Question for those with a boat (BIGHOUSE) (Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda: purchase, living)

[luvfishing]

I have a 17' 2007 Deep V Aluminum boat-SmokerCraft. Its not a salt water boat and wondering what will happen if I use it in brackish/sea water. I am also concerned that just living near the coast with the salt water air will also have an impact on it. I am currently trying to sell it up here in NY before my move, but we all know how hard it is to get rid of a boat. Once I get settled in the area and purchase a home, I would like to get an inshore/nearshore boat. I've also enclosed a picture of my boat. Any opinions? Thanks.

[luvfishing]

Originally Posted by luvfishing

I have a 17' 2007 Deep V Aluminum boat-SmokerCraft. Its not a salt water boat and wondering what will happen if I use it in brackish/sea water. I am also concerned that just living near the coast with the salt water air will also have an impact on it. I am currently trying to sell it up here in NY before my move, but we all know how hard it is to get rid of a boat. Once I get settled in the area and purchase a home, I would like to get an inshore/nearshore boat. I've also enclosed a picture of my boat. Any opinions? Thanks.

The pic:

[Peter the Brit]

See plenty of these type of boats about I have a 17 foot flats boat which has a 7 inch draft. Intercoastal and creek water is very shallow here so there is an advantage of your type of boat Maybe paint the hull. Salt water has not damaged the 50hp Mercury engine I have as we clean it out after every use

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Peter the Brit

See plenty of these type of boats about I have a 17 foot flats boat which has a 7 inch draft. Intercoastal and creek water is very shallow here so there is an advantage of your type of boat Maybe paint the hull. Salt water has not damaged the 50hp Mercury engine I have as we clean it out after every use

Peter is right. You can use your boat for a long time if you hose it off after your done. The Salt and brackish water will hurt anything that is made of metal. You can paint the hull / bottom, but that usually isn't necessary unless you intend to dock you boat in the water for a while. Just take a few minutes and hose it off, and run fresh water through the engine of your boat motor too.

I'd bring it down, it is a nice boat for the back water if it has a shallow draft. Can you put, or do you have an electric trolling motor for it? Sometimes Port Charlotte harbor is as flat as a mirror, so you can go out fishing in a lot of areas, and cruise around. When the wind comes up and the water gets a little rough, even people with bigger boats like to head for the canals and some fo the back water areas to fish.

If you like to launch your boat there are tons of places to launch your boat. Eldred's Marine right near Gasparilla Island is a nice place, and is where I had my Manatee experience. There is a place to launch at Ponce de Leon Park in PGI, and another place at Laishley's Marine at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda too. The last to places I mentioned are free. Eldred's charges a small amount to park and launch, but they sell live shrimp there. Nice people there.

I have trouble getting into the shallow areas with my boat, and have "shined" my propeller up a couple times. That is part of the reason I bought the kayaks. My kayak motor gets tired after a while, and requires a break and a beer to keep it running sometimes.

[Peter the Brit]

My kayak has 2 seats one for the rower and one for the drinker!

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Peter the Brit

My kayak has 2 seats one for the rower and one for the drinker!

LOL!

[beachbum wannabe]

Where can I get one of those kayaks?

[Scots]

Where can I get one of those kayas and one of those rowers

[Peter the Brit]

You can sit in the front seat of mine anytime just bring the booze!

[jvelte]

Originally Posted by luvfishing

The pic:

Can't wait to get mine down there this fall!!!