Small Center/Side Console Recommendations

G

GripB

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Hi All,

I recently sold my dingy and I'm planning on upgrading to a small (13'-15') side or center console boat. This boat will be used by my children and me for river and creek cruising and casual fishing. I plan to occasionally tow this boat behind my boat as well (whole different topic that I'll post).

Outside of the obvious #1 choice, Boston Whaler (Sport and Super Sport models), what other brands/models should I consider? I've seen so many different brands for sale, but need some direction.

I'd prefer a boat no older than 10-15 years old with a four-cycle fuel injected engine. Any and all information and recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks,

Greg
 
Wellcraft makes a fine smaller boat. I have the V20 and I am continually impressed with how it performs and outperforms other boats in the same size frame.
 
Greg-
I modified a 14' Lowe 1448 'BigJon' with a small console and electrical system. The boat has a 25 HP 2 stroke and runs 28MPH. It's great for the Chesapeake backwaters and I can safely run it standing up. As it sits, I've got about $1700 into it including the trailer. It's cheap fun!
I've never tried towing this with the big boat.
By the way, we're neighbors- I live in Parkesburg.

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I love my 17.5 Scout Sportfish with 90 HP yamaha 4 stroke.

scout-1.jpg
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of the brands mentioned here.
 
Hogan x2. Scout is one stand-up boat!
x2 on Wellcraft V-20, too. We had one 25 years and it always got'er done.

Wanted to mention an oddity. Atwood specifically came out a couple years ago and said their Bow Eye is Not For Towing. My guess is that it's made for a straight pull but can "worry off" with side thrust from the towed boat yawing. They didn't provide details, but if you notice larger boats towed full time they have a vee plate bolted at the sides as well as through the stem of the boat.
 
Check out Carolina Skiffs......they have all sizes and you can customize them.
 
I love the Scout CC, real quality boat, but not cheap, I would also recommend Yamaha as the power for whatever CC you buy, Yamaha IMHO is bullet proof.
 
Buy a sound older Whaler hull and install a new outboard. Best of both worlds and you will have resell value in a few years if you wish to move on. I have a late 60's vintage 13' with tiller steer outboard and a mid 70's vintage 17' center console with a new 90 HP. They make great tenders, bay boats and will serve as life boats, if needed.
 
Thanks for the replies and brand suggestions, it gives me a few more options.

Anyone familiar with the Carolina Skiff DLV series. I wonder how much of a difference there is from the more flat bottom Carolina?

Greg
 
Big difference in any kind of chop. The flat bottom john boat style is great in shallow water and/or calm and has a lot of capacity. The CS's are very basic honest boats that you can beat the bejabbers out of. Their downfall for me is that I literally can't stomach the Jackson Pollock style interior (and I actually like his paintings). Even though they are actually made in Georgia as I recall, you see a lot of them here in NC.
 
A Carolina Skiff IS tough but it'll beat the "bejabbers" out of YOU, too.
 
Willie, that's not true of all CS's, thus the question about the DLV series. They have models with increasing amount of deadrises for various applications. Most people, myself included, think of them first and foremost for the flat bottom models that they built their name on and have that psychedelic interior finish.
 
I'm sure the v-bottoms are better, but the older flat-bottom style is murderous. They're tough, but rough. Great river and flats boat though.
 
take a look at the 15' Boston Whaler Dauntless. We have an 85hp 2 stoke Yamaha on ours and it makes a great all purpose little boat.
 
Be careful of Boston Whaler 13 impostors. It happened to me. I purchased an old Del Quay 13 that someone had applied BW decals. Prior to 1972, manufacturers were not required to permanently affix the hull number to the transom of the boat. Months after the purchase, I found the brass plate from Dell Quay under the console. Nothing actually wrong with the boat, it just wasn't a real Whaler. For years, my family referred to the boat as the "Whaler Wannabee".

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/cetacea/cetaceaPage72.html
 
you can get a 14' carolina skiff shell new for about $1200. A bow platform is about $400 extra and bench seats are like $150 or so each. A 15 HP tiller handle o/b would work fine if on a budget, just wouldn't be too fast. I am sure they also sell a side console like the old 14' McKee Craft boats used to have that just has a steering wheel and place for the throttle. Fun boats.
 
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