By Mark Romanack
During the next few months thousands of potential boat buyers will wrestle with the question of boat size. The size of a fishing boat matters a great deal and the reasons don’t always have to do with how many people the boat must carry.
During the next few months thousands of potential boat buyers will wrestle with the question of boat size. The size of a fishing boat matters a great deal and the reasons don’t always have to do with how many people the boat must carry.
TOW VEHICLE CONSIDERATIONS
A fishing boat
is a big investment. If towing that fishing boat to popular fishing
destinations means the family must also invest in a new tow vehicle, there is a
good chance that boat deal is dead in the water. Typical family automobiles
including mini vans and small SUV’s equipped with V6 engines can also double as
a great “tow vehicle” so long as the boat in question isn’t too large.
This is
precisely the primary reason that the most popular boat sizes in America
continue to be 16, 17 and 18 foot models. These medium sized boats dominate in
sales because most families already own an automobile capable of towing boats
in this class without issue.
To effectively
tow larger 19 to 22 foot boats is a job better suited to a full size SUV, pick
up or van. For fishing trips close to home any of these vehicles with a V6
engine is adequate as a tow vehicle. For long distance towing a better choice
is a tow vehicle equipped with a more powerful V8 engine.
It’s interesting
to note that vehicles with V6 engines tend to get better gas mileage than those
equipped with larger V8 power plants. However, when towing the smaller V6 will
be working harder and in most cases it’s actually the V8 that will deliver better
fuel economy.
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Larger boats like this STX 2050 typically require a full sized vehicle
and V8 engine for towing and a pole building for winter storage.
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WINTER STORAGE
As mentioned
before a fishing boat is a large investment. Owning a boat also comes with the
responsibility of storing that boat during the off season. Most two car garages
are big enough to accommodate a tow vehicle and also a medium sized fishing
boat.
In order to fit
both inside the garage may require having a trailer that features a “swing
away” tongue and also trimming the outboard into the down position. Another
trick home owners can use when storing their fishing boat is to purchase wheel
dollies designed to fit under the trailer tires. Simply jack up the boat and
trailer, place the dolly under the trailer tire and lower the boat and trailer
back down onto the dolly wheels.
Rigged in this
manner the boat can be wheeled around by hand and positioned much closer to
garage walls and fixtures than would be otherwise possible. The dolly wheel
trick helps a boat owner store their valuable fishing boat during the off
season while still having enough storage space for the garage to function as a
home for the family car.
Storing larger
boats in the 19 to 22 foot class normally requires a more spacious pole
building or the use of an off site storage facility. Because off site boat
storage facilities pack boats in like cord wood, once the boat is in storage it
normally can not be removed until an agreed upon date.
OUTSIDE STORAGE
If a fishing
boat must be stored outside there are some affordable steps boat owners can do
to insure the best possible protection for their investment. The biggest threat
to outside storage is snow and water pooling on the boat cover, seeping into
the boat, freezing and causing damage to flooring and boat fixtures.
Using 2X4
lumber, some deck screws and a battery powered drill, boat owners can build a
simple wooden frame around the boat from which to drape and secure a heavy duty
tarp. The goal is to create a tent over top of the boat that is steep and taunt
enough that rain and snow shed right off.
It’s best if the
boat has a mooring or travel cover and the tarp provides additional weather
protection. The wooden frame work can be taken apart in the spring, stored and
used again the next winter.
When storing
boats outside it’s essential to winterize the outboard motor, remove batteries,
charge them and store them in a cool and dry location. It’s also essential to
make sure no water is left in the livewell, bait well or plumbing. Remove the
drain plug, tilt up the bow of the boat using the jack stand and inspect the
bilge area to make sure no water remains in the boat.