Want to go fishing on a boat

[skierbri10]

I want to go fishing with my two boys but we aren't having much luck on the shore. Do an of you have a small inflatable and how do you like it? I don't have a lot of money and I don't want to deal with the inspection stations. I am looking at the intex Seahawk II or Mariner 4. Both have a more durable PVC than other boats in its class. I know it isn't anything fancy and I just want to get a few years out of it. Will be also getting an electric trolling motor as well. I used to have an Achilles runabout inflatable but that was in the $2000 range in the early 90's. now they are $3000 plus. I just don't want to spend that much. I have read on other forms that the two boats I mentioned are quite good for the price but I haven't heard from anyone in CO. Thanks

[def90]

You can get a cheap used aluminum 14 footer with a motor and trailer for less..

I grew up fishing out of boat like this with a Johnson 6hp, we slayed the walleyes every time we went out in it.
http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3880991875.html

A trolling motor will not be enough for any kind of boat as a main propulsion unit. Any kind of wind or waves and you will be stuck.

Some more:
http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3918153340.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3898367061.html

More expensive but a great set up for fishing:
http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3858158644.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3914342080.html

[kwando]

Go rent a boat at Aurora... They will have a blast!

[Irving]

Also interested in an inflatable, as I have no trailer or space for a rigid boat.

[def90]

Going back to the OP.. looking at the boats you actually listed such as the Intex, I wouldn't consider those to be anything more than a glorified pool toy, hell no would I take my two kids out in the middle of a lake with one of those things.

Intex Seahawk II. This is about all they are good for:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61yLg8cToWL.jpg

If you insist on one of these read up on the number of airtight compartments or air chambers.. Most whitewater rafts have around 8, other true inflatable boats like Zodiacs will have multiple air chambers as well. The SeaHawk says nothing about the number of chambers in their raft (I'm guessing 1), get a hole in it and you are doomed if you are not close to shore.

[BigDee]

I would say it also depends on the lake. We got an inflatable for the sole purpose of fishing Quincy reservoir. It was just a small 2 person but it served its purpose and we caught a lot of bass with it.

I would NOT want to be on an inflatable in anything much larger than Quincy. I had a 19' fiberglass boat for several years and there were several times weather moved in very quick and made the water very uncomfortable to navigate almost immediately. I could not imagine being in an inflatable raft when a big storm moves in and trying to handle 3' chop.

I would recommend getting an aluminum fishing boat with a 25hp+ outboard and an electric trolling motor if you want to hit anything bigger than Quincy. If you shop at the end of the season or in the winter I'm sure you'll be able to find a setup for under $1000. Don't be fooled by the asking prices on Craigslist everything is negotiable and getting 50% off someone's asking price isn't uncommon.

[encorehunter]

Do you have a place to store a regular boat? If not, I can understand the inflatable. I have picked up 3 canoes off of craigslist for $75 or less. The last was an aluminum 17ft that I still have, which I paid $50 for. None of them needed much work, if any. People were just needing to get rid of them for space.
Personally, them only inflatable I liked was a kayak. I have had a few of the boats you described, not the exact ones, but I did not have good luck with them. A little bit of wind, and I was blown to the other side of the lake.

[sniper7]

Get an aluminum boat. You can find an older alumacraft or Lund or similar with a 25 horse motor for cheap.
Outboards are pretty damn reliable and very easy to maintain. Lower unit gear oil, impeller and good gas with clean carbs and spark plugs and that thing will run forever .

You will be able to get places faster, safer and not worry about poking holes.

As far as the checkpoints they aren't that bad. Usually a quick check on the smaller v hull boats with outboards. Drop the motor and make sure the plug is in and you are off to the dock. When you get live wells and bilge pumps it gets a little more annoying.

[Irving]

I would NOT want to be on an inflatable in anything much larger than Quincy. I had a 19' fiberglass boat for several years and there were several times weather moved in very quick and made the water very uncomfortable to navigate almost immediately. I could not imagine being in an inflatable raft when a big storm moves in and trying to handle 3' chop.



For the record, I was thinking of using something like this in places like Loch Lommand Fall River Reservoir.

