Boat Question

[darkhorse]

I am thinking about purchasing my first boat in the near future. I am a total rookie when it comes to anything to do with boats. My only experience with boating is renting an aluminum one at my cottage.

I have a series of questions for those who are boat owners.

#1 What is a solid boat for a beginner? I am interested in fishing only.

#2 This might sound like a dumb question, but is there a course where you can learn how to launch and trailer a boat? I have no idea and I don't want to be the guy at the boat launch who is clueless.

#3 Is there anything that I should steer clear of when buying a boat?

#4 Any other helpful tips or ideas to get me started?

I appreciate your help and your suggestions!

[bluenote]

There has been many posts on buying boats especially this past spring. Suggest you use the search button - most topics were in the simcoe section.

For launching and trailering - when I bought my new (end of May) boat I was offered time on the water by to show how boat worked - I accepted.

When I picked up boat from Legend (south of Barrie) they took me over the entire boat and trailer in parking lot. Then we drove to launch - was shown how to properly launch, drive boat - both motors - and trailer. As I had owned smaller boat before I thought I knew some of the techniques! Not! I learned a lot that afternoon.

Even my first boat - seller took me out and ensured I knew how to launch / operate.

As for boat - no right answer. You need to know the size of lakes you will be fishing, the weather, passengers, type of fishing, used or new, and budget. What about operating costs? Driving with trailer or leaving in marina? Does your car pull trailer well? What are costs of marina berth? Fishing alone - can you launch alone?

If buying used boat - stay away unless get demo IN WATER.

Lots more - enough from me. Suggest you search this site for some excellent postings on the subject - especially those from Tuna. Earlier this year he posted some excellent thoughts on buying boats . . .

Be sure to post when you've made decision!

[Motojoe]

There are different kinds of boat in the market, aluminium, fibre glass is more common now. Jon boat, Mod-V, semi-V, Deep V, Bass boat....

You need to know what kind of fish you are going for, what kind of lake you will fish, who you will go with, etc. But the most important thing is your budget.

My first Boat is a semi-V from Prince Craft with 35HP with Steering, I have asked myself all these questions before I decide. I fish in small lake for Bass, Walleye, Pike and Crappie and with my family most of the time. during that time my kids was 2 and 5, so I think a they can walk in the middle more safely and that boat is good for 5 people. Now my kids all grown up then I change to a Mod-V only good for 4 people with 75HP, cause I know we won't fish together that much. If you are not a handy man, every season you will need to spend money for winterizing and pre-season. more Horse power more money.

I bought my first boat in the boat show after I walk through all the boat I interested then finally lock down to PC. But before, I have talked to people they own a boat for experience and reason too.

Most of the Boat dealer will offer you a lesson in the water for launch and trailer the boat. Also you can find lots of video in Google about trailering, launching and retrieve. After you have watch those video, practice in a Mall parking lot on Sunday, that's how I learn backing up. ( during the time everything was close on Sunday)

Here is some web site, maybe you can have a look:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Pre-Towing-Check...iler&id=1032569

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSnjak8XEmo&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=728r-2XgXLM&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILQ8teM177M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jx2LjzabOo

Last thing, when you decide which brand and what kind of boat you want, try to go with a friend who is experienced with boat then you will know are you dealing with a good people. Reason why I said that is because one of my friend bought his first boat in the boat show, when he asking for what is in the package, that salesman told him whatever on the trailer is the package except the Winch Jack. It's extra, he told me that after he purchased the boat, I went to pick up the boat with him cause his new van hasn't arrived yet, I found that the Capacity plate is missing, when we asked that salesman, he said they forgot to put that in, then he just take one out from the other boat in the showroom and put in my friends boat. funny thing is the boat my friend purchased is for 3 people but that salesman put on a 4 people capacity plate. After that we found the hatch of the livewell is bent. That salesman said they notice this problem that's why all the new coming boat will add a support bar, of course we asked how about our boat then he said call him 2 weeks later, for safe we asked him put this as a note in the sales agreement. Everything same as buying a car, check before you sign anything. If not it will be TOO LATE!

Hope it can help and good luck.

[bassinmike]

wow, real open ended question. Need more info to be of any help
What kind of fishing ie: just general fish for anything, musky, pickerel, bass, etc.
Example: if musky / pickerel then you will likely want to troll but bass you will want a good trolling motor / casting deck.
What do you want to spend: If money were no problem then for me it would be a fully rigged ranger & throw a new truck to tow it $100,000 (there's another question what are going tow with)
lots of guys have started out with a used tin & small tiller motor, added their own casting deck, live well, etc. nice & light easy to tow with almost anything.
if bass is your thing I suggest joining one of the many bass clubs around, you get to ride in different boats, gain both fishing & boat info.

[bluenote]

Darkhorse - with the various suggestions / clarifications - what are you now thinking about for your first boat?

Thanks

[darkhorse]

I would just like to say thank you for the great tips/resources! I really appreciate all of your insight on boats. As mentioned previously, I am very inexperienced in this area.

The more research that I do and looking at price ranges, I might start off with an aluminum. I want something that I can take into smaller lakes and the Grand River where I live by. I primarily do walleye fishing. Perhaps with a used aluminum I can get the practice for my real dream boat in the future. I would be a lot less nervous to ding it up, while I learn all the ins and outs (i.e. launching etc).

I didn't know that you can add a live well? I would want it to be set up comfortably to fish in (i.e. back rests, etc).

I love your advice Bluenote about giving a used boat a test run before purchasing. Although you would hope people would be honest, there are all types of characters out there!

I will keep my eye out for one. If I come across, I might PM a few of you to get your opinion.