texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,575
TexDawg 119,517
Bigbob_FTW 94,886
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,480
Mark Perry 72,287
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,829
Posts13,935,240
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake #12224486 05/01/17 12:25 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
T
Texasbuckeye Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
T
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
New to the forum, browsing through and seeing some good stuff. Just purchased a property with a nice lake on it and would love to have ability to ramble around with my wife or Kid (two person max) on it and fish without having to oar a canoe. Looking to spend as little as possible but would be willing to go up to 3k for boat and accessories.

What would you all recommend as far as possibilities?

Have looked into the sundolphin predator 120, and different John boats with none o them sticking out in my
Mind more than the other.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12224902 05/01/17 12:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
Dan90210 ☮ Offline
Jr Deputy Dan
Offline
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
The Sun Dolphin 120 is pretty sweet little boat. You could run it on a TM only or get a little OB motor as well.

Also look at any of the Bass Hunter style boats. I would say this, stay away from the 8feet models there...for two people you want the 9.5+ foot ones if you want any room to fish and have some gear.

For me, I would not go with a jon boat, just because they are not as stable in those small sizes as the Bass Hunter style boats or the Sun Dolphin.

Good luck! And if you need any help fishing that lake let me know!

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12224913 05/01/17 12:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
B
Brad R Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
Well, it is a canoe, technically, but a very special one: a Meyers Sportspal in, I'd say, the S-15 size for what you are describing which is their longest model with a square transom for mounting up to a 5 HP outboard.

But, for that size lake, I'd use a trolling motor, a small one.

There are Youtube videos showing these Sportspals under power so you can check those out. One video will show a man named Carl fishing from his up in New Jersey and you'll see him using a TM. Others have small outboards. I wouldn't go 5 HP though it is rated for one; I'd use a 2.5 HP.

Weight capacity is 705 lbs. and it can be rowed, paddled or electric or gas motor driven. On a small private lake, those are nice options to have. You might want to let kids use it with just paddles, for example. I can stand in mine on a super windy day with large waves and run it across open water while standing. I never feel even remotely tippy in the thing. It'd be great for 2 people and I have used it to take out friends where the two of us might add up to 500 lbs. plus gear.

And, it weighs 67 lbs. so much easier to move it around than a jon boat, easier to carry it somewhere in the bed of a truck with a bed extender, easier to store in a garage where it can be hoisted out of the way.

The canoe plus shipping, a battery and trolling motor would likely come in at less than $2000.

Here:

Meyers Sportspal Canoe S-15

If you are near Lake Athens, you are welcome to come down and give mine a spin.

Brad

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12224953 05/01/17 12:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
SeaAggie2015 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
Saw the post and thought "I've got the perfect thing". Pond King boats are all aluminum and will stand up to weather and pretty hard wear and tear for the the longest time. We have several different options but none are bad. These boats give you a stable platform for piece of mind if the kids or wife want to go out and play on their own.
The rebel XL (green boat pictured) has a design that allows you to pull the pontoons in (for travel in the bed of a truck) or out (for extreme stability and extra space in the water).
The Sport is a fixed design that allows two people great comfort and stability, but it's priced a little above the 3K you were looking to spend. (Plus side is it'll last extremely long with little upkeep)


Hope you find the boat that is right for you.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12225271 05/01/17 03:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
B
Brad R Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
SeaAggie2015,

That would be a nice platform for a small private lake or pond, no doubt.

I think I have seen the pontoon boat in the lowest photo, or one very similar to it, parked on the west side of the main drag in Canton in front of a shop. Is that a PondKing???

Brad

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12225358 05/01/17 04:56 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
SeaAggie2015 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 201
Yes sir it is a Pond King boat. Pond King is a Texas based company ran out of Gainesville TX. There are pond king boats all over the country. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Many to the East Texas area. And those are just the ones that I've personally delivered.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12225857 05/01/17 10:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
B
Brad R Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
I was there at that shop in Canton for another reason; but, I looked over your pontoon boat very carefully and that is some really expert welding, that is for sure! The quality looked exceptional to me with a lot of attention to details.

The Meyers Sportspal canoe I posted is also made aluminum, aircraft-grade, making for a light but very strong vessel.

Either of these should last a lifetime with a little TLC! And, both would be tremendous small lake/pond choices.

Brad

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12226156 05/02/17 01:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,627
P
PowerLizard Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
P
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,627
You want a metal boat of some sort which you can leave on the shore. Plastic boats will disintegrate in constant direct sunlight. Since you want to go cheap, I would find a 14' Jon boat without title on Craigslist. Then add a new trolling motor and battery from Academy.

Go with a Pond King boat if you want to go first class.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12226611 05/02/17 12:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
Dan90210 ☮ Offline
Jr Deputy Dan
Offline
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
You can get a good deal on untitled boats.

You wont need a title if your on your own little pond there.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12242496 05/12/17 12:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 333
B
BODA Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
B
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 333
My fatherinlaw has an 18ft pontoon boat in his shop that has everything ripped off down to the deck, he would probably take a grand for it, has titles and the motor runs.

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12242729 05/12/17 03:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,910
reeltexan Online Happy
TFF Celebrity
Online Happy
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,910

Get you a 15 or 16' aluminum, Tracker, Lowe, Alumacraft, etc., with raised platforms and seats. Put you a new 12v trolling motor on it.
You can find a good used one here or Craig's.
You'll never be sorry.

Pontoons get blown every-which-way with the slightest wind.


"..The pleasantist angling is to see the fish
Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
And greedily devour the treacherous bait.
Bill Shakespeare





[Linked Image]
Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12243043 05/12/17 06:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
T
Texasbuckeye Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
T
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
Well to update the thread, I was able to score a deal on a almost new (match 2017) pelican predator with 30# trolling motor and 3.5hp outboard with depth/fish finder and battery for 1200 bucks. Both motors were purchased at the same time as boat so they are almost brand new but run well. Also scored the trailer it was on for 550. Previous owner also upgraded to padded seats. Not a bad deal I think. Looking forward to getting it up there and seeing how it does.

Guy that owned it said he fished it every weekend and was selling to get something bigger as he has some couple mile runs to his fishing holes and the little boat with smaller motor wasn't cutting it. Said he had gotten no water in the hull and just looking at it it looked dang near showroom clean.



Gonna run around on this....

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12244794 05/14/17 12:51 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
B
Brad R Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
B
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
Wow! Your new boat should just be great for the small lake in the pics, others too.

I run across these all the time out fishing, never hear a single complaint by their owners who really like them.

Harbor Freight and others carry these blue tarps and I have seen them on sale for next to nothing at times. If you don't have any better solution in mind, if you plan on leaving it down on the water, I'd cover it with at least something like these tarps, rig something up to keep the sun off of it, birds out of it, rain, etc.

Brad

Re: Small boat for 32 acre fishing lake [Re: Texasbuckeye] #12245451 05/14/17 11:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
T
Texasbuckeye Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
T
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 11
Will keep it trailered inside, take it to the lake via jeep or utv and then back to inside barn/garage for battery charging and protection. A utv could handle this easily as it is light enough to push around with ease by myself. Don't want to leave it on the water or outside!

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3