Small fishing boat?

[Deeker]

I am currently on the hunt for a small fishing boat/crabbing boat. I am not to familiar with boats or boat brands so figured I would ask here.

Looking for a boat big enough for four people. 2 adults and 2 kids.
Small enough to fit on the canopy rack on my truck. 8 ft bed.
We camp a lot during the spring and summer and we are always on the lake, would be nice to be able to fish away from the banks. We are also a five minute drive from the puget sound for crabbing in the summer.

I have gone and looked at tracker Jon boats 12 ft. That seems to fit the bill pretty well, except it is only rated for 3 people. I’m not sure how strict the boat police are on head count. I looked at Lund as well and they seemed even better since boat is wider, however they have a 2 person limit.

Any suggestions on what or where I should be looking at would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rich M]

Car topping a boat for a family is not feasible. 12 ft boat is 2 people or 1 guy and a kid. Not safe otherwise.

You need a trailer rig. The EZ button is a 16 ft v hull aluminum utility and 25 hp. That will do everything you want with the family.

Grew up w aluminum boats from 10-18 ft. Running an SSV18 right now and fish everything from 15 miles offshore to inshore saltwater flats and nearby lakes.

 

[CorbLand]

I am far from an expert on boats but finding something big enough to fit 4 people that you don’t have to trailer is going to be extremely hard.

 

[Terrapin]

Four people in a small aluminum boat is very risky, especially crabbing. There are a few 16 foot deep vee aluminums that would be safe. You’ll definitely trailering any boat that would be remotely safe.

Lund, Alumacraft, Smokercraft, some of the Trackers, Crestliner. I’d look for something rated for at least a 25hp.


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[Ferrulewax]

Car topping a boat for a family is not feasible. 12 ft boat is 2 people or 1 guy and a kid. Not safe otherwise.

You need a trailer rig. The EZ button is a 16 ft v hull aluminum utility and 25 hp. That will do everything you want with the family.

Grew up w aluminum boats from 10-18 ft. Running an SSV18 right now and fish everything from 15 miles offshore to inshore saltwater flats and nearby lakes.

This. You won't find a tiny boat that is also rated for 4. That's just not how it works.

Two canoes would be an option, one adult and one kid in each. Get square sterns and you can run a small outboard or a trolling motor- but probably won't want to put them in the ocean.

As someone that has owned multiple boats that are "car top-able" car topping stinks. A 65lb kayak is a chore even for two guys to get on the roof. I ended up usually borrowing a truck when I owned my kayak, despite my roof rack- and with my raft (~90lbs and 12' that I planned to car top) I ended up buying a trailer.

Just buy a boat with a trailer.

My recommendation would be a v-hull aluminum boat, carolina skiff, or boston whaler. Panga style boats are also extremely versatile.

If portability is truly important to you, the easier option than car topping might be an inflatable that you can deflate and put in the truck bed like this:

10' Extra Heavy-Duty Inflatable Fishing Boats FB300 on Sale

Saturn Heavy Duty Inflatable Boat For Fishing FB300 has extra wide protectors along bottom, top of tubes and keel. 1.5mm PVC glued along bottom of tubes for more protection.

www.boatstogo.com

I have no experience with this boat, btw.

 

[Deeker]

It’s not optimal I know…. I tow a trailer for camping, that’s why I am looking for the unicorn boat. I have owned a 16ft aluminum that we took out through the san Juan’s. Sold it a few years ago because we always took the trailer and never wanted to drive multiple rigs across the state. We fish the 4 of us in a 13ft Alaskan my father in law owns. But he fishes with it all summer. And it’s to heavy for my wife and I to lift up on the truck.

 

[JFK]

Until you said that it needed to go on top of the truck I was going to suggest a 14’ Livingston. Biggest, most seaworthy little boats ever made and probably readily available up your way since that’s where they were made. But you have to trailer them.

Maybe a zodiac inflatable would work. They just ride like crap and are challenging to rig out for fishing.

 

[MallardSX2]

You might be able to stack 12 foot john boats and put an adult and a kid in each boat. Get you a 5hp propane motor for each of them.

Redundancy isn’t a bad thing.

