Livingston 10’ turned into a Dogfish
- Thread starter Msaville
- Start date
I've fished out of one a few times with one other person. A 12 footer. They are excellent seaworthy, durable boats.
That said, I don't thing I'd ever buy one especially for fly fishing. The design of them with the raised floor running down the middle just takes up too much fishing space for my liking.
I'm a bigger guy as well and just felt wedged in by the design as far as being able to move around comfortably in the boat. Good luck with your search.
SF
That said, I don't thing I'd ever buy one especially for fly fishing. The design of them with the raised floor running down the middle just takes up too much fishing space for my liking.
I'm a bigger guy as well and just felt wedged in by the design as far as being able to move around comfortably in the boat. Good luck with your search.
SF
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Heavy boats, those Livingston’s.
I fish out of one a lot in the north sound.
A few things to consider:
A few things to consider:
- There is no great place to store your gear. Anything you put down on either side will get wet, gas on it, etc. You could try and make a rack for way up front, but everything up high eventually falls down on to one side or the other (and gets wet). I carry all my gear in dry bags when i'm in the livi.
- Because there's no great place for storing gear, line management is a pain in the ass if you don't bring a stripping basket. Line frequently gets caught on whatever gear you have laying around.
- They are heavy, but pretty stable for a 10'.
I had a 7' that I wish I had never sold, but yes, they are heavy.
And as Long_Rod says you have to account for the cat design. I had carpeted boards in each hull so I didn't get my stuff wet and really no issues with line management. And then I could stand easier as well. No Livingston foot cramps.
And it better be a big thrust electric because, as mentioned...they are tanks. I was able to put my 7' on top of my Trooper since the rear top roof rack was very close to the back edge on those vehicles, but I was also 20 years younger. Not sure I would want to try that now. The one I had would fit nicely in the back of a truck as well.
I do miss having a small stable boat that I could stand in and easily drift with the wind. 2wt drifting is pretty damn fun on stockers. My 14' Valco is a bit of a pain in the wind with just me in it so not the same experience.
If you have a deal on it and have a full size truck or it comes with a trailer it's worth it. If not, there's better solutions for fly fishing out there.
And as Long_Rod says you have to account for the cat design. I had carpeted boards in each hull so I didn't get my stuff wet and really no issues with line management. And then I could stand easier as well. No Livingston foot cramps.
And it better be a big thrust electric because, as mentioned...they are tanks. I was able to put my 7' on top of my Trooper since the rear top roof rack was very close to the back edge on those vehicles, but I was also 20 years younger. Not sure I would want to try that now. The one I had would fit nicely in the back of a truck as well.
I do miss having a small stable boat that I could stand in and easily drift with the wind. 2wt drifting is pretty damn fun on stockers. My 14' Valco is a bit of a pain in the wind with just me in it so not the same experience.
If you have a deal on it and have a full size truck or it comes with a trailer it's worth it. If not, there's better solutions for fly fishing out there.
RCF
Life of the Party
I have owned a 10' Livingston for over 15 years.
Built like a tank - takes all kinds of abuse but keeps going.
Heavy like a tank - takes 2 to get it off a trailer or out of a P/U bed and launch.
Stable like a tank - I bet if you stood on the gunnel it would not tip over. Have had 2 larger adults and 2 teenagers in it - no issues
Uncomfortable like a tank - dang center makes it hard to turn around especially when one gets older.
Roomy like a tank - where to put gear is an issue.
Wind and a tank - tracks well until wind is ~10mph. Then not so much fun. Probably better than other similar sized boats.
Casting in a tank - can stand up easily due to stability. As others have said - line gets hung up due to lack of room.
Sinks like a tank - NO. due to built-in floatation cells, fill it with water and still floats.
Powering a tank - I use a MK 30. On level 1 wish I could go a little slower when trolling. On level 5 scoots right along but can't wake board.
Longevity of a tank - Mine is 30+ years old. Wish it would die so I can get something else. No luck...
Water and a tank - never have had water splash into it - and I have tried.
You can sell it in 15 years for what you paid for it - if bought used.
Built like a tank - takes all kinds of abuse but keeps going.
Heavy like a tank - takes 2 to get it off a trailer or out of a P/U bed and launch.
Stable like a tank - I bet if you stood on the gunnel it would not tip over. Have had 2 larger adults and 2 teenagers in it - no issues
Uncomfortable like a tank - dang center makes it hard to turn around especially when one gets older.
Roomy like a tank - where to put gear is an issue.
