Selecting the right boat
Remember that all boats are a compromise. They always have been and always will be. Anglers live with those compromises and work around them. The clue is to sit down at the desk and make some headings, setting out just what the craft will be mainly used for, and what will be involved in getting it to the chosen fishing location.
Power selection is very important. It’s wise to always select the power needed for the main situations, taking into account the number of people who will usually be aboard the rig, and the sort of fishing in mind. Look at what would make the rig just that little bit better for the selected tasks, and how things can be brought together to make it happen.
Other important criteria to consider are the overall size, trailerability, ease of launching and retrieving along with comfort aboard, both when travelling on the water and when fishing. The end result will hopefully be the ideal combination of all of these things.
The fact is that it’s difficult, but not impossible, to get a one-boat-fits-all craft. Think about the waterways you like to fish, and the different kinds of fishing you like to do. If they aren’t drastically different, you’re sweet. If not, you’ll have to make concessions. Common sense dictates that an extra fast, low-freeboard boat that can scoot to most of your fishing spots within minutes won’t be much use heading out through a Seaway on a sloppy day with a bit of swell about. Likewise, a fabulous 7m offshore rig will be a pain to use in confined shallow dams in search of Barramundi.
Still, it might well be possible to combine freeboard, excellent sea keeping, ride quality and fishing room in one craft suited to a wide variety of fishing pursuits, if you go about things correctly.
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