What Type of Boat is Best for Me?

When it comes to deciding what type of boat is best for you, start by considering what you’ll be using the boat for. Will you be taking your boat out for fishing, enjoying water sports, cruising or day trips? There’s a wide range of boats with different features that suit different needs – from cabins with sleeping quarters for overnight trips to storage and space for fishing, or easy access to the boat for water sports.

With over 75 years of experience in recreational boating, we’ll help you choose the right boat for you and your lifestyle! Here are our top tips for choosing the right boat for you:

1. Fishing Boats allow you to go where the fish are, whether that’s our bays and estuaries, offshore game fishing or even heading up or down the coast. Different hull shapes and boat designs suit different conditions and environments.

Think about how many passengers you’re likely to have on board and how much room you’ll need for fishing rods and gear. If you’re primarily after a fishing boat then you may consider a centre console layout where the driver’s seat, steering wheel and electronics are located in the middle of the deck, allowing space around it for 360 degrees of fishing. You’ll also need to allow for space for fishing rods and storage for all the fish you’ll catch! If you’d prefer to drive from the more stable rear section of the boat then Quintrex and Yellowfin Plate Boats have a rear console option which leaves you a clear space at the front for fishing.

If you’re planning to head offshore, then a larger boat will be more suitable for rougher conditions and you’ll need a windscreen or cover to provide some shelter for the driver and other passengers. If you like spending time on the water then sleeping quarters and comfortable seating will be a must, as well as some cover from the harsh Aussie sun.  

2. Water Sports. If you and your family and mates love nothing better than water skiing, knee-boarding or wake-boarding then what you need in a boat will be slightly different. There are different hull shapes which create the right type of wake behind the boat for water skiing and you’ll need easy access via boarding ladders and the right attachment points so you can spend as much time on the water – safely – as possible.

If you’re expecting a boat full of teenagers every weekend then make sure you have enough seating, a safe deck to walk across and enough safety gear so that everyone has their own life jacket. Having the right boat for your needs and being prepared will mean everyone has a better time on the water!

3. Cruising or Day Trips. Love to head on a road trip or spend a few days exploring our local waterways? Consider the boat’s capacity, comfortable seating, lighting and even storage. Larger trailer boats give you the flexibility of taking your boat on holidays with you, as well as having a space dedicated to sleeping so you can stay on the boat overnight in comfort. Its well worth checking out our Cruisecraft Boats which have a large fishing cockpit while a sliding lockable cabin door ensures ample room for overnight accommodation.

 
Need some help finding the right boat for you? Drop into one of our showrooms in Sydney, Wollongong or Batemans Bay. With 75 years of experience, Hunts Marine is a third generation, family-owned business. We’re your one stop boating shop! Find out more at HuntsMarine.com.au, give us a call on (02) 9546-1324 or get in touch with our team.