BASS BOATS / FISHING BOATS INTRODUCTION

 

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BASS BOATS/FISHING BOATS INTRODUCTION

From our Toronto Boat Show 2016 Quick Review

Fishing Boats are another line up were the quality of the whole line up has been moved forward. Not that many years ago there were only a hand full of high end boats to consider. If you take a look today there are many to choose from. The fit and finish is better than most of the runabout market

there really are some fantastic boats. Mind you there were a few odd things I seen, a Boston Whaler center console off shore style with a ski bar? Bayliner created another center console, and Mirror Craft is still building there floors the old fashioned way with bare plywood under the carpeted panels. That being said the power packages are awesome and a decision on who's boat to buy must be difficult. I would absolutely have to drive the boat before I made a purchase. I would consider all the options I wanted to add on the boat and how that would affect my deck space. Were I had room to add electronics, and the water I was going to be boating in regularly.

Fishing boats and I go way back, Back to the first Trophy and Robalo line ups. I have done work for Ranger, Astro/ Procraft, Polar, Hydra Sport, Intrepid, Boston Whaler and too many others to list. All over North America and beyond. I must say the builders who survived the crash of 2010 have better boats than ever. But those are just the fiber glass boat builders. Now we are seeing a huge serge in aluminum fishing boats. This is reflected in the floor space they consume at the 2016 Toronto Boat Show. Fishing Boats dominate North American boat building period.

I call any boat that is purpose built a utility boat as they are designed and marketed for the buyer to meet specific goals in boat ownership. In this case catching fish! Electronics and all the other gear you need has certainly kept pace with or out paced boat design. Fisher men or women are catered to like never before (just stop by your local Bass Pro Shop), unreal. I wonder if brand loyalty and or warranties play a key role in the purchase decision? This should be true more so than any power boat line up.

 

For me the fishing boat breed is divided into several categories :

1. Bass Boats, a boat tailor made to a buyers expectation. A low sleek boat with little free hull and a deck that is completely dedicated to angling only. You expect a flake hot rod of a boat with seating for the captain and his or her fishing buddy(s). These boats are rarely seen without all the accessories one needs to get the job done. Including trolling motors, jack plates, Fish finders, anchor poles and a massive power plant bolted to the back. I think that Bass Boats are among the sexiest boats on the water. Lean mean machines, and the top builders have engineered these boats to the max to provide their owners with all that they expect when they buy one.
2. Off Shore, these boats are designed to get you to your favorite fishing spot several miles out in the ocean. Most of these boats are multi engine go fast hull style with a just enough protection from a center console and T Top to allow you to breath and hold on at the speeds that they can reach, and in the big water that these boats are accustom to running in. This breed quite often sees double duty as they are very popular with fishing fans and diving fans.
3. Walk Around, boats give you the same type of feel as a center console however they rob some of the open forward deck space to give you a cabin. This cabin gives you space for shelter and allows you to overnight on board. We owe the popularity of this type of boat to Bayliner who successfully  mass marketed the Trophy WA.
4. Centre Console, a boat design that took a traditional hull and made maximum use of the deck space by placing a helm station just aft or at mid ship. Providing all the rest of the deck for utility use. Because these were deep V hulls space was provided for large wells for fish and storage and Inboard Out board power plants. More options for the boater.  T Tops and front deck canvas enclosures, along with a host of accessories made this boat a popular choice with boaters who love to fish
5. Sport Fish, the big boys toy. Real Sport Fish boats are off shore monsters they can eat up all weather conditions and get you there in style. These boats are rigged with Tuna Towers, Cobia Towers and are serious fishing machines with all the luxuries of the finest yachts. True Off Shore Sport Fish boats have no swim platform as backing down to land a large fish is mandatory. These boats are quite often used as a cruising yacht as the design and performance of a true Sport Fish needs to be experienced.
6. Fishing Boat, this name describes a wide range of boats that are utility fishing boats. A large volume of this breed are aluminum hull boats which are designed with fishing as the primary use. There are more makes and models in this line up than can be believed, from a basic open aluminum hull with cross hull seats all the way to a boat which rubs shoulders with a bass boat. This line has really caught fire and I am still trying to catch up with all they have to offer.
7. Hybrid Fishing, these are other types of power boats which have been accessorized to provide the boat owner with the ability to fish off their boat. An example of this is the Sea Ray/ Amber Jack a Sundancer which has had wells and rod holders added to make room for the needs of some one who wants to fish and cruise. Not all these hybrids work as well as others. Limited fishing areas, as access may be limited to move yourself or your rod around, there maybe no top to the side deck to mount down riggers, and a whole host of items to catch a lure in or on.

Fishing boats do however have a boat for every need and level of commitment to the sport. One thing about fishing boats and other utility boats they get used! In most cases these boats are on the water regularly and that's what I like about this breed. Boat owners head out in all weather, at all times of the day, when you visit your marina the fishing boat slips are generally the ones that are empty the most. Fisherman are not afraid to testy the durability of their boats or motors. This is one of the few lines ups that I believe would require long term testing to know if the boats are as good as they are marketed to be. A trip around the lake in optimum conditions for two hours wont tell the story at all. I would think that a true sportsman would want to know more about the fish ability of the boat than how plush the cushions are!  Reviews should include service details as these people are the ones who put hours on the water.

Author BW

 

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