Best 'small boat' for fishing?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=61307
Printed Date: 09 Jun 2026 at 5:29am
Topic: Best 'small boat' for fishing?
Posted By: feijoa
Subject: Best 'small boat' for fishing?
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 2:22am
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Hi there Talking with someone about a small boat they want to get for fishing. What would be the best option? Just something small that could go a few K's off the launch and fish closer in. Cheap and dirty! Cheers |
Replies:
Posted By: Brooook
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 6:25am
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Size and price range please!
To a launch owner, a 17ft boat is "small". To me, an 8ft dinghy is "small". I suspect you are looking for a 12ft Fryan or similar? Maybe a rubberducky? Small Stabicraft? What about a 12ft Smartwave?
Go to TradeMe and enter up to 5m, then the max price you want to pay and that will give you an idea on what's on offer:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/index.htm - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Boats-marine/index.htm
------------- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.............Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer, |
Posted By: lingee
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 6:42am
| i have a 3.8 Fryan good strong small boat with a 20 yami . fish in close and get out a few ks bought for $3500.00 . great small fishing boat |
Posted By: Catchit
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 8:43am
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A catamaran or inflatable.
'small' monos are dodgy.. ------------- "We gave Sir Peter a knighthood," Mr Key said, "And if we could give him a second one, we would." |
Posted By: treedoc
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 8:53am
| Mac 420. Funny question to be asking at 2.23am though.. |
Posted By: Wanda_Ra
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 12:10pm
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12 foot dinghy whether a tinny,fibreglass,plastic or wooden will need some sort of trailer to transport it and you will need a decent launching spot. An inflatable the same size can be transported in the boot of back of the stationwagon and once assembled in about 15 minutes can be launched pretty much anywhere.And will handle surf launches and slightly worse weather.But can be snagged or holed a little easier from hooks/fish spines/rocks.Both options you can easily get in decent secondhand nick for around 2-3K and upwards including engine.Anything smaller is dodgy unless its a calm inner harbour. ------------- If you think you are too small to make a difference,try sleeping with a mosquito in your tent. |
Posted By: Tangi DnA
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 12:26pm
| KiwiKraft 440 light to tow, can launch just about anywhere, safe smaller boat. |
Posted By: PJay
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 12:40pm
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Depends where you go, how elaborate you want to be, and what your budget is.
Here in the Bay of Islands, my main fishing vessel is a 12ft plastic clinker dinghy with a 2 1/2hp Yamaha 4-stroke motor. I seldom go more than 5km from launch site, but fish year-round, feed the family and neighbours, and catch some pretty good fish that get released.
No electronics, no battery, no bilge pump, no soft squabs. The whole set-up's worth about $2K in present condition, including trailer, and I'd use maybe $1.50 worth of fuel per expedition on average. And if the fishing's no good I can always rig it the other way and go for a sail as consolation.
So "best" depends on "what for?". ------------- PJ |
Posted By: feijoa
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2011 at 12:45pm
thanks for all the responses guys. probably looking at a 5kish budget and basically something for doing the above - similar to lingees setup is basically what we're looking for. at least a 12ft. will look at what's been posted (fryan mac etc) thanks!!! |
PJay wrote:Posted By: AndreA
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2011 at 12:45pm
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had a mac 420 before i up graded to surtees 5.5 loved the mac had a yamaha 60 on it was fast & very stable(great for divers) the main reason i upgraded i wanted the high sides for stand up game fishing on the west coast the mac 420 has the most room for a boat that size & excellent for shallow water fishing would reccomend them to east coast fisho's ------------- f*#k it all & f*#king no regrets |
Posted By: Tickled Kipper
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2011 at 8:36pm
| I bought a Stabi 349 18 months ago. Awesome little boat. Heaps better than my old Fyran 12. Great ride but a little under powered with a 15 Merc and 2 bigs lads on board. |
Posted By: Monty
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2011 at 9:52pm
| I have had a 360 macboat with a 15hp for 7 years & it has been used extensively but it really needs a 25hp to help it get up & go when it isnt flat. It would be one of the cheaper options, but is quite heavy. Sam Mossman has talked about his upgrded one in the fishing mag, but it is also in the Saltwater Fishing "How To" articles on this site. |
Posted By: gromph
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 9:58am
I second this - also had one with 15hp which was fine for what I needed it for. Was my 1st boat and was fine going 6 or 7 km offshore. Highly recommended. |
Posted By: Cbro
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 11:59am
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I'd have to say that the best small boat would be a FORCE4 (or similar) inflatable with alloy hull, I say this as I have been fishing out of one and it is honestly the best ride for its size, Its light as, easy launching, easy on the gas, great fishing platform with plenty of room, best performance in rough weather, stable as ( 3 people on same side and still no problem). Also its surprisingly a dry ride, unlike the macs ive had the pleasure of swimming in  |
Posted By: Silent Assassin
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 12:06pm
| What about the Blackdog Cat ? |
Posted By: JW
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 4:08pm
| Those blackdog cats are 18k'ish for the hull I think or 18k all up. Either way it's pricey. Used an inflatable for years rolled up in the boot of 4wd. Quicksilver 3.4m. Went like a bullet with one person and 15 HP on the back. Could still plane with 3 POB loaded with land based gear. Whole package from Mr Boats in Chch is in your budget. As mentioned they are easy to puncture with spines and hooks but after you've put a few patches on it and bought a net you'll soon stop doing it. My little boat went everywhere from the Kaipara to the Cavelli Islands. Everything is a compromise with small boats. Having said all that, if you can afford it, I'd get a stabi 349 as someone else mentioned. I have a similar boat now in the 4m range and what a bonus not having to pump the thing up every trip. |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 5:14pm
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I have a 2.7m inflatable (Aakron). So far - I've learnt - it bounces around a lot in a choppy sea, but does not appear to be in danger of capsizing because of the low centre of gravity. Its light enough to carry on the back of my ute, so no trailer needed - a crucial advantage to me - and it can be carried always inflated (major plus). Any bigger, would be too heavy to lift inflated.
However - room is very limited inside, as the pontoons take up much more space than the sides of a conventional boat - I tried to launch it from a surf beach (very low surf), but gave up as I couldnt hold it properly in the waves, and water came over the side. That would apply to any boat I suppose - think two people needed really. If there was a sheltered place to launch, I would be happy to take it a few km offshore - but in the BOP there isn't. The only places to launch are in rivers, which have dicey bars.
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Posted By: PJay
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 5:16pm
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Heh heh heh - all of us: "get what I've got".
Just the same as with tackle.... ------------- PJ |
Posted By: worksux
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 6:54pm
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I'd go with the mac 360. you will get one with a 15hp under 5k. Iv'e had one for 10yrs and would'nt swap it for anything else of similar size, just take a rain coat with you cause they are pretty wet boats. ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: carryanne168
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2011 at 9:46pm
| it depends where you will go,i think. |