How big for open water?

[Tom Anderson]

Many of you guys have decades of experience on this one: I'm trying to determine how big I need to go on a new aluminum boat. I'll fish big water like Mille Lacs and Green Bay, but like to cast in lilly pad bays and bank fish reservoir bluffs and stickups. Need to tow with my Chevy Traverse, which is rated to 5200 pounds; probably meaning 3000 realistically. Mostly fishing by myself or with one other. Thought about a Alumacraft Classic 16 but have looked at the wider Navigators and Competitors as well. I know Lund and others have smiliar models. I know you can't have too big a boat, unless it is too big a lot of the time. I don't plan to fish 6 footers but sometimes you just have to cross open water in a blow, and snarly days can be good fishing! What size in your experience will let me handle big water most of the time and still fish skinny? Thanks!

[feklar]

I think this comes more to your common sense than boat size. If you are careful and know when to go home and are wiling to do so you can get away with a smaller boat. If you don't want to go home or stay in bays if the weather gets bad, you'll need a huge boat. Even the cruise ship got flipped over by a bad captain.

If you don't know when to stay home and how to avoid trouble, no boat is big enough.

I've run some big waves in a 16 foot boat, it was a pro alaskan which has high sides, is wide, and a deep V for its length. When alert and careful I was able to handle some decent waves.

My advice is to hook up with some boat guys and go out in the rough water. Tow it with your traverse, and you'll find where you want to be.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Tom, sounds like you would be liking something like the Lund Pro Guide 1825, Skeeter 1790T, Ranger 618T, Alumacraft Competitor 185 Tiller, etc. I always thought the Lund Alaskan 1800 Tiller was a cool looking set-up.

Boat (1300#)/Motor (370#)/Trailer (500#) package weighs in around 2200# (Alaskan 1800 tiller package weighs in around 1875#). Tons of room and storage. Longer boat for a drier ride and lots of fishing deck space.

Of course remember these are lengths in boats that I like for how I fish and who I fish with. Maybe the 17' range tillers would be more along the lines of what you need.

I can tell you this. I wouldn't be out in water in a 18' or 20' boat that I wouldn't fish in a 16' boat. Safety isn't that much different between a 16' and 18' boat. Ride and comfort are better as you go bigger.

[NMG]

I think you have to look at where you'll be using the boat most often and go from there. I recently ordered a 165 Competitor and I'm fully confident that it will allow me to fish the lakes and rivers around my home most all of the time and that it will also let me get on bigger water when the weather cooperates.

The big wild card is that conditions can change in a hurry once you get out on the water. I don't plan on wanting to be out fishing in stuff more than a few feet, so I was okay with a 16 footer. I'm pretty sure that the Competitor could also ride out worse weather than that, because my old 16 footer with a smaller beam did. That said, it sure as heck wasn't ideal or comfortable. It always got me back home though.

If I was going to be on big water most often, I'd opt for something bigger than the 165 for sure. The extra length makes a big difference in spanning waves. I have no desire to voluntarily be out in 5-6 footers in a 16 foot boat. I just think that's pushing your luck. If you plan on dealing with that often, I'd personally be going to a much larger boat. For stuff up to a few feet with the occasional need to deal with bigger stuff (within reason!), I think a big 16 footer is fine. The boat is never a replacement for common sense though and I think that is your biggest asset when figuring out what your boat is capable of.

[whofan]

I have a 16ft with a 70hp motor and the boat is a nice size to deal with off the water.

I think a great all around boat would be something in a 18ft with a 150 for the big water.

I have a friend who says that if its bad for a 16ft then it`s getting bad in a 18ft boat as well, That friend has a 19ft.

His thinking is keep the 16ft not worth the investment to up size.

I want something bigger but if gas hits $5.00 then maybe I`m better off with a mid size motor on a 16ft.

My 16ft WT is small to fish out of but nice size to handle, thinking about going to a tiller with a 60 to 90 hp in either a 16 or 17 ft boat.

Would love to trade the console and winshield for the room but would I kick myself later on the cold windy days?

I been in some rough stuff in my 16ft Lund 70hp but it has a walkthru windshield.

Big rough water isn`t the main reason I`d leave the 16ft boat for something bigger.

Does a tiller style boat in this size handle as well in the rough stuff?

I think a 16 foot is fine in most cases .

[bob888]

I've been fishing Lake of the Woods for about 20 weeks over almost two decades out of a 16' 1994 Crestliner with a 60 hp mtr. Fish for smallies from Sabaskong Bay over to the east side of Little Traverse Bay. Some of the round trips are over 50 miles. Even though there are a lot of islands in these areas there are still areas where the waves can build over time.

Have been in conditions when I've had to run off plane for a number of hours. Would have preferred a larger boat at those times, however since all my fishing is casting near the shore areas it would be difficult boat control in a larger boat.

[Shotgun]

I started with a 14' Lund, stepped up to a 1650 Lund Explorer tiller and now own a Lund 1700 Fisherman (Length 17'6" Width 92"). Overall the 1650 (Length 16'10" Width 84") was the best boat in regard to handling, cost, storing and trailering. I've fished big water with the 1650 and 1700. Not an issue with the Fisherman. However, the 1650 would have you a little concerned at sometimes when the wind picked up. In my opinion the largest difference between these two boats was the side depth and overall width. The Fisherman's deep sides and width are an added comfort and safety factor. Also, I'm getting grandkids old enough to go along and those deep sides are just the thing. Just a great feeling knowing you have that cushion of safety/comfort if the weather turns bad. However, the bigger boat also comes with a price of several thousand more dollars. Anyway, just my experience as my boating has increased.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

After reading this Tom I'd like to add something.

There is something to be said for handling, storing, towing and operating costs for a smaller rig. There are times (about this time of year) that I day dream about getting rid of the big glass WX1850 and getting into a 17' tiller. My boat takes up a ton of garage space, consumes a lot of gas, and costs more to own compared to my 1992 Lund Tyee II. It's about 600# heavier, 2' longer, a lot more expensive and about 100X the boat the 1992 Tyee was. However the Tyee II caught fish just fine. The Skeeter just rides better, looks better and has a ton more space/storage.

Like Drummer Boy says. My 1992 Tyee had an 80" beam. The new 16' boats have a 90" beam.

[Drummer Boy]

Tom I think you know what you need already.I have a 165 Navigator with a 90 and fish Small flowages,Green Bay,Lake Michigan and have spend time on Fort Peck in Montana and Leech in Minnesota.Those new wide 16 footers are not you fathers 16 footers very seaworthy.They will not be as dry as a bigger boat but if you fish a lot of small water they are ideal,

[David Anderson]

Thinking about this, my Ranger 620 is on a 4500# trailer. That's a big boat yet still under your tow rating. Not that you should push it but you should easily be able to pull an 18 footer with a respectable motor, add brakes for that extra margin and you should be OK.