What boat to buy for a first timer ?

[NoobieBoater]

Hi,


I have finally saved some money to purchase a deep sea fishing boat( 4 person boat). I have seen the classifieds and there is a a lot of information to absorb. Hoping that an experienced skipper can give me some tips on what to look for in in a vessel. Also maybe an idea of the running costs? Launching fees?


Thanks

[GT Mayhem]

I am by no means an experienced skipper, but i can offer my 2c.

First thing to remember when buying a boat.... Especially a sea going boat....
A Boat is a hole in the ocean where you keep throwing money into.
That said, it can and will bring you endless good memories as well as bad ones, and many enjoyable hours.

To determine what boat to buy, you need to determine what type of fishing you will be doing, where you will be fishing etc. These factors will make a HUGE difference ti your decision. If you are buying a boat for the first time, it most likely will not be your last boat.
My advice is spend as many hours as possible fishing on other peoples boats, friends etc, this will help you in deciding what you need. Whatever you do, dont rush, even if it takes you a year to decide. Make an informed decision, do your due diligence instead of rushing into something. Do a proper search on this site as well as others like this oneand do as much reading as possible.

Happy hunting.

[travelmember]

This is a bit old but parts will still be relevant.


http://www.boatfishing.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=6093

[maganything]

Hi,


First thing we would need to know is your budget for the boat?
Secondly, Where do you plan on launching, harbor, shelter launch or surf launch?
What type of offshore fishing to intend doing, Marlin, gamefish, or bottoms?
Do you have your skippers? CAT C is about R6k last time i checked


Club fee's vary but DSBC is about R3200pa, you need to do your annual COF which is about R450, Radio License R200pa plus a once off registration fee of about R300 and the VHF course which is about R2500, insurance varies according to boat cost, trailer license which is about R500, annual service of motors which varies according to motors.

[John F]

I am by no means an experienced skipper, but i can offer my 2c.

First thing to remember when buying a boat.... Especially a sea going boat....
A Boat is a hole in the ocean where you keep throwing money into.
That said, it can and will bring you endless good memories as well as bad ones, and many enjoyable hours.

To determine what boat to buy, you need to determine what type of fishing you will be doing, where you will be fishing etc. These factors will make a HUGE difference ti your decision. If you are buying a boat for the first time, it most likely will not be your last boat.
My advice is spend as many hours as possible fishing on other peoples boats, friends etc, this will help you in deciding what you need. Whatever you do, dont rush, even if it takes you a year to decide. Make an informed decision, do your due diligence instead of rushing into something. Do a proper search on this site as well as others like this oneand do as much reading as possible.

Happy hunting.

x2!!!!!
What is you experience with fishing boats and/or boating in general?

[Lenny]

Gt mayhem has giving you very good advice .


The only thing , I want to add m is make sure , you can afford to keep it on the water and 110 % tip top .

[stephenrplumb]

I bought a rubber duck which was awesome, and one of my main priorities was something pretty easy to tow. It was a sub 750kg trailer, and we have towed it around the country. I had sold a dam boat for 80k and paid 80k for the rubber duck, but spent a few bob on a decent chart plotter/fishfinder and some general bits and bobs.

WE had great fun on this at sodwana, and PE and mostly Dbn, but I have recently acquired a Ace Glider 530. Sadly I have not been able to get down to use it since early Jan, so a bit pissed with this lockdown, however I must say that if fishing is going to be your main activity, then this is just so much more comfortable.

We have not tried spear fishing off this boat yet, and for that the rubber duck was probably better and a great all rounder, but for spending a day off  shore the Ace Glider is just so much better.

There was a very good breakdown of costs, above, but I would add trailer maintenance and servicing the boat to that list. I have decided to pole launch my boat, and this means that I don't have the to dunk the trailer in the sea, which I highly recommend. Even so, it is best to try and service the bearings every year.

If you look after the boat well, I don't really think they are a money pit. I would also say that you need to take the passenger ability with a pinch of salt. I am good for 5 people on the ace glider which is a biggish boat, but I think three people, possibly four at a stretch is comfortable. Much over that and you feel cramped.

If you want to regularly fish with 4 people then make sure the boat is comfortable with 4 people on board. Again if you can test a boat or two, that would be great.

The other issue is how much you can tow. Bigger boats are heavy and if you want to stay legal then you really need a heavy SUV. Most bakkies are at or around 2000kgs which means you can't tow more than that. I am keeping my boat at KZN boat storage in Congela (thats another 1800/month) but it means that I have a pretty flat commute to the ski boat club. If you are towing up to Kloof or westville, be aware that towing a 6m boat can be quite heavy.

Then there is the centre consul vs front consul. I think the centre is nice for fishing, but I am glad with a front consul especially when you are coming home into a sea with a head wind. I don't think a centre consul would be much fun under those conditions. I must also say that my boat has a pretty big canopy which makes it massively more comfortable in the sun. Again I highly recommend this, as I really am a pale face. Others may have different views on this.

Budget will play a very big role in your final decision, and I looked at a lot of frogs before finding what I liked and you kind of tend to just know when you have found a good'un.

This may not be popular comment, but I am pretty sure we are very much in a buyers market so be brutal and be prepared to walk away. There are not many buyers around at the moment and you may find very insulting offers are looked upon quite favourably. I am going to be selling my duck when the lockdown is over, so this won't work well for me.

[NoobieBoater]

I am by no means an experienced skipper, but i can offer my 2c.

First thing to remember when buying a boat.... Especially a sea going boat....
A Boat is a hole in the ocean where you keep throwing money into.
That said, it can and will bring you endless good memories as well as bad ones, and many enjoyable hours.

To determine what boat to buy, you need to determine what type of fishing you will be doing, where you will be fishing etc. These factors will make a HUGE difference ti your decision. If you are buying a boat for the first time, it most likely will not be your last boat.
My advice is spend as many hours as possible fishing on other peoples boats, friends etc, this will help you in deciding what you need. Whatever you do, dont rush, even if it takes you a year to decide. Make an informed decision, do your due diligence instead of rushing into something. Do a proper search on this site as well as others like this oneand do as much reading as possible.

Happy hunting.

Hi,


Thank you for the response. I am looking to do some bottom fishing in and around the wild coast up to PE.


Regards

[NoobieBoater]

This is a bit old but parts will still be relevant.


http://www.boatfishing.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=6093

Thanks Very insightful!

[NoobieBoater]

Hi,


First thing we would need to know is your budget for the boat?
Secondly, Where do you plan on launching, harbor, shelter launch or surf launch?
What type of offshore fishing to intend doing, Marlin, gamefish, or bottoms?
Do you have your skippers? CAT C is about R6k last time i checked


Club fee's vary but DSBC is about R3200pa, you need to do your annual COF which is about R450, Radio License R200pa plus a once off registration fee of about R300 and the VHF course which is about R2500, insurance varies according to boat cost, trailer license which is about R500, annual service of motors which varies according to motors.

Hi,


My budget is around 120k and i plan on launching from slipways and the surf. Will be doing mostly bottom fishing and no i don't  have my skippers. A guy down the coast quoted me 10k for the cat c  and vhf. Thanks for the costs, it doesn't seem to expensive to own a boat thus far. Whats type off hours should i look for on the outriggers?


Regards
Sanjeev