Best boat to sit on the bottom everyday. Seriously.
 

It's driving me nuts not to have a boat at the house.

I have tidal waterfront that goes to mud at low tide and 5+ feet when it comes in. It's great for kayaking, but the local zoning will not allow me to put a dock in, so the boat will go down to the bottom every day, twice a day.

Obviously I'm looking for something durable and inexpensive to tool around in once in awhile that draws as little water as possible. Pull the kids tubing, gunkholing, etc.

Nothing more than 13 feet ---15 tops.

Have had Zodiacs in the past, but I have heard if it is going to rest on the bottom that this is asking for trouble. Almost all my neighbors have Boston Whalers.

Any suggestions?

Are you allowed to have one of those floating things you can just run up on?

Nope. That was my first try, but I can't drive anything metal into the ground where I am zoned.

My father had one of these aluminum-hulled boats- it was built like one of those river-runners. The damn thing was made out of plate, not sheet. It was heavy but indestructible. Had a small jet on it. Something like that would be perfect.

The Whaler's tri-hull design is great for that application- shallow draft and flat in the back. Highly over-rated and absurdly expensive too.

My house growing up had the same problem. Everyone had a buoy and when tide was out, boats sat on soft mud on bottom. Both my Sea Ray and Boston whaler, sat like this. As Did most of my neighbors boats. I'll see if I have a picture. But nobody had problems as long as drives and outboards raised up.

Look into those "plastic" boats made by Triumph or Logic. Small, indestructible, and with outboards. I've been considering one just to play around in. If it smacks the dock, nothing is hurt and no gelcoat to sweat over.

Thanks. Never heard of them. I've been leaning toward a flats boat or Whaler. Outboard or jet or jet-outboard I think.

That's a crazy tide! Can you post a pic of in and out? Just curious. My god mother lived in Maine, near Casgow Bay? I visited decades ago and am not sure of that name. I remember her son raided a lobster trap for us. I do remember how observant he was while doing it.

Hey, I was just along for the ride...in his whaler.

I got one of these. Not powerful enough to pull a skiier, but great for fishing. All my friends love it. Draws like 6 inches. I got about 30mph with two people. 35 with one, but a bad porpoise:D I'm thinking of rigging up a center seat and maybe a 100hp:evilb: ..............................j/k

This is how we deal with low water down here in Florida.

http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/nebraska/Dsc_7617d70sm.jpg

Look into a Carolina Skiff

http://www.carolinaskiff.com/skiff/index.html

Again with the Whalers!
I'll see what I can find. These are the tides we deal with here. Take today for example:


03/08/2008


05:02 AM Low -0.6

11:07 AM High 10

05:25 PM Low -0.8

11:28 PM High 10

No room for the dog, and it's too wet a ride every time for what I'm looking for. They are cool though. Have seen some at boat shows.

:evilb:

Thanks. They keep coming up in my search. I'd like to see one of the 27/28 footers in person as well.

Is that the correct name? I remember, and this is as a teenager, flying into Porland and driving north about an hour. This brings back real memories for me. My dad actually passed away in their house while on a trip to visit them (the Koshlieks were best friends with my parents) many years later. Don't fret as that was in '82. I visited way before that.

you can'g go wrong with a whaler, a 13' with a 40, or the 15' with a 60. both will pull a tube, or a small kid on two skis

You were close. Casco Bay.

http://www.visitmaine.com/region/region_portland.php

Thanks man! As I said, memories....:(

It is beautiful up there. The summer is too short for me though.

Go with a Whaler. They are bullet proof!

I will add I skied behind my buddy's 16 montauk on my way to competition skiing. GREAT boat for water sports!!

whaler all the way.

I'd be considering jet drive variety like Yamaha or SeaDoo type boat. Good low water draft and no outdrives or outboard and/or props to worry about.

Clip ons are better for water sports. Jet drives don't have the pull of outboards. And, outboards are much better if there are surface weeds, which will get sucked up into a jet drive.

I remember lots of weeds from that trip up north.

Shoot a PM to ActiveShack here on OSO. He's got some redneckin' fishing/hunting boat that does not need water, just buoyant mud to run in. He posted it on here some time back.

Seems like a pontoon would be the only sensible choice, very low draft + the option of one of those outboards made for low water use.

How about an Airdock??

http://www.airdock.com/

You can get out on low tide with one of these :drink:
www.godevil.com

I can't believe this.

http://www.godevil.com/Video/Surface_Drive_Mud.wmv

Im thinking one of those little seadoo or yamaha jetboats as was mentioned, plus they were built with the idea that people were going to abuse them.

I wonder if Sydwayz saw that he wasn't wearing his lanyard :evilb: :D

Here's a 15 footer but they make alot more, who has the video of this thing being towed to the lake for a test drive...WITHOUT a trailer!!!!!

http://www.triumphboats.com/index.cf...siniterx=150CC

The video is on their site along with some other good ones.....

http://www.toughboats.com/index.cfm?...RecommendATest

See the links in the bottom left corner.

I have heard good things about the logic boats....Virtually indistructable....Otherwise a pontoon would work good....

What happens when ya hit a small rock or a stump??

pontoon boat!!!

Try a Mud Buddy!
 

Try one of these:p

http://www.mudbuddy.com/Videos.htm