William;

Try and get at least a 16/48 or 16/54 boat. Bigger is more stable and when you get a couple of fish barrels, genny, a couple of batteries or 3, boat gas tank and extra gas can for the genny, cooler for your sodas, life jackets, paddles, push pole and fire extinguiser things start to get real crowded. Ibowfished out of a 16/48 for 4 years. I bowfished in your back yard last weekend 6/17 up on the Kankakee River at DCA in my 11 foot jon boat with my 4 hp Yahmaha. It was really tight with 2 people but needed a small boat to get into some really tight places that my 20 ft boat would not go or even be able to push pole. Check out these pics of a 14 ft boat with a flat deck.http://www.bowfishusa.com/community/index.php?topic=23401.0
I really like a raised deck to but lights underneath. You can view my old 16/48 on the Illinois site in the gallery.

I have shot alot of fish out of my canoe with a hand held spot light.

Bowfisher