What boat for me?

[LoungeLizard]

A tinny in the 4.5 - 5.5m size is what you want. Any smaller and you'll be struggling offshore in any sizable chop. Any bigger and it becomes a difficult handling the boat on your own.

As for layout - centre/side consoles are better for fishing BUT you have no/little protection against spray and believe me having buckets of seawater thrown into your face is not fun! So if you're going to be heading out where there is a chance of choppy water keep that in mind

The Trailcrafts are excellent value 2nd hand and because they are built well you don't need to worry about bits falling off or breaking! You should be able to get one in the range mentioned in good nick for <$20K. If you're not full bottle on tinnies get someone to check over likely candidates and give you a report. It's money well spent!

Are there any glass boats in that same price range? Even if just hull only I wouldn't mind checking everything out.

Az

Yes you can get glass in that price range but they'll be a lot older (which can mean higher maintenance/running costs), and if you're going to be bashing around creeks a lot I'd say stay clear. Glass doesn't take kindly to rocks/snags!

[Az]

Thanks for your responses fellas, i appreciate your input

While this is my first boat i'm buying I have been on quite a few different types and fished out of a lot of open boats. What I am finding though is the more I search the more boats I find I like and the more I keep increasing my budget!!

I'm starting to like the look of the galeforce 4.8 centre console or if I am willing to stretch the budget a bit more the 5m hooker centre console.. glass would be ideal as I know I am going to want to get offshore when I can but obviously that starts to stretch the budget a bit more

Keep your opinions coming

Cheers
Az

[PADDLES]

if glass is looking more attractive to you and you might get into some rough water you will not go past an older seafarer v-sea. you should be able to pick up a real good one for not too much more than $10k. as has been said before though get it checked out for rot.

[Murks]

Murks - That's a nice little rig you have there, I have always wondered what the ride would be like up the front in a runabout like that if you were in some choppier sees, do you get a better/softer ride sitting further back on the boat?

Thanks mate, on the back seat you don't feel anything!!!
Don't misunderstand me, the ride is just fine, it doesn't matter what you have you can only go as fast as conditions will allow or what the hull is capable of, sure a larger glass boat will ride smoother but you forgo a lot of space compared to the Runabout style, this was key to my decision, the Formosa 480 Runabout is a fantastic boat, I am very happy with her
Brett

[Murks]

hey mate check JALOVA post in Boats for Sale...this may be something to consider

[bluefin59]

If aglass centre console under 20k is what your after go to the boats for sale section and go to page 2 there is a beaut centre console there the blokes name is TJBEAR have a look if i was after a C.C it would be perfect I.M.O ..matt

[Az]

cheers guys, both look like good options
I just have to wait a couple of months for my money to come in so the likelyhood of them still being available then is pretty low.. but you never know!