SOME HELP ON SELECTING A BOAT

K

Kirk Weiskopf

New member
Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone can help me with selecting my next boat. I currently have a 14 fiberglass boat that I attach a home made blind to if needed. What I am looking for is a more sea worthy boat that still has a shallow draft. Really I'm trying to use the same boat to hunt puddle and diver/sea ducks here in Maryland. I had a close call this year with my boat and I have no interest in orphaning my two kids. Almost all the areas I hunt have submerged trees and rocks/concrete so I need something strong on the bottom. Also I take my daughter fishing and crabbing with the same boat. Any help would be appreciated.

Kirk W.
 
Kirk-

What's your budget?

How many people do you want to carry on an average day?

How fast do you want to go?

What part of MD? what River?

What's your budget?

Answer these questions and we'll get at it!

-D
 
Dave, The budget would be 2-4k boat, trailer and motor, I mostly hunt around hart miller island and days cove, I've also been up on the Bohemia once and on stemmers run numerous times. Usually, its just me but three of us went twice last year. Thanks for the reply.

Kirk W.
 
I agree on the starcraft suggestion. I have a 16' deep V with a 50hp on it. Runs shallow for what it is and runs along just fine for hunting and fishing. Very sea worthy boat as well. Mine is old and show the scars of a long life but doesn't leak a drop after recaulking a few years ago. They can often be had cheap as well. Do what I did, gut the sucker, new wood everywhere (floor, transom) add a side/center console and a PTT unit. It will last a lifetime.

One note if you redo one. It looks like a lot of "available" room under the deck when you pull it up. Remember, that positive floatation foam HAS to go back in somewhere.

Keep us posted.

Gene Jr.
 
There was a Lund Alaskan in the bay weekly paper for $4000 last week or so, not sure if its still available.

18' Alaskan Lund Center Console – 50hp Yamaha, trailer, bimini, rod lockers, bow motor, ice chest/seat. Reduced $3,900. Call 410-255-8220.

I run a 18' Starcraft with 60hp tiller(picture below), I have about $2000 invested in it, but I pieced it together over the last year or so. I am in the proces of replacing the floor/deck and will a add a removable blind this summer. Used it this year mostly as a tender for the layout and I was really happy. I would prefer a small side console but I found the motor and it was priced right, so I took out the center console. It won't run as swallow as a flat bottom, but much safer and can float in about 1 foot of water with gear. I know people use John boats out here but there is no way i would in the bigger waters of the bay. The 16' starcraft will run much swallower but you give up room when hunting 3 guys. I still pick my days of North Point and Hart miller when i am by myself but nowhere near as much if I had a john boat. You should be able to locate this style of boat here in MD fairly cheap, everybody likes glass.

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Gene,

Did yours have about 500 lbs of waterlogged white EPS foam in the floor?

Mine did, it was definitely just adding weight at that point. When I redid the floor, I used two-part expanding flotation foam. Much better setup.

Wish I'd never sold that boat.

Charlie
 
BillS,

Only $2000 invested in that!!! Wow, I am impressed and amazed. I have about 4X that into mine and I pieced it together myself too. Nice!!!

Kirk,

If you can get a lund alaskan for the money you want to spend, absolutely go for it. I suggested the starcraft because of your price range. The lunds are as rare as hens teeth up here and people get top dollar for them regardless of condition. I seems like I could buy starcrafts all day long for $1k-$4 and they are good solid boats. I often see a good hull ("needs work" usually the floor is rotten) for under $1000. That is well worth it for a solid hull assuming you have the time and ability to take on a project.

Charlie
 
Charlie,

My foam was dry and went back in since she is a trailer queen most of the time. Even when I leave her in a week or two at my in-laws place I don't get but a pint of water out, probably condensation!

The new paint job looks almost like Bill's, pretty cool to see another one like it.

They are a very dry boat to run. The only hunting downfall I've found is that the bow is so high in the water. Makes it hard to hide well. These days I use it more as a tender since I got the TDB14 she gets left home a lot more.

If I get off my butt and get a layout or small BBSB (for layout use) built then I can get her back in action more. It sure is nice to have all that SPACE available.

Gene Jr.
 
Bill, Thanks for the ad info. I called tonight, but no answer. Does anyone know the gauge of the aluminum . Also are the boats welded and does anybody have problems with waves coming over the transom. I like how high the gunnels are on your boat, very kid friendly. Nice picture too.

Kirk W.
 
most alum deep V's will be riveted, I don't think there is an advatage of one over the other, they both have pro's and con's. I have no idea about what guage alum starcrafts are, maybe someone else does. My boat is similar to an alsakan, in that the splash well isn't very big. I will change that one my boat, if you find other models of starcrafts with the same hull, the splash wells will be much bigger and deeper. On that note this starcraft hull was used on many models from the 70's to the 90's, some will be walk-thru winsheilds, center console's and side consoles all can be easiily strpped to make an wide open floor plan.

here is a typical starcarft splashwell

main-photo3.jpg
 
yeah, but that also makes floating in really shallow water more difficult. I am going to put the gas tank under the floor toward the front of the boat which should help distribute wieght better. The one thing I would like would be a bit wider in the 18' but its the same as the 16' starcraft. To go with anything wider though I would have to go to a much more expensive boat and increase my HP, so I am overall happy.
 
Kirk
Check Craigs list There was an 18' Starcraft either in N Virginia or S MD. I think it was free or close to it but no trailer.
 
Nice rig Bill. If you can float in 12 inches I think you are doing pretty good. If I can float my BB3 in less water when it's full of gear it's not my much. Less than knee deep water and I am walking.
 
Hey...all right....another old Starcraft. Looks just like mine prior to re-decking and a coat of Lou's FME! I have the same motor but I guess mine is a bit tail heavy. I need 14" to 16" to float with the motor up and 12 gallons of fuel and battery. Nice dry ride unless your running into the chop with a 25 mile an wind. I guess any boat is going to get wet in that senario though. I'm seriuosly thinking of getting rid of the side consoles and going with a center like this if I can find one that won't cost my first born. Any thoughts on using a center console? I'm thinking I'd like the extra room for hauling a puddler like Hitch does for a couple of places I can't get the Starcraft into.

Thanks,

Ed L.

24x30x34_cosole_2 (560 x 555).jpg
 
My old mariner 16 was similar.

Same hull, different layout - mine had a center console and a bow storage compartment. I ditched the console to make it a duck rig. The splashwells are functional, and if you run tiller the flat spot at the front of the well makes a nice seat. Also, the flat gunnels are nice for mounting a blind and for holding a cup of coffee.

Funny you should mention the width. That was one thing that I wasn't a fan of either. Wish it was wider.

Overall a very function rig, especially for a multipurpose duck boat that can handle the shallows as well as some moderately snotty chop. The price is often right too.

Charlie
 
I didn't like the center console at all, sold it for $50, didn't know they are worth much. I thought it took up way to much room. I would much rather have a one-sided console. Having a tiller really opens things up though, unforunately I don't have any pics with my MLB classic mounted on it.

center.jpg


back.jpg
 
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hey scott, what have you been up too? Has your email changed? sent you a few emails, but never heard anything. Hope all is well up there with you and your family.

I was pretty suprised with the deadrise this boat has, that was me the dog, 4doz corkers and 12 gallons of gas.
 
Hey Bill, I did get an email a while back with some pics of you and Marty on hunt down there. Looks like you had a good season.

We're doing well up here. Trying to keep up with the youngin' for the most part, but still having a bit of fun now and then. I can't complain.
 
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