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Go price a new one....that repair bill will appear cheap!!

Here in Ohio we use the term going from a large body of water to a river or smaller body of water for the red right returning rules. Largest body of water in the main point there. My grandkids wanted to drive my boat so when they reached 12 years of age they took the boat safety course, I did as well so they wouldn't feel out of place. Actually learned a few things and also showed the instructers a few things....after 60 plus years of boating I guess I learned a few things...actually it was fun and afterwards the grandkids and I would test each other while out boating...worthwhile event !!

For this reason, when somone bad mouths a particular brand, take into consideration how the boat might have been treated during its life!!! Was the boat bad or was the owner bad about taking care of it ??

Back in my younger kayak days, I picked up an old small utility trailer with short sides. Crafted a base in the trailer for my kayak to sit on upright. Then I had a cover made at a local truck tarp place for 200 bucks. Once the kayak was in place and tied down, the cover would snap onto the sides of the trailer to keep rain and debris out of the kayak. Also kept everything inside so I didnt have to load and unload the kayak at each outing. Worked like a charm, just vack up to the waters edge,ceasy to pick up the front of the kayak to load on the trailer and it slid up the rest of the way. Tie down a couple straps and snap on my cover, road ready and nothing to unload when I got home, just unhook the trailer. Had less than 500 in my custom made kayak trailer. Unfortunately never thought to take pics of my creation, to busy using it I guess....

Not sure about fiberglass, only owned one in my 60 years of boating. I do wax my aluminum boats, having a painted hull makes it much easier...I use a spray on wax used for cars and trucks. A number of brands work very well, but turtle wax is a favorite. Also acts as a cleaner for light dirt. Heavy dirt or crud needs a stronger soap. I just spray it on a swish around a micro fiber cloth then let it dry for a few minutes before a light buffing. Can do my 16' boat in less than a half hour and I am 72 with bad shoulders.....below the water line, I dont bother buffing at all, no one sees it and the fish dont really care from my experience, your fish might have a different preference!! The spray wax isceasy and it lasts for quite a few dunkings...makes it very easy to wash off any scum or other crud left on after an outing. Most cars/ trucks have fiberglass or plastic parts and the spray on stuff is compatable so it should be fine for your fiberglass boat. At my age, I look for expressway type waxes.....easy on..easy off !!!!!

I have saw kayaks attached vertically to the ladder on the rear of travel trailers and motorhomes many times. Might be easier than climbing on the roof. As long as you have a registration on your kayak, no worries. It wont be tied up to a dock for weeks on end!!

I haved owned Starcraft, Sylvan, Northwood, and lund among smaller smokercraft and others. Most all have been well made with no issues. My Starcrafts and Sylvans have been my favorite. Equal in quality and ride. My Starcrafts did have some minor rivet leaks where my Sylvan has never leaked a single drop. All of my boats have been purchased used, my current 1992 Sylvan is the newest model I have ever owned!! Lund makes a nice boat, no question about it, but over priced, way over !! You can find Starcrafts and Sylvans at much better prices. Condition is everything, no matter what name is on it !! Finding a boat with excellent maintainence is everything, dont be in a hurry, but be ready to react quickly when the right one comes along.

Hull design can make a big difference, some are just flat and others have a slight V to them. I have found the flat bottoms give a great ride in flat water but jar your teeth in chop. The more V shaped hulls are smoother in chop, much smoother!!! What shape is your hull ??

A family that lives down the road bought a new boat about 10 years back. It has sat outside all of its life. The cover was ripped during the second winter and was never replaced. Then the boat sat uncovered out in the weather for the next 5 years. Two years back he was late winterizing and his block cracked, he couldn't get a warranty claim even though he tried. He swapped out a used engine that does not run very well. When you talk to him about his boat, all he says is that it is a cheap piece of crap !! The interior didn't hold up very long, the floors failed early, and the engine runs like crap and the dealer wont help him in any way....he will never own that brand again !!

To get a boat big enough yet fit in his garage, measure carefully and remember you can add a swing away tongue, but dont forget the added length from a motor hanging on the back !!

States vary on that, I am in Ohio, close to the Mich border. In both our states the local sheriff and DNR folks will mark a moored boat with an out of state registration. If the boat is moored for 30 days they will issue a citation...any boat kept for over 30 days must show that states registration. As an Ohio resident, I can get a Mich registration if I keep my boat in Mich and vice versa. The surrounding states honor each others state regs as long as the boat is not permanently kept in the other state...over 30 days means permanent I guess...

Let me tell you what I found...my wifes health has turned bad with back issues, so she has not been on a boat in 4 years, so I decided to downsize as I go mostly by myself. I was looking for a 16' so I could do everything on my own. I searched for over four months expanding my search area every week. Also be prepared to have cash on hand, finnancing will require going to a dealer as most private sellors wont go thru that hassle. After looking at well over a dozen boats that all had issues, I finally found a boat that was posted an hour earlier !! It was 200 miles away..ask the owner numerous questions and ask him to verify his answers with detailed pics. He did, many detailed pics were sent and all questions answered. I assured him of my interest and drove yp the next day to meet him when he got home from work. The boat was imaculate, always stored inside, and looked about showroom new with the exception of somevworn carpet areas. He had all the original paperwork including recent maintenence work. He was asking 4500, which I realized was a bargain, he saved the boat from others interested until I got there...I did not bother trying to talk him down as I knew what he had and his kindness for working with me. I have a 1992 Sylvan Sea Troller 16' with a 1992 Merc 40 hp classic outboard. The boat is rated for 5 persons ( avg 150 lbs ea.) for two adults and three kids it would be fine, but for 5 adults, overcrowded !! It is a side console which I really like due to the extra floor space. There are many pros and con to this type, but the point is a 16' as long as it is a wide and deep V you could get by.. What about your kids getting bigger ?? You will soon outgrow it, but it is perfect for the lone fisherman. Going to an 18 ft woukd be better but being larger and heavier will be more difficult to launch and load. Wind and currents are what make boats difficult to handle, so the bigger the boat the more wind and current will affect it !! There are nice used boats out there, but you need to search far and wide, when you do stumble across something interesting, you need to move NOW....cash in hand and on the road or it will be gone !!! Good boats go fast, really nice boats go instantly !! Those that are up for sale for a while have something wrong with them or way over priced. When I sold my 22' Islander it went to the first guy that came out...a 1983 model that was in great condition. He knew it was a fair price and didnt bother bartering just paid cash and took it home. Good boats sell quick, no one else ever had a chance to look at it....same as the boat I replaced it with !!! Get out and physically start looking, even look at some that may not fit you....after you look at enough bosts and learn what questions to ask, you will then know it, when you find the right one!!! Good luck....

