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 A
Good Boat is in the Eye of the Beholder
by
Dusty Miller
While
in the midst of winter, we're about as far away from boating weather
as we can get. The Toronto Boat Show has come along to stir up thoughts
of warm summer breezes on the water.
Each
year as manufacturers introduce new models, I am frequently asked
questions like "What sort of boat should I be looking for?" "What
is a good boat?" "What are the bad ones to avoid?" My answer is
always the same. A good boat suits your purposes well and a bad
boat is missing something you need. So the first thing you have
to do is decide how you want to use it.
But
before you even start to look at a boat, sit down and make a list
of what you want to do on the water. Your list should contain as
many details as you can think of.
Ask yourself the following questions: Where will I be doing my boating?
When and what time of year? What sort of water conditions will I
be boating in? How many people will I take along? Will I be cruising,
fishing or wakeboarding?
Where
you plan to do your boating is one of the important factors in the
size of boat you will need and the hull design you should have.
If you plan to take your boat far out into open water, you may need
a larger boat and the stability and power to get you back to shore
if the wind comes up. As the old saying goes, the bigger the water,
the bigger the boat, but there are also other factors to consider.
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(Read full article in the magazine.) (Top)
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