How to Buy a Fishing Boat - Cash Or Finance?

Before you take the boat buying plunge let me clue you in on two of the most widely spoken quotes in the boating world. "The happiest day of a boat owner's life is the day they buy the boat and the day they sell the boat" and "Boats are nothing more than holes in the water, into which you throw money."

Remember that boating is a hobby. So as you purchase a fishing boat you shouldn't go overboard with it. Unlike your house, boating isn't really worth going into debt for. Boats do not appreciate. First time buyers who aren't sure about boating should always make sure they spend well within their budget.

Also consider these optional items, depending on your water sports preferences: water skis, wakeboards, wet suits, towables (tubes), tow ropes and gloves, weight system for wakeboarding, pylon, boom, tower, etc.

To get the most value from your boat, it's always a best to put aside your recreational dollars, sell a few of your belongings, and simply save up
for a while. Next, carefully shop the boating market. After you save up 3,500 - 25,000 dollars, go ahead and buy the boat you want.

Whatever you do, make sure you don't invest all of your money on the just the boat itself. When you purchase the boat, you'll need to have enough money for taxes, registration, storage, towing insurance, gas, equipment and even minor repairs if your boat requires them.

Buying a boat, either new or used, paying cash is always better than financing. When you pay cash, you can save money, as there are no finance charges. Financing charges can get high, very high in fact if you don't know a lot about it.

If you must make your purchase over time, it's wise to use a home equity loan instead of a personal loan. This way, it'll be tax deductible. Always be on the lookout for boat show financing, and never, ever use it. Several boat show financing plans will extend the loan out over the course of 10 - 15 years.

A new boater will either stick with boating or get out of it all together. Usually, most boaters don't keep their boat for more than 10 years, which is reason enough not to get an extended finance loan on your boat.


If you've enjoyed reading about purchasing a fishing boat then you'll love what you find at Dig IN Shallow Water Anchors.

Buying a Flats Fishing Boat. Choose The Right Fishing Boat.

A very important question to ask yourself when buying a fishing boat is "Where do I plan to do most of my fishing?" If your first thought is the flats, the next most important question is, "How much 'ride and dry' am I willing to sacrifice to gain more shallow water capabilities."

The first thing you should consider when choosing a boat is that no single boat will do everything. If your searching for a boat that inspires confidence, don't expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are exciting to pilot on the weekends aren't the ideal boats for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn't expect quick acceleration and load carrying capacity together with the same boat. You can buy a boat to race or fish, then put around later as you can only do one or the other with a specific type of boat.

The proper logic to choosing the right boat is determining by how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and how you plan on using it.

For some fishermen, beauty is the first consideration. For fishing boats sleek design is very important, as you'll spend a majority of time floating and fishing, with many people looking at your fishing boat. With people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to fish tournaments instead of cruise, then speed is your primary consideration. There are many cruising fishermen out there who simply can't be happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut through the water, and get to the ideal fishing holes quickly.

Some fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are designed for shallow water are ideal here. Flats fishing is one of the most popular boat activities, meaning that you'll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the right boat before you know it.

If you've enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about Shallow Water Fishing, you'll love what you find at Dig IN Anchors.


You have question, We have answers.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions on our
Dig IN Anchors Blog

Buying a Flats Fishing Boat - Choose The Right Fishing Boat

A very important question to ask yourself when buying a fishing boat is "Where do I plan to do most of my fishing?" If your first thought is the flats, the next most important question is, "How much 'ride and dry' am I willing to sacrifice to gain more shallow water capabilities."

The first thing you should consider when choosing a boat is that no single boat will do everything. If your searching for a boat that inspires confidence, don't expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are exciting to pilot on the weekends aren't the ideal boats for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn't expect quick acceleration and load carrying capacity together with the same boat. You can buy a boat to race or fish, then put around later as you can only do one or the other with a specific type of boat.

The proper logic to choosing the right boat is determining by how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and how you plan on using it.

For some fishermen, beauty is the first consideration. For fishing boats sleek design is very important, as you'll spend a majority of time floating and fishing, with many people looking at your fishing boat. With people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to fish tournaments instead of cruise, then speed is your primary consideration. There are many cruising fishermen out there who simply can't be happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut through the water, and get to the ideal fishing holes quickly.

