Need Help Choosing a Boat Please

[rc620]

Greetings,

I need a recommendation on a 15’ – 16’ boat for use on Tampa Bay and surrounding waters…..I currently own a 13’ Boston Whaler, which I bought originally for local use, but I have to cross the bay wherever I go, and the little Whaler is just too small when the chop kicks up…..This has strictly limited where we can go, as we either have to run idle speed, or get beaten to death…..Neither are options…

What I’m looking for is a boat that’s no longer than 16’ (may be able to push by 10”), no wider than 80”, and a total rig weight of less than 1,100 pounds….I’d like a boat capable of reasonable performance in a chop, that I can safely take to the local islands (Egmont Key, Shell Island, etc.), fish the bay, etc….I realize that even a 16’ boat would be limited to “good days” for some of these excursions, which is fine....With the little Whaler, these excursions are out of the question....

The boat needs to comfortably handle 4 people…Most of what I’m seeing are skiffs, with low freeboards, and flat bottoms, which I’m not sure will cut it…Furthermore, many of the small skiffs, like the Renegade 15, have a layout that very restrictive...There’s a hundred little builders out there, so there must be a boat that’ll work for me, but getting started has been difficult….I’d like to keep the price around $12K new with a trailer...

Any advice/input would be most appreciated…

Thanks!

[bmkshort]

Well, the good news is there are alot of boats that would come close to meeting your needs except for the part about handling 4 comfortably.The bad news is for $12K new with trailer, I think you're limited to a Carolina Skiff.

I would suggest a used boat and if you say you can get by with 16' 10", then check out some 17' boats because if you look at the specs on most, they will be around 16'10". A 17' boat would be a lot more boat than most 16' boats would be.

[bstnsportsfan]

I also agree that the $12k new with trailer will definetly hinder your choices. Being from Florida, you may be able to find some slightly older/used boat in very good condition for the money you are looking to spend. Just looking out boattrader.com for 15-16' under 12k, I found a couple slightly used Key West http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...O-160-89488691 that may fit your criteria.

Again if you go used and maybe look at 17s, you will probably find more that fit your criteria. On your side is the fact that there are tons of boats for sale and you are in florida! Good Luck!!

[Ranger88]

I can relate, RC.

I have a 13' Lucraft; a decent whaler copy. The boat is stable, solid, efficient, and fun; but it can't take any kind of chop, even 6" would slow you down to a crawl.

I gotta think that Carolina Skiffs are kinda like that too, being so flat on the bottom.

I ended up buying a 17 cc bay boat, and its been great. Mine happens to be a Robalo with a Mercury 90.

I think there are some 17's close to your weight limit; not sure about the Key West.

A 17 Key West would seem to fit your requirements otherwise.................

[daddy0]

The Carolina skiff also makes a whaler look alike.
My son in law was just quoted between 10& 11 K for the 16' depending on a few options THat was Boat Motor & trailer

[thataway]

Any of the flat bottom or tri hull type of boats will pound in chop. There are several other options: One is an aluminum boat--the Duroboat 16 footer (with console) is a good heavy chop boat in that size--price range and beam. Lund also makes good Alluminum boats which would serve. (I have a smaller Duroboat and have been amazed as to how well it runs in chop). Tracker and some of the other bass boats builders have very good quality 16 to 17 foot boats which may serve your purpose.

The most seaworthy craft in that size would be an RIB inflatable. I have rescued a 13 foot Whaler which had capsized with a 13 foot RIB--and took all crew (4) (along with the two of us) to safety. You may be pushing the beam--and comfortable room, but in the larger size inflatables they are very capable.

Ray Hunt designed several small boats--years ago I had a 17 foot Hunt deep V--which ran well in chop--you might have to do some looking for one of these.

The other option would be a 16 to 17 foot Catamaran--usually these would be more than the 80 inches. but there are going to have to be some trade offs.

[welder]

Klamath alloy boats

Or go to www.aluminumalloyboats.com and check out the builders links there are about 100 builders to look at.

[itwonder]

Unfortunately, I am at a loss to think of any boat that will do a good job of meeting your needs and pricepoint at the same time. A Dusky 17 would do a great job for you. If you keep an eye out for inventory sales on dusky.com, you might find a new one fairly close to your budget. I just spotted a brand new one on their web site they have with a 115 Evinrude for $14,999. A Cape Horn 17 would be good too, but you would be looking for used.

[OspreyVic]

Personally, I would NOT want to be in Tampa Bay on less than a 17 ft boat, and that would be very tight for 4 people fishing. We were fishing in the bay last week, and when those big ships go past, they can throw up a big wake. Worse than that, when the wind whips up without warning, it can get mighty choppy. Smallest I would want is 17 ft.

I am not trying to start any discussion, but you might look at a used 17 ft Triumph. They do flex, which means a softer ride. BUT, because of the flex they do have to be properly supported when out of the water.

