WANTED: Looking for my first boat ($8-10K budget)

M

Milbeck95

New Member
Hi everyone,

New member of the SportFishingBC Forum here looking to buy my first boat. Ideally 14-16ft length for use primarily in saltwater (Howe Sound, Indian Arm). I'm very interested in getting into saltwater fishing but also just cruising on nice days with the ol' lady and friends. The reason I'm posting is that I've had bad luck with sellers on FB marketplace over the past weeks cancelling last minute, not responding, etc.

What I'm looking for...
I'm looking for a reliable, easy to maintain, and simple starter boat. Old hull, newer outboard motor. Would love if it had some form of protection from the elements (bimini or hardtop), a cuddy cabin or closed bow storage, trailer, and seating for at least 4 people. My budget is $8k, but willing to come up for the right boat. I really like the small Arima, C Dorys, Double Eagles and Hourstons.

A little bit about myself...
I grew up on a farm in rural Manitoba fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, pike, perch, and stocked trout. Most of my fishing has been from shore, through the ice, friends' boats, my own fishing kayak and flatback canoe with a trolling motor. I moved to Vancouver 3 years ago and am a carpenter by trade. Most of my fishing these days is for bull trout, rainbows, and coho on the fly or with spin tackle.

Cheers!
 
Welcome to SFBC!

Keep an eye on the "Boats on Used Victoria and Other Areas" thread here 'cause lots of us are semi-professional boat tire kickers.

I think you're on the right track with Hourstons and Double Eagles and the like for your price range. I'd say that 14ft is going to be very cramped with 4 people if you're trying to head out fishing. Good luck on your search!
 
Pineapple Express said:
Welcome to SFBC!

Keep an eye on the "Boats on Used Victoria and Other Areas" thread here 'cause lots of us are semi-professional boat tire kickers.

I think you're on the right track with Hourstons and Double Eagles and the like for your price range. I'd say that 14ft is going to be very cramped with 4 people if you're trying to head out fishing. Good luck on your search!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip Ill be sure to check that thread out!
 
Milbeck95 said:
Hi everyone,

New member of the SportFishingBC Forum here looking to buy my first boat. Ideally 14-16ft length for use primarily in saltwater (Howe Sound, Indian Arm). I'm very interested in getting into saltwater fishing but also just cruising on nice days with the ol' lady and friends. The reason I'm posting is that I've had bad luck with sellers on FB marketplace over the past weeks cancelling last minute, not responding, etc.

What I'm looking for...
I'm looking for a reliable, easy to maintain, and simple starter boat. Old hull, newer outboard motor. Would love if it had some form of protection from the elements (bimini or hardtop), a cuddy cabin or closed bow storage, trailer, and seating for at least 4 people. My budget is $8k, but willing to come up for the right boat. I really like the small Arima, C Dorys, Double Eagles and Hourstons.

A little bit about myself...
I grew up on a farm in rural Manitoba fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, pike, perch, and stocked trout. Most of my fishing has been from shore, through the ice, friends' boats, my own fishing kayak and flatback canoe with a trolling motor. I moved to Vancouver 3 years ago and am a carpenter by trade. Most of my fishing these days is for bull trout, rainbows, and coho on the fly or with spin tackle.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Welcome! Whats your maintenance or contingency budget? For nice boat with a cuddy you may be limited to an older engine. For many people they buy their boat for X and are into it for 2X in 18-24 months, often due to an engine failure. It may be best to spend to much to get a solid hull, trailer and engine then try and fit to too low a budget.
 
kaelc said:
Welcome! Whats your maintenance or contingency budget? For nice boat with a cuddy you may be limited to an older engine. For many people they buy their boat for X and are into it for 2X in 18-24 months, often due to an engine failure. It may be best to spend to much to get a solid hull, trailer and engine then try and fit to too low a budget.
Click to expand...

Good points - I find older motors (and vehicles in general) easier to service but I'm not sure if that holds true for boats having never owned one. I've tinkered with a lot of vehicles, tractors, and farm equipment in my life and am pretty confident and enjoy doing most mechanical servicing myself. Major hull repairs scare me, and is definitely outside my comfort zone.