Some fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are designed for shallow water are ideal here. Flats fishing is one of the most popular boat activities, meaning that you'll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the
right boat before you know it.

If you've enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about Shallow Water Fishing, you'll love what you find at Dig IN Anchors

Buying Fishing Boat Insurance

Those of you who own fishing boat will want to make sure you get watercraft coverage. Often times, people don't realize that they need this type of coverage for their boats. There are many boat owners that don't even realize this type of insurance is even available.

You need boat insurance if you own a boat, it's that simple. Before you buy fishing boat insurance, here are some things you simply must know.

Many states now require that you carry watercraft liability coverage. What this coverage does, is protect you against any damage that you cause to
other people or their property with your boat. This insurance will also cover you for vandalism, theft, fire, stranding, sinking, and even collision. You should always call your insurance agent and see what's required with your state and what policies they cover.

There is also optional coverage that you should really consider. One type of coverage that you should strongly consider is Wreckage Removal. In most areas, the removal of sunken or wrecked boats is required by law, and the responsibility of the owner to pay for the removal, which can easily be very expensive.

Wreckage Removal coverage will pay these costs for you. You should also consider adding coverage that will pay for repairs and mechanical failure as well, along with towing charges - should you ever need to be towed back to the shore.

Not all insurance companies cover everyone who operates the boat. This is something you should always ask about, find out who is covered when operating the boat. There are several companies that will only cover the owner of the boat. Make sure that the insurance agent defines who is covered when operating the boat.

When you shop for boat insurance, call your current company first, then check with other companies to see what type of rates they offer as well. Always remember that insurance agencies are in competition with each other, and they'll work with you to get you to join them. Let one know about a better rate that you've been quoted and see if they'll go one better.

Before you shop for boat insurance, think about the investment you have made with your fishing boat. Boats are not cheap, replacing or repairing them isn't cheap either. Therefore, you should always make sure you get the coverage you need to protect you against anything that happens with your boat.

If you've enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about Shallow Water Fishing, you'll love what you find at Dig IN Anchors


You have question, We have answers.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions on our
Dig IN Anchors Blog

Shallow Water Fishing Boats

You've heard about it, and now you've decided you want to get into shallow water fishing. You want to be the guy that reels in shallow water fish like snook, red fish, tarpon and snapper. But you know that without the right boat, that's not going to happen.

Well, luckily for you, there's a whole new generation of flats skiffs out there, just waiting for an angler like you. Guys who want to sight cast in the clear, shallow waters off the Florida Gulf Coast demand shallow water boats that deliver.

After all, a boat with 'no sides' is a two-edged proposition. Shallow water fishing is fun, immediate and exciting, but without enough width and stability, it's not the safest way to navigate. You want to look at shallow water boats that are light-weight but stable, with a secure fishing platform.

And you definitely want that vessel to be able to "run skinny"! After all, if a shallow water boat can't give you extreme shallow water performance while still being able to handle sudden rough or choppy waters, it's not what you need. Shallow water boats worthy of the name should be able to take off from as little as ten inches of water!

Shallow water anchors are definitely something else you have to consider. Why? Because you have to decide between manual or power anchorage. You go manual, then you're looking at a three-quarter inch rod of solid fiberglass, which functions as an anchor AND as a push pole. Brackets built right into shallow water boats hold the push pole in place.

Motorized options for shallow water anchors mean that you press a button, and an anchoring pole deploys in mere seconds. No muss, no fuss, the spike goes down beneath the water, six to eight feet, and bingo, your boat is halted in its tracks. Shallow water anchors that are motorized ensure that even strong currents or blustering winds won't cause your boat to budge.

But what about the whole point of shallow water fishing? The fish! The beauty of shallow water fishing is that you can float in literally inches of water, and position yourself above creatures that would be inaccessible from deeper-draft style craft. Not to mention the stability that a good, 15 foot boat can give you. No worrying about keeping your balance, you can focus on the sport itself.

The best shallow water boats also provide below deck storage areas for stowing gear, thus increasing and maximizing clear space on deck for optimum freedom of movement. When you're ready to cast, the last thing you want is to trip. If you can find the right boat, shallow water fishing should be a dream.