Wind and a tank - tracks well until wind is ~10mph. Then not so much fun. Probably better than other similar sized boats.
Casting in a tank - can stand up easily due to stability. As others have said - line gets hung up due to lack of room.
Sinks like a tank - NO. due to built-in floatation cells, fill it with water and still floats.
Powering a tank - I use a MK 30. On level 1 wish I could go a little slower when trolling. On level 5 scoots right along but can't wake board.
Longevity of a tank - Mine is 30+ years old. Wish it would die so I can get something else. No luck...
Water and a tank - never have had water splash into it - and I have tried.
You can sell it in 15 years for what you paid for it - if bought used.
I'll add on re: gear storage: there are some folks out there who modify their livingstons to create better storage. This guy hit a home run with his 14'er in my opinion. But I'd swap out the bow anchor for a trolling motor.
www.bdoutdoors.com
What shall add on to my new Livingston 14 ?
Next weekend I will be pick up a new old stock LV 14 hull. I think 2016 was the last year, these were made, so that must be the year the hull was made. I will pickup just the hull on a trailer. It will be going into my garage for the winter...
www.bdoutdoors.com
I’ve sailed back and forth across that channel several times in a 45’ schooner and yes, I would have to agree with your assessment . Glad you’re still with us
Three of us used to hoist DK's Livingston (I think it was an 8 footer?) to the top of his truck's canopy. It was a tank and that was 25 years ago. We'd jump in that boat, tow our float tubes to the main lake, anchor up and slide into the float tubes. The lake we fished got pretty warm in July so we'd go sans waders and load the Livingston with beer; no waders - no shore breaks needed. The amazing thing about the boat, we could kick next to it in our tubes and crawl back into the Livingston: super stable. The keels took a heck of beating (duct tape for leak stoppage).I had a 7' that I wish I had never sold, but yes, they are heavy.
And as Long_Rod says you have to account for the cat design. I had carpeted boards in each hull so I didn't get my stuff wet and really no issues with line management. And then I could stand easier as well. No Livingston foot cramps.
And it better be a big thrust electric because, as mentioned...they are tanks. I was able to put my 7' on top of my Trooper since the rear top roof rack was very close to the back edge on those vehicles, but I was also 20 years younger. Not sure I would want to try that now. The one I had would fit nicely in the back of a truck as well.
I do miss having a small stable boat that I could stand in and easily drift with the wind. 2wt drifting is pretty damn fun on stockers. My 14' Valco is a bit of a pain in the wind with just me in it so not the same experience.
If you have a deal on it and have a full size truck or it comes with a trailer it's worth it. If not, there's better solutions for fly fishing out there.
friend had one, finally got rid of it, as seaworthy as it was the center hump just ate up the dance floor,
Look for a Sterling SportCat, production stopped when the owner retired...they are a modified cat hull with a flat floor, highly stable and light...my 13' has a 68" beam, only weighs 260#, scoots with a 20hp and has plenty of room for three.
here's what the 10' looks like:
Look for a Sterling SportCat, production stopped when the owner retired...they are a modified cat hull with a flat floor, highly stable and light...my 13' has a 68" beam, only weighs 260#, scoots with a 20hp and has plenty of room for three.
here's what the 10' looks like:
Jeff Dodd
Steelhead
I like the Sterlings!
Also consider TruLine SportCat
Slightly different design is the Columbian. (whaler/cathedral hull design). I’ve seen some nice ones come for sale this year. 8,10 & 12’ boats I think
Sterling and Truline from the same molds...Talked to the builder a decade ago, who tried to sell his molds when he retired, no one was interested in continuing the line. And Columbians are great little hulls, pick them up on the way cheap, just need to make sure the transoms are solid.
Spent many days in a 12’ Columbian on Puget Sound. Fun boat to fish out of.
Unfortunately the one I fished out owned by a friend met it’s demise when the arsonist set the Pt Defiance boathouse on fire back in 84.
SF
Search concluded. I chose to go the “single fisherman” route and as stated above I purchased a new Dogfish Boat and made a few minor additions to make it a little mor friendly to my old 76 year old frame. A set of launch wheels, leaning bar, anchor system, and rod holders were added for a start. Looking forward to some lake fishing for some trout, bass and scratching an itch for some musky. Thanks again for all of your comments.
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What an interesting little boat! I've seen them featured in "Fishing with Ladin" but haven't ever seen one actually in use. It looks like a real fishing machine, nice setup!
I had about four episodes of Fishing with Ladin on the DVR that I watched last weekend and kept seeing these boats. They do look like a great solution for lakes.
