YOUR NEXT BOAT
By Bob Jensen

This is the time of year when many anglers are considering a new boat or a first boat. This can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be a little confusing. Here are some ideas to keep in mind if you’re one of those folks that are looking for a new boat and motor rig.

Your first decision will center around your choice of steering. Some boats are tiller operated. With tiller boats the driver sits in the back of the boat and steers with the tiller handle that extends from the motor. Tiller boats were, at one time, considered to be the ultimate boat for fishing, especially when walleyes were the quarry. Tiller boats allow for very precise boat control, which is an advantage when fish are schooled tightly in an area.

Additionally, tiller boats are roomier than boats with console steering. For some anglers this is an important consideration.

On the other hand, tiller boats aren’t as fast as a comparable boat rigged with console steering simply because more powerful motors are allowed on console boats.

Also, tiller boats can be tiring to operate if you will be running long distances, and the driver can get wet in some conditions.

Console steering boats have become much more popular with anglers during the past decade. As boat construction has become more rugged, anglers are fishing larger bodies of water; thus they are traveling greater distances on the water. Console boats can cover the water faster, and they are drier and more comfortable to operate in most situations. Also, if you will be pulling skiers or tubers, console boats do that better.

Motors are also a consideration. Motors used to be an afterthought when it came to purchasing a new boat. It seems like you just took whatever motor the dealer sold with the boat. Now there are a couple of consideration when it comes to motors, the biggest of which is deciding to go with two or four-stroke motors. Four-stroke motors have become the direction outboard technology is going. Four-strokes are cleaner burning and quieter to operate and very reliable. It has been suggested that in the near future almost all outboard motors will be four-strokes.

Anglers and boaters have many choices available to them. I have been running Alumacraft boats and Honda outboard for a number of years and have been very pleased with the performance and reliability both provide. Shop around, test drive if you can, and determine what style of rig will be best for the way you plan to use your boat. Have fun with the selection process, then have fun with your new boat.

For more fish-catching information, visit www.fishingthemidwest.com