Gamefisher Boats

GOT2FISH · 01-09-2004, 08:44 PM

Need some info a friend has a 12 footer he wants to sell he lives in California and i would have to pick it up. I dont know anything about these boats and cant wait for the pictures. Anyone hearf seen or know about them.

Kruechief · 01-09-2004, 09:16 PM

I think they are sold by Sears and built by various companies. I had one about 12 years ago that was built by Alumacraft (if I remember right).

Krue

Smj · 01-10-2004, 05:05 AM

Krue's right about the Sears part. Gamefisher boats don't have much free-board, at least not the ones I remember seeing. They might be OK for some of the calmer coastal or Cascade lakes, but I would worry about the low sides if was going to be fishing the columbia for fall/spring chinook or sturgeon. Even trying to fish up around O-City for springers when the current's moving through there might get kind of hairy. The 12'er I started out with when I came to OR. was very similar to the Gamefisher, 'bout scared me half to death going up the Willamette from the mouth of the Clack to the Garbage hole!

You might consider measuring the sides of a Smoker Craft 12'er for comparison.

Lotsa' freeboard is good!

Smj

Water Ready · 01-10-2004, 05:55 AM

Hey GOT2FISH,
I think I saw ya at the bridge the other day. I was in a hurry or I would have stopped.

Any fish?
Anyway, The boat your asking about is to small and tips easily when trying to net. Be a great car topper, but really to small.

Good fishing!

Paddlefish · 01-10-2004, 07:33 AM

I considered the Sears Gamefisher about 1970 in my first "gotta-have-a-boat" phase -- but only as a cartopper, 'cause that was my mode at the time (oh, yeah . . . still is! [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] )

A 12-footer was the standard, as I recall, though I think there was some evolution in sizes and materials through the years.

I'm inclined to think it would be a small boat in a BIG world.

Go back and check out Thumper's awesome post about "inexpensive fishing." Then, look into a wider, deeper 14 or 15-footer. It'll take you just about anywhere a small boat has any business being. Then check out newspaper ads, back yards, etc. for an affordable one.

A friend picked up a 14 foot aluminum boat (named AWESOME,) with an antique Johnson outboard (named DEPENDABLE,) for $250.00 :shocked:

He used them for several years, (until the trailer gave out and dumped everything unceremoniously on the road one day.) :depressed:

Day Late · 01-10-2004, 09:42 AM

Had a 12' Sears Gamefisher for years. A great little fiberglass boat for 2 that would slide in the back of a pick-up with the tailgate down. Two people could easily handle it. Great for protected waters, e.g. small lakes. Not real stable or high sided - this day in age I'd look for a welded aluminum boat, e.g. Klamath, Gregor, etc. These have been around long enough that used ones are very reasonable. Let us know how you make out. :smile:

Day Late

Silver Hilton · 01-10-2004, 12:53 PM

I started off with one. Caught a lot of fish. Didn't know how risky it was...

They're a fine little cartopper, but they aren't very big. If I were looking for a perfect small first boat, I think I'd look more at a Smokercraft Alaskan, which has more freeboard to it.

k9jeff · 01-10-2004, 01:12 PM

I had one, Its a great calm lake boat, like the high cascades but I would not take it anywhere else.

boater · 01-10-2004, 02:05 PM

i owned one for about 10 years, fished puget sound and a bunch of lakes with it, as far as how well it`s made i would compaire it with a northriver or alumaweld :grin:

Kruechief · 01-10-2004, 04:14 PM

Boater,

Quote:

as far as how well it`s made i would compaire it with a northriver or alumaweld

:shocked:

Let me guess, you own...

a Willie, right?

Krue

Riverkeeper · 01-10-2004, 04:48 PM

I just sold my 14 footer a few months ago when I bought the sled. It was a simple, well built boat that did me great on the willy, channel, CR on nicer days, and several bays.

boater · 01-11-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kruechief:
Boater,

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> as far as how well it`s made i would compaire it with a northriver or alumaweld

:shocked:

Let me guess, you own...

a Willie, right?

Krue <hr /></blockquote>i used to own a willie, was a nice boat but sold it and bought a wooldridge classic inboard

timinthegorge · 01-11-2004, 01:59 PM

The 12' Sears Gamefisher was my first boat too. Bought it in 1971 and put a 4 horse Merc on it. It was a double sided fiberglass filled with foam between so it was pretty stable for a Little boat. I ran all over the Sound with it (not smart), and fished mountain lakes, but I agree with the others. Any bigger water, like the Columbia would be a big mistake.....