 

[betelgeuse]

Until you said that it needed to go on top of the truck I was going to suggest a 14’ Livingston. Biggest, most seaworthy little boats ever made and probably readily available up your way since that’s where they were made. But you have to trailer them.

Maybe a zodiac inflatable would work. They just ride like crap and are challenging to rig out for fishing.

They are great not tippy. We used to straddle the tube to pull traps.

 

[betelgeuse]

Carolina skiffs are nice too.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I am currently on the hunt for a small fishing boat/crabbing boat. I am not to familiar with boats or boat brands so figured I would ask here.

Looking for a boat big enough for four people. 2 adults and 2 kids.
Small enough to fit on the canopy rack on my truck. 8 ft bed.
We camp a lot during the spring and summer and we are always on the lake, would be nice to be able to fish away from the banks. We are also a five minute drive from the puget sound for crabbing in the summer.

I have gone and looked at tracker Jon boats 12 ft. That seems to fit the bill pretty well, except it is only rated for 3 people. I’m not sure how strict the boat police are on head count. I looked at Lund as well and they seemed even better since boat is wider, however they have a 2 person limit.

Any suggestions on what or where I should be looking at would be greatly appreciated.

A 12' Livingston would be perfect for that and they load on a truck really well. Get yourself an Eide boat loader and have a blast.

 

[betelgeuse]

It’s not optimal I know…. I tow a trailer for camping, that’s why I am looking for the unicorn boat. I have owned a 16ft aluminum that we took out through the san Juan’s. Sold it a few years ago because we always took the trailer and never wanted to drive multiple rigs across the state. We fish the 4 of us in a 13ft Alaskan my father in law owns. But he fishes with it all summer. And it’s to heavy for my wife and I to lift up on the truck.

Zodiac type

 

[Pharmseller]

Like others have said, no way you’re gonna find a car topper for 4 people.

 

[betelgeuse]

A 12' Livingston would be perfect for that and they load on a truck really well. Get yourself an Eide boat loader and have a blast.

I like those Livingston's

 

[Thinkingman]

Livingston or inflatable.
Only way you’re going to get that capacity in that size.

 

[Rich M]

This. You won't find a tiny boat that is also rated for 4. That's just not how it works.

Two canoes would be an option, one adult and one kid in each. Get square sterns and you can run a small outboard or a trolling motor- but probably won't want to put them in the ocean.

As someone that has owned multiple boats that are "car top-able" car topping stinks. A 65lb kayak is a chore even for two guys to get on the roof. I ended up usually borrowing a truck when I owned my kayak, despite my roof rack- and with my raft (~90lbs and 12' that I planned to car top) I ended up buying a trailer.

Just buy a boat with a trailer.

My recommendation would be a v-hull aluminum boat, carolina skiff, or boston whaler. Panga style boats are also extremely versatile.

If portability is truly important to you, the easier option than car topping might be an inflatable that you can deflate and put in the truck bed like this:

10' Extra Heavy-Duty Inflatable Fishing Boats FB300 on Sale

Saturn Heavy Duty Inflatable Boat For Fishing FB300 has extra wide protectors along bottom, top of tubes and keel. 1.5mm PVC glued along bottom of tubes for more protection.

www.boatstogo.com

I have no experience with this boat, btw.

I thought of a canoe too.

The 16 ft radisson square transom would be good. Very light and such. Good for the lake but not so much for the sound.

 

[Macintosh]

Couple sea kayaks could work. Depends on what stage your kids are at. But they are a lot more seaworthy in the sound.

No way Id put 4 in a 14’ aluminum though, even a big one. You get any chop in that when overloaded and you are HOSED.

 

[Coveyleader]

Inflatable with a 20hp outboard would work. I bought mine for spring bears, to avoid any trailers and the ability to put it the water without the need of a dock. I can fit it in a five foot bed, with the 20 HP outboard easy.

Mine is a 380, holds 4 people without issue just screwing around swimming, having a beverage. you may want to look at a 420. If all four are in there with crab pots etc.

The capacity ratings are insane on these things, it’s an inflatable there are some precautions to take, but they may fit the bill. If you go that route, get the armor on the bottom if you will be in salt water to protect the bottom from rocks with barnacles and sharp crustaceans found in the PNW. I didn’t, and have to be careful.

We would put 40-60 miles on them in a day running the inside fjords just north of you in BC.