By small what do you mean? While I like RIBs but once above 16 feet I prefer a regular glass hulled boat. Of course the regular small boat I prefer is a Boston Whaler, unsinkable (engine remains above water and running), self bailing, high resale, relatively expensive, seaworthy. A 17 to 22 foot Whaler can be used offshore and are good dive boats. Whalers Commerical Division actually makes three dive boats with removable sections in the side with a ladder built in. In a Whaler the side can be removed because the boat will not sink even if cut into two pieces.
All that aside, inflatible boats in the 12 to 18 foot range are awfully capable and larger ones are brutish machines suitable for big water. They are also very expensive but so are fiberglass boats much beyond 24 feet. A Boston Whaler Outrage 190 can run 35,000 dollars, the 24 footer is probably closing in on 100,000 dollars.
You might consider a kayak, mine cost 650 dollars, not telling what my Outrage 190 cost and I do have a 14 foot inflatible and I forget what it cost.
Offshore boats are generally outboard powered, there are many reasons, lighter, more powerful, built for marine ops, able to remain running when a boat is swamped, fuel efficient--also expensive, maintenence intensive. In warmer areas center consoles in the 17 to 24 range are super popular for diving and fishing, in cooler areas a cuddy is nice I imagine. If you must trailer any distance I recommend staying close to 20 feet give or take.
Consider another thing, my Outrage 190 with Merc Optimax 150 burns 5.0 GPH at approx 24 MPH if I recall correctly and 6.0 GPH at close to 30 MPH. It carries 60 gallons of fuel. Now, I suppose you have heard fuel could hit four dollars per gallon this summer?! In any case I think we will see three dollars per gallon. That is 180 dollars to fill up plus oil plus fuel for towing with my 06 Tacoma DC. Now move up to a 24 foot with twin 150s, Chevy Suburban 3/4 ton to tow with and I think you see the additional out of pocket expense--plus---the large vehicle costs money year around to own--even when not towing. Just some things to consider. N
All that aside, inflatible boats in the 12 to 18 foot range are awfully capable and larger ones are brutish machines suitable for big water. They are also very expensive but so are fiberglass boats much beyond 24 feet. A Boston Whaler Outrage 190 can run 35,000 dollars, the 24 footer is probably closing in on 100,000 dollars.
You might consider a kayak, mine cost 650 dollars, not telling what my Outrage 190 cost and I do have a 14 foot inflatible and I forget what it cost.
Offshore boats are generally outboard powered, there are many reasons, lighter, more powerful, built for marine ops, able to remain running when a boat is swamped, fuel efficient--also expensive, maintenence intensive. In warmer areas center consoles in the 17 to 24 range are super popular for diving and fishing, in cooler areas a cuddy is nice I imagine. If you must trailer any distance I recommend staying close to 20 feet give or take.
Consider another thing, my Outrage 190 with Merc Optimax 150 burns 5.0 GPH at approx 24 MPH if I recall correctly and 6.0 GPH at close to 30 MPH. It carries 60 gallons of fuel. Now, I suppose you have heard fuel could hit four dollars per gallon this summer?! In any case I think we will see three dollars per gallon. That is 180 dollars to fill up plus oil plus fuel for towing with my 06 Tacoma DC. Now move up to a 24 foot with twin 150s, Chevy Suburban 3/4 ton to tow with and I think you see the additional out of pocket expense--plus---the large vehicle costs money year around to own--even when not towing. Just some things to consider. N
