I am seeking suggestions/recommendations as I am strongly considering a boat purchase.
Quickly: I live in Pueblo and it's primary use would be at the reservoir. I am NOT a boat aficionado.
I have been all over craigslist (Denver, COS, here) but the thing is I'm not real sure what I should be looking for knowing it's use would be here.
As a shore angler, I recognize two things about the reservoir:
1) Fishing from the shore has it's limitations and
2) It often gets anywhere from windy to exceptionally windy
These are the two primary drivers behind what I seek and why I seek it. The right kind of boat though..? I am unsure. So I ask for suggestions.
Should I be looking for a Deep V hull for when things get choppy? What's the minimum recommended HP (based on personal experiences) for Pueblo?
I have to confess that I hastily purchased a boat off craigslist last July. It's an old 14' fiberglass boat with a fairly deep V at the bow and a 9.9HP Johnson tiller outboard. We went out on Brush Hollow at my request prior to purchase (you wouldn't buy a used car without test driving first, right?). Engine started up just fine and we puttered around (non-wake lake) for a good 25 minutes. All seemed fine.
Well, first time I had it on the water at the reservoir the engine started but the pull string wouldn't retract. Turns out the spring/coil that carries the tension had broke. This has since been replaced and fixed (to some extent, the tension isn't quite right but it will start) but now there's an issue where the only way it will start is to bypass something by unplugging a cord. So, it will start, but I'd have to use the choke to shut it off and I just feel pretty uncomfortable and unsafe in that situation with this "mystery" motor and my lack of knowledge in general regarding motors.
I ended up buying a Minn Kota 45lb thrust Endura Max trolling motor and that pushed me around the NSM pretty well (great motor). The third time I had the boat out I noticed some water at the back of the boat and it didn't get any better. I think the transom may need some work but I'm not sure.
My first boat buying experience clearly did not go well. I do NOT want to make the same mistake. That's 1K basically wasted. I thought I was doing my due diligence by taking it on the water prior to buying but it would seem some modifications were made to the boat and motor that day for my benefit.
I did at least learn one important thing the few times I was out: I very much disliked trying to control the boat while casting. Reaching back for the tiller handle half way through nearly every retrieve got very frustrating very quickly. I felt like I couldn't even really fish. Really took a lot of the joy out of it. And that was just in the NSM cove ... I can't imagine the movement out on the main lake. I would gaze upon passing boats with bow-mounted trolling motors with great envy. So I've determined I do need some kind of setup that allows me to safely and effectively navigate deeper waters when I want to.
Having said ALL that (apologies for the book here) I would reach out and ask for input/suggestions, any feedback really. My budget is NOT large but I have come to truly love fishing and would like to find a balance between those two things.
Quickly: I live in Pueblo and it's primary use would be at the reservoir. I am NOT a boat aficionado.
I have been all over craigslist (Denver, COS, here) but the thing is I'm not real sure what I should be looking for knowing it's use would be here.
As a shore angler, I recognize two things about the reservoir:
1) Fishing from the shore has it's limitations and
2) It often gets anywhere from windy to exceptionally windy
These are the two primary drivers behind what I seek and why I seek it. The right kind of boat though..? I am unsure. So I ask for suggestions.
Should I be looking for a Deep V hull for when things get choppy? What's the minimum recommended HP (based on personal experiences) for Pueblo?
I have to confess that I hastily purchased a boat off craigslist last July. It's an old 14' fiberglass boat with a fairly deep V at the bow and a 9.9HP Johnson tiller outboard. We went out on Brush Hollow at my request prior to purchase (you wouldn't buy a used car without test driving first, right?). Engine started up just fine and we puttered around (non-wake lake) for a good 25 minutes. All seemed fine.
Well, first time I had it on the water at the reservoir the engine started but the pull string wouldn't retract. Turns out the spring/coil that carries the tension had broke. This has since been replaced and fixed (to some extent, the tension isn't quite right but it will start) but now there's an issue where the only way it will start is to bypass something by unplugging a cord. So, it will start, but I'd have to use the choke to shut it off and I just feel pretty uncomfortable and unsafe in that situation with this "mystery" motor and my lack of knowledge in general regarding motors.
I ended up buying a Minn Kota 45lb thrust Endura Max trolling motor and that pushed me around the NSM pretty well (great motor). The third time I had the boat out I noticed some water at the back of the boat and it didn't get any better. I think the transom may need some work but I'm not sure.
My first boat buying experience clearly did not go well. I do NOT want to make the same mistake. That's 1K basically wasted. I thought I was doing my due diligence by taking it on the water prior to buying but it would seem some modifications were made to the boat and motor that day for my benefit.
I did at least learn one important thing the few times I was out: I very much disliked trying to control the boat while casting. Reaching back for the tiller handle half way through nearly every retrieve got very frustrating very quickly. I felt like I couldn't even really fish. Really took a lot of the joy out of it. And that was just in the NSM cove ... I can't imagine the movement out on the main lake. I would gaze upon passing boats with bow-mounted trolling motors with great envy. So I've determined I do need some kind of setup that allows me to safely and effectively navigate deeper waters when I want to.
Having said ALL that (apologies for the book here) I would reach out and ask for input/suggestions, any feedback really. My budget is NOT large but I have come to truly love fishing and would like to find a balance between those two things.