Fishing is one of the simplest joys in life — a pleasure that anyone, old or young, rich or poor, can enjoy. In fact, plenty of avid anglers don’t own any gear at all, preferring to rent what they need from bait and tackle shops during their excursions. Fishing boats, too, can be leased on a daily or weekly basis at most fishing spots. However, is renting the right way to fish?
Fishers with enough resources may strongly consider purchasing a fishing boat, and there are plenty of reasons boat ownership is a rewarding experience. However, not every angler needs to start saving for a new craft, and some might even benefit by getting rid of the ones they have. If you are agonizing over buying a boat, here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of ownership and renting.
Best Boats for Fishing
Any floating bark will get you out on the water, but there are certain boats better suited to different kinds of fishing. If you are a fisher who prefers to engage in only one particular sport — recreational freshwater angling, for example — you may be confident investing in a single vessel. In this case, it is helpful to understand the intricacies of the wide world of fishing boats. Though most craft types are easily understood by their names alone, what follows is a short description of the most popular fishing vessels.
- Bass fishing boats. As the name indicates, these vessels are used in freshwater primarily by anglers looking to catch bass. The boats are low and sleek, and they measure between 16 and 26 feet.
- Center consoles. With the controls located in the center of the deck, a center console vessel offers plenty of space for multiple fishers. Uncovered yet particularly rugged, these boats are good for freshwater and marine waters alike.
- Bay or flats boats. Excellent for catching coastal fish like sea trout and redfish, flats boats can also float merrily in water as shallow as two feet, even with multiple people on board.
- Sportfishing boats. Designed specifically with big catches in mind, sportfishing vessels are large and well-equipped to handle multi-day fishing excursions on the ocean.
Costs of Ownership
Like a house or a car, a boat is much more than what is printed on the price tag. In fact, most boat owners have a joke: A boat is just a hole in the water you pour money into. Boat ownership is undeniably expensive; here are just a few of the biggest associated costs:
- Taxes. Varies by state; you should expect both sales and property taxes.
- Fuel. About $400 to fill up the tank, depending on its size, and $300 whenever you need an oil change.
- Insurance. About 1.5 percent your boat’s value.
- Docking. Varies by state, marina, and boat size; between about $40 and $300 per day.
- Maintenance. About $300 per year.
- Gear. Between $70 and $20,000, depending on the complexity.
Indeed, a boat costs much more than the sum of its parts. Worse, boats endure crippling depreciation, with a brand-new vessel losing 10 percent of its value every year. It should be no surprise that most boat owners forego selling in favor of other ways to get rid of their boats, including donation.
Costs of Renting
The amount you pay to rent a fishing vessel depends on multiple variables: where you are, what boat you want, how long you want it, and what your history is.
In most places, you can rent a simple fishing boat, without any frills for as low as $25; even a luxurious fishing vessel, upwards of 40 feet, goes for only about $1000 per day. Still, no matter the dollar amount of each rental, many people believe that in the long run, renting will cost more than purchasing (though perhaps not owning), simply because they are not putting the money toward having sole possession .
Conclusions
Most fishers enjoy a wide variety of fishing excursions, from deep sea to trapping to fly fishing and more. Even anglers who enjoy the sport for its promise of quiet tranquility likely hanker for a deep-water challenge every now and again. Unless you know you can commit to a single fishing style, and unless you plan to purchase a boat that affords more recreation opportunities than fishing (like a deck boat or bowrider) you might be better off donating any boat you currently own and renting to suit any future fishing vessel needs. By Jasmine Howard