Klamath boat information needed

crabber26 · 10-25-2009, 03:48 PM

I am looking to purchase a 16 foot Klamath boat and am wondering if you own one or have owned one in the past. Although the bow is high and sharp, I am wondering how the flat bottom performs on this boat in windy/rough conditions. The model I am considering is the EXW model. I will be placing either a 40- 50hp motor on the back.

crabber26 · 10-25-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabber26

I am looking to purchase a 16 foot Klamath boat and am wondering if you own one or have owned one in the past. Although the bow is high and sharp, I am wondering how the flat bottom performs on this boat in windy/rough conditions. The model I am considering is the EXW model. I will be placing either a 40- 50hp motor on the back.

fishkisser · 10-25-2009, 05:21 PM

I have been on Klamath 19' center consoles out in the ocean and in the bay ...
they ride as expected , they slam you around like a pea in a walnut shell
when its over 5-6 ft swells ...
3-4 is doable but running against any bigger swells at close intervals will
jar the fillings out of your teeth ...
Other than that they make a nice bay boat and have plenty of freeboard for most conditions and handle a mixed swell OK ...
Where will you be using your boat mainly ???

crabber26 · 10-26-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishkisser

I have been on Klamath 19' center consoles out in the ocean and in the bay ...
they ride as expected , they slam you around like a pea in a walnut shell
when its over 5-6 ft swells ...
3-4 is doable but running against any bigger swells at close intervals will
jar the fillings out of your teeth ...
Other than that they make a nice bay boat and have plenty of freeboard for most conditions and handle a mixed swell OK ...
Where will you be using your boat mainly ???

The biggest water I would run into would be in the bouy 10 area. I currently have a 15'4" Gregor and it does fine out there, except when Ifish by myself all the weight is in the back with a tiller handle, battery,two motors,9 gallons of gas and me, makes for poor weight distribution. If my boat capsizes, it will be for that reason. I also need a new floor plan as I have no deck space with the split seat. With a 4 cylinder truck and a preference to keep my boat in the garage, I need to stay with a lighter weight smaller length boat. I like the Klamath with the high bow as I can have the bow inclosed and have the dry storage, strenghten the boat, plus I can stack gear or crab pots on top with the bow rails to help secure along with tie downs. The Klamath factory will remove the windshield and passenger seat so I can have more open deck space. I am going to go north this week to look at one from a dealer near Seattle to see if I can make it work for me. I don't have many options on what I see out there and what I want. I think Klamath may be my best shot, but I don't want to get beat up in rougher water as I have been in my friends flat bottom jet boat and the Columbia River.

tomictime · 10-26-2009, 06:08 PM

Ivan at DesMoines boats carries them, he offers on water trials for those who are serious. I look them over when I am in chewing the fat w him. They are expensive but have some unique features and appear to be well made and detailed. The basic 12' is something like $3K, in part due to where they are made..

Tinman · 10-26-2009, 09:39 PM

I had a very similar boat, a Bayrunner 15. It had a 25 hp tiller-steer Evinrude and I had it for 16 good years of ocean use. Most of that was in Southern California. Here are the pros and cons:

* for its size it was a great sea boat. The high bow took the chop very well, even during surf launches
* it was easy on gas, getting 8 miles per gallon
* it was hard to see over the bow to steer. Fortunately I am tall, but I often had to veer off course slightly to be able to see where I was going
* the ride is quite uncomfortable because the hull is so light

All in all, the boat served me very well. Here is a pic so you can compare to the Klamath.

Mrdorkfish · 10-30-2009, 09:14 PM

Long...long ago, I had a Klamath......I'm sure I caught more fish in this little boat than my new "bigger" one

This boat was used in the Columbia in the best of times...and the worst of times, It was only 14ft and had a 15hp Honda but I felt very safe out there especially with the floatation that is in these boats and the high bow rail I had installed.

Lou

cascadecruiser · 11-01-2009, 06:47 AM

My friend has a 16 ft. Klamath with the forward helm. The deep vee gives it a very smooth ride for this size boat. It is susceptible to wind, but that is due more to the size and weight of the boat rather than design. I would say this about the size of the motor. My friend has a 40 hp Mercury 2 stroke. It is by no means enough power. It is very slow out of the hole and bogs down in current, wind, or waves. If you are just fishing close to a launch, a smaller motor is okay. If you are planning to take more than two average size men with fishing gear, and then boating any distance, you will want at least a 60 hp. This is my opinion from experience with this boat, and it is also a set up expert's opinion that checked out the boat on and off the water. My friend thought there was something wrong with the motor because of its performance, but was told the motor was like new and the only thing he could do would be to up the motor size to 60 hp. If you are buying an open boat, it may be significantly lighter and not require the bigger motor. Not sure what style you are buying.

crabber26 · 11-04-2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascadecruiser

My friend has a 16 ft. Klamath with the forward helm. The deep vee gives it a very smooth ride for this size boat. It is susceptible to wind, but that is due more to the size and weight of the boat rather than design. I would say this about the size of the motor. My friend has a 40 hp Mercury 2 stroke. It is by no means enough power. It is very slow out of the hole and bogs down in current, wind, or waves. If you are just fishing close to a launch, a smaller motor is okay. If you are planning to take more than two average size men with fishing gear, and then boating any distance, you will want at least a 60 hp. This is my opinion from experience with this boat, and it is also a set up expert's opinion that checked out the boat on and off the water. My friend thought there was something wrong with the motor because of its performance, but was told the motor was like new and the only thing he could do would be to up the motor size to 60 hp. If you are buying an open boat, it may be significantly lighter and not require the bigger motor. Not sure what style you are buying.

crabber26 · 11-04-2009, 04:18 AM

Thanks for your input. The 16 foot EXW is the model I am going to take a look at. I was thinking of a 40 or 50 horse motor. With your thoughts I will not take a chance on the 40. Will decide on a Yamaha or Honda, but lean toward the Honda. I have talked with the factory and they will modify the boat for me, to exclude the windshield and passenger seat. I can add a portable seat if I fish with someone, but when I'm alone, I want as much open deck space as a boat this size boat can give me. My present boat has the split seat, with having two of them in the past, would never go that route again. There is not many small boat designs out there to choose from. I think I have researched all there is. Klamath is at the top of my list. Gregor makes a nice 17 foot, but I would have to go to California to see one, as no one in Washington or Oregon has one in stock. I think Gregor is on the ropes. Can't sell boats if nobody has them to sell.

Thanks again for your time.