Arklier, depending if you like to read the newspaper and troll or work like he77 and mooch, 17ft in the sound is prefect especially when in fishing in heavy traffic and enough to fish 3 comfortably. 22ft or better if fishing on the coast, the straits, san quan, or b.c. Also wether to get fiberglass or aluminum is preference. Since I strictly mooch, 'luminum sucks cause when a slight breeze kicks up, got to fire up the motor to hold position. Plus on a larger boat, one might want to bring crab pots, sleeping on the boat when sockeye opens in the lake, or if the old lady kicks one out of the house, just a matter do you have the room /the towing capacity /how far the launches are.........

Robert