inboard right for me?

jesusv · #1 09-30-2011, 03:23 PM

hey guys looking for some opinions. bought my first seacraft a few months ago its a '77 23 inboard. loved the idea of the inboard(nothing hanging in back plus i would be able to work on engine myself) from reading through other post begining to believe it might not be practical for my use. live in south florida. my use wil be 50/50 fish and sandbar with the wife and kids. the boat needs some work before i can take it out (which i look forward to doing) but dont wasnt to invest my time and regret not using that time on something i can keep. from your expirience is and inboard not going to be practical for me to take out with the wife and baby? i will be trailering the boat.i can always try to trade it or sell before i get too deep into it. thanks

Mikem8560 · #2 09-30-2011, 05:27 PM

Good looking rig except
looks like yoir t top is bent. I not going to say you can't but a straight inboard wouldn't be my first choise at the sandbar. But I've seen them there.
Just drop an anchor ib before tou beach her to keep the stern in deep water.

3rdday · #3 09-30-2011, 08:49 PM

run it till you dont like it or it takes a puke, then make the change.
that t- top looks like it used to belong to a FISHNAUTIQUE. Another great rare boat.

cdavisdb · #4 09-30-2011, 08:52 PM

Like Mike said, going to the sandbar should present no problem a stern anchor couldn't handle, especially in relatively clear S. Florida water. I'd be more concerned with how much time you expect to spend messing about in shallow water. Lots of that where you are and some of it is hard bottom. The shallow heads off Elliot Key don't mix well with inboard props. Offshore, an inboard will really shine, but where do you expect to be?

fredetzel · #5 09-30-2011, 09:50 PM

Nice rig inboards are not a problem at sandbars just watch water depth. I do it all the time in my sceptre inbd.Just my 2 cents

jesusv · #6 10-01-2011, 02:51 PM

Thanks guys. I plan to do offshore fishing mainly not planning on catching any bones in it. Good to hear others are doing it and without much headache. the t-top is gone already it was actually made of electrical conduit. this is my first inboard and dont have any expirience with them. only other boat i ever owned was an old 20' mako and a canoe with a trolling motor. any ramps to avoid in the miami area? also read docking is difficult. any suggestions?

ct9amr · #7 10-05-2011, 01:09 PM

They are a little harder to deal with docking as the slow speeds and small rudder = not enough flow for tight maneuvers.
I had 2, a 17 shamrock and a 20 ft.and they were both more difficult than my contender but do able.

Looks like a great boat but just be careful in those shallow south FL waters.
My shamrocks had keels so it was not as bad it I hit bottom.

Fr. Frank · #8 10-05-2011, 02:43 PM

I operated a Chris Craft Lancer inboard for while, and without extraordinary caution, I never bent the prop or rudder. But you DO have to use ordinary caution, and remember it's not a flats boat. No different than not driving your camper through the MickyD drive through.

BigLew · #9 10-05-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesusv

Thanks guys. I plan to do offshore fishing mainly not planning on catching any bones in it. Good to hear others are doing it and without much headache. the t-top is gone already it was actually made of electrical conduit. this is my first inboard and dont have any expirience with them. only other boat i ever owned was an old 20' mako and a canoe with a trolling motor. any ramps to avoid in the miami area? also read docking is difficult. any suggestions?

Practice, practice, practice! They usually pull left or port, so be ware and practice in winds of all directions and currents as well. Definitely managable though after you get the hang of it and your buddies will be very impressed that you can do it as well as you will be able, if you practice.

Handful in NC · #10 10-05-2011, 04:35 PM

Don't be afraid of the inboard and its different maneuverability. The suggestion to practice in all conditions is an excellent one. Once you learn what you can and cannot do in the boat, the most important thing is to plan ahead, especially in tight quarters. Avoiding trouble is a LOT easier than getting out of trouble.

I once had to dock a 46' single screw Buddy Davis on an inside finger pier at a gas dock surrounded by boats in a 20 mph cross wind and stiff current. A marlin tournament was in progress and a few hundred people were milling aound to watch. After a lot of thought, I decided on a backwards U turn to the slip (to the port of course). My crew, mosty friends and family, thought I was crazy (at least, more than normal) as this was a somewhat unorthodox approach. I don't do well in front of crowds and was as nervous as I've ever been, but we slid into place perfectly, stopping the boat a few inches from the dock and looking all professional. The funny thing is, I couldn't get out of the helm chair for several minutes. I thought wobbly knees was a figure of speech. It's not.