OK, I settled on a boat :-)

[JBplusThuy]

OK, I settled on a boat, which means my questions will now switch from "What should I get?" to "What should I do with this thing?" :-)

It's a 12' Livingston, 15 HP Mariner pre-mix 2-stroke, 2 gas tanks, galvanized Shoreline trailer.  Needs a bit of cleanup on the inside, in very good shape on the outside. Has a pedestal seat in the front, a low seat in the back, and a spare pedestal seat.  Put my deposit on it, now I just need Honda to get the parts in for my Honda tow package so I can get it installed and go back to pick up the boat, hopeful to do it this weekend.

In a cruel twist of fate, it's been warm enough to fish this week, but is supposed to be cold on the weekend, or I could try it out. OTOH, not sure if I want to step into that cold water at this time of year to launch a boat :-)

My first plans are to augment the gas motor with an electric, since there are no oars and I do want some kind of backup, in addition to the quiet maneuvering of an electric.

Thinking to go with a MinnKota Endura 30. The cost is hard to beat and the quality seems better than other low cost motors. 30 pounds should work well in this boat.

Now I'm in the "hole in the water into which you pour money" club :p

[JBplusThuy]

With the issues I have with tendonitis in my shoulders, I'm not sure I could use a paddle anyhow, but may take a look at that. Good for pushing off the shore, if nothing else. IIRC BPS has ones that have a paddle blade at one end and a boat hook at the other end.  That might be a good design to get.

If I run into a snake big enough to be a problem to a me in a 12 foot boat, I think I'm going to need a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot, not a paddle :-)

[Leo Nguyen]

ROFL Oh man..I'm laughing and crying at the same time. I can only visualize your face as you see 32 holes bubbling from the bottom of the deck as you realize, "Looks like the captain of the boat is going down with the ship" scenario.

[JBplusThuy]

Go down with the ship? Nuh-uh. That's why a wear a PFD. Also because a Sage fly rod costs too much to let *it* go down with the ship and I doubt their lifetime warranty covers being on the bottom of the lake :-)

Now if I were fishing down in the Everglades, where they have large Burmese pythons, I really would want a shotgun in my boat.  They haven't eaten anyone yet in FL as far as I know, but a few people get eaten by pythons every year in their natural range in SE Asia.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

As for tendinitis, the further from shore you are stranded, the less it is likely to bother you should you need to paddle. LOL
Seriously, the paddle is not there just for propulsion. They come in handy for signaling, pushing and fending off, moving gently around the water and, of course, warding off curious snakes.
Personally, I'd much offer a proper boat pole, partnered with a collapsible paddle. The paddle is an expedient, used only rarely. But the pole is a useful tool and is used at every outing. I wouldnt leave shore without one.

[JBplusThuy]

Tell me more about boat poles. Are they telescoping, or do you have to carry some big thing longer than the boat around? What are the important things to look for in buying one?

Curious snakes? A California fishing license is also good for the take of reptiles; that snake better not be too curious or I might decide to find out if it's true that they taste like chicken :-)

[Leo Nguyen]

As 2lbgill mentioned, the telescoping pole is available to obtain. I have the 3ft that extend to 5ft, with the paddle/grappling hook that can be interchanged. I got it at BPS. I mainly shorten it down to  2ft, with paddles would be 3ft. If I need to join them together, I get a full single 10ft pole for usages.

 

As for snakes, there are plenty of curious ones that roam the water, and want to say, "SLLLLLLHHHHiiiiiii.." A few guys soiled their pants in the water when the curious ones arrived. Me, I see them coming far enough to discourage them using my fins, oars, or paddles. I do have two knives on the boat within reaching distant on each side just in case one decides to take shelter on my pontoon. I'll be going down fighting if I must. It will make a delicious additional the the diner table. My kids have tasted snakes before, and they truly wanted more.

[JBplusThuy]

Killing a snake with a knife on a pontoon? And you were talking about me shooting a hole in the bottom of my boat with a shotgun? ;-)

I'll take a look at the ones at BPS. The Livingston has a 63" beam, so I'm not sure anything less than a full set of oars would really help (plus oarlocks, which it doesn't have now), but a paddle may be better than nothing.

Since my usual lake is only a  few miles around, and has a bike trail that runs almost all the way around it and is near-shore in most places, what I'd probably do in the event of failure of both outboard and electric motors is to beach it, and tie the anchor rope to the bow eye and just walk back, towing the boat with me. The afternoon wind there always comes from the direction of the launch ramp, and it's strong enough that it wouldn't be easy to make headway with oars anyway.

[Leo Nguyen]

LOL..yep..knives and inflatable don't mix. But hey, better to have something than nothing.

[dick tabbert]

So tell me Leo are you afraid of all snakes or just poisonous ones.

[JBplusThuy]

Snakes! Why'd there have to be snakes?!

[dick tabbert]

Eve probably ask that same question.

[Leo Nguyen]

Nope. Just weary of their toxins and their potential of devastation. If they bite because I'm unable to get away quick enough, or by chance stepping on/get close to them due to my lack of attentiveness, well, more power to the snakes. But fear them? No.