Flat Bottom Boat

[Marsh Man]

I have a chance to buy a 12 ft. Flat Bottom Aluminum Boat. Can anyone tell me how the stability is? I will be fishing in Lakes up to a mile long. How are they when it is windy? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Waat is the beam on the boat, and how big are you? The 12 Jon boats I am familiar with are extremely tender.

[gonzo]

They pound if you want to go fast and are a bit wet. However, stability is better than a canoe.

[Marsh Man]

Originally Posted by R. Kennedy

Waat is the beam on the boat, and how big are you? The 12 Jon boats I am familiar with are extremely tender.

The Flat Bottom I am looking at has a 48" Beam and I weigh 180LBS.

The boat has 4 Strakes running the full length and it seems to be up a bit in the front. The name on the side of the boat is Esponado.

I will usually have my brother with me and he weighs 200LBS.

The guy wants to sell me the boat, 4HP Mariner Outboard 2 Stroke looks almost new and a boat trailer for $1000.00 CDN, about 800US.

What do you think

[bobber]

usually quite rough if the water picks up, have a habit of slamming into waves and not cutting them. stable at speeds as long as it isnt too rough, but with 4hp, i doubt your looking to go fast. at rest with 4 foot beam it should be fine.
be light and easy to move around, do get wet though, especially if it has a flat bow, which i assume it does. 4hp and 400lb on board, plus your gear, the engine itself and over a trip the water you will build up onboard, is going to be slow going. and probably not going at all if your trying to go head on into a wind, depends what you want from it in terms of performance.

[Marsh Man]

Originally Posted by bobber

usually quite rough if the water picks up, have a habit of slamming into waves and not cutting them. stable at speeds as long as it isnt too rough, but with 4hp, i doubt your looking to go fast. at rest with 4 foot beam it should be fine.
be light and easy to move around, do get wet though, especially if it has a flat bow, which i assume it does. 4hp and 400lb on board, plus your gear, the engine itself and over a trip the water you will build up onboard, is going to be slow going. and probably not going at all if your trying to go head on into a wind, depends what you want from it in terms of performance.

Bobber;

is it worth $800 US including motor. I will be fishing on small to med size inland lakes maybe 1/2 to 3/4 mile long at best?

[bobber]

id say so yeah, if thats all you need. obviously check the engine first.
dont think you can complain at that price.

[gonzo]

I run a 12' flat bottom boat with three people and a cat. In protected waters we do about 5MPH with a 3HP motor.

[bobber]

saying that, i had a 10foot sniper, which was flat bottomed, and a 3.5hp mariner on it. it was slow going, especially in open waters, but with just me on board and nothing else but 5 gallons of fuel and the engine, it was a lot of fun, and would pick up and nip along. that was my first boat, or first boat other than canal boats, and i loved it. but as usual, needed bigger and bigger and been through a few since, but for the money and the use you want, probably ideal. Thats one thing i miss about the old sniper, and the later Metzler inflatable. You could just pick it up and carry it to the waters edge. with the RIB i have now, you obviously need slip ways, or 4x4s to get it down beaches etc, so launching is harder, and you are more limited to where you can go. i guess its a comprimise though.

[Marsh Man]

Originally Posted by bobber

saying that, i had a 10foot sniper, which was flat bottomed, and a 3.5hp mariner on it. it was slow going, especially in open waters, but with just me on board and nothing else but 5 gallons of fuel and the engine, it was a lot of fun, and would pick up and nip along. that was my first boat, or first boat other than canal boats, and i loved it. but as usual, needed bigger and bigger and been through a few since, but for the money and the use you want, probably ideal. Thats one thing i miss about the old sniper, and the later Metzler inflatable. You could just pick it up and carry it to the waters edge. with the RIB i have now, you obviously need slip ways, or 4x4s to get it down beaches etc, so launching is harder, and you are more limited to where you can go. i guess its a comprimise though.

Thanks Bobber you have been a big help.