Looking to get a small utility boat to keep at my dock.
Currently have a 23’ HS that is great for the harbor, jetties, and offshore but not so great for creeks/flats, beaching, working beneath my dock, and pulling the kids skiing.
Trying to decide between used a 14’ aluminum jon boat with a 15 hp and a used 15’ Whaler Sport with a 70 hp. Prices are about 3K different.
Whaler will need a jet-dock, regular cleaning, and will burn more fuel. On the plus side its not a tippy as a jon boat and can pull the kids on anything.
Jon boat can be pulled onto my floater, you can’t screw up the finish, and will sip fuel. Downside is its tippy and will only be able to tow the kids on a tube.
Seems like the Whaler makes the most sense but most docks have jon boats, not small Whalers, sitting at them.
Why am I going to regret choosing the Whaler over the jon boat?
I keep passing by a smaller McKee Craft on my way to work, It needs a motor, but has steering and a trailer, i think they are asking 700.00 the boat looks clean.
Man-I just went through this exact same scenario in April!
I got a 23 on a lift and wanted a creek boat like you
Settled on a used G3 16’ Jon w/50hp Yamaha w/Side console steering…
Was set on a Jon at first but then started wondering about the Mckee and Whaler skiffs—decided I didn’t want more gelcoat and fiberglass-I want a boat that can take a beating while running up a sandbar, or tied off the dock…plus I like to fish in fresh water sometimes and I thought the Johnboat with trolling motor would be better for that also…If you do decide Jonboat stay away from the riveted jons-They’re OK for the lake but can’t
t take much flexing and pounding of our harbor and bays…G3 and War Eagle are the tops
I have come to find out that I made the right choice for myself-currently have the bottom being painted by Charleston Marine-in my opinion that is the only place to take your outboard for service in Charleston-The guy that owns it “Chris” has integrity, knowledge and will talk to you about your boat until blue in the face.
Hadn’t considered a G3 - that is a nice compromise between between the two. I’m going to look into that. I hate the wash/wax cycle on my HS but I hate the boat ramp even more so for know she’ll stay in the water.
Would concur RE: ChrisV; great guy and a real pleasure to do business with.
Hoppy - no secret on the Whaler skiffs. Hit Craigslist from Wilmington down to Jax. You can’t swing a dead cat and not hit a couple. There are 2 here in town that look ready to go. One has a Honda 50 and the other has a 'Rude 70. Both are early to mid 90’s era hulls. I think ChrisV may have a 3rd at his shop for sale as well. At least it looked like his shop in the picture.
I am going through the same ordeal. I am leaning heavily towards a 16’ aluminum side console over a fiberglass. Reasons are the same that Chum listed but I also would like to be on the river more and do more effective bass fishing and not worry about scuffing up gel coat etc…Although, you have kids that are into water sports and I could see that being a huge influence over your decision to get a Whaler. I dont have kids and my wife doesn’t have the patience to fish so it is just me…I dont need anything more than an aluminum with a tiller handle motor. You may think back and wish you had picked a smaller aluminum but I also think that your family as a whole would get more use out of a Whaler and you could still do some kick butt fishing out of it. Just a little more upkeep but if I were you I would probably side with the Whaler
My brother runs a 15’ whaler sport. We’ve done everything from the flat to the jetties for a long time now and that boat looks great and is in solid shape. He has a 70 yammerhammer on his and it makes good time The whaler would be a much more capable boat. The jon might get into just slightly skinnier water, but, not much. I’d do the whaler.
from what ive experienced…i would much rather have the whaler. its fast as crap and floats across chop. if i had money thats what i’d get. as long as it had at least a 60 or 70 2 stroke.
So, how long before the kids start begging to use the boat? I would much prefer to send them out in a whaler versus an aluminum boat. You could use the wash / wax cycle as their chore / reward for boat use. I think that whichever way you decide a minimum of 50hp will be necessary to pull tubes or skiers.
I had a 15’ Sport before I got the 17’ Newport. It was a perfect creek boat, rides good in the harbor (on most days), and gets in some skinny places. You won’t regret it; the extra money is worth it.
The whaler was a great boat…30 years ago, imo there are plenty of better choices these days. And yes I’ve owned Whalers. The 15 whaler has no room and no storage. I swear I’ll never understand the fascination with the old whalers, it’s like the guys who say they don’t make cars like they used too, which is true…thankfully.
The small whalers may be the most overrated boats ever made. I owned 2 till I came to my senses. They do nothing well.
No storage. No live well. No rod holders. No comfortable seating.
No room. No rear deck. No easy way to mount a trolling motor. High maintenance (wood consoles and bench refinishing) and a ride that will knock your teeth out and get you wet.
I did sell both of mine for more than I paid for them though. And there will always be plenty around to take it off your hands when you need to sell it to pay for the back bone alignments.
Almost forgot, I had a buddy that put a platform on a 15 claiming it would be the best flats boat ever. Problem was it wouldnt track straight. When he tried to pole it, it would go in cirles. LOL?
But you can cut them in 3 and they wont sink. That’s a major plus.
I had a 2002 17’ G3 CC with a 60 Yamaha on it. That was 11 boats and 3 years ago. I loved that boat and wished i still had it. Plenty of room, power, and storage. It would handle the chop of the harbor and push well in the flats. I paid $5500 for it from seels and it had a brand new trailer. Sometimes you need to go through 10 boats to know what you like.
The three dockside boats I’ve had in past 2 years:
14 ft jonboat with small 4 stroke: pro- lightweight and can be pulled around by 1 person. Has good boatspeed due to light weight. Con- electrolysis- it can become metallic swiss cheese if dock has power;or even with rain water collected inside and bottom in salt water. May need to consider special paint and/or anodes. Doesn’t float well with water inside them. Has a slippery ride with flat bottom. Avoid riveted boats, remember you’ll be hauling this up and over your dock edge a lot-consider putting trailer rollers on dock edge and a small trailer winch on dock.
Small Whaler(Montauk 17)- solid as a rock but agree with above comments on no amenities/little storage and seating. Resale however was immediate and had multiple buyers first day I put it up for sale. Had to bottom paint and scape seasonally in my creek- an expense on an old “cheap” boat.
StingerMy new favorite for the creeks. At 14 feet has more storage than the Whaler 17, a live well, a forward deck for casting or seating, tracks very well, takes chop much better than the jonboat. I paid the same dollars for a lightly used Stinger 14 with 40 hp 2S and trailer, as the Alumacraft jonboat with 15 hp 4S and trailer. I keep Stinger on a small drive-on dock. It’s my wife’s favorite set-up. If you’re near Folly you’re welcome to check it out
The whaler would be a much more capable boat. The jon might get into just slightly skinnier water, but, not much. I’d do the whaler.