I've been debating whether I should downsize my salt boat or not. I currently own a 1978 22' Bellboy. I love this boat, but it costs money to maintain and run. With the weight and high freeboard I feel comfortable running this boat through just about anything. Last year Halibut fishing weather picked up 3-4ft chop, 6 ft swells coming less than 10 seconds apart and still making 12 knots. I found a 1992 15 ft Duroboat. (Very wide beam compared to most smaller aluminum boats I have seen). Paint looks like [censored] but boat and trailer are in good shape. My plan is to take my 2006 15 HP 4 stroke Honda kicker from the big boat and use it on the Duroboat. My thinking is maintenance will be next to nothing compared to the big boat. It will sip fuel and I can use my Isuzu Rodeo rather than my Big Dodge Ram 2500 to tow it around. I hope to either trade or get enough $ from the sale of the big boat to get a 14' selfbailing raft with rowing frame to fish from. I know it's apples to oranges, but any input would be appreciated. Does anyone run a 15 ft Duroboat? Curious how comfortable they are to operate and fish 2 persons from? Mostly fish the sound, and occasionally the straights and the Big C. Just trying to talk myself into either keeping the bigger boat or taking the plunge and downsizing.

Thanks for your input and Tight Lines to all

Didn't have a Duroboat,but did fish two guys out of a 15' Smokercraft for about five years. Did exactly what you want to do,fished the Sound and Straits a ton and made a few trips to the Columbia.

It did everything I wanted to until my kids came along,and then it got small in a hurry.

I fished out of an open platform 16' starcraft for 2 years (before the purchase of the sled I currently have). Usually fished 2 guys but could do 3 in good weather. Fished he sound and SJs for Lings, Salmon, and Crab, and fished tons of lakes and rivers for Kokanee, trout, bass, walleye, and salmon, etc. They are a good all around boat and economical to boot.

15 foot duroboat with a 15hp tiller is gonna be sluggish. With those little aluminum boats, you'll want to max out the hp on them, per the manufacturers recommendations. A 15 footer should be able to hold a 25hp or so, I have a little 12 lund aluminum boat with a 15hp two stroke on it, great for pulling pots and puttin' around the sound when its calm and I don't want to put the big boat in.

That 15footer boat is gonna really restrict your fishing from your current boat. It'll be fine on the nice days on the sound, but everyone knows your at the mercy of ma' nature on the ocean and it can change quick. A fifteen foot duroboat is really stretching in for the ocean and

That 12 foot lund I have is great, fill up a 5 gallon tank and run all weekend on it but fishing anything more than two guys isn't much fun.

Instead of stepping down all the way to a little aluminum, maybe consider something like a 16-18 foot center console like a Whaler or an aluminum boat in that size range, hewescraft of alumaweld or something?? Boat like that would be able to handle much more than a 15foot aluminum boat and wouldn't kill your wallet, those boats usually have a 75 or 90 horse on em...

Duraboats are good boats but when the fish are in and you can go ya cant seem to count on the weather half the time.

Find a 16 + Valco, Gregor or Bayrunner and get a safer dryer Higher bow.
center console is safer and more comfortable than a tiller.Same goes for being under powered with only one motor.

Maybe this
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/2249601299.html


maybe a bit big but the Rodeo should pull it
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/boa/2244510703.html


a bit better ride than the duro/good deal with the motor on it.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/boa/2240333937.html


for that mater this is cheap and safe and one of the biggest 16 footers around.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/2250718488.html


16 ft Bayrunner with about 600lbs in it

I had a Duro 15SS with a 30HP Suzuki for almost 15 years. They are great boats, light, can go almost anywhere within reason. I used mine at Neah Bay for a bunch of years in the early 90's. Fished mostly out of Mukilteo. Had two downriggers, one on each back corner and it was a fish killing machine. With two guys and gear I could make about 28MPH and fish most of a whole day on 6 gal of gas. Only time I had a trolling motor was when fishing for sockeyes in Lake Washington. Never had an issue getting wet in the boat unless I was going cross wind into the waves. Still miss that boat on occasion.

Not sure about the duraboat specs....but I would find something with a high bow for crashing through waves. Some of the Gregors and Klamaths have this feature.

I think I'd also go with a boat with a higher bow, as Art suggested in his links. The Arima 16 -- if you decide to go that route -- is SUPER fishy and with a 70HP 4-stroke on the back is perfect for the sound and will sip gas.

But don't get the "explorer", the the "sea chaser" layout--more room to fish.

If you want something smaller, but pretty sea-worthy, the Wooldridge Sport Offshore 17' is a great fishing platform.

Unless you are pinched for parking room, I'd keep the big boat and get a smaller one for those quick trips in nicer water/weather. "Little" sucks when it's nasty.

Not trying to resurrect this thread, but just wanted to thank all for their input. Went to the Hoh on Monday and job call out on Tues. The Duroboat I am looking at does have a deeper V bow to cut through the salt. I'm a little guy so the weight with myself and son will be well below manuf specs. With fuel prices still rising and as much fishing as I do, I think this boat will pay for itself. I am also getting a center console with it so if in the future if I find a deal for another outboard may make the change. Have several repairs to make on the Bellboy. (New steering cable, battery etc...) Will have it on Craigslist in the next couple weeks. If your looking for a well taken care of very sea worthy boat on a great trailer drop me a line. May be willing to trade for high end whitewater raft set up for fishing.

Thanks again and tight lines.