Deciding what's important



Choosing the right boat is all about knowing what's



really important to you. You need to decide whether



you'll be using the boat for your own private use,



fishing, or cruising. You should also consider your



families feelings, as buying a boat for your own



personal needs without consulting your family will



probably lead to disappointing experiences or less



time spent on the water.





Types of boats



Typically, boats will fall into five categories -



fishing boats, power boats, sailboats, personal



watercraft, and self powered boats. To help you



find the perfect boat, we'll take a look at what



each one offers.





Fishing boats



The designs for fishing boats will vary quite a



bit, as are the places you can use them. The boats



that are meant for shallow waters of inland lakes



and rivers aren't the same boats meant for deep



seas and great lakes. There are many different



designs, even boats that serve no other purpose



besides fishing.





These types of boats normally have stowage and



holders for bait, fishing poles, tackle, and



even special tanks to hold live fish. Other types



of fishing only boats feature an open platform



where anglers can fight fish from all sides of



the boat.





Power boats



Power boats are the most popular boats sold. The



designs with power boats are as varied as their



uses. Boats with seating in the front are



called bowriders, which are mainly used for towing



skiers or rafts. Most boats can also be used for



fishing as well. If you want to do both,



there are ski and fish combinations available.





Sailboats



When you first learn to pilot a sailboat, it can



be very challenging, although very rewarding as



well. A sailboat requires more skill and



knowledge to operate than boats, although they



are considered more rewarding once mastered.





With all available sailboats, the single masted



sloop is the most popular design. For those who



only boat on occasion, catboats, daysailers, and



dinghys are small and easily trailerable.





When you finally decide on the perfect boat for



you, look at what each one offers and how you



plan to use it. The perfect boat for you is



out there, all you have do is find the one that



best matches your needs.