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Want To Buy A Used Offshore Fishing Boat? Things You Need To Look For

If you are planning to buy a used offshore fishing boat, you need to be careful in what you choose. You want to make sure it is in great condition so it will last you for a very long time. Below are three different things you need to look for to buy the best boat that you can.

Performance

One of the most important things you need to look for is the performance of the boat. You will likely be running fast at times when you are looking for fish. Make sure the boat is able to go at the speed you need it to. If you plan to fast troll when fishing, the boat should not slog when you are going at pre-planing speeds.

Take the boat out on the water, and go fast to see how it handles the water. The type of engine used is important, and it is important that it has been properly maintained. Determine what year the engine is and how powerful it is. Ask the owner if they can show you maintenance records of the engine.

Features

If you need to keep fish that you catch alive, such as for fishing tournaments, you never know how many fish you are going to catch. For this reason, make sure the boat has at least two live wells. The last thing you want to have to do is to throw fish back because you have no place to put them.

Having a large rigging station can also be beneficial and make life easier for you. Look for a large cutting board, as well has a place to put the knifes, lures, and pliers close to the board.

If you think you will ever be trolling, make sure the boat has both downriggers and outriggers. You may not find downriggers in many boats. If the boat you are looking at does not have them, make sure there are pre-drilled holes so you can easily install the downriggers.

Interior Condition

Instead of just looking at the exterior of the boat, you need to make sure the interior is in good condition. Lift up everything on the floor, such as flooring materials, coiled ropes, or anything else sitting on the deck. Look for moss or discolorations. If you see only light discoloration, this is likely due to age. If there are very dark discolorations, however, the boat was likely not well taken care of. Inspect all wood and metal surfaces to see if there is any corrosion. 

Ask a boat mechanic to look over the boat for you before you buy it. They can tell if there are any problems with the exterior and interior of it that you may not see for yourself.


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