Offshore Saltwater Boats

by Allen Bohart

Offshore fishing is the stuff of legend, and brings about daydreams of hours-long battles with huge sailfish ala Hemingway. To realize those dreams, one must first own the right equipment, including an offshore fishing boat. Offshore fishing boats are not your everyday boat. They are much heavier and more rugged than the average lake runabout you see in many of your neighbor's driveways. In fact, you are highly unlikely to see any kind of offshore boat in anyone's driveway as most are not trailerable, though some of the smaller ones are.

Safety is a primary consideration when purchasing an offshore saltwater fishing boat, as you can't just take any boat out into the open ocean. These boats must be able to withstand some rolling ocean waves, and be able to protect the occupants in case of sudden inclement weather. I'm not saying that your boat should be able to plow through the perfect storm, but at least be able to get out of the rain and expect to come out alive should a few waves come along. Other safety concerns includes having bilge pumps, radio contact with the shore, and radar to detect oncoming vessels who may not detect you, especially if you should happen to be one of those crazies who likes to fish close to shipping lanes. Having an adequate supply of food and water is also a primary concern should you be forced to camp out for a while due to a conked out motor in the middle of inclement weather. It may take a while for the Coast Guard to come and get you!

In general terms, the bigger your offshore boat the better off you are. Of course, this is a moot point to those of us not rich enough to buy one of those huge cabin cruisers that we all dream about. Trade-offs may need to be made...Just make sure that you are aware of the risks and take them under consideration when purchasing your boat. As might be expected, offshore boats are the most expensive of all leisure boats due to the increased ruggedness and sheer size of them. Offshore boats range in size from about 26' in length to just about any length you can imagine and you can expect to pay anywhere from $40,000 on up to a cool $500,000 for a good offshore boat. Anything more expensive than that is a yacht and is nothing more than a status symbol!

The smaller offshore boats will be equipped with either single or dual outboard motors. Most offshore motors will be of the high-horsepower variety, due to the need to power through rough waters. On larger boats, you can expect to have an inboard diesel motor of many hundreds of horses. The overall price of the boat, of course, is directly related to the amount of power that is packed into the motors.

This article gives a general overview of some of the items to consider when shopping for an offshore saltwater fishing boat. For more specific information, as well as suggestions on where to purchase a good fishing boat, be sure to visit Fishing Boat HQ.

About the Author
Allen Bohart is a fishing fan, and enthusiastic writer for about any subject that interests him. He is also co-owner of Fishing Boat HQ, a site about fishing boats of all kinds.