| That's a great question, meaning you're seriously | | | | good on shallow lakes. Many of these boats come |
| thinking about getting your first boat. To answer that | | | | with large outboard motors or 4cyl., 6cyl. or even 8 |
| question, you'll have to think about how you will use | | | | cyl. engines. Reliability is generally high and gas mileage |
| your boat and define your specific needs. So before | | | | is pretty good. You can also find 6 or 8 cylinder I/O's |
| you start searching the boat classified ads or go | | | | for added speed and power. Advantages: mid-cost |
| looking for a new boat for sale or used boat for sale, | | | | range, fairly easy to trailer, launch and store, good |
| here's some of the things to think about to help you | | | | for families and larger parties of 4-6 Disadvantages: |
| define what type of boat and how large a boat you | | | | generally without sleeping amenities, head or shower |
| need. - What kinds of activities do you want to do - | | | | If boating and sleeping over night is in your blood, |
| leisure boating, water sports such as water skiing, | | | | you may need to consider 26 to 30' footer with a |
| fishing or better yet travel and overnight excursions? | | | | cuddy cabin. These boats offer usually offer sleeping |
| - What types of water will you use your boat in - | | | | for 4 or more, toilet, shower, and some include |
| small inland lakes, large inland lakes, waterways, bays | | | | kitchen amenities. This size of boat is getting fairly |
| or larger bodies of water? - How many people do | | | | large and you'll need a good size truck to pull it. |
| you need to accommodate while boating? When it | | | | These boats are perfect for the larger inland lakes |
| comes to fishing you can fish in small aluminum boat | | | | and waterways. You can also get them out in the |
| 10-12 feet with a small outboard. These are | | | | inlet waters off the coast or in bay areas in calm |
| considered utility boats and are perfect for small | | | | waters. In this size of boat you'll have the ability to |
| inland lakes and ponds. They're relatively inexpensive, | | | | cruise to different locations or hot spots for fishing, |
| light and easy to move around. And on calm days | | | | swimming, overnight camping and the like. They're |
| you can use them on larger lakes near shore. In | | | | fitted with larger gas tanks, around 100 gal and also |
| terms of capacity, they can hold two adults or an | | | | hold 15-30 gallons of water. They provide large |
| adult and a child. Larger aluminum boats come in | | | | storage areas and amenities to keep every member |
| 16-18' range and can hold 4-6 persons. Taking a step | | | | of the family satisfied. Advantages: ability to do a |
| up you get into the 14-18 foot range which are | | | | variety of boating recreational activities- from skiing, |
| considered small boats. They're available with an open | | | | tubing, fishing and more Disadvantages: more |
| or closed bow and in many varieties - from deck | | | | expensive than mid-size, requires a larger truck and |
| boats, ski boats to powerboats and fishing boats. | | | | trailer, more expensive to operate, store and |
| Fishing, ski and deck boats have unique features for | | | | maintain. Lastly, if you want to spend even more |
| those activities. Our first boat was a 14 foot Bayliner | | | | time on the water, either traveling or overnight trips, |
| Bowrider, meaning it had an open bow and seating | | | | you may be interested in 30-36' boat. Now you're in |
| for two in the front. It also had 3 seats across in the | | | | the large size boat range or small size yacht range. |
| rear. It was good for 2 - 3 persons comfortably. If I | | | | These guys are not towed frequently. They are |
| wanted to take my boys out cruising on a small | | | | usually kept at a marina, stored and maintained there. |
| inland lake, this would have been the perfect size. It | | | | They generally have twin or triple inboard motors and |
| was equipped with a 50HP Chrysler Force outboard | | | | outdrives and are well detailed inside and out. You |
| and moved fairly well for a small boat. It was even | | | | can easily sleep for 4 or more and you'll usually find a |
| capable of pulling a skier as long as the skier wasn't | | | | stove, refrigerator, TV, shower and toilet. |
| too heavy and the boat wasn't overloaded. We skied | | | | Advantages: ability to travel, stay overnight and |
| with it when we pretty thin and there was only 1 or | | | | enjoy all the comfort features of home |
| 2 persons in the boat - more than that and it had a | | | | Disadvantages: cost is generally high to purchase, |
| difficult time pulling a person out of the water. But it | | | | operate and maintain, also harder to trailer and store, |
| was fine for pulling tubes or other water accessories. | | | | usually done professionally There are many boat |
| We once had it out on a larger inland lake when the | | | | manufacturers of all types and you have quite a large |
| water was pretty choppy with 2 to 3 foot waves. | | | | choice depending on where you're at and what your |
| That was pretty rough. The boat was bouncing | | | | local dealers offer. Here's a few to get you going. |
| around to the point where we had to get it out. If | | | | Check these boat manufacturers out. Utility /Small |
| you're going to take a smaller boat out on larger | | | | Boats: BRIG , Whitehall Fishing Boats: Sea Swirl, |
| waters, for example 14-16 footer, it's only enjoyable | | | | NITRO, TRACKER, SYLVAN, LUND, SMOKER |
| and safe when the water is fairly calm. If you're | | | | CRAFT, TROPHEY Ski Boats: EPIC Pontoon Boats: |
| target is general or recreational boating, then a | | | | Sun Tracker, Manitou, TRACKER, Sunchaser, Premier, |
| powerboat or deck boat provides the ability to do a | | | | Gillgetter, Northwood Power Boats: Bayliner, Sea Ray, |
| number of activities. But if you have a specific focus, | | | | MAXUM, Rinker, Four Winns, Wellcraft Race /Cruisers: |
| like fishing or waters skiing, you'll want to take a | | | | Formula, Fountain Yachts: TIARA Well, that should |
| closer look at boats in those categories. Advantages: | | | | give you some things to think about. Look around, |
| low to mid cost depending on whether you buy new | | | | shop around and also talk to your friends that already |
| or used, easy to trailer, launch and store, perfect for | | | | own a boat. They'll be able to offer some great |
| dad and kids in small to midsize lakes Disadvantages: | | | | advice. But it's more important to really figure out |
| minimal seating capacity, smaller engines means limited | | | | what you want to do and where you want to do it. |
| ability for recreation and sports. If you're planning on | | | | If you do that before you go out and start searching |
| larger parties and pulling adult skiers, you'll want to | | | | your local boat classified ads or start looking at new |
| move up to the 18-24' range. These boats generally | | | | boats for sale or used boats for sale, you'll be well on |
| come with larger motors, outboards or inboards and | | | | your way to deciding what type of boat and how big |
| hold 4 or more passengers comfortably. They're | | | | a boat you really need to buy. And remember, it's |
| great on both small and larger lakes and because | | | | not the size that counts, it's just being on the water! |
| their depth or draft is relatively low, they're also | | | | |