Tips for Buying the Right Fishing Boat
While fishing may be on hold for many while we wait for the weather to warm up, now’s a great time to start looking at your first fishing boat, or even a new fishing boat if you’re getting ready to upgrade. But looking at the plethora of options you can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’ve never done this before. To help you narrow down your search, Gordon Bay Marine has provided you with some ways to prioritize your boating needs so you can more easily hone your search. Add on some personalized priorities and then stop by our location in Lake Joseph, Ontario so we can help you find the perfect fishing boat. We proudly serve the areas of Muskoka and Toronto, Ontario.
Different Boats for Different Types of Fishing
What you’ll want to be considering when you go looking for a boat is the kind of fishing you’ll be doing and where you’ll be spending most of your time. There are different boats that are better suited for different environments. This may mean getting a boat with a long tail or a surface driven motor to better handle the shallow waters of swamps and bayous. But you’ll want a tougher boat if you intend to spend a lot of time deep sea fishing, but even still, a quieter boat if you’re going to spend a lot of time fishing on a lake. Make a list of the most common areas you like to fish so you can find the boat that will optimize your experience on the
Fishing Locations
Once you have a list of fish you prefer to catch and locations you’ll visit fairly frequently, it’s time to figure out how the places you fish will affect the boat you get. If you head out to deep, ocean waters to catch salmon, halibut, and tuna, then you’ll probably want a large, aluminum hull. A marlin fishing boat will probably have the tough exterior and luxury amenities for even overnight trips, while a bay fishing boat is better designed for shallower areas. In other words, as important as it is to know the general environment in which you’ll be fishing, the key is to know the water depth. While a large hull will be helpful when you need to cut through the deeper water, you’ll need a flatter bottom for shallower water to avoid running aground.
How Many Fishers Will You Have?
Once you know what kind of boat you’ll be looking at and you’re down to specific models, you’ll need ways to narrow down the field even further. Start with some obvious ways to prioritize, like making sure there’s enough room for all the people you might regularly go out on the water with. If you’re more a solitary fisher, then you probably won’t need a very big boat. However, if you want to bring along the whole family or some friends, then you’ll need one of the bigger models. You might also want to look into models with a center console or a walkaround boat for a little extra space.
You may also want to consider their needs when it comes to amenities. The bare minimum can save you money, but it can make for a miserable trip for some. This could mean more comfortable seating, a changing area, and restroom, or a cabin below deck that comes with a food prep area and a place to sleep for particularly long trips.
Fishing Boat Storage
Finally, think about how you’re going to store your boat when you’re not using it. Some people will have the space on their property to store their boat in a garage or in a driveway. This storage area will also need to be big enough to accommodate the trailer. If you don’t have room on your property, you can try to leave it on the street, but this may leave it susceptible to thieves, and local laws may not allow for this.
Outside of your own property, you can pay to store your boat at a marina, which is especially convenient for big boats that are difficult to tow around. You might even be able to find a marina with covered areas for extra protection from the elements. There are also storage facilities with units big enough for boats and would provide better security. Finally, if you know you’re going to store your boat for an extended period of time, you might want to look into dry rack storage for more efficient storage.
There are some other ways to narrow down your options and many other features that you can prioritize. At the end of the day, this is your boat, so you should make sure it’s going to be worth the investment and buy something you’ll enjoy. When you’re ready to start looking for your next fishing boat, stop by Gordon Bay Marine and let our experienced staff know how we can assist you. We’re located in Lake Joseph, Ontario, near Muskoka and Toronto.