Help Selecting A Watercraft

[stlfisher]

Last weekend me, my wife, and our 1 year old son made a visit to Council Bluff lake. The wife enjoyed the experience as well as my son and now she wants to get a boat. This was good news to me, but knowing my wife and what she would like I really think a family canoe/kayak or two would be the better fit for what we are looking for. I am not opposed to a boat necessarily, but the expense and my complete ignorance regarding them...has me a bit intimidated...and we prefer the quitter smaller water as opposed to the truly bit water experience.

So I am hoping you guys can help me out.

Some info:

1) We will mostly use the craft on Council Bluff Lake and similar bodies of water as well as floating some streams like the Big, Mineral Fork and maybe even the Current. I do initially think we would use them mostly on the lake. IF we could attach a trolling motor to one that would be great, but not a must.

2) I would like something that the family could use for the next 5-10 years or until the kids get old enough to have one of their own or we outgrow it.

3) We plan to have one more child in the next year or so a total of 4 people...two of them little ones.

4) Can one craft accomplish this or would two work better (I see advantages to both). I realize a boat is not a good floating vessel so maybe we need different types of vessels for different water.

5) I would prefer to transport these in the bed of a truck if possible. Storage won't be a problem as I have a 3rd car garage.

Some things I am most concerned about with little ones would be stability, seating/comfort for the wife, and transporting them. If I could solo them that would be a huge bonus as well. For fishing, I would want the ability to stand, and possibly anchor a small trolling motor.

So what do you guys think? So far I looked at Nucanoe (two tandem 12 foot kayaks seem nice, but not sure about stability),Old Town models and even a tracker jon and bass boat.

The purchase is not imminent as I imagine we will wait awhile before we purchase, but if we decide to go the boat route...I would want a nice one and I would just save and pay out of pocket.

On a side note my son was so excited whenever I caught a fish. He would laugh, howl, and scream in excitement...even tried to lick a few...so I think he has fishing in his blood!

So what do you guys think...I am sure I will have a lots of really stupid questions.

[rps]

Two craft are very stable with room for small children, yet transportable in a pickup bed. Google the Jackson Coosa and the Native Ultimate.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

i know for a fact the tracker grizzly boats are stable and you get into pretty shallow water. a 16' grizzly and a 15hp tiller motor

[stlfisher]

Two craft are very stable with room for small children, yet transportable in a pickup bed. Google the Jackson Coosa and the Native Ultimate.

I had looked at the Coosa, but it seemed more suitable for one person? Think it would fit two?

i know for a fact the tracker grizzly boats are stable and you get into pretty shallow water. a 16' grizzly and a 15hp tiller motor

IF I go in a jon boat I think this might be a good option. Just not sure how I feel about boat and motor upkeep etc.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

I had looked at the Coosa, but it seemed more suitable for one person? Think it would fit two?

IF I go in a jon boat I think this might be a good option. Just not sure how I feel about boat and motor upkeep etc.

there isn't a whole lot of upkeep on smaller engines. change gear lube and engine oil once a year depending on use.

[REDSOXWSCHAMP]

I'm not sure about the upkeep on them but, they are starting to make propane outboard engines.

[woodman]

Get a big flat-back canoe, and add a trolling motor!

[Terrierman]

If I was wanting a boat for me, wife and a child, the starting point is a 16' x 48" semi vee john with a 9.9. Super versatile.

[fishinwrench]

If I was wanting a boat for me, wife and a child, the starting point is a 16' x 48" semi vee john with a 9.9. Super versatile.

A 9.9 on a loaded 1648 is gonna be a slug. You'll just always be wishing it was a 20-25hp.

In comparison a 1636 (or possibly a 1442) jon with a 15hp will just barely suit your lake needs and be better on med. sized rivers like the ones you mentioned.

Just my opinion of course.

[stlfisher]

Get a big flat-back canoe, and add a trolling motor!

I have actually looked at a couple flat back possibilities. One was the flat back canoe...I believe a Old Town model and the second was the Nucanoe flat back Kayak. Both had square backs and would seem to fit the bill.

If I was wanting a boat for me, wife and a child, the starting point is a 16' x 48" semi vee john with a 9.9. Super versatile.

A 9.9 on a loaded 1648 is gonna be a slug. You'll just always be wishing it was a 20-25hp.

In comparison a 1636 (or possibly a 1442) jon with a 15hp will just barely suit your lake needs and be better on med. sized rivers like the ones you mentioned.

Just my opinion of course.

Is there a particular brand of jon's that you guys prefer? Riveted or welded? I browsed Tracker, Lund, Lowes, GS, and War Eagle. I know that Council Bluff has a 10hp limit and that would probably be our home lake. I am kinda thinking maybe I should just buy 2 kayaks/Canoes and a boat. You can't have two many right...ha!

Any brand of motor's that you guys prefer?