Suggestions for a 15' boat

fatlazyless · 01-28-2008, 09:57 PM

Trying to do this for probably the least money and still getting a reliable and sturdy boat, maybe a used 14' Alumacraft side console with a 15-20-25hp outboard. Plenty similar brands like Mirrocraft, Sylvan, Princecraft etc. For winterization, remove the outboard, and flip the boat upside down, no trailer needed.

For even less money and also less comfort and safety, a tiller handle outboard as opposed to a side steer console.

What's in craigslist?

I knew of a retired 70 something guy who used a 14' Alumacraft with a 15hp Evinrude tiller-handle as a work boat. He did summer-time, masonry retaining wall jobs on Bear-Jolly-Mark-Mink-Pine Islands and hauled rocks-sand-cement-tools-dog in this boat set-up.

Bear Islander · 01-29-2008, 12:17 AM

I have to agree, the aluminum boats are a classic. Low price, almost indestructible, no maintenance and they gain character with age. If the engine quits, use the oars.

ApS · 01-29-2008, 06:15 AM

If you're on Rattlesnake Island, an aluminum boat can be pulled up on shore—a big plus. Like the Whaler, they're also unsinkable.

Charities often have them donated for their yard sales, so in addition to being no-maintenance, indestructible, unsinkable and inexpensive, that purchase can benefit the community as well.

My neighbor's 14-foot Feather Craft got loose from their dock during 1991's Hurricane Bob and banged against a rocky shore for hours. It's still in leak-free use, makes the eight-mile trip to Wolfeboro on occasion, and presents itself pretty well after fifty years!

Found at the very bottom of the used-boat price range, aluminum boats built in the 40's tend towards odd styling affectations—strong, but comparatively heavy among aluminum boats.

islandAl · 01-29-2008, 08:04 AM

My 14 foot aluminum does that duty you speak of. First in and does all the trips untill the first "big" boat goes in from storage and last out after the others go back into storage. Been doing this since 1958 and only replaced the wooden seats twice. Two people can "pull" it out and I can slide it in alone. Great serviceable boat.

hazelnut · 01-29-2008, 09:27 AM

APS, Aluminum boat, unsinkable??? Not true.

I have some experience in this area as I have paid the price dearly for making the mistake of not buying a whaler.

A few years back I was pondering the same decision that you are now faced with lakershaker. I have been boating on the lake for most of my life now. I now have a house on Cow Island. My wife and I were in need of a second boat and a 13-16 footer seemed like the way to go. In all my years on the lake I had never sunk a boat so I thought what's the big deal about a whaler? So I went and found a knockoff whaler type boat. HUGE MISTAKE. There is a reason Whalers are more expensive trust me. The "whaler knockoff" found its way to the bottom of the lake on more than one occasion. I'll spare you the details. I ditched it for a 14 foot aluminum. Now aluminum boats are great don't get me wrong. But, unsinkable, NOT. They are a bathtub. If unused for more than a week at a time You need to either A: Pull it up on dry land or B: have a good electric pump installed and pray for the battery to hold and no leaves to clog it up. We chose A: we winched the boat up on land every Sunday before heading home for the week. It worked well for a few years. Finally two years ago I got smart and stopped being a cheapskate and splurged for the Whaler. I found a used 13 footer on Craigslist. It has been a DREAM! The boat can not and will not sink. The reason being is a Whaler unlike most boats is solid foam filled. Technically there is no bilge for water to collect. I call it the life preserver with a motor on it. I feel so much safer with my children in it. I know it can take on the waves and any water just drains right out the self bailers.
The only other route I would consider is the small pontoon boat route as suggested by other posters. You are much less likely to sink a pontoon boat.

ApS · 02-14-2008, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazelnut

APS, Aluminum boat, unsinkable??? Not true....Finally two years ago I got smart and stopped being a cheapskate and splurged for the Whaler...It has been a DREAM! The boat can not and will not sink..."

We've all been influenced by the Whaler that was cut in half—And that half was being rowed!

