| One of the most popular uses for boats is for fishing. | | | | and still plan to mostly fish in wide rivers, lakes, bays, |
| People sometimes look at the bewildering array of | | | | etc., a semi V or full V-bottom power boat may be |
| available boat types and are confused about what | | | | your best choice., These come from smaller - two |
| type is most useful for them. Hopefully this article will | | | | passenger sizes, easily pulled on a trailer behind a small |
| make you aware of the various types of fishing boats | | | | car, all the way to big, 6 or 8 passenger models that |
| there are so you can do a good job going about | | | | can also handle sea conditions. Another option for this |
| picking the best design for you to build in your home | | | | kind of conditions is the Pacific power dory. These |
| workshop. | | | | highly stable and efficient hulls can outperform |
| The first thing you have to decide is what type of | | | | commercially made fiberglass models and can be built |
| water you'll be fishing on. A suitable boat for small | | | | for a fraction of what a new boat costs. |
| ponds and backwaters would not necessarily be the | | | | If you would like a man-powered or small engine boat |
| best choice for near coastal conditions where bigger | | | | you can toss in the back of a pickup or on a car roof |
| seas might sneak up on you. Similarly a river fishing | | | | and head to a stream, lake, bay or bayou, consider |
| boat capable of handling wild whitewater might be a | | | | one of the ultra-light boats with plans available. They |
| disappointing performer on larger, open lakes. A boat | | | | come in various shapes, from prams and dories, to |
| that will have to do double duty as a fishing and | | | | canoes and kayaks. Larger sea-kayaks are suitable |
| waterfowl hunting boat will be very different from a | | | | for fishing and waterfowl hunting. Using modern |
| boat that will be doing double duty as a fishing and | | | | materials some of these boats can weigh as little as |
| water skiing boat. Spend some time identifying the | | | | 40 pounds so can be carried to the water with one |
| uses of your boat first - what kind of water, how fast, | | | | hand. |
| how many people - these are what will dictate the | | | | Finally, if you want to use your boat to fish in the |
| best type of boat for you to build. | | | | ocean, you'll be faced with very different conditions |
| If you primarily intend to fish in rivers, especially smaller, | | | | than in protected waters so need to look for a boat |
| fast moving rivers, you'll want a drift boat, that is one | | | | designed for ocean conditions. V-bottom Carolina |
| that is primarily intended to drift down rivers. There are | | | | dories, Pacific power dories, and V-bottom center |
| two types of these, the Western style, sometimes | | | | console boats are all suitable for coastal conditions, |
| called, McKenzie River drift boats, and Midwestern | | | | and also will outperform heavier factory made boats |
| style drift boats less for canyon shooting in the | | | | and may be used with smaller, more economical |
| mountainous West, and more for smaller rivers and | | | | engines. |
| streams common throughout the US. The Midwestern | | | | For offshore conditions, very specialized craft are |
| style can be rowed much faster and with more control | | | | called for. Grand Banks dories are some of the most |
| than the Western types intended only for drifting | | | | seaworthy boats ever designed. They'll power through |
| downriver, where the oars are only used for keeping | | | | any weather, though they're no speed demons, and |
| the boat pointed downriver. | | | | can also be sailed. In 1876 (the 100th year birthday of |
| If you intend to fish on lakes, bays and protected | | | | the USA) an 18-foot open dory, named the Centennial |
| waters, you have a choice of quite a few designs. If | | | | was used on the first single-handed North Atlantic |
| you intend to both row and use moderate power, | | | | crossing from New York to England. Other candidates |
| there are few better choices than a Carolina style | | | | for home built offshore fishing boats include Hawaiian |
| dory. These easy-to-build boats get up and plane | | | | sampans, mullet skiffs, and larger v bottom Carolina |
| easily, carry lots of load, are quite stable and yet still | | | | dories. Each has their pluses and minuses, depending |
| may be rowed in a pinch. | | | | on whether speed, economy, or a smooth ride is the |
| If you want to go fast, under primarily engine power, | | | | more important characteristic. |