choose the right boat

[tomc]

Choose The Right Boat
Here are a few things to think about as you narrow down your choices
By: NAFC Staff

A new fishing boat represents a big investment, so you want to make sure that the one you end up with best suits your needs and expectations. Here are a few things to think about as you narrow down your choices:
1. Meet Your Needs
Before you even start shopping for your fishing boat, decide what you want it to do for you. Will be strictly a fishing rig? Do you need a boat that will also serve as a craft for family fun? Where will you use the boat most often—small- to medium size lakes, large or small rivers, large, expansive lakes and reservoirs? What is your preferred method of fishing—casting, trolling, drifting, stillfishing? What is the minimum number of passengers and approximate weight of gear you’ll typically carry? Remember to include the weight of the engine, fuel, batteries and other equipment in your estimate. The answers to these questions will start you on the path to deciding the type and size boat you should be considering.
2. Make A List
Put down on paper all the gear you want to have in your new boat, such as a trolling motor, gasoline-powered kicker, sonar and GPS, VHS radio, rodholders and downrigging equipment. Your list might be longer or shorter than this one, but the point is to make sure any boat you consider can accommodate all the equipment you want on your new rig.
This is also the time to look at the type of equipment that will make the most sense for you. Like outboards offered in package deals, the electronics included in the price tend to be from the lower end of the product line. If you have any doubts whether that sonar or GPS unit will perform to your standards, now’s the time to upgrade.
By opting for a bigger better sonar unit, or a trolling motor that’s more powerful, or has a longer shaft, when you order your boat, you will receive some “exchange” value for the packaged equipment.
If you wait, you will probably wind up buying the larger sonar unit or trolling motor at retail price and swapping it out yourself.
3. Take A Test Drive
Boat dealers sometimes have demo models on hand and that will allow you the opportunity to drive the model you’re considering. Other times, a manufacturer, in conjunction with a local dealer, might offer a “demonstration day” where it brings in several models in its line for on-the-water test drives. If you have such an opportunity, take it. It’s the best way to see and feel for yourself how the boat handles on the water. At the very least, board the boat in the showroom and visualize yourself in a typical fishing situation. Think about the boat’s layout, and whether it would complement or crimp your style. Are the livewells and storage compartments easily accessed? Is the rod locker in the right place for you, and will it hold the number and size rods you typically use? Are the power controls and bilge, aerator and navigation light switches easily reached? Can you see the gauges clearly from the driver’s seat?
4. Power And Performance
Sometimes manufacturers and dealers keep the price of boat, motor, trailer package at a more attractive level by pairing the boat with an outboard at the mid- to low-end of the boat’s recommended power range. Such a pairing seldom results in a combination that’s severely underpowered, but it may not offer the performance you are expecting. Nothing disappoints a new boat owner more quickly than a rig that refuses to plane out and get you where you want to go quickly enough.
Safety is yet another concern. An underpowered boat won’t have the speed to outrun a sudden storm, or reserve power to buck a big wave.
Prop selection, weight distribution and other factors are involved here, too. But even they can’t be addressed if the boat is so underpowered it doesn’t meet your performance expectations. A general rule of thumb is to select an outboard that’s at least 75-80 percent of the hull’s maximum horsepower rating.
Performance needs are, of course, subjective. So, if you know you will be just as happy with a rig that doesn’t run at its optimum speed, choose a smaller outboard.
5. Operating Costs
Think ahead, too. Factor in the cost of fuel, maintenance, insurance and off-season storage before writing that check. It will help you avoid surprises down the road. It’s fairly easy to figure it out. A quick call to your insurance agent will provide that cost, while the dealer’s service department can give you an estimate of annual maintenance costs. Many outboard manufacturers provide data on their websites regarding fuel efficiency. Remember that a larger outboard may burn more fuel than a smaller one, but it may also use it more efficiently. In other words, it gives you more “miles” per gallon burned than a smaller engine that strains to push the hull.
6. Other Factors
Other factors, such as the size of your storage facility or tow vehicle, may influence the size of the boat you purchase. Don’t forget to consider these things when shopping as they could cause headaches later.
Shopping for a new fishing boat is fun and exciting, but don’t let the thrill of closing the deal overshadow good sense. Take the time to make sure you end up with the rig you really want.
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[Tarpon4me]

That's a pretty good article. I tell you what though, they forgot to mention that there IS NO PERFECT BOAT FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS! LOL!!!!!!!! If you're using your boat for more than just fishing or just skiiing, you're going to be disheartened when you realize that there is no perfect boat for both sports or multiple fishing applications.

What I decided to do is pick the more important hobbie and go with it, so I chose fishing. I selected my boat based on it's features that were already installed for fishing. Then, I added small bolt on features later that allowed me to pull a tube safetly behind my boat.

