The Admiral's Log

by Capt. Joe Kent

Tips For Searching Recreational Fishing Boats

January is boat show time and one of best times of the year to shop for the new or used boat of your dreams.  January and February typically are slow months on the saltwater fishing scene and are a great time to find good deals on boats.

Beginning in early January, the largest of the boat shows in the Southwest takes place at Reliant Center in Houston.  It is the Houston International Boat, Sport and Travel Show and features one of the largest collections of boats, especially trailerable fishing boats, anywhere.

Throughout the first quarter of the year there are several boat shows that follow Houston’s including those in Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio.

Sales of new boats, including the whole rig of motor, trailer and accessories, have been slow for the past few years as a result of our depressed economy.  The winter season is the best time to find bargains on boats and boat shows are a good way to start your search.

This year, there should be some outstanding values on new boats that did not sell during the prime time of spring and summer.  If you are new to boat shopping, here are some hints that could prove useful in your search.

First, if you can decide on the type of boat you want, (e.g. fishing vs. pleasure) that would be a good start.  Second, and more importantly, set a budget.  Know how much you are willing to spend and limit your search to boats in that price range.

While many boaters would like to own a brand new rig, economics may not justify it.  Used boats can be purchased at significantly reduced prices; however, there are pitfalls in shopping for that previously owned rig.

Here are suggestions that apply to both new and used rigs: 

•Look up the blue book values of your rig.  Values of both new and used boats are easily obtainable over the Internet.

•Take the boat for a spin if possible.  For new boats, a demonstrator should be available for you to check out on the water.

•Know what the warranty covers.  While warranties are good selling tools, many are stated in a manner that creates an illusion as to what they actually cover.  The best way to address this is to learn what the most likely problems are and specifically check out that coverage.  An example of this is in fuel-related problems.  One of the most common hiccups in new outboard motors comes from use of ethanol-based gasoline.  Most warranties will not cover damage from this fuel although it is the only fuel readily available in most areas.

•Review the accessories that are added on to the purchase price.  You may not need or want some of them and eliminating them could reduce the price by hundreds of dollars or more.

In addition to the items above that apply to new and used rigs, a more detailed analysis is needed in shopping for previously owned rigs.  Here are a few recommendations that are critical in avoiding getting stuck with a lemon.

•Have a survey run on the boat by a competent, experienced mechanic.  Items that need the most attention are the motor(s) and hull.  An experienced surveyor knows what to look for and can give you a good indication of what shape the boat package is in.  While there are no guarantees that a clean bill of health will result in trouble free use, it is worth the money to assure that there are no glaring problems.

•If a pre-purchase survey is not feasible, look for signs of problems.  One sign that can be visible to the purchaser is the condition of the motor with the cover removed.  If paint is missing, that could be an indication that the motor overheated and one of the first things to occur is for paint around the head and spark plugs to burn off.

•An obvious freshly painted interior, that is around the block and spark plugs, also could indicate over heating as the burned off paint was replaced.

•Observe the lower unit.  If the motor has a number of hours and the prop and lower quarter of the unit show little or no ware or appear to have been freshly painted, this could be a red flag for lower unit problems.

•If possible, run a simple pressure check on the lower unit oil reservoir, as a pressure leak likely indicates water seepage and lower unit oil and saltwater (or fresh) is a lethal combination.  A compression test is another vital step in the evaluation.

Enjoy your search for that new or used boat and hopefully these hints will help make things easier and more pleasant.

Search “Capt. Joe Kent” on YouTube for fishing videos taken all across the Galveston Bay complex.