Here's a different shot.

However, that particular saw appears to be a prop.

For pulling up on a dock or on shore, the Whaler is a relatively heavy choice; however, its flotation is at least shielded from red squirrels!

"Unsinkable"? All one can ask for is that one's boat doesn't go to the bottom.

Put too much engine or too much weight on it, and most anything will sink.

Kamper · 01-29-2008, 09:40 AM

FWIW- I have an '83 Starcraft 15' rivetted hull,no leaks. People on another forum I use have reported similiar luck but folks with newer S/c hulls have leaks. Sorry, my boat is not for sale (yet, lol).

I think the pontoon suggestion has a lot of merit for hauling trash and trinkets. If you dont find one to your liking, a tin side console or split console might be useful. Remove one console and the bench seats. Install a cheap fishing pedestal for the driver and you're ready to go.

Some models have floation chambers under a small seat in front of the console. You could replace that bouyancy along the hull with styrofoam or extruded plastic foam coverred by a sheet of aluminum or fiber-glass.

Dont go too small on the motor. I have a 40hp on mine and it struggles at a full load. I'd suggest at least a 30hp on for your purposes.

Good luck!

bilproject · 01-29-2008, 09:54 AM

After my first year of hauling to Bear Island (boy did I do some hauling) I just purchased a used 16' Grumman with a 28Hp Johnson. Picked it up for little money and I'm spending the winter refubishing it. the inside of the 5 rows of bench seats are foam filled. The toon is better for hauling but hard to fish from and takes up a lot of room at the public dock (that's probably my biggest beef with them). I decided the 14 was to small as I borrowed one to do some of my hauling. Pay attention to the weight capacity of the 14's as the vary greatly from around 500# to 1000# go to the Lowe web site and look at the Sea Nymph utilites.. There's a big increase in capacity going to a 16'. The 16' will also handle that rough day better with a load onboard. My plan is to leave the aluminum boat out at the island year round.

lakershaker · 01-30-2008, 09:02 AM

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I hadn't given much thought to an aluminum, but I will have to look around at them now.

01-29-2008, 06:15 AM	#3
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,987 Thanks: 2,255 Thanked 784 Times in 560 Posts	If you're on Rattlesnake Island, an aluminum boat can be pulled up on shore—a big plus. Like the Whaler, they're also unsinkable. Charities often have them donated for their yard sales, so in addition to being no-maintenance, indestructible, unsinkable and inexpensive, that purchase can benefit the community as well. My neighbor's 14-foot Feather Craft got loose from their dock during 1991's Hurricane Bob and banged against a rocky shore for hours. It's still in leak-free use, makes the eight-mile trip to Wolfeboro on occasion, and presents itself pretty well after fifty years! Found at the very bottom of the used-boat price range, aluminum boats built in the 40's tend towards odd styling affectations—strong, but comparatively heavy among aluminum boats. __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

01-29-2008, 08:04 AM	#4
islandAl Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mountonboro Posts: 200 Thanks: 12 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alumacraft My 14 foot aluminum does that duty you speak of. First in and does all the trips untill the first "big" boat goes in from storage and last out after the others go back into storage. Been doing this since 1958 and only replaced the wooden seats twice. Two people can "pull" it out and I can slide it in alone. Great serviceable boat.

01-30-2008, 09:02 AM	#9
lakershaker Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rattlesnake Isl. - Simsbury, CT Posts: 274 Thanks: 92 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts	Great advice Thanks for all the helpful comments. I hadn't given much thought to an aluminum, but I will have to look around at them now.

