I know the topic of boat size comes up a couple times per year, but I am curious as to what types/sizes of boats you saltwater guys are running and what your experience has been at Westport / LaPush / Neah Bay / Swiftshore.

FishNg1, FishSlayer75, Elkrun, Jerry Garcia, fp, Canyon Man, others?

I currently have a 16 foot boat, but hope to upgrade to something that can handle bigger water.

I have a 20ft Hewescraft Searunner. It is powered with a 100 HP yamaha 4 stroke, and an 8hp yamaha 4 stroke kicker. It is a very stable boat. I have been out in some pretty nasty stuff, and never felt in danger. The downside to aluminum is the noise when running. It bangs a little bit. As long as you stay on top of the rinsing and keeping good zinc on it, you'll never have any problems. I did a lot of research before i bought mine and decided this was the best way for me to go. Hope this helps.

We go out in a 1978 Glasply [looks new]

Sweet ride Jerry! I also have a 1978 Glasply! Not quite new looking any more - but a good stable boat. I Regularly fish in 4' chop - no problemo - though not usualy with the kicker when the waves are that big

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I have a 24ft Seasport XL 7.3 with a 10hp
4 stroke Yamaha kicker with all the bells and whistles oh ya and tr-1.

Thanks for the replies guys. JG and Mr Smiley - what length boat?
JMS

Sorry 19'

Here's my 22' Fiberform after a good day BM fishing.
web page

I fish out of two boats , with the first being a 215 Fishing Machine (Model) walk-around made by Campion and now powered with a 150 Evinrude, 8 hp Yamaha four stroke and TR-1 gold,
My other vessel is an 18 Formula Vee made by Alumaweld - 115 yamaha, 8 hp merc and 24 volt electric, for sneak mode.

During this time of year I mainly fish with the Campion.....to much to fish for and not enough time to do it!

Ng

My Glasply is also a 19' - but she is 23' overall (with swim grid nd kicker up). I have a tandem axle galvenized trailer I pull with my Astro. Just this side of the weight limit!! Perfect boat fishing. Big enough to get you home through anything (I have personaly had my boat through 12' breaking waves near a shoal- nothing I will ever get myself into ever again, but she got me home). They dont build em like they used to...

I've got a friend that has a 21' Bayliner hardtop that we can go out on. Much better that way than owning one.

This is the first summer I have had off for 23 years so we will do a bunch of Westport fishing.

I have a 20'6" Willie Predator that we will do a bunch of fishing in the bays and tide water. We did some great Sturgeon fishing this year out of the Columbia. Also, we have been doing some great Crab fishing out of it too!

Just built a full enclosure for it so we can be out in the sun & rain. Gonna just love that top. Just a 50 hp Yamaha 4 stroke with prop is all I have on it but it sure does move that boat along. 9.9 hp Yamaha 4 stroke high thrust kicker.

I'm sure that I can go across the Westport bar if I can pick the right weather to do it in.

Also, have a bunch of ge-dunk fixtures I have built for it that makes life much easier for us old guys.

fp

I have a 17" Boston Whaler but it is soon to be sold for new truck fodder.

It has been an excellent day boat though.

I have a 1988 20' bayliner and my grandpa has a 1977 28' bayliner, with a cuddy.

21 foot Arima Sea Ranger w/Suzuki 140 4 stroke and Yamaha 8H kicker. I've only owned her for about 9 months and have only been in the Sound. Looking forward to getting to Neah Bay for Kings. I'm not quite ready for the big water.

-David

I am fishing out of a 17' Grady White this year, although for the past 6 years i have been using an 11' whaler(only in the sound and canal)
The grady was great out in the ocean the other day. It has a 90 yahama on it with a 15 hp Merc kicker.

I have been running a 78 searay 20ft for the last 3 years. It's powered by a Ford V-8 and a yami 8hp HT. It's been a great boat. From the sound to 40+ miles out of west port she always does the job. The deep hull really makes a big difference.

I have a 17 ft FiberForm, though i don't go out in the big water with it, except last year i was on Vancouver island and was at the mouth of Nooktka sound with it, did well in those calm waters.75 horse Johson with a 5 horse 4 stroke nissan kicker.

I have a 19ft. Glassply, with a new 115 merc 4-stroke being installed. Great boat!

II have a 20 ft Grady, and love it. It is very stable in big water. I just sold a 17 ft Arima Chaser because it was too light.
RObybns

I own a 16ft aluminum Gregor which has worked well for me up to this point. For quick trips out in the sound during the summer it is nice to have a small boat that you can push around.

For bigger water & winter fishing, I fish(ed) off my buddys 23' Bayliner trophy. Past tense cause he just moved up north

Hey All - thanks for the responses. For some reason I had myself convinced I needed a boat in the 24 foot range for the big water. It sounds like lots of good choices in the 19-22 foot range, which translates into less $$$ and consequently buying sooner rather than later.

I've got a 1980 21' Bayliner, soon to have a 9.9 Johnson kicker to make it complete. Usually just take it out here in the sound with no problems what so ever.

I'm runnin a 1995 20' Wooldridge Deepwater Plus w/cuddy & hardtop. Has 115hp Evinrude Oceanpro, and 6hp kicker.
Boat handles great w/up to 6 people and fishes 5 just fine. It is an extremely fishable setup, but cruises well too.
This boat has been everywhere from Lk Wa, to Barkeley Sound, BC. Has made the run to Barkeley from Neah Bay, has fished the west side of Vancouver Is., has done extensive time in the strait at Sekiu and in the sound.
Cruises in the SJs is great. Handles big water w/out any trouble. Is a very dry ride.
As was said before, aluminum is a bit noisier, and has a slightly stiffer ride due to the lower mass, but it also requries less truck per foot to tow than glass overall. (I have towed with a 4-cyl Nissan 4x4 in a pinch)
Loaded with gear, fuel and trailer, the setup comes in at about 4100lbs (and the trailer is 950lbs of that).

Hey Rick68,
Nice meeting you last night. I hope that kicker of yours works out. See you out there
James

I took my 16'drift boat out in the salt once. The ocean was nice and calm that day. We went out about a mile trolling for salmon......... I wont do it again......................

It's good to have friends.
It's better to have friends with boats!

RatherBfishin - 32' Grand Banks "The Amy Lynn" We will be in Sooke! the 11th - 19th. YEEEHAAAW!

The Smurf - 19 foot Campion

Fishslayer - see above. (Where is that boy, haven't seen nor heard from him nor shutandfish. They were heading out of Westport Sunday??)