07-13-2015, 10:10 PM
Make sure you put a lot of thought and research into this, but even more importantly get out on the water in other people's boats to see what actually works in practice, because what sounds good on paper or in your head may not work well when executed. I started out looking for an open bow with full windshield and ended up with a center console bay style boat that works amazingly well on big water, made the decision after spending time on other boats and seeing what worked well and what didn't. I can store all of my rods, four downriggers, lifejackets, and other stuff using the built in storage with room to spare. Even has a built in cooler that works great.
And I can't reiterate enough to look at a used boat, there are tons for sale with low hours and in new condition. Just think of how many people have big dreams when buying a new boat thinking they will use it a lot until life gets in the way and it just sits in the garage, or they don't realize that some of these things burn through 8+ gallons per hour and can't afford to use them much. My boat is 30 years old but you wouldn't know it, spent most of its life parked in an airplane hangar in St George and was completely gone through 3 years ago including a complete rebuild of the main 200hp engine. When I bought it in March it had 52 hours on the main engine and it runs like it. Within the next year I plan to replace the 10hp kicker with a 4 stroke, because trolling with a 2 stroke blows. I run the kicker on the rear with a bow mounted wireless Minn Kota for steering the boat, works so much better than just the kicker when the wind picks up.
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And I can't reiterate enough to look at a used boat, there are tons for sale with low hours and in new condition. Just think of how many people have big dreams when buying a new boat thinking they will use it a lot until life gets in the way and it just sits in the garage, or they don't realize that some of these things burn through 8+ gallons per hour and can't afford to use them much. My boat is 30 years old but you wouldn't know it, spent most of its life parked in an airplane hangar in St George and was completely gone through 3 years ago including a complete rebuild of the main 200hp engine. When I bought it in March it had 52 hours on the main engine and it runs like it. Within the next year I plan to replace the 10hp kicker with a 4 stroke, because trolling with a 2 stroke blows. I run the kicker on the rear with a bow mounted wireless Minn Kota for steering the boat, works so much better than just the kicker when the wind picks up.
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