[def90]

For the record, I was thinking of using something like this in places like Loch Lommand Fall River Reservoir.

There are plenty of small single person rafts for fly fishing and so on that would be perfect for this. The rafts above are not anything I would spend any money on.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/pontoons/_/N-1100576/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_104508180?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380% 3Bcat104710680

[Irving]

Can't fit my kid in any of the ones you linked. Kind of all or nothing with a boat, which makes sense from a safety stand point.

[spongejosh]

I know when I was kid fishing in an inflatable would have been a nightmare. I hooked my grandpa's boat more times than I can count. My advice for keeping it on the cheap is going with a small flat bottom aluminum boat and running a good trolling motor. You won't be water skiing across Cherry Creek but you can do plenty of good fishing in any of the lakes out here. Plus they are light and easy to carry. If you're kids are 10+ you could just throw the boat in the back of a truck on on the roof of a car/suv and they can help load and unload it. Storing it at home is just leaning it again the house or a shed. Plus they are easy to row if your battery dies.

Here's a good starter for $650. You could probably talk him down more.

http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/3920031177.html

[def90]

Can't fit my kid in any of the ones you linked. Kind of all or nothing with a boat, which makes sense from a safety stand point.
Ahh.. didn't realize you had multi passengers..

[Irving]

Ahh.. didn't realize you had multi passengers..

The op wants one to fish. I was thinking more to row Across the reservoir to camp on the other side. Glad this thread popped up because I had looked at both the models listed. I believe they both have more than one compartment, maybe even as many as four, but don't remember.

Great advice in here. As usual, it seems to boil down to, buy once, cry once.

[newracer]

I just picked up a 15' canoe and we spent three days fishing out of it, it was awesome. The model I got has a square stern so a motor can be attached if I wanted to. Wife sat up front reading while my two boys fished from the middle seat and I sat in the rear.

[skierbri10]

The mariner 4 has 5 chambers and the material is similar to a white water raft. The Seahawk II has the same material is a bit smaller and has 4 chambers. I do kind of have the room for an aluminum, but the cost would have to jump for trailer registration, gas, a hitch for my car and having to deal with inspections. Also I want to goto places like Quincy and aurora res. which don't allow gas powered. I have had gas powered before and not against it but in this case I don't want it. Btw these boats are not the cheap ones you see at Walmart they are three ply with fabric and welded seams. I know what kind of boats you all are thinking of but those are not these. Thanks for the replys so far though.

[BREATHER]

I have a 17 foot Grumman aluminum canoe for sale. Only have one paddle but it also comes with two fishing style personal flotation devices..

[BREATHER]

I should have mentioned, the canoes spec tag says it is a five person canoe and it can take up to a 5hp motor with the right mounts that you would have to purchase...

[skierbri10]

That sounds interesting.

[Wulf202]

get a canoe if everyone knows how to swim and will wear their life vests.

Can't even count the number of small canoes that my pops had to recover bodies from.

[Punkface]

just don't bring any guns into the boat. it seems that boating accidents are the leading cause of lost firearms

[skierbri10]

just don't bring any guns into the boat. it seems that boating accidents are the leading cause of lost firearms

Ain't dat da truuf. Lol. I personally have lost a few that way in the past. :(

[USAFGopherMike]

Couldn't be helped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU

[skierbri10]

Couldn't be helped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU

Ha

[skierbri10]

Went up to a mountain lake yesterday and helped my oldest boy catch his first rainbow.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/28/usujyseq.jpg

[GilpinGuy]

So cool to see the kids getting into fishing! Well done! [Beer]


Went up to a mountain lake yesterday and helped my oldest boy catch his first rainbow.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/28/usujyseq.jpg

[BPTactical]

Went up to a mountain lake yesterday and helped my oldest boy catch his first rainbow.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/28/usujyseq.jpg

Did I ever mention that I really hate it when a little kid catches a bigger fish than I do?
Lil Bastids!

[skierbri10]

Did I ever mention that I really hate it when a little kid catches a bigger fish than I do?
Lil Bastids!

Haha. There was a guy just down the way that was struggling and had some expensive looking gear. He was skunked, but we were catching fish with a zebco a plastic bobber and fireballs. He didn't look amused.