| the most popular uses for boats is for fishing. | | | | If you want to go fast, under primarily engine |
| People sometimes look at the bewildering array of | | | | power, and still plan to mostly fish in wide rivers, |
| available boat types and are confused about what | | | | lakes, bays, etc., a semi-vee or full vee bottom |
| type is most useful for them. Hopefully this article | | | | power boat may be your best choice., These |
| will make you aware of the various types of | | | | come from smaller — two passenger sizes, |
| fishing boats there are so you can do a good job | | | | easily tailored behind a small car, all the way to |
| going about picking the best design for you to | | | | big, 6 or 8 passenger models that can also handle |
| build in your home workshop. | | | | sea conditions. Another option for this kind of |
| The first thing you have to decide is what type | | | | conditions is the Pacific power dory. These highly |
| of water you’ll be fishing on. A suitable | | | | stable and efficient hulls can outperform |
| boat for small ponds and backwaters would not | | | | commercially made fiberglass models and can be |
| necessarily be the best choice for near coastal | | | | built for a fraction of what a new boat costs. |
| conditions where bigger seas might sneak up on | | | | If you’d like a man-powered or small |
| you. Similarly a river fishing boat capable of | | | | engine boat you can toss in the back of a pickup |
| handling wild whitewater might be a disappointing | | | | or on a car roof and head to a stream, lake, bay |
| performer on larger, open lakes. A boat that will | | | | or bayou, consider one of the ultra-light boats |
| have to do double duty as a fishing and | | | | with plans available. They come in various shapes, |
| waterfowl hunting boat will be very different from | | | | from prams and dories, to canoes and kayaks. |
| a boat that will be doing double duty as a fishing | | | | Larger sea-kayaks are suitable for fishing and |
| and water skiing boat. Spend some time | | | | waterfowl hunting. Using modern materials some |
| identifying the uses of your boat first — | | | | of these boats can weigh as little as 40 lbs so can |
| what kind of water, how fast, how many people | | | | be carried to the water with one hand. |
| — these are what will dictate the best | | | | Finally, if you want to use your boat to fish in the |
| type of boat for you to build. | | | | ocean, you’ll be faced with very different |
| If you primarily intend to fish in rivers, especially | | | | conditions than in protected waters so need to |
| smaller, fast moving rivers, you’ll want a | | | | look for a boat designed for ocean conditions. Vee |
| drift boat, that is one that is primarily intended to | | | | bottom Carolina dories, Pacific power dories, and |
| drift down rivers. There are two types of these, | | | | vee bottom center console boats are all suitable |
| the Western style, sometimes called, McKenzie | | | | for coastal conditions, and also will outperform |
| River drift boats, and Midwestern style drift boats | | | | heavier factory made boats and may be used |
| less for canyon shooting in the mountainous | | | | with smaller, more economical engines. |
| West, and more for smaller rivers and streams | | | | For offshore conditions, very specialized craft are |
| common throughout the US. The Midwestern | | | | called for. Grand Banks dories are some of the |
| style can be rowed much faster and with more | | | | most seaworthy boats ever designed. |
| control than the Western types intended only for | | | | They’ll power through any weather, |
| drifting downriver, where the oars are only used | | | | though they’re no speed demons, and can |
| for keeping the boat pointed downriver. | | | | also be sailed. In 1876 (the USA’s 100th |
| If you intend to fish on lakes, bays and protected | | | | birthday year) an 18-foot open dory, named the |
| waters, you have a choice of quite a few designs. | | | | Centennial was used on the first single-handed |
| If you intend to both row and use moderate | | | | North Atlantic crossing from New York to England. |
| power, there are few better choices than a | | | | Other candidates for home built offshore fishing |
| Carolina style dory. These easy-to-build boats get | | | | boats include Hawaiian sampans, mullet skiffs, and |
| up and plane easily, carry lots of load, are quite | | | | larger vee bottom Carolina dories. |
| stable and yet still may be rowed in a pinch. | | | | |