"Purchasing a boat shouldn't
be a snap decision."
Author - John E. Brady, Hanover PA-USA
Copyright 2001
e-mail - jeb@jebswebsite.com
Whenever I visit the Sports shows, I'm always drawn to the boats. Especially the fiberglass ones. Those big, bright, shinny, glittering rigs full of plush features and plenty of power are the envy of almost every fisherman.
If you have always dreamed of owning a boat, especially one of these top of the line rigs, make sure before you take the plunge that the one you buy fits the way you fish.
Just like buying an automobile, buying the biggest and best is not always practical, as well as affordable over the long run. Although in this day and age of stretch out loans with monthly payments tailored to fit your budget, just because it's possible to purchasing one of these fancy rigs, doesn't mean you should. Take a good look at how and where you fish. You want to choose a boat that will work for you. Don't just buy what is popular. You may be very disappointed, and will have to live with that decision for a long time.
Think about where you fish. Do you fish in big water like the Chesapeake bay and Potomac river, or smaller lakes like Marburg and Pinchot? If you fish these smaller lakes, you are very limited to the motor style and size. So buying a large rig with lots of horsepower, just wouldn't be very practical.
If you fish a variety of water however, your decision may not be as black and white. Here is where you need to do some soul searching, and make some tougher decisions on what to buy.
If you are in this latter situation, you actually have a lot more to choose from. It may make the decision tougher, but you can have a lot more fun while you wade through all the choices.
If you are in this middle of the road situation, you have the option of a larger aluminum rig well equipped, or a smaller version of the popular fiberglass rigs. Either of these styles of boats in their proper environment perform very well and could satisfy your needs.
Each also have their own Advantages. The advantages of a larger Aluminum boat over a smaller fiberglass one would be a little smaller price tag, less maintenance and repair cost for a smaller horsepower motor, and on the boat itself. The aluminum boat is lighter, making maneuvering the trailer loaded rig easier on land.
The best advantage of a smaller fiberglass boat over a larger aluminum boat is the additional weight, which will usually gives you better stability in rough water.
If you think your style of fishing deems you have a fiberglass boat, you still should think about whether you need the biggest and best. Most of the big 18 to 20 foot boats with 150 or more horsepower are great for very large water. In large lakes the larger boat and horsepower help you get from one end to the other in less time, and keep you safer in bad weather. But unless you spend most of your time on big water like the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River or the larger southern lakes, these bigger rigs may still be more than what you really need.
Another benefit of going smaller than larger is you can usually get a little more for your money. A smaller, higher quality rig with more features, will cost you the same as a stripped down larger boat of lesser quality. And through the years, making the choice of the smaller better quality rig will pay dividends.
Several years ago when I wanted a new boat, I pondered over all the pros and cons of both. Since I had been fishing a lot of different types of water, both local water and the bigger water further south, I decided that my style of fishing afforded fiberglass. I wanted the safety and comfort of a heavier more stable boat for some of the larger water I fished. I elected to go with a high quality model in a smaller size with less horsepower. I think the choice was the perfect one. The smaller boat held its own on the large bodies of water. And with a fewer less horsepower, was more economical. It also handled as well as, if not better, that some of the larger lesser quality boats. And in the end, when it came time to sell it, held it's own in value as well.
So before you take that plunge into your dream boat, make sure it fits your style of fishing. You'll be more satisfied with your choice, and it will help you fish with more confidence. And it may even help you catch more fish.
After all..."They call it fishing, but the goal is catching!"