If you are thinking about buying a boat this coming spring, now is the time to start your purchasing process. Outdoor boat shows and open houses at marine dealerships are scheduled nearly every weekend after New Year’s Day through spring and can be great places to get an idea of what you want and how much you’re likely to pay.
Trolling on the internet is also a great place to start your search in order to make it easier when you begin working with dealers at the boat shows. We would recommend starting your search with the major name brand boats companies first. They are the boat companies that have the best reputation, typically the best built boats/warranties, and have the best resale. Lundboats.com is an easy to navigate website with a variety of boats from small to large.
The following are a series of questions you need to ask yourself that will lead to a day when you’re happy pulling out of a boat dealer’s lot with a new boat trailing behind.
- Money shouldn’t be the only consideration, but obviously it must be among them. Get the best value you can afford while coming as close to the boat of your dreams. A small boat with small motor may cost $2,500. A deluxe boat with all the trimmings can cost $45,000 or more. In today’s environment, there are a ton of deals out there for you to choose from.
- What do you plan to do with your boat? Will you use it mostly to fish? Do you need to plan for other family activities like skiing or just cruising around the lake? There are lots of fish-and-ski models on the market. Are you planning to entertain larger groups? If so, maybe you should consider a pontoon.
- Fishing boats have come a long way over the years. Their designs reflect the demands put on them based on the kind of fishing you do. Bass fishermen like flat-bottom or modified “V” hulls that offer large casting decks on the front and back. Muskie fishermen can adapt to using one of those or they may want something designed more for walleye anglers, who tend to be out in unpredictable weather during early spring and late fall. They want a deep “V” hull to cut through rough water and provide more protection for people onboard.
- Where will your boat be used most often? The Great Lakes demand greater safety precautions, such as a second bilge pump, marine radio, more powerful and dependable outboards and a smaller second outboard that can double as a trolling motor and an emergency back-up to limp you back to safety in a pinch.
Size does matter. We’ve all seen people fishing for walleyes far out from shore on Lake Erie in 15-foot boats. We don’t care what brand name is on the side, but that craft should be called ?Widow Maker.? On big water, you are safer in big boats like the Lund Pro V or Tyee in either Fiberglass or Aluminum which can stretch up to 21 feet. Even then, there are days when that doesn’t seem enough.
There are days on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie when it doesn’t matter how big your boat is, you’re better off staying on shore.
Mid-sized lakes get rough, too. But you’re never far from a boat ramp, so you can get by with a smaller 16 to 18 foot boat and a smaller outboard. Still, use your head and pay attention to weather forecasts. If you plan to stick to the smallest lakes, a 15 or 16 foot boat will do.
Another factor on what size boat you can buy is the towing capacity of your vehicle. Look it up in your owner’s manual before you shop. Otherwise, you just might be paying a visit to a truck dealership, too.
- Next, should the steering on the boat be a console or tiller? Consoles have steering wheels much like a car. They take up floor space, but offer easier handling. With tiller steering, the motor is turned to the left or right by its handle from the rear. Tiller steering leaves the boat floor wide open for fishing. But some people find tillers harder to maneuver, especially in bad weather.
- Do you want a fiberglass or aluminum hull? Fiberglass often yields a softer, drier ride due to the hull design. Others prefer aluminum because of durability and reduced weight. The decision will often boil down to personal preference.
- Make sure the layout of the boat has the casting decks you need and enough storage areas for life jackets, tackle boxes, rods and other gear. Make sure the livewells are big enough to accommodate your catch.
- Figure on your outboard costing at least half of the final price of the boat.
Consider buying the most-powerful outboard the U.S. Coast Guard recommends for the craft because you will get the best performance out of the boat. You’ll be glad you have all the power you can handle when a major storm approaches. Think of the future. Resale value is usually best when the boat has the biggest motor it can carry.
Some lakes also have restrictions on the size of the outboards allowed. Unless you want to purchase two motors, one for larger lakes and one for small, make sure the primary outboard is legal where you want to use it most.
Horsepower isn’t the only consideration with motors. Over the last several years, we’ve seen vast improvement in outboard technology, which have improved weight-to-horsepower ratios. Lighter motors are producing more push. Some models have superchargers. Some, like Mercury’s 4-stroke Verado, have been made super quiet with power steering and digital shifts. Direct fuel injected two-strokes, like Mercury’s Optimax, are burning cleaner and more efficient and using less gas than ever before. The best advice here is to talk with friends to see how they like what they have and why. Read what you can on the internet. Then talk to a knowledgeable salesperson. With an investment that large, you can never be too careful.
- Walleye and muskie fishermen often add a second 9.9 horsepower gasoline motor to use for trolling. This ?kicker? motor eliminates putting expensive hours on your main engine and allows you to troll slower.
- Plan to spend an added $1,000 to $4,000 by rigging the boat with a GPS, sonar and trolling motor.
Most advance anglers will get a sonar unit for the console and a second one for the front deck. Advances include color screens and side-imaging, like those from Humminbird. Larger screens allow more detail when using split screens for GPS. Microchips provide lake maps, including structure contours and hazards.
Electric trolling motors range from small, 12-volt systems to 36-volt systems with more than 100 pounds of thrust. One recent technological advance from MinnKota is called the iPilot. The iPilot accessory pairs the trolling motor to its own GPS and allows anglers to electronically ?anchor’ themselves to a spot without throwing an anchor and allows you to control the trolling motor from anywhere in the boat. The key is to buy a trolling motor with all the power you are likely to need.
- You’ll need good marine batteries for power. Don’t scrimp. Everything from starting your outboard to running your electronic gear depends on having enough juice on board.
- Ask about warranties, and consider extending them. Repairs on boats and outboards can be costly.
- Don’t leave the dealer without the safety gear required by law. Have life jackets for everyone on board, a throw cushion, a fire extinguisher, horn or whistle and a paddle. Federal requirements on the Great Lakes are more extensive, including a flare gun.
- Spend time getting to know the dealer. Ask about maintenance and repair service.
A new boat is exciting, but overlooking some details can turn your dream into a nightmare. Asking a few questions before you buy will pay dividends on the water.By: Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
