HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BOAT
by
Ron Ballanti
 Are you
in the market for a new boat? If so, there are many factors you should consider prior to making your purchase. Advanced planning and careful
shopping can help ensure you get a boat you'll be happy with
even after the initial euphoria wears off. Here are some helpful
tips for finding a craft that ideally suits your needs.
First off, think about how your boat will be used and what type of
craft will best fit your needs and budget. If you are in search of
a recreational fishing boat, you will have different requirements
than someone seeking a boat primarily for cruising. However, boaters
may have secondary uses in mind for their vessels. Additionally, there
are often important trade-offs when it comes to weighing the value
of particular designs and features.
Before you think
about anything else, consider the style of boat you want. For example, if you
fish mainly within one-day range, and don't typically spend the night onboard,
a center-console model may be the right boat for you. This design offers more
fishing room than most other boat styles, and unobstructed, 360-degree fishability
for casting and following hot fish. However, center console boats offer little
protection from the sun or elements. They also don't offer the creature comforts
afforded by other boat designs, such as berths or bathrooms. For this reason,
center console models are usually not the best choice for someone looking for
a family or multi-purpose boat.
Cuddy-cabin or walk-around boats compromise some fishing space and
angler mobility, but they do offer a place to get out of the weather
and amenities such as vee-berths, porta-potties, even small propane
stoves. If you plan on fishing on multiple day trips, but also want
a boat suitable for cruising with the wife and kids, you'll
probably be happier in the long run with a cuddy-cabin.
If you
are looking for a boat that is at home on the ocean, but can also
be used as a family toy on freshwater lakes, there are many double-duty
models available. These multi-purpose vessels often have dual consoles
and a walk through to the bow. Bear in mind that this type of boat
is usually only suitable for inshore and bay fishing, not for serious
offshore trips.
Whatever style of boat you choose, whether you go with an aluminum or fiberglass
hull, an outboard or I/O power, there are some very important features to look
for if fishing is your main plan. One key onboard angling feature (and an area
where may boats are lacking) is a good live-bait tank. Many factory-installed
livewells are a joke when it comes to serious fishing. You need a tank of at
least 25 gallons to carry one scoop of live bait. Generally speaking, the tank
should be smooth and rounded inside, and taller than it is wide to minimize
sloshing. It should also have an inlet system and pump that minimizes water
turbulence and provides adequate water change-over every seven to 10 minutes.
If a boat's factory bait tank is inadequate, examine your options for installing
a custom tank. Sometimes you can plumb a transom fish box, cooler or storage
area into a useful bait tank. If not, check to see if there is room for a free-standing
tank on the deck or under a cockpit leaning post. On boats with limited deck
space, it is often possible to mount a tank or diaper bag system on the transom
or swimstep.
When looking over
a prospective new boat, notice whether there is room to mount electronics -
at least a sounder and GPS - where you'll be able to use these units easily.
If you will be fishing, see if there is enough room between the console/cabin
and the gunwales. If there's a step-up to the bow, is it easy enough to negotiate?
Are the grabrails where you'll need them when the seas and the fishing get rowdy?
Another
important consideration is storage. Make sure the boat has adequate
dry storage for safety gear, clothes, paperwork and other important
items. On fishing boats, take note of how many rod holders come standard.
If there aren't enough or if the rod holders are not situated
exactly where you want them, is there room to add some more? Remember,
if you find a boat that suits most of your needs, you can usually customize
it with extra rod holders, T-tops, downriggers and the like, if necessary.
A boat demo drive is also a must before purchasing any new craft. On
the sea trial, you'll only have a short period of time to predict
how a boat will perform during a lifetime's worth of conditions,
so make it count. If you can, take her out on a breezy day and go out
in the open ocean. This is the only real way to find out if she's
a wet boat. Run into the seas, downswell and cross swell to see how
the boat handles. See how she performs at trolling speeds, and what
kind of wake she throws. Bring some gear and friend along for the boat
test, and make sure the tank is at least half full. This will help you
see how the vessel performs under real conditions.
About
the Author: Ron Ballanti is a veteran outdoor writer, boater and angler.
He also owns and operates Strike Zone Communications, a marine public
relations and marketing agency based in Northridge, California (Phone:
818- 349-4608. Fax: 818-709-5524. E-mail: strikezne@earthlink.net).
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