The new boat dilemma

I don't know that the process of buying a new boat is the momentous and joyful occasion that a many boaties and non boaties would think it to be - either that or I'm a glass half empty type.

Thinking through different deck layouts, optimal hull sizing, outboard choices, trailer choices, electronics and ensuring that everything is considered and perfectly executed has been more taxing than I ever  imagined. Delving deeper sees much of the new boat dilemma manifest itself in the form of frustration due to my inability to weld aluminium. I'd love to sit in my backyard and weld up my new boat. I'd love to experiment, tinker, cut things out and weld them up again in the search for perfection ... but I neither have the skill, the equipment nor the time to do so.

After all is said and done, I think the joy of a new boat will likely come six months after the fact when all of the bugs are ironed out, when the boat is finally fitted with electronics and ready to roll, and all I have to worry about is the weather.

All boats are a compromise of sorts; my fishing features eclectic mix of styles and target species, there is no one boat on the planet that will do everything that I want perfectly. I've spent many months searching for the perfect hull and even now with my new boat fully welded up and in the process of being painted I'm making notes and planning what I'd consider doing differently on the next boat.

Having a blueprint for your own perfect hull design and then being told that something is not feasible or having plans change due to certain restrictions throws a curve ball into the mix - I like knowing everything up front and even though this hull is custom built I've needed to compromise at various stages. Too many hours of thought have gone into the build of my new boat and on the face of it many of the finer points will lost on the masses - I don't think that this boat will look much differently to the norm but at least I'll know the effort and workmanship that went into the build, I'll know where the tricky little cable trays are and why the positioning of the bollards, cleats and rod holders will make my life easier. I'll know the finer points and at the end of the day that's what will really matter to me.

To give you an idea I currently have around 15 pages of sketches and many more pages of correspondence - this is my first "custom" built boat and unless you wish to leave things to chance, everything has to be discussed and articulated to the nth degree. I've just finalised an order for the trailer, the engine is waiting to be bolted on and the electronics are in the process of being narrowed down so I guess there is light at the end of this long tunnel!

Between you and I, I'm bloody excited and can't wait for the new rig to be sitting in my driveway. When all is said and done however, no matter what you know about boats, or what you think you might know, the new boat dilemma suggests that there will always be a compromise of sorts with any new boat.

All boats are a compromise aren't they?