Thread: Small boat advice and options

So I am sure there are a few boaties on this site. I am looking at getting a small boat for fishing out of. 12 footer or close to that. Inshore fishing in nice weather and sea conditions for two people. I am a nice conditions fisherman. Launch off beach (carried or trollied to water) and away from boat ramps needed. Must be light enough to handle easily and really portable. I want something simple and easy to use. I have looked at the inflatibles but think they might be a little too dodgy around rocks etc. I don't want a standard tinnie. I like the look of pontoon boats. I have looked at the Mac360 and really like that. It is on the heavy side but cant see anything lighter that ticks the boxes. They seem very stable and robust. What do people think? Any options I have missed or pitfalls I haven't thought about? Also wondering about centre versus tiller steer. I don't want bigger or expensive. Thanks folks. This will be interesting. Cheers

Years ago I changed from boat styles such as Fyran to pontoon boats. The likes of Stabicraft make a great little unit (mine was @ Stabi 440 until I went larger). They are very safe. I’ve also got a Lancer inflatable of 2.8m and use an 8hp outboard. Again, it is a very safe unit. If you choose the inflatable line, go for HYPALON, the same material surf rescue boats are made from, as they are more wear resistant than PVC. There is a Lancer hypalon on T/m now at about $700 from memory. NZ made with professional support in case repairs are required.

Small rib with Ali hull would be a good option. Also take a look at the Smart Wave 3? Or 3.5m, great wee boat for flat water fishing

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Small rib with Ali hull would be a good option. Also take a look at the Smart Wave 3? Or 3.5m, great wee boat for flat water fishing

Yeah this, for what you are talking the smartwave 3500 would be awesome. Tillersteer all the way in that size boat, a cc takes up to much real estate in an allready small boat. Bit heavier than the equivelent rib but much more internal volume and they cant pop.

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RIB sounds like a bit of you, Southern Pacific Shearwater is very light, they do a 3.4 at 45kg. Mac boats are heavy, I watched 3 blokes struggle to drag a 360 with a 15hp on it onto a trailer the other day

Highfield UL340 is another light alloy hulled RIB that looked like a good option to me.

I am not an experienced boater by any means but wanted more or less the same thing as you, and after a fair bit of thinking decided on a lightweight RIB, and am so far very happy with it.

My parents have had a Mac 360 for many years. It has been a great boat. Made a light wee trailer so one person (in dads case elderly male approaching 80) could put it in or out by himself. My brother describes it as a "wet" bat. Very close to the water so splashes from chop etc and you do get wet. When it came time to buy his own, My brother bought a smartwave 10 ft Dingy and a Mac 4.7. (he has had the Mac fo at least 15 years...) when I asked what he thought he said he was glad he did. Both boats are stable and have never caused any problems. Used as fishing platforms. relatively quiet with sinkers etc (unlike tinnnys)

Originally Posted by gimp

Highfield UL340 is another light alloy hulled RIB that looked like a good option to me.

I am not an experienced boater by any means but wanted more or less the same thing as you, and after a fair bit of thinking decided on a lightweight RIB, and am so far very happy with it.

Yeah if you plan on carry them anywhere a rotomolded plastic boat is not going to be the best option. Way heavier than the equivelent rib

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Avoid hard plastic beach wheels, mine are terrible on anything that isn't solid concrete or lawn. Big diameter pneumatic wheels look much better

Realistically you are going to need 3 people to carry a Mac/Smartwave or alloy pontoon boat down a beach. One at the bow and one at each side of the stern.

Have a good think about the places you are going to be launching from and whether you can get away with launching with the trailer preferably or with a good set of beach wheels.
With the wheels tucked under the transom and the motor counterbalancing it makes the bow lighter and not too bad to do by yourself if you have a suitable beach to do it IE not a boulder garden.

Also if the weather is good as you say it doesnt take long to fang a few km to where you want to fish if it means a better launching spot.

If you are set on being able to carry it I really think something like Gimps one is your only option.

Tiller steer all the way in a little boat.....especially if trying to beach launch it on wheels.

Yeah, I like the plastics for ruggedness and unsinkability, but they're fairly heavy and really need a trailer.

You guys are great. This is all really helpful. Please keep em coming. Thanks again.

mac 360 value for money but 18hp min or any of the well known alloy pontoons inflatable with alloy hull but remember they are really disposables once the bags shit them selves . check out the trailers in beach launching areas for ideas as with good tires and a large jockey wheel you can launch and retrieve anywhere with a strop and put a 10/1 winch on trailer then you can winch trailer up beach to 4wd . 3.6 fyrans /parkercraft etc are 60 yr old designs and like 1080 they keep on killing . pm me if you want see some ideas im out porirua .

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Yeah, I like the plastics for ruggedness and unsinkability, but they're fairly heavy and really need a trailer.

Trailers can be very basic affairs. Best one I have seen is a wee light weight launching trailer with a pully that once the boat is on the trailer, the winch / pulley can be used to pull the trailer onto a normal registered trailer. This way the launching trailer is very light and manoeuvrable and does not need to be big enough to be WOF'd etc....

What sort of vehicle have you got and where are you planning on launching?

Reason I ask is I have been launching both my alloy pontoon dingy and my 4,5m fryan in estuarys and off firm beaches with 2wd vehicles for at least a couple of years now with no problems, one just has to be sensible about where is suitable and know how to drive.

Not that I have had to do this yet myself but it is entirely practical/possible to disconnect your trailer and push it out into the tide on the jocky wheel (decent one with fat inflatable tire) float the boat off and pull it back up on a rope to the vehicle to keep the vehicle out of the water and or soft stuff.This method is for those really flat sand beaches.
Bigger boats and trailers set up a spare wheel on a hub at the front of the trailer 150mm or so off of the ground to roll em in on but a >4m boat is only going to have less than 50kilo on the towball anyway so no need.