I'd like to keep annual maintenance costs below $1k, but feel free to give me a reality check on that figure, hah. Buying a boat definitely seems to be an "opening a can of worms" type decision and I'm aware of that. If I'm not spending money on the boat Ill be spending it on fishing gear, sonars, etc.

When I look at used boats, I typically try to find the replacement cost of motors to gauge my comfort in a purchase decision. I have a contingency fund for any major emergency repairs if needed.

Part of me just wants to buy a 14 ft Lund with an outboard on it, super simple.
 
Milbeck95 said:
Good points - I find older motors (and vehicles in general) easier to service but I'm not sure if that holds true for boats having never owned one. I've tinkered with a lot of vehicles, tractors, and farm equipment in my life and am pretty confident and enjoy doing most mechanical servicing myself. Major hull repairs scare me, and is definitely outside my comfort zone.

I'd like to keep annual maintenance costs below $1k, but feel free to give me a reality check on that figure, hah. Buying a boat definitely seems to be an "opening a can of worms" type decision and I'm aware of that. If I'm not spending money on the boat Ill be spending it on fishing gear, sonars, etc.

When I look at used boats, I typically try to find the replacement cost of motors to gauge my comfort in a purchase decision. I have a contingency fund for any major emergency repairs if needed.

Part of me just wants to buy a 14 ft Lund with an outboard on it, super simple.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you are going into from a good place. 1k a year would mean being lucky, doing all your own work and buying aftermarket parts etc. My brother did that with his first boat at 19 foot Livingston with a two stroke. His second much larger boat is closer to 10k a year in maintenance. A member and I both replaced Yamaha trim electric motors with amazon/ebay aftermarket ones, vs pay the 1,000 to a dealer. I prefer to use OEM parts but they can cost 10x.

Choose your hull wisely and be willing to lose 3-6 months of the season due to repairs if you want to do things on a budget. If an engine goes or is going it's often tough to find a reasonably priced replacement or parts can be in short supply. I've had a courier loose my trailer brakes that no one local carried and had to wait for a second shipment.

A lot can be done with a 14 foot Lund, but I think you are on the right track with a 16 foot with a good canvas. O'Ladies don't like getting cold and wet. If you can go for an 18 or 19 foot do it, as seating for at least 4 people is more realistic on a bigger boat.
 
kaelc said:
Sounds like you are going into from a good place. 1k a year would mean being lucky, doing all your own work and buying aftermarket parts etc. My brother did that with his first boat at 19 foot Livingston with a two stroke. His second much larger boat is closer to 10k a year in maintenance. A member and I both replaced Yamaha trim electric motors with amazon/ebay aftermarket ones, vs pay the 1,000 to a dealer. I prefer to use OEM parts but they can cost 10x.

O'Ladies don't like getting cold and wet. If you can go for an 18 or 19 foot do it, as seating for at least 4 people is more realistic on a bigger boat.
Click to expand...
That is so true it should be a bible verse.

“Nothing ruins a good fishing day like a cold woman. “ Riverboy 1:1
 
As a counterpoint in the other direction, this is a great package at a great price:

vancouver.craigslist.org

14 Lund new outboard - boats - by owner - craigslist

MOVING SALE PRICE DROP 14 ft Lund sitting on a near new EZLoader trailer , Seats 4 or 790 lbs by coast guard in Canada . The motor has less than 20 hours and is just mint, with the long shaft...
vancouver.craigslist.org vancouver.craigslist.org

Not sure if you are in Vancouver proper, but this would get you out on the Pitt River, Allouette, Fraser and possibly Indian Arm (don't go past the narrows though). These little boats are absolutely great because they are so easy to use, easy to launch, easy to tow, easy to store and cost almost nothing to maintain - and they are an absolute blast for 2-3 people. The lack of barriers is what gets you out on the water. You will outgrow it in a few years, but its a great entry point and you can resell these boats for exactly what you paid if you take care of them. Just be extremely careful about the weather - these are fair weather boats only.

Launch this under the Port Mann, call ahead and order takeout from the Gillnetter - pick it up at the dock, continue on up the Pitt for another 15 min and stop at the sand beach on the west side of Goose Bar - eat lunch and bask in the sun. The ol' lady will be sold.
 
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