Fishing Boat Buying Guide
While fishing from a dock can be enjoyable, you don’t really get much choice in what you catch. Owning your own fishing boat grants you access to all parts of the water, rather than just the shore around the dock. This means you can catch all kinds of fish that swim in lakes and rivers. But the market is full of all shapes and sizes of fishing boats, so it can be difficult to figure out which one will best meet your needs and have the features you want.
Collins Marine in Tonawanda is your New York fishing boat dealer. Here are some tips to help you shop for the perfect fishing boat.
Freshwater Fishing
If you want to fish in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario or one of New York’s many gorgeous lakes, then you’ll need a versatile fishing boat that can handle deep and sometimes choppy waters. Lightweight boats with quiet motors are ideal for trolling and should help you avoid bottoming out around the shore while also providing you with stability in deeper water.
Some lakes you find may be much more shallow, which may mean a flat-bottomed boat with an outboard motor would work better instead. Or you may simply want to fish along the shoreline to catch certain types of fish. Flat-bottomed boats are agile and outboard motors help to make them speedy enough to get you where you need to be in a reasonable amount of time.
Saltwater Fishing
Long to head out into the Atlantic instead? Then you’re going to want a fishing boat that can handle salty air and salty water. Salt can be extremely corrosive, which means that certain materials may not work as well in saltwater as they do in freshwater conditions.
Calm, shallow waters are found along the coastline, which is perfect for a bay boat that can perform well if you want to do some coastal fishing. If you’re going out into the open ocean, though, you’ll need a bigger boat with a deep-V hull and a cabin that can shelter you from rain and wind. The water gets much choppier and the weather gets more unpredictable when you’re far from the coast, so make sure you find a big aluminum boat that can handle these conditions while providing you with the size and space you need for big catches.
Space Considerations
Speaking of space, you’ll want to think about how much room you need on your boat for other passengers and for their belongings and gear. Remember that a freshwater boat will be smaller since it has to navigate narrow channels and tight areas, and it’s designed to be used on a shorter trip. Saltwater boats will be larger and roomier by necessity, but they aren’t built to navigate those narrow areas as well.
If you plan to fish with just one person or by yourself, then you don’t need a great deal of room. However, if you want to take out a whole fishing party or your family for a fun adventure, you’ll want to make sure there’s room for everyone to sit comfortably and move around with ease. Check the storage capacities of the fishing boats you look at so you can find one that has enough room for everyone’s gear.
Amenities
Finally, it’s important to think about the amenities you’ll want aboard your fishing boat. Many people like to have rod holders on the sides of their craft to allow them to keep multiple lines in the water or step away from their rod for a minute. Baitwells and livewells are useful for keeping both your bait and catches fresh and lively until you return to shore. Fish finders are convenient if you want some assistance locating certain types of fish in the water. An enclosed cabin is a must on an off-shore boat, but it can also be nice on a boat made for lake fishing as a refuge from foul weather or the heat of the sun.
This guide should help you to narrow down your options significantly so you can get a fishing boat that’s perfect for you. Browse our website to see the fine selection of new and used fishing boats for sale at our dealership in Tonawanda, NY. We’ve got over 30 years of experience serving the area, so we can answer any questions you may have. Collins Marine proudly serves the greater Buffalo, NY, metropolitan region.