boston Whaler is a great boat but I'm not sure if I want to throw that much coin at something realizing I spend over half the year in Alaska working.
Boy you got me thinking when you mentioned Willapa...about how old I'm getting. I grew up in the Grayland/Westport area and started working on the charter boats as a baitboy when I was 12 years old. Myself and my two older brothers ran the things for several years. The two older brothers owned their own. I remember going inside the N. Spit of Willapa close to shore at times and fishing kings. It was great fun when the fish were there but I kind of lost the desire to fish that way (gear instead of flies) after baiting hooks and taking care of tourists that long. Of course we called small boats like a 16' Lund coffins. That was over 25 years ago.
Anyway getting all this information is great and gives a direction to research. That's half the fun.
Kim
Lund over Duraboat any day. Resale is good and they take a pounding and keep coming back for more (mine's a 1985!).
Also, seriously consider a foot controlled, bow mount saltwater electric motor for working the beach and keeping the boat positioned hands-free in current and/or wind. More casting, less steering; no anchoring means being able to follow the fish if necessary. Remember that on most beaches the cutts are in close to the beach and it doesn't take long to get blown/pushed in too close or out too far.
Also, seriously consider a foot controlled, bow mount saltwater electric motor for working the beach and keeping the boat positioned hands-free in current and/or wind. More casting, less steering; no anchoring means being able to follow the fish if necessary. Remember that on most beaches the cutts are in close to the beach and it doesn't take long to get blown/pushed in too close or out too far.
Hey Kim,
The important part is the motor. I can not stress this enough. All my life I have made my living in small boats one way or another and all I have to say is...Yamaha. Do not compromise on this and I am sure you will be happy with whatever hull you choose.
The important part is the motor. I can not stress this enough. All my life I have made my living in small boats one way or another and all I have to say is...Yamaha. Do not compromise on this and I am sure you will be happy with whatever hull you choose.
yep, i concur on the yamaha engine. every third world location i have fished, that is what you find. bad gas, probably little to no maintenance, keep on tickin'. when reelfast was in the planning phase, almar asked what engines, i said yamaha, they said '...the best choice from their point of view, but i could specify anything i wanted...' i have to say, when i start these 150s, i actually have to go to the stern to make sure the pee stream is there, thats how quiet they are, amazing.
I bought a 16' Northriver Revenge last summer, put a 4 stroke, 40 hp tiller Yamaha on it and we love it. Handles the Sound fine, real beamy, with enough of a V to ride well. Will do nearly 40 when it's flat. The boat is real open, with a flat sole, I would highly recommend looking at one, they are not much more than a Lund (which is a great boat), but they are, in my opinion a lot more boat.
I also have a 23' aluminum boat with twin 4 stroke 115's, but the Revenge is so easy to launch and deal with in general, that it gets all the use. I put downriggers and a sounder on it, works slick for trolling and plenty of room for flyfishing. Easy for one person to launch/haul. My .02. Worth what you paid for it. The Yamaha motors are real hard to beat.
I also have a 23' aluminum boat with twin 4 stroke 115's, but the Revenge is so easy to launch and deal with in general, that it gets all the use. I put downriggers and a sounder on it, works slick for trolling and plenty of room for flyfishing. Easy for one person to launch/haul. My .02. Worth what you paid for it. The Yamaha motors are real hard to beat.
I've been using a valco bayrunner '18 on Monterey Bay for years and I love it. I find it a stable platform. Easy to trailer. 40 hp Evinrude = 25 mph. Evinrude very reliable. The boat has higher sides than most aluminum boats and may not be the easiest for climbing in and out if beached. Great in rough water, tho. Just moved to Puget Sound and can't wait to fish it here. Good luck. je
I have a Boston Whaler 16' Dauntless that is great on the Sound. It has a nice casting platform up at the bow that's perfect for flyfishing. I miss my old 15' bayrunner's ability to beach on the rocks, as well as it's relatively lighter weight for launching, but the Whaler's a LOT safer feeling on bigger water when the wind and waves kick up as they so often do. Every boat I've ever had has been somewhat of a compromise, it's the nature of the beast and you have to get what suits you best. Greg
Agreed.livetofish said:
If you are looking at aluminum boats, determine if you want a rivetted or welded hull. There are negatives and positives to each. If you want to look at a welded aluminum boat (typically heavier gauge aluminum bottoms and sides relative to similar model rivetted boats) and want to go new, check out the Crestliner Alaskan 16' boat.
Given a choice, it would be Alumaweld. Then the Whaler.
Boats have been a problem for me. I never have the one that I want.
Right now I have, what I feel, is the prettiest boat that I have ever run. It is a composite center console boat, 17.5 feet, and really heavy. Nothing smooths chop out like 2,000 pounds of hull, but launching and taking out can be a problem on sketchy ramps. There have been many times where I wanted to go out, or come back in, but the ramp that I wanted to use was just a shithole of broken concrete at that level. Muscling 3,500 of boat, trailer and motor isn't prudent.
If I had to do it over again I would get an aluminumboat with an appropriate tiler steer motor. Yamaha would be my first choice. Tom Wolf runs an aluminum boat - he can lauch at pretty much any ramp, it sips gas and he gets around Neah Bay just fine.
Another viable option would be a RBI. A 16' - 18' RBI is light and incredibly seaworthy. The low freeboard would help keep from getting blown around when you are drifting a shoreline. I once was running S&R off the Jersey coast in a 14' RBI in 20' breaking seas. I had Wave Runners around me and a chopper in the air. It was a warm day and I would have been immediately picked up if I went swimming. In all, the 14' RBI and Wave Runners were better in those conditions then the 21' Impact. I could turn and run fast through the wave troughs, where the Whaler just didn't have that agility.
Re Whalers.... They are great boats, but there are also plenty of others in that genre that deliver a better value. Whalers hold their value, but if you are buying used it will work against you. Grady, Wahoo and Mako come readily to mind. I worked out of a 21' Impact for two years, and that was a phenominal boat for lots of different waters, but the Impact and the recreational Whalers are worlds a part.
Right now I have, what I feel, is the prettiest boat that I have ever run. It is a composite center console boat, 17.5 feet, and really heavy. Nothing smooths chop out like 2,000 pounds of hull, but launching and taking out can be a problem on sketchy ramps. There have been many times where I wanted to go out, or come back in, but the ramp that I wanted to use was just a shithole of broken concrete at that level. Muscling 3,500 of boat, trailer and motor isn't prudent.
If I had to do it over again I would get an aluminumboat with an appropriate tiler steer motor. Yamaha would be my first choice. Tom Wolf runs an aluminum boat - he can lauch at pretty much any ramp, it sips gas and he gets around Neah Bay just fine.
Another viable option would be a RBI. A 16' - 18' RBI is light and incredibly seaworthy. The low freeboard would help keep from getting blown around when you are drifting a shoreline. I once was running S&R off the Jersey coast in a 14' RBI in 20' breaking seas. I had Wave Runners around me and a chopper in the air. It was a warm day and I would have been immediately picked up if I went swimming. In all, the 14' RBI and Wave Runners were better in those conditions then the 21' Impact. I could turn and run fast through the wave troughs, where the Whaler just didn't have that agility.
Re Whalers.... They are great boats, but there are also plenty of others in that genre that deliver a better value. Whalers hold their value, but if you are buying used it will work against you. Grady, Wahoo and Mako come readily to mind. I worked out of a 21' Impact for two years, and that was a phenominal boat for lots of different waters, but the Impact and the recreational Whalers are worlds a part.
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