I will be the first to say that Triumph boats are not for everyone, but they are for my family. AND – any boat is better than not having a boat.

True – Triumphs do have to be supported correctly on a trailer. Putting them on a trailer not designed for them can cause a problem. The key word is “can”.

True – Triumphs do flex, and my back and knees sure appreciate that fact.

False – Triumphs do not do well in the hot sun. The color is the same all the way thru the material, from top to bottom. There is no gel coat to crack, fade or polish (I like NOT polishing).

True – For cleaning, use a pressure washer or take it to a do it yourself car wash. Not much easier than that.

True – Many northern Triumph owners use hammers and baseball bats to remove the ice from their boats before trailering south for a winter vacation. Try that on a fiberglass hull. And while many of us will never use a hammer or a bat on our boat, it is my belief that most of us will hit a dock too hard or find something hard in the water to run our boat into.

What sold us is a local boat rental place that is still renting out old late 1990’s plastic boats. They store their rentals on racks designed for glass boats - not plastic. They keep replacing engines, but the boats keep going. They claimed that these boats have hit every oyster bed, sand bar, mangrove, bridge, dock etc. in Sarasota County and they just keep coming back for more punishment. These racks are out in the open, so the boats are in the sun all the time.

The Triumph Boat Owners web site is http://www.triumphowners.net/. This site is designed for owners of Triumph boats to share information.

Just my opinion, but like many manufacturers, their product keeps getting better every year. Do your sea trials and pick rough days.

We still love our 2005 model and have had none of the problems other keep posting on this site about. Maybe we are just lucky, but based on the comments of hundreds of other owner’s I do not believe that for a minute.

The Triumphowners.net web site does list a used 2006 model that is located within driving distance of you for sale in its "Classified" section.

[shemstreet]

I would also recommend looking at a used Triumph 170CC. The weight is closer, it has a fairly narrow beam, and it actually rides pretty well in chop, especially with either tabs or a second person up front. A 50 hp will get it to about 30 mph with two people. It could take four people for a ride, but fishes best with no more than two. Even their 15' CC would probably ride better than the Whaler in chop, although you would probably be pushing it to haul 4 people around.

The KW1720 would be another narrow beam 17' CC. Might be a hair heavier than the Triumph and is designed for 2-strokes, usually rigged with a Yamaha 90. If you did not have to be narrow, there are a whole lot of 17' CCs in the 7.5' to 8' beam.

Both would have to be used since they are both in the $16K plus area new (Triumph with 50-60 hp 4-stroke and KW with 90 hp 2 stroke).

A dual console version of either would handle 4 more comfortably, but you would lose a little of the fishing room.

[jpru2001]

I definitely would consider Triumph for a 17 foot boat. They are light like the guy said can use a smaller, non gas guzzling motor to get around. My buddy had a 1720 Key West for a while that he got a deal on at $15k so it is probably a little above your price range. It is going to be hard finding a V hull for $12k though I think.

I am also not sure how you are going to get a V or semi-V hull with a nicer ride when adding a motor that is a total rig weight of less than 1,100 pounds. As a matter of fact, if you find something that meets those criteria please post because I'd be interested in seeing it!

[rc620]

Thanks for the advice everyone.....I neglected to say that I'm looking in the new or used market, so perhaps the $12K would be more reasonable...I might be willing to stretch it a little if I could find the perfefct boat....Some of the boats I'm looking at are:

Renegade 15 Nomad - Super deep-V, but not a lot of room - Under 600lb hull weight
Carolina Skiff JV17 - Would work perfectly from every perspective, but it's almost too narrow (61" beam) - 650lb hull weight
Carolina Skiff JVX16 - Probably one of my best options. Even with the fairly flat hull, it'll ride better than my 13' Whaler - 650lb hull weight

I found a brand new JV17 for under $10K, with a 60HP 4-stroke Suzuki and trailer...Although it's narrow, and has a low freeboard, I have to imagine a 17' boat will ride better than a 13' boat, even if it has a flat bottom...The boat that would probably ride the nicest of them all (proabably as well as some 17' boats) is the Renegade, as it has a 21 degree deadrise...

[reddawg]

You should try to find something with a little more "V". The skiff will beat you to death in the bay (and they are pretty wet as well). Do yourself a favor and look at the KW 17. Great boat, dryer than most, and you should be able to find a very nice one for 12K. I would even sell you mine for that price (it is an '03 w/90 Yam 2 stroke, excellent condition, with lots of goodies).

[rc620]

Agreed, I'd love to have more "V," but it's hard to find in a sub-17' boat that weighs, with motor, under 1,200 pounds....I'd love to have a Key West 17, Scout 17, Dusky 17, or many other similar boats, but the hull weight alone is 1,200 pounds on up.....

Anyone familiar with Cape Craft?