Hi Everyone,

Bens mum here. Ben is an outdoorsy kid who loves to fish and is dreaming about a fishing boat for his 12th birthday to head up to the river with his dad on weekends.

I am doing some research to try to help his dream come true and thought who better to ask - but the experts - the fishermen.

So if anyone has some ideas on what would be a first good boat to get, big enough to take a mate or two. (4 people)

I think he and his dad would be more inclined to go up the river to fish rather than out to sea, as that is where his dad's area of comfort is, having grown up on the river.

All suggestions welcome.

Thanks

Juanita

WOW wish my mum bought me a boat at 12!

www.fishsa.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1282386540

what can I say except its cheap

For river fishing I would suggest a flat bottom punt, maybe something around 4.0m with about a 25hp motor.

This would be a very stable platform to fish from, large enough to fit 2 or 3 guys, but still small enough to make it affordable, easily transportable, and simple to operate.

Cost would vary greatly dependant on age and condition, but you get what you pay for. There is nothing wrong with an older hull, but I'd be ensuring the motor is in very good condition on anything I purchased.

A camping buddy from Balaklava had a flat bottom 12 ft tinnie, no trailer, no motor that he wanted to sell for $400.

If you are interested. I can contact him to see if he still has it???

also has a fishing platform upfront.

if its just for river go simple and cheap tinny... if in a few years time their keener to go other places you haven't spent too many $$$rs

Hi Bens mum!

if you are looking for a boat - we are selling ours - it is good for river or sea fishing - very stable so you wil not have to worry about safety for the boys and it fits up to 6 adults all the safety equipment, serviced etc s registered so all ready to go. it is 16 ft so it will last for quite a few years and be very versatile from fishing to pulling waveboards etc on the river for some different fun. we are the second owners of this well looked after and cared for boat. we bought from a family friend so we know the first owners well and that it was very well looked after.
if you want some more info call on 0411446631.

check out the advertisement in the sales section of this website.

if you need more pics we can email if you send your email address

Thanks for letting us know. We will check out the ad.

Appreciated.

Ben's mum

if you are thinking of taking it in the saltwater to dont go a punt

Hi Bens mum I agree with ranger on the flat bottom punt for a first boat but I think a 25 hp motor is a little too much power for a 12 year old and he could get him and his mates in a lot of trouble I think a 3.5 metre v-nosed flat bottom punt with up to a 10 hp motor would get him and his mates where they want to go and be as safe as possible as well, when he gets a bit older he may want more horsepower and by then he will have safely learnt how to handle the boat.
good luck hope this helps

rocket102 wrote:

That's a fair call! I figured as Ben will be fishing with his dad he was in safe hands, and 25hp would be ample power to carry them and all their gear, whilst still getting them around covering ground quickly!

A 12 year old and his mates though, sure, 6-10hp would do it!

had a 12 foot savage snipe vee bottom braced transom with a 25 hp yam with a polished prop it went pretty well anywhere that a punt would go was the fastest tinny round loxton.used to go anywhere from travelling to overland corner and up to renmark in it.when you have long reaches of wind swept chop it certainly a bonus over punts and riding the rollers behind the murray princess its certainly alot more enjoyable

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your great advice. We are still looking and hope to get one in the next month, didn't want to rush into a decision. I have been looking at the savage and stacer'sand seacraft. Because we live in town, it will always be a dad and son trip, until Ben get's old enough to drive, so going the extra hp won't be a problem, we are looking around 25-30hp.

Any additional advice is grateful and we are taking it all on board.

Hey fridge - Loxton was my hometown too. You can never get the river out of your blood once it is in, so most of the fishing trips will be up the river.