Starter boat shopping questions.

[Capt. Debbie]

I'd suggest you measure the garage. You may not be able to fit even a 16 feet inside a garage with a closed door on a trailer.

You want some higher freeboard. A flat deck to cast from fly fishing. A day boat. No cabin.

As they say pick your days. 14 footer is my go to crabbing boat with a 25hp on trailer to crab for decadess. Maybe a on a good day Raritan bay/ Sandy Hook. Even a few brief drifts around the Hook and into the Atlantic.

Boat traffic is a killer in smaller boats. You have "the" schedule to easily do Monday to Friday. That's prime time.

Also I don't believe is "starter" boats. A true waste of money. Learn what you have in person and with some trained help. Stupid to buy a boat while you actually want something else. Running a 14 footer and 28 footer have very little in common.

[Riperoo]

Originally Posted by Capt. Frank

I'd suggest you measure the garage. You may not be able to fit even a 16 feet inside a garage with a closed door on a trailer.

You want some higher freeboard. A flat deck to cast from fly fishing. A day boat. No cabin.

As they say pick your days. 14 footer is my go to crabbing boat with a 25hp on trailer to crab for decadess. Maybe a on a good day Raritan bay/ Sandy Hook. Even a few brief drifts around the Hook and into the Atlantic.

Boat traffic is a killer in smaller boats. You have "the" schedule to easily do Monday to Friday. That's prime time.

Also I don't believe is "starter" boats. A true waste of money. Learn what you have in person and with some trained help. Stupid to buy a boat while you actually want something else. Running a 14 footer and 28 footer have very little in common.

Thanks Capt. Frank, all great advice!! I am just toying now, but I am kinda seeing the logic of going bigger now. More I think about the garage thing, the less sense it makes to me, but I do have an extra deep garage, something like 29 feet deep x 10 wide on the side I would store a boat on, but that would mean the back end of a boat sitting in my work area all winter, may not be the ideal thing, unless of course I am working on the motor!! Thanks again, appreciate the input.

[howarda780]

Ripper

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F113720432753

This will fit into your garage

[BCinerie]

Get a 18/20 center console with 90-150 HP for 5-9k with a canopy and you will be set for a long time! Enjoy. Can fish,crab tubi g for the kids etc.

[O'Man]

If it's going to live on a trailer, don't overlook an aluminum boat. They're lighter, so less power is needed. I had an 18' Starcraft CC that I took all over the place. The big plus was I could easily launch & land it alone, even at low tide.

[Capt. Debbie]

UP side in aluminum is light weight handling. It's also a downside in the chop as being so light they pound more in head sea. Aluminum cant be beat on calm days. But 1-2' seas are a bouncy ride due to light weight the bow in lifted easily.

Originally Posted by O'Man

If it's going to live on a trailer, don't overlook an aluminum boat. They're lighter, so less power is needed. I had an 18' Starcraft CC that I took all over the place. The big plus was I could easily launch & land it alone, even at low tide.

[bulletbob]

I have a 17 aluminum CC and its good in calm water, but it gets bounced pretty bad in a chop...

You are close to the water anywhere in NJ, weight should not be that big a factor in a 17-18 foot boat.. I would buy a clean fiberglass 17-18 CC with a 90/100 HP.. You can't beat an aquasport,older Mako,Wellcraft, and many other builders .. I had a 175 Aquasport Osprey and it laughed at rough water, and was easily trailerable.. $4-5 K will get you a pretty nice rig in NJ if you look around... bob