Fishing gives you some freedom from land and some hours out working the great lakes, soaking up the sun and breathing lungfuls of fresh, salty air. If you are ever going to find a way to make a living in the industry, you will need a quality commercial fishing boat.
But, more importantly, you’re going to have to know what to look for in a commercial fishing boat. This isn’t your weekend pleasure craft or even your typical bass boat.
A good commercial fishing boat will have some commonalities. As you begin your search and start looking at the photo galleries of the best commercial fishing boat manufactures, keep these details in mind.
Structural Construction & Quality Material
Always begin with aluminum. You may find commercial boats made of other materials, but aluminum will serve you best in the long run. It holds up over the long haul and is very slow to rust.
Often, you can find cheaper commercial vessels made of inexpensive steel pieces, mashed together. The low cost will tempt you to buy the cheaper boat. However, in the long run, you will spend more when you have to replace your boat. Hike Metal has been the preferred boat builder for the commercial fishing industry since 1958.
Aluminum commercial fishing boats have more longevity and are built to not only last, but outperform other vessels. These boats will, over time, cost you less money and get you a better return on investment, if you were to buy elsewhere.
Building the Commercial Vessel that you Need
With commercial fishing, size matters. Yes, the size of your catch will matter, but the size of your fishing boat matters as well. The best fishing boats will fit the qualifications that you need. Ensuring that there is ample room for the crew deck and all its cargo is what makes us excel at our craft of maritime engineering. Every last detail is crafted into the vessel.
Guest and Crew Capacity
Think about how big your crew will be once you get started. Will you have a first mate and a single crew member? Or will you have multiple crew members?
You could always start small and then move up to a bigger boat as your crew and business grow. You also could purchase a single small boat and then start a fleet of small boats.
Make sure the boat you’re looking at can accommodate all your supplies and crew as well as the catch you hope to bring in each day.
Accessories
Think about the amount of fish you hope to catch each day. Do some research to determine the type of fish and quantity of fish you hope to catch in the area where you plan on fishing.
When you’re fishing commercially, you have two major concerns. You need to catch fish, and you need to keep those fish fresh until you return to shore. Thus, you need to have adequately sized boxes or tanks to keep your catch fresh.
Research the fishing industry where you’d like to start your business. Learn about the size of catches and thus the size of storage fishermen need. Commercial fishing vessels need larger boxes than recreational fishing boats, so do not use your hobby vessel as a gauge for how much storage you will need.
Equipment of the pros
With commercial fishing, comes more advanced electronic equipment to track fish, or massive freezer compartments. When it comes to commercial fishing, you need a boat to handle the tough job of being out on the water for long hours. Whether you are using a Long-lining method or netting, you will need the pulleys, winches and gearboxes to withstand continuous use out on the water. Getting a better boat, means using industrial equipment that lasts.
Commercial Fishing Boat Washdown Systems
If you want your commercial fishing boat to stand out, you need to have a washdown system in place to keep your boat clean. Commercial fishing boats are prone to getting dirty quickly, with dirty water splashing onto the boat, bleeding fish scraping against the sides as you pull them in, and other messes particular to fishing.
Washdown systems vary, and thus you need to consider the type of washdown system you want on your boat before you buy the boat. The boat should come with a built-in washdown system. Here are a few options:
- Shared intakes
- Strainer
- Through-hull fitting
- Intake hose
The type of fish you catch, the frequency in which you use your boat, and the number of people on your crew all will affect how dirty your boat gets. So make sure you purchase a boat with a washdown system that works effectively.
Reliability Matters
Once you’re out in the middle of the ocean, a few hundred miles from shore, you rely only on the safety of your vessel. So make sure your commercial fishing boat has proper certification information. Ask for the full information on the boat so you can see where it was made and where it has been.
Furthermore, if you’re buying your boat from a manufacturing company, do your due diligence on researching the business. How many successful boats have they built, what are their clientele like? What is their boat building process? Do they have a world-class portfolio in boat building? Do they regularly receive awards and Government contracts for boat building?
If you are looking at a used boat, you want a boat that has not been in any accidents. Ideally, if you’re purchasing a used commercial fishing boat, you want a boat that has only had one owner.
Consider the Cost
If you’re just getting into this business, make sure you’re aware of what a commercial fisherman’s job entails. Depending on where you live, there might be times of the year that you won’t be able to work, or the fish in demand might not be as plentiful.
Make sure you’re making the right investment based on projected business needs and your ideal income.
Are you looking for a commercial fishing vessel? We manufacture custom boats for all industries and can get the boat designed and built …. that you’re looking for.
Contact us and request a quote today.
