Hello Evan!  Enjoyed your website.  We just moved to Gambier Island from Ladner.  We need a boat that our two oldest (13, 15) and I can to commute to West Vancouver in for school.  A hardtop aluminum Harbercraft with a Yamaha 4 stroke has been recommended and I enjoyed your article on the one from Galleon Marine.  We are thinking of a 20 ft to save on gas and initial cost.  Would you recommend that or something else?  Also, diesel or gas?  There are five of us.   The new ones look great but we're also wondering about buying used.  Thanks for your expertise!

Leah and Brad

Camp Artaban, Gambier Island BC

Aluminum is good but don’t think that fibreglass is weaker, it is actually probably stronger,

 although, as you say, heavier. Logs in Howe Sound are a problem for any boat, but it is

 normally the drive that gets the damage and not the hull. If you can go to diesel, you will not

 regret it, as they are simple, reliable and very economical.

Actually, I have been thinking, maybe you should look at Monaro. They have
an ad in the Boat Journal (page 101 or check their web site for boat sales
at www.monaromarine.com) and maybe they have what you want. These are tough boats
and you can put any power you like on the back if it's an outboard boat. I
see one 21 footer with a 200 HP Yamaha OB with a 9,9 kicker to fish with or
"get you home" spare wheel. That's $29,900. They are just in Richmond and
have a loyal following.

One point though, I think maybe you should look for a boat with an "Alaska
Bulkhead" so that you can shut yourself off from the cold winters and get
some heat going, or at least get a hard top boat. That would involve an
inboard engine though, unless you got a diesel heater with it's own tank.
Then you can do what you like.

Let me know how you get on and I will look and see if I can come up with
your ideal boat as well.

Good luck.

Evan