Best Little Fishing Boat For Under 20k

Good Morning Fisho's

I presently have a Bayliner 1850 Capri Bowrider that I recently acquired in a trade deal that owes me about 13k.

My main intention for boat ownership was to use for fishing in the Cockburn Sound - Five Fathom Bank - Warnbro Sound - Rotto area.

The question is do you think I am better off selling and or trading for something more suitable for basic fishing or will the Bayliner be just as capable in these areas ?

Nine times out of ten I will be on my own so I need to be able to launch single handed which I can pull off with the Bayliner but I assume nothing much heavier / bigger.

Current boat seems to be more built for speed and cruising than fishing but I have minimal experience hence the question to those of you with more knowledge of boats.

Bayliner runs like a dream and had no issues so I'm a little hesitant in ending up with another unknown boat requiring money thrown at it - I can already see the wife's eyes rolling !!

Basically will I acheive much more of a fishing boat spending the Bayliner money on a another boat or just stick to what I have ?

Many thanks...

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Posts: 1522

Date Joined: 09/03/13

 personally do't like small

Tue, 2019-04-23 09:58

 personally don't like small bowriders for open ocean.  ....for your main purpose stated much better to pick up a 5.? m plate alloy. much safer and more suited 

Posts: 755

Date Joined: 29/03/13

Sell it and get a plate boat

Tue, 2019-04-23 10:27

 For sure

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Down the Line

 

Catch the Experience 

ranmar850's picture

Posts: 2702

Date Joined: 12/08/12

Bowriders suck for fishing

Tue, 2019-04-23 11:05

 You will usually see the bloke fishing out of one has had it inflicted on him by the other half who wants a "family" boat. 

Posts: 6

Date Joined: 22/04/19

Was looking at this one...

Tue, 2019-04-23 11:31

Was going to make an offer on this but I'm getting the vibe to stay away from Bowriders completely.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bibra-lake/motorboats-powerboats/bermuda-sea-odyssey-500-bowrider-mercury-60hp-four-stroke/1215484374

Can you point me in the right direction ?

Posts: 1522

Date Joined: 09/03/13

Bowriders can be flat out

Tue, 2019-04-23 13:15

Bowriders can be flat out dangerous in open ocean.     Have a bit of a google of " bowriders in open ocean safety"

 

Posts: 6

Date Joined: 22/04/19

What are your thoughts on this one

Tue, 2019-04-23 17:44

 https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/eaton/motorboats-powerboats/5mtr-plate-ally-boat/1215818684

 

Guy is keen to trade - It's asking price is less than my 12k but I think from the comments above it would suit me better.

Boppo's picture

Posts: 214

Date Joined: 08/03/09

My father in law has one in Canada

Tue, 2019-04-23 18:30

 Great in the small lakes but took it on some bigger water and it was down right dangerous.

Get a 4.6/ 4.9 m Websters twinfisher (same boat).

I take mine over 25 mile offshore and can come home easily in a 20kt seabreeze

Posts: 6

Date Joined: 22/04/19

Dangerous in Big Water

Tue, 2019-04-23 19:15

Hi Boppo,

Are you referring to the Bayliner I have or the link to the one I'm looking at getting ?

Posts: 727

Date Joined: 28/07/16

Unless

Wed, 2019-04-24 11:06

 Your staying in the river then do not get any bow rider 

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wont catch em sitting at home!

Jackfrost80's picture

Posts: 8148

Date Joined: 07/05/12

I've had days coming back

Wed, 2019-04-24 13:14

I've had days coming back into Freo heads where I'd be shitting myself with a big water scoop up front let alone in open water.

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Officially off the Pies bandwagon

Boppo's picture

Posts: 214

Date Joined: 08/03/09

one in the picture

Wed, 2019-04-24 15:31

 good for estuaries only.Safely that is