While I would love to buy a real metal or fiberglass boat suitable for going on short trips off shore in the Pacific (a few miles out to go fishing or lobster potting) the reality is I can't justify the $10k - $20k it would take to buy a real boat which would only be used, at best, once a month. I'm therefor looking to buy a cheap boat for use on lakes, in bays or harbors along the Pacific, or for the odd trip to the Colorado river. Are any of you people boaters or know anything about boating?
Ideally I'd like to spend $1000 or less and have a small outboard engine since I'm to lazy to paddle every where. In this price range it seems like inflatables are the only thing on offer though most of them at least look to be of decent quality. I've been mulling around buying a Red Star Marine NAVIGATOR II – 500 Recreational Boat Package with the optional outboard motor mount. This is not a boat for serious boaters but it does seem to be the best on offer in the inflatable category and it is designed to take a small outboard motor.
The cheapest price (for buying new) which I've found is $330 while the most recent issue of the local boat and outboard trader magazine has an add from someone selling a 2005 3.5HP Tohatsu 2 stroke motor which weights just 25 pounds for sale for just $250. I realize that I won't be going any where fast with this get up but would it be "good enough" for weekends on the lake or in the bay? If it was then I could have a 5 person boat (up to 825 lbs) for just ~$600. As an added bonus the boat could be deflated and stored in my garage while the 2 stroke motor is light enough to be easily carried from the car to the water to be mounted on the boat. Am I just being cheap or does this sound like a halfway acceptable set up?
Like I said I'm mainly interested in days out on lakes catching bass, trout, and catfish or trips to the bay to catch sea bass, halibut, and lay a few lobster/crab traps.
Ideally I'd like to spend $1000 or less and have a small outboard engine since I'm to lazy to paddle every where. In this price range it seems like inflatables are the only thing on offer though most of them at least look to be of decent quality. I've been mulling around buying a Red Star Marine NAVIGATOR II – 500 Recreational Boat Package with the optional outboard motor mount. This is not a boat for serious boaters but it does seem to be the best on offer in the inflatable category and it is designed to take a small outboard motor.
The cheapest price (for buying new) which I've found is $330 while the most recent issue of the local boat and outboard trader magazine has an add from someone selling a 2005 3.5HP Tohatsu 2 stroke motor which weights just 25 pounds for sale for just $250. I realize that I won't be going any where fast with this get up but would it be "good enough" for weekends on the lake or in the bay? If it was then I could have a 5 person boat (up to 825 lbs) for just ~$600. As an added bonus the boat could be deflated and stored in my garage while the 2 stroke motor is light enough to be easily carried from the car to the water to be mounted on the boat. Am I just being cheap or does this sound like a halfway acceptable set up?
Like I said I'm mainly interested in days out on lakes catching bass, trout, and catfish or trips to the bay to catch sea bass, halibut, and lay a few lobster/crab traps.
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