New to the area. Have been shore/pier fishing for several months and am looking to branch out and buy a boat. I just came into some money from a relative, around 9K, and am interested in acquiring a nice small starter boat. Don’t have a lot of experience w/ saltwater boats. Would like to be able to fish in river/creeks/bay and maybe go to jetties/near shore reefs. Wandering if anyone could give me some advise on what type/foot/motor boat I should be looking for. Any help would be great.
allenjz,
Welcome to the area. I am actually selling my 14ft Boston Whaler Dauntless.I am able to fish in the rivers as well as cross the harbor without much trouble. Let me know your email address and if you are interested and I can send you some pictures and give you some more detailed information.
you can’t go wrong with a 17’-18’ center console for what you are looking to do. and not to start a whole “what is best” thing but, go with a yamaha outboard if you can. there is a lot of support around here for them.
I just sold a '00 Key West 1720 with a 115 Evinrude in top condition for a little less $ than that. It did everything from fishing the creeks & rivers to 10-12 miles offshore on calm days. It was a great boat!
Shop around and you can find some great boats at that price point. As stated, I would concentrate on 17’+ center console boats. On calm days an 18’ can make it to the nearshore reefs pretty easily. I just bought a 2000 Sea Pro SV1900 (19’ bay boat) with a 115 Yamaha for quite a bit less than your price point. But it took some cleaning and work to make her look great again. Do some shopping and ride on as many friend’s boats as you can and get an idea of what you want in a boat. Had I not bought the boat I did, I was leaning heavily towards a boat like Loosewire sold.
Such as:
http://charleston.craigslist.org/boa/2509808113.html
19’ Sea-Pro CC
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
Thanks for the advise.
Another question for anyone who could help. I don’t have a truck to pull a very big boat when i get one. I drive a Toyota Corolla w/ a 1500 lbs towing cap. How big of a boat could i get away with, without having to get a truck to pull it?
quote:
Originally posted by allenjzAnother question for anyone who could help. I don’t have a truck to pull a very big boat when i get one. I drive a Toyota Corolla w/ a 1500 lbs towing cap. How big of a boat could i get away with, without having to get a truck to pull it?
I wouldn’t tow more than a 14-16’ john boat behind a Corolla. My 17’ Key West was 2000-2500 lbs. with the trailer and full tank of fuel.
I would say about a 14’ jon boat. Pulling the boat in and out of the ramp would be your biggest issue using a car. If I were you I’d take half the money and buy a V6 tow vehicle and the other half and find a nice used boat like the one’s these guys have mentioned. Plenty of good boats out there for under 5k.
It ain’t no mystery…this beer’s history!
Loose beat me to it. 
It ain’t no mystery…this beer’s history!
quote:
Originally posted by Blue_RunnerLoose beat me to it.
Only 'cause great minds think alike!
Thanks you, hopefully i will find something that will work.
You better rethink your situation.You are better off getting hooked up with fishing guys and help with the fuel.Or dry stack a boat you really want.
Stonoman
allenjz i seent you an email