Another question,

Have any of you owned a 14 foot fiberglass boat? I realize I could just convert a jonboat but there's something special about having a pre-designed setup with a wheel, livewell, and the added stability.  How do they ride? Not planning to take it out on the Great Lakes or anything but wondering how disastrous they are in anything but glassy water.. I'm looking at two in the $2500-3000 price range, they're definitely older boats but seemed to be in decent shape. I really wish they kept making them, seems like a nifty part of the market they're missing.

It depends on how well it was maintained.

I have a 1996 Stratos 258 with a 70 hp Johnsonon it. I knew it was well maintained because I bought from my brother.

At 15' 5" it fishes bigger than it is!

 

Never had a 14, but I my 86 Ranger 320V was 15' 10". I loved it, sure it wasn't the biggest boat out there, but it was a nice little rig. My only problem with it was the console was a little low and fitting my go go gadget legs under the wheel wasn't always the most comfortable. Then again I'm 6'6" and have issues with that in a lot of older smaller boats. Ride wise, it handled water extremely well for a boat that size.

Ah, my first boat was a 14' Procraft trihull design with a 40hp Johnson. Great little boat. Not much room, as you would expect from a 14', but pretty stable.

I'm a pretty tall individual but I want something fuel efficent and easy to store with all the perks of a glass boat. There's a lot of 14' glass boats on CL which makes me wonder if they're really usable/feasible. I'm looking at one with a 60 and the owner claims he can push it around 50.. I'm also looking at a far better kept one with a newer engine but its only a 30. 

I had a 89 Bomber that was one of the most reliable boats I ever fished out of. It had a Johnson 48 and would run in the mid-30s. It was stable and handled rough water extremely well. I did have to extend the deck back to the console because it ended almost at the back of the seat pedestal and the guy in the back didn't have much leg room. My biggest problem was getting used to two people casting so close together. You have to be very cautious and don't think about fishing with a third person. You'll break every pole you have or hook someone in the back of the head.

My boat is 1994 sprint and it is 16' with a 88 Johnson and I absolutely love it. I know it's not 14' but it handles great. Just had it out in 30mph winds the other day and it handled it like a champ.