Congratulations on your first boat Wade. I guess that this will give you a little bit more range than your float tube inshore in the Capitola area. My first boat was a 14' alum skiff for the more dangerous Half Moon Bay area.

I guess that first you need the required safety gear, which, unless I am forgetting something, includes anchor with ample line, flotation device, and signaling flares or horn (unless not required under 16'). I am not sure about the most current Coast Guard requirements, so check their web site. If you are only going to fish the local kelp and be mostly alone or with one passenger, and if you are on a tight budget, a motor as small as 5hp should be sufficient (although some might disagree). (I carry so much gear and so many rods that a 12 foot boat is too small for me to have even one passenger). For motors that come with a 3 gallon fuel tank I like to replace it with a 6 gallon tank because sometimes I want to troll for a 12 hour day. Once motorized you need registration for the boat.

A hand-held GPS would be nice, or at least a small compass if you already know your spots and are only concerned about heading out to Hawaii instead of Capitola if a sudden thick fog develops.

I like Fishin' Buddy portable fish finders on a small skiff. If it does not fit right and tight you may need a strip of thin wood to fill the gap. I do not like the plastic holder that comes with the Fishin' Buddy, so I use a much better aluminum one (overpriced at about $30.00).

You might want a net with a longer handle than you use with a float tube. Having once lost a monster halibut because of a net that was too small, I now use the widest and deepest net that I can find. You should also consider rod holders. I like to have a small urinal also. A tight plastic 1 gallon jar with a little bleach in it can work ( for males at least). I likely left a lot out and included items not relevant to your situation.

Good luck.

Bob