Also, there is no "happy medium" when it comes to boat lengths and styles. If you're going to fish freshwater rivers or inland saltwater creeks, there's nothing finer than a small, light weight john boat or flat bottom skiff. If you're going to be fishing 2+ miles offshore in the ocean, or fishing on Lake Erie, you need a big deep V. Getting a smaller V hull boat to do both will do two things:

1. Get you killed when you go too far offshore and the water gets too big for the boat.

2. Get you stuck or damage your boat trying to navigate waters that are way too shallow and narrow for a V hull.

I own three boats, and each with a different fuction. You may think you can't afford multiple boats, but if you shop smart you can. Don't get the biggest and badest boat motor, etc.. etc.. I have an older model bass tracker with a 25 HP motor. It's perfect for river and inland fishing, and very stable and worthy. I have a larger boat for offshore fishing and pulling a tube. Then a one man boat for those very shallow areas where the bream like to hang out in the summer. Each boat serves it's purpose and does exactly what it was designed to do.

So, if you're going to buy a boat, make sure you get the one you need.
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[billygull]

So I've been wondering if anyone knows the better boats to get insurance wise. My uncle is looking into getting a decent bass boat but his last one got totaled in a winter storm (he was storing it in his backyard a tree fell on it) So he wants a boat that won't bankrupt him for boat insurance, and on that note any suggestions about boat insurance? I've heard United Marine Underwriters has some great rates.
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[tomc]

hi billgull,i not sure if i am understanding the first part of your question,but i take a stab at it.most boat insurances cover what the boat is worth,so if you have a 100,000 dollar boat you want 100,000 dollars worth of boat insurance.in your uncles case,he should check with his homeowners/renters policy,since a tree on the property did the damage,if the tree was on someone elses prperty thier insurance would cover the boat.also he should check with his auto insurance,most companies do have boat insurance,and he can get a good deal through them,i deal with one company with 4 cars,boat,home and buisness insurance and i pay $2000 a year,granted i havent put a claim in on any,and have a good driving record.heres an artical i found that should help
How to Choose a Boat Insurance Policy
If you are looking for insurance for your dinghy or yacht, there are several things to keep in mind: regulations and vocabulary of the insurance industries can be confusing to the novice. In this article, I give you a set of guidelines that you should make the choice easier.
Many insurance companies offer policies that are specifically designed for boat owners that are no professional sailors. However, the diversity and the competitiveness of the industry often make the whole business of finding an appropriate insurance a troublesome business.
The complicated nature of insurance policies is fueled by the fact that there is no single type of insurance that will cover every boat owner’s needs. The type of policy matching your individual requirements will hugely depend on your sailing habits. These are concerned with whether or not you race, have children aboard, and how high the safety standards on your boat are.
Generally speaking, it is not necessary to look out for insurance companies that specialize on marine insurance. However, the market is big and there are plenty of specialists around. Ask in your local sailing club for recommendations and talk to agents of different businesses; also look for friendly service and a good personal touch to the company. A lot of a good policy has to do with positive customer relationships. Beyond that, there is a whole lot of hard facts to check with every policy. Guide to a Good-Deal Policy: Mix and Match
1.) A well-rounded insurance policy should have a third party liability that covers damages that you might cause on other sailboats. Look for how high the amount is that it covers and think if this is appropriate for the environment in which you sail.
2.) A potential hook is the “new for old” cover of your policy. Some arrangements will fully pay for a damaged piece of your boat – others might only pay the current, second-hand value of the damaged equipment. There might be specific regulations for different types of equipment.
3.) Look precisely for the kinds of damages that you policy will cover: it is dirty but not uncommon that vandalism, theft, transport damages and natural disasters (including hurricanes and other tropical storms as well as tsunamis!) are excluded from the cover. On the transport front: Check if the means of transport are covered, for example, your trailer.
4.) Ask the company if and to what degree guests sailing on your boat will be covered. There are policies that differentiate between passengers and crew, so not everybody aboard enjoys the same cover.
5.) Be careful with special deals that kick in only after the damage exceeds a certain amount – you know this kind of insurance policy from car rental services. You damage for example the hull and realize that the first 5.000 Dollars of repair costs are on your bill and only costs beyond that can be claimed from the insurance company.
6.) What is the policy going to cover if you sail in foreign countries? This is particularly important for cruisers, but even damages occurring in international waters might be effected by these regulations.
7.) Ask if your yacht will be covered if it is not sailing – this includes not only transport, but also times in which it is anchored, laid up and winterized, or in a dock. Some policies in areas with harsh climate might suspend the cover if a yacht is not winterized or exclude ice damages. Others have seasonal limits and might be a good deal if you sail only in the summer.
8.) Have a very close look at all items and equipment that will be covered by the policy. If this is very extensive, but you sail only a simple dinghy, it is likely that the policy will be too expensive for your needs. On the other hand, policies neglecting gear (which might include rigging and canvas, engines, and pricey electronic systems) might be useless for owners of luxury yachts.
9.) Does your policy offer legal protection? Similar to car accidents, boat collisions can leave people with injuries that allow them to claim compensation. Check to what extent such claims would be covered by your policy; depending on the country you live in, you might already have an insurance that offers thorough legal protection.
10.) How flexible is your insurance company when it comes to making “custom made” policies? You could work out a package that meets your personal needs and then ask several insurers how much they would charge for exactly this arrangement. This is a fairly secure way of comparing prices.
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[billygull]

Thanks a lot Tom, that really helps me get a good start for what to look out for.
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