In the Navy, thinking of buying my first boat, something small for weekend use this summer.
Just wanted to ask for some advice from the folks on the forum before i did something stupid.
Want something cheap that I can fish lakes and the salt creeks with. Thinking a ~14-42 jon boat or similar small sized used boat for >$2000. A jon boat is my best bet at meeting that goal right? what sized motor? 15hp is good enough? I am a good mechanic so I know what to look for in a motor.
Also as far as registration/titling is concerned. If i buy a boat and the seller says the registration is good for the next year, is that true? I put the title(s) in my name and use the boat/motor on old registration, or do I have to re-register it?
finally, for storage (in the navy, live on base) any suggestions? I found a few self storage places that have parking for 50 bucks a month. is that the cheapest way to go?
Well thanks for the replies…
Looked at 2 jon boats, both were nice and good for the money, one was welded the other riveted. Decided not to buy a boat just yet. I will be busy with work for the next few months, but I will be able to buy one later this year in the fall.
I still dont know how getting a boat registered in this state works/what the laws are.
Dnr on Assembly St Columbia, you can walk in or mail for registration.
And IMO if boating/fishing is something you really want, buy the best you can afford, it’ll save you money in the long run.
Trading up boats is a losing proposition.
ok, here ya go. Buying a boat is a great thing. After you get one you will likely have one for the rest of your life. I think that a $2000 14 ft jon boat sounds like a great idea, especially for a first boat. If you decide one day that you need a bigger boat you can keep that jon boat to do things you just cant do it a 20ft boat. If you decide at some point that you dont want a boat, you can sell it easily and probably not loose anything. I’ll tell you one thing, lots of fun can be had in a 14ft jon boat. The possibilities are endless: duck hunting,creek floatin, neighborhood pond fishing,fishing creeks for trout,reds in the grass,etc.
I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I agree with Jimmy on this one. I’m pushing for one of my friends to get a jon boat for riding around in the creeks to learn how to dig oysters, shrimp, and gig for flounder.
Welcome! The Navy already moved me on from Charleston, but maybe I’ll get back someday.
Agree w/ the others, a small jon boat is perfect. Like others have said, get the best you can afford - particularly the motor. Save a lot of headache and $$ down the road! Pay attention to the trailer too - lesson learned the hard (expensive) way for me on that one. There can be BIG differences in the condition of all the components between similar boats in the price range you’re talking about, and you could easily spend more than you paid for the whole rig to replace a motor, trailer, etc.
Don’t forget to add a few hundred bucks into your budget for all the misc things you probably won’t get with the boat and will want/need… safety gear, anchors, etc.
You will have to register it in your name, and unfortunately no matter what state you claim for legal residence you will still have to pay SC property taxes on the boat/motor.
As far as storage, CAFB (well, the air base part of JB CHS) has boat/RV storage - when I left it was $35/month. Wait list can be very long, but worth signing up for - they told me it could be two years but I got a spot within about a month. Not sure if they’ve rebuilt any storage on the NWS, the old lot got converted to the new mini NEX.
Two things you MUST do with your time in SC:
Try shrimping.
Get on an offshore trip with somebody.
Careful though, you’ll be hooked for life!
A boat is a lifetime of transformations…sounds like I am really old but this is my boating journey
Start to finish
12ft John Boat-creeks of James Island- waaaay to small
16ft John Boat-Tourney Bass Fish Palatca Florida- too slow-flat bottom beat you to death.
Chaparral Ski Boat- Has Carpet no fishing
15ft Trophy-too small for shrimping Bulls Bay
17ft Key West CCVhl-14- Summer 2014- Unlimited possibilities
It all starts in a John Boat but, when you are holding on to both sides of a boat during a freak storm and looking out on that ruff white headed water, clinching your life jacket scared to death and then turning around a zillion times due to many SC summer electrical monsoons. Trust me you wish you would have done differently. Identify where your dream fishing spot is and save for the vessel that will keep you and your family safe. I was fine last year until Matt told me that we were 5 miles from the landing in 25ft of water. Oh, there is a reason they call it Alligator creek…and I am in a small boat. “Hey baby look at that floating log!” Riiiiiight get me to a boat show- we went to every one before the KW. Save U Money.
