December 23, 2004
Article

The Well-Balanced Boat
By Adam Johnson

The boat-buying season is upon us. Boat shows all over the country are offering deals to anglers who want a nice shiny new machine. Want ads are bulging and boat dealers are smiling as anglers fan the flames of the boat-buying market. While a lot of the boats are sold as a package deal with boat, motor and trailer, there are anglers who know just what they want and order everything from the motor size to the sonars. These anglers have obviously done their homework and know what it takes to get the right components to fit the bill. But what about those package deals? Can we always be sure that the boat, motor, trailer, and extras are going to do the job?

In some cases those packaged boats are just enough to get by. These packages are set up to meet a price point that will look pleasing to the buyer, but once they get the boat on the water they may discover the limitations.

What limitations; you ask? Well, when you want to get up on plane with a full load or pull a couple skiers or an inner tube, then that smaller motor will create problems. I always recommend to anyone buying a new boat to go to the dealer and sit down with them and talk out what you need in a boat, then you can get a custom package that you know will do just what you demand of it.

Of course you want that boat you buy to have a motor on it that closely adheres to the rated boat guidelines, then you know the boat has enough power to do what you ask of it.

Which prop to put on the motor can confuse boat buyers. With many of the motors you buy today the prop is an option. It's not the motor company that recommends which prop you use, it's the boat manufacturer.

Those boat makers have tested scores of props and know exactly which prop for which motor will work best for that boat. Not that a specialty prop won't work. It's just that the average angler won't know what prop to use so they have to be careful they're not sold one that will damage the motor. It's best to use the experience of the guy rigging the boat to get you the prop that will work best for your needs. Don't believe the hype of the advertisements; go with the advice of the experienced rigger.

So where do boat buyers go wrong? They don't ask enough questions. Make
sure you pound that salesman with questions so that they know not only exactly what you want, but what you need. Then have a meeting with the salesman and the rigger so you know, absolutely, that it can be done. In some cases the salesman will agree with everything on your list, then the rigger has to sort out the situation and give you the bad news when something is just not going to fit the bill.

Is the trailer a factor? "Some boats come with their own custom trailer. There are lots of great trailer manufacturers for the others. If you're going to be using big boat landings with lots of water depth at the landing you typically use, a bunk trailer is great. For shallow landings I recommend a roller trailer. If you travel a lot and take long-distance trips get a heavy-duty trailer. You pay dearly in the long run when you get a trailer that's just adequate.

Trolling motors and depthfinders are really personal preference but when it comes to electric motors I highly recommend a 24-volt system. The additional battery capacity is really nice on those days when the boat control is all happening from the bow or with the tiller electric.

The most important scenario when buying a boat is to make sure you have a balanced package. A boat that will do exactly what you need of it the day you drive it off the lot. It's a lot like buying a house, and in a lot of cases about as expensive.

But, if you plan everything right and work with the guys that have the knowledge, then what you end up with will be exactly what you want and exactly what you need.