Check where ever you plan on going. A friend uses his boat in a small inland lake that requires proof of having your boat sanitized to prevent invasive species transport.. He adds a small amount of bleach, some use cleaning vinegar, pour a small amount in your bilge. When the ramp officer asks for proof of cleaning he just pops his drain plug and the officer checks for bleach or vinegar by smell....always gives him the OK to launch. Not sure if this would work everywhere !!!!

As a 60 year boat owner and having owned many different types, I would highly recomend going with an aluminum hull. Much lighter in weight, needs less HP to go fast, easier to tow ( and launch) , better resale value down the road. No worry about rotten stringers and working with messy fiberglass. This next comment will stir up some opinions but hear goes...my neighbor is an unsurance adjuster for a big popular ins company. Generally speaking, aluminum boats are much less costly to insure, far fewer claims of total loss or casuality loss from death. Thevreason is...fiberglass shatters on impact and burns fast in case of fire !! Upon higher speed impact the glass shatteres and sinks! Aluminum hulls tend to cave in but stay intact and do not sink as often. And they dont burn easily. Many might argue these points but these statistics are thru out the marine insurance industry !! Back to your boat choice...pontoon boatscare lots of fun for pleasure rides, taking more people along, bringing along the grill..etc. Depends on your primary uses..as mentioned they are more difficult to tow and launch/retrive.. V hull boats come in many layouts from all open, to open bow, to side console, most any configuration you would like. I will say that if you are talking 5 adults, I would recomend going around 22' ft in length. Another neighbor has a Sylvan 22' open bow with a 3.0 I/O, very easy on fuel, runs all day on 10 gallons of gas, easy to seat 6 adults, and will run close to 40 mph with 4 adults. Very ideal boat for cruising and fishing and taking guests. Only you can decide what fits your own needs and wants....hope this helps with your search !!

Wish I could use those, but due to the type of trailer I have, there is no place to attach them. Frame section is over two feet forward of transom, would have to crawl under the boat to get to those. Towards the stern is a big roller assembly that tilts, no where to attach the retractable units. I was having issues with the straps that have the "quick release" over center lever type of holdown, not the ratchet units. These over center type always come loose for me, goin to switch to the ratchet style version and see how they do..

I have the over center quick attach and release that wont stay tight !! Thunking of moving to a rachette type This is the type I have that wont stay tite.....wanted to go with the retractable ratchet type but lots of issues with them after a short while. Boat buckle is what I now have but they keep comming loose. I see they make a ratchet type so I might give those a try. Just thought there might be a secret to keeping the others tight !! Thanks for the replys!!

My last two boats have come with the quick latch boat buckle transom strap tie downs. I have had no sucess in keeping them tight. The boat is not moving forward, it cant, bow eye is locked into bow stop, tight safety chain etc. Having done some research on these types of hold downs, they seem to be the most popular. Been around boats for 60 years, these last two boats are the only ones that have used these quick release straps, so I am not sure what to do. The current ones are fairly new, no signs of wear or damage....so....how do you keep them tight, or...are you having the same issues??? Thanks in advance...

Probably prorated over that time, and for the cost, they will certainly want to test it for issues. Nobody is gonna just swap it for a new one !!

I too have had great sucess with the mighty max batteries, my current one is over 7 years old, just a std agm sealed battery but been awesome!!

Son in law had one a few years back, It was the bass hunter model I believe, it had two small plastic pontoon like floats with an aluminum frame work and two seats. It was tippy...more than we expected. It was heavier than my 12' aluminum jon boat and not as stable. We only used it one summer then he sold it. All in all....prefered my jon boat.

Condition and how it has been maintained is everything !!! No matter what the age....unless the age is excessive. My own boat is a 1992 that I just bought last summer. It has been a garage queen its whole life, looks like new and previous owner has all reciepts for maintenence....could care less when its birthday is, as it is still a like new boat!!! In your case, which boat suits you best, which is in best condition...mechanical not how pretty !!! Only you can decide, but whichever you decide, how about some pics !!!

Perhaps on the night your wife got "amorous" you gave her an injection that prevented her from getting covid !! LOL....

For the bare aluminum or the painted aluminum ??

That is why we try to spend so much time on our boats!!!

My tinnie is painted thru out, so some simple green cleaner to remove the scum, usually thinned diwn with water, unless scum is really bad. I just use turtle wax spray on wax, easy on and easy off. Actually dont even bother buffing the bottom, only the areas where you can see to make it look good. This is my first aluminum hull that is totally painted !! Much easier to keep looking good than the others with natural alum on the bottom....