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THE CONFIGURATION

Moving past hull type, there are a range of topside configurations that may be considered. Hard tops (open-back or enclosed), cuddy cabins, centre consoles, centre cabins, side consoles and dories (open boats) are some of them. The choice is usually governed by the size of the boat and its intended use.

ANCHORS AND ANCHORING

Anchoring is an important aspect of fishing and boating in general. Good ground tackle is also important safety equipment. For example, if you are being blown down onto a rocky coast with your engine out of commission, you really want your anchor to hold!

RODHOLDERS

It is a standing joke that sometimes ‘Roddy’ (the rod holder) is the best fisherman on the boat, as rods left unattended in rod holders sometimes catch the most fish. They are certainly important fishing accessories, particularly when correctly positioned and aligned.

ROCKET LAUNCHERS

Apart from active ‘fishing’ rod holders, there are others that are designed mostly to store and carry rods, to keep them out of the way, and to protect them from getting knocked around. Variations include rod holders inside the boat (which help keep the spray away from your reels), holders built around a bait station (which may also be fishing positions) and multiple position overhead units called ‘rocket launchers’ for obvious reasons. When looking at a boat, reach up to see if you can comfortably access the top rod holders – there is little point in having extra storage if you can’t reach it!

BOAT BUYING

Here is a checklist of common potential issues that should be checked before buying a second-hand boat