01-28-2008, 09:57 PM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,851 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 303 Thanked 1,034 Times in 753 Posts	Trying to do this for probably the least money and still getting a reliable and sturdy boat, maybe a used 14' Alumacraft side console with a 15-20-25hp outboard. Plenty similar brands like Mirrocraft, Sylvan, Princecraft etc. For winterization, remove the outboard, and flip the boat upside down, no trailer needed. For even less money and also less comfort and safety, a tiller handle outboard as opposed to a side steer console. What's in craigslist? I knew of a retired 70 something guy who used a 14' Alumacraft with a 15hp Evinrude tiller-handle as a work boat. He did summer-time, masonry retaining wall jobs on Bear-Jolly-Mark-Mink-Pine Islands and hauled rocks-sand-cement-tools-dog in this boat set-up.

01-29-2008, 12:17 AM	#2
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,764 Thanks: 32 Thanked 441 Times in 207 Posts	I have to agree, the aluminum boats are a classic. Low price, almost indestructible, no maintenance and they gain character with age. If the engine quits, use the oars.

01-29-2008, 09:27 AM	#5
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	APS, Aluminum boat, unsinkable??? Not true. I have some experience in this area as I have paid the price dearly for making the mistake of not buying a whaler. A few years back I was pondering the same decision that you are now faced with lakershaker. I have been boating on the lake for most of my life now. I now have a house on Cow Island. My wife and I were in need of a second boat and a 13-16 footer seemed like the way to go. In all my years on the lake I had never sunk a boat so I thought what's the big deal about a whaler? So I went and found a knockoff whaler type boat. HUGE MISTAKE. There is a reason Whalers are more expensive trust me. The "whaler knockoff" found its way to the bottom of the lake on more than one occasion. I'll spare you the details. I ditched it for a 14 foot aluminum. Now aluminum boats are great don't get me wrong. But, unsinkable, NOT. They are a bathtub. If unused for more than a week at a time You need to either A: Pull it up on dry land or B: have a good electric pump installed and pray for the battery to hold and no leaves to clog it up. We chose A: we winched the boat up on land every Sunday before heading home for the week. It worked well for a few years. Finally two years ago I got smart and stopped being a cheapskate and splurged for the Whaler. I found a used 13 footer on Craigslist. It has been a DREAM! The boat can not and will not sink. The reason being is a Whaler unlike most boats is solid foam filled. Technically there is no bilge for water to collect. I call it the life preserver with a motor on it. I feel so much safer with my children in it. I know it can take on the waves and any water just drains right out the self bailers. The only other route I would consider is the small pontoon boat route as suggested by other posters. You are much less likely to sink a pontoon boat.

01-29-2008, 09:40 AM	#7
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,309 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	FWIW- I have an '83 Starcraft 15' rivetted hull,no leaks. People on another forum I use have reported similiar luck but folks with newer S/c hulls have leaks. Sorry, my boat is not for sale (yet, lol). I think the pontoon suggestion has a lot of merit for hauling trash and trinkets. If you dont find one to your liking, a tin side console or split console might be useful. Remove one console and the bench seats. Install a cheap fishing pedestal for the driver and you're ready to go. Some models have floation chambers under a small seat in front of the console. You could replace that bouyancy along the hull with styrofoam or extruded plastic foam coverred by a sheet of aluminum or fiber-glass. Dont go too small on the motor. I have a 40hp on mine and it struggles at a full load. I'd suggest at least a 30hp on for your purposes. Good luck!

01-29-2008, 09:54 AM	#8
bilproject Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bear Island/Fort Myers, Fla Posts: 231 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 59 Times in 41 Posts	After my first year of hauling to Bear Island (boy did I do some hauling) I just purchased a used 16' Grumman with a 28Hp Johnson. Picked it up for little money and I'm spending the winter refubishing it. the inside of the 5 rows of bench seats are foam filled. The toon is better for hauling but hard to fish from and takes up a lot of room at the public dock (that's probably my biggest beef with them). I decided the 14 was to small as I borrowed one to do some of my hauling. Pay attention to the weight capacity of the 14's as the vary greatly from around 500# to 1000# go to the Lowe web site and look at the Sea Nymph utilites.. There's a big increase in capacity going to a 16'. The 16' will also handle that rough day better with a load onboard. My plan is to leave the aluminum boat out at the island year round.