Seeking advice for boat and getting started

Thanks for taking a look at this thread. I am looking for advice and input on boats and getting started to Crappie fish. Our family boat is a pontoon and we love it but I'm wanting to get something small that I can easily manage by myself in the water and launching and loading. I've had my eye on some aluminum boats, likely a 16' boat with a small tiller motor. Honestly I'd be fine with a 25hp. I don't plan on running from one end of the lake to the other and don't plan to do any kind of trounement fishing. Just looking for something small and easy to operate. A good trolling motor and Sonar are both a must. What do I need to look for or stay away from? I've fished with a friend who had a 25hp motor on a smaller boat and I honestly felt like it was plenty for us to run around in but I have another friend who says he likes more motor. In a boat this size I am leaning towards tiller steer to save room that the console would take up.

Once I've got the boat I'll be drooling to put some fish in it. Likely will be fishing the Yadkin lakes. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the most productive and best ways to learn how to catch crappie for someone farily new into the game. Of course nothing will beat getting on the water and fishing.

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Originally Posted by wildcat3

Thanks for taking a look at this thread. I am looking for advice and input on boats and getting started to Crappie fish. Our family boat is a pontoon and we love it but I'm wanting to get something small that I can easily manage by myself in the water and launching and loading. I've had my eye on some aluminum boats, likely a 16' boat with a small tiller motor. Honestly I'd be fine with a 25hp. I don't plan on running from one end of the lake to the other and don't plan to do any kind of trounement fishing. Just looking for something small and easy to operate. A good trolling motor and Sonar are both a must. What do I need to look for or stay away from? I've fished with a friend who had a 25hp motor on a smaller boat and I honestly felt like it was plenty for us to run around in but I have another friend who says he likes more motor. In a boat this size I am leaning towards tiller steer to save room that the console would take up.

Once I've got the boat I'll be drooling to put some fish in it. Likely will be fishing the Yadkin lakes. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the most productive and best ways to learn how to catch crappie for someone farily new into the game. Of course nothing will beat getting on the water and fishing.

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here is a nice little boat like you want except its not a tiller , and it don't look like it would take much to set it up the way you want and its is in North Carolina !!! I will also send you a PM !!!!
The boss man's fishing machine

I had a 16 ft SeaArk wide bottom without the middle bench and a tiller 25 hp, it had a lot of room with two people fishing. It would run about 22mph with 2 people and gear. I had a hand control trolling motor and a small depth finder on the front deck along with four rodholders for spider rigging. I fished Jordan, Harris, Cape Fear River, and the Roanoke River with no issues. You should be able to find one on craigslist for under 2500, it may need a little fixing up but that is half the fun!

Sounds like you all ready have a great plan.

Here's a good sight to browse around on, and if you're close stop in and look around (it's in Fayetteville): AK McCallum Co. - Boats

My next door neighbor used to have a express 15/46 duck boat with 25 merc. Had pods on back for seats, open floor with low front deck. Mounted 2 bases on front. Great spider rigging boat, pulled cranks and jiggled out of it. One of the best fishing boats I have fished out of for a smaller boat. Very stable and ran 25 with 2 of us in it. Could handle some pretty rough water.

Try it out before you buy it and put it to the test. Looks can be deceiving. Hope you get a good deal but be wise to fast sales! Good luck!

The main thing i would make sure of is the trolling motor, it needs to be variable speed with remote , you will definatle want to learn to long line troll and title line.

Being from the north, i am biased towards deep v aluminum boats that you can get down to a 16.5', for the stability and wider beams. Right now i crappie fish fom a alumacraft 175 competitors. The competitor line of boats have wide beams which is nice in chop.
Attachment 303146

Two years ago, i was in your shoes learning the southern way of crappie fishing. Let me know if you ever down in sc, you can fish with me if you want to learn spider rigging or whatever technique im using that day. I will be leaving this fall and not sure where im moving, but willing to help until then as its easier to see and you will pickup on it fast.

You can crappie fish from about any boat. You said you had a pontoon. I have three different boats with one of my favorite being the pontoon. I had Gene make me special rod mounts for the back rails where I can put his spyderloks and I mounted a remote control trolling motor on the front. I kick back and pull jigs all day with it. I have a tracker deep v that is my favorite if I am going by myself. Best of all worlds. Very stable, very good in rough water, can pull jigs, troll for stripers, spider rig,etc. I had a tiller at one time, but did not like it for trolling with the big motor for stripers.

Craigslist
Make mental notes about what you want
Don’t buy unless you try. Ask plenty questions. Take a boat savvy guy without to try it out


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Originally Posted by chippo

Craigslist
Make mental notes about what you want
Don’t buy unless you try. Ask plenty questions. Take a boat savvy guy without to try it out


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Cash talks


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This is what i use wildcat.Attachment 303528Attachment 303530Attachment 303531Attachment 303532Attachment 303529

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Guys, I really appreciate those who have taken the time to ready my thread and respond. I've picked up some good knowledge and tips just from reading your responses. Also thanks for the offers and invites to fish, I may take you up on some of them one day when I get some spare time. Hopefully one day I could return the favor or help you out in some way or at least offer some advise. I'm now almost certain I want a tiller steer boat, something small. Used of course, I never like to start out with brand new stuff. Any certain year or brand motors to looks for or steer clear from? Being in the car business there are long standing no no's and black cloud labels over certain year makes and models and I assume that to be the case with boats and outboards also. I do believe I'd much prefer a 4 stroke motor over a 2 stroke.

I don't think there are any brand motors that are labeled "bad", and I've found that if you want to buy used you're not going to be able to be real picky because their are not a lot of good used motors on the market. I would avoid getting a really old motor as it will be a constant project to keep running, finding parts will be hard etc.

I went to the coast several years and fished by a boat ramp and noticed 95% of the boats that put in had Yamahas on them, so based on that and other research I bought a 25hp Yamaha for my jon - they have very good reputations. It's like watching the landscape contractors, you'll notice 95% of them use Toros, so I bought a Toro 16 years ago that still cuts like a champ with little maintenance needed.

I just returned from a trip to the Florida Keys. Did a little tarpon fishing... AWESOME!!!

I noticed the same, 95% Yamaha’s on the boats everywhere I looked. I was a bit surprised as I am very happy with my Mercury 25HP and the service it has given.


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Originally Posted by oljd

I just returned from a trip to the Florida Keys. Did a little tarpon fishing... AWESOME!!!

I noticed the same, 95% Yamaha’s on the boats everywhere I looked. I was a bit surprised as I am very happy with my Mercury 25HP and the service it has given.


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Interesting! I did ask a guide in OBX why everyone uses Yamaha, his answer was the availability of service technicians in the area. So maybe Yamaha has the coast locked down when it comes to sales and service? Anyhow, when I researched buying a small engine I couldn't find any information that said "stay away from XYZ motors". Even the "cheap" brand Tohatsu gets good reviews.