Steel_Mo_Head, sounds like a sweet boat and you've upgraded it nicely! We are looking for something a bit newer but are open to "older" boats if they're in good condition.
Found this one on Craig's list today. Due to the horrible exchange rate and hassle of buying a boat from the US I had pretty much dropped the idea of buying a boat from the US, but I do still search for them for kicks, and can't help but start to think prices (after exchange rate), purchases logistics, etc.
Any opinions on this boat? I like the hull a lot but not terribly keen on the older main motor.
http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/5082869778.htmlAlso, the other day we went out with our neighbour on the Fraser in his Roughneck 17-56 with 60/40 Yamaha jet (center console). Both the wife and I liked the boat. 60/40 seemed adequete power with 3 adults. We burned around for about 2 hours up river, down river, across river, ect. The boat seemed to handle mild/moderate chop alright. Quite stable at rest. I also like that it's light enough to shove off a bar, easy to load/unload from the trailer, etc.
However didn't really like the low sides. Don't know if I'd want to be standing up on the back reeling in a big spring or sturgeon. Also we like to lake troll in addition to river fish and I don't think they would be great boats for trolling lakes for sockeye and trout ect. Any one disagree???
We would rather have a Harbercraft, Hewes or something similar but by and large the price exceeds our budget. We are looking to spend 15K or so tops and whatever we buy should be "reasonably well equipped" (fishfinder, anchor, ect)...if it needs another few K invested just to get it "fishable" it would put us over budget. Most of the time it will just be us 2 in the boat but from time to time it would be nice to be able to fish with 4 adults on board. Thinking the 16 foot johns are too small, 17-56 could work, still in contact with the seller in Terrace with the 16 foot Harbercraft but he is firm on 18K which is more than we want to spend.