Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 42

photo-Alex Zidock Jr.

photo-Spring Gearhart

Different Boats
for Different Folks
If you can sit on it or in it and it floats, you can probably
classify it as a boat. Powerboats built for pleasure come in
all sizes and shapes and some designs have different names
relative to their primary use.
From the inner tube boat used by anglers stealthily
floating to fish, to hulls large enough to include bathrooms,
kitchens and sleeping berths; there is a boat to meet your
lifestyle and plenty of water in Pennsylvania to enjoy. If you
don't currently own a boat and are thinking of purchasing
one, determine why you want the boat in the first place,
because there are different boats for different folks, or
families as the case may be.
One-person boats consist of inner tubes, paddleboats,
inflatable rafts, kayaks and canoes, all powered by hand
or foot. Personal watercraft (PWC), which includes
WaveRunners and Jet Skis, can be for one person or up to
four people. PWCs can push the rig nearly 60 miles per hour
with their gasoline powered waterjet engines.
Traditional boats called runabouts are usually 12- to
16-foot crafts found on smaller waters or near shore on
larger impoundments. Mostly constructed of aluminum
with some fiberglass models, they are suitable for up to two
or three people. Runabouts are great for fishing and short
recreational outings. These boats may be rowed or powered
by a small gasoline outboard engine. Some of these small
boats are called "tenders" used as a "dingy" or launch to ferry
passengers and supplies to and from larger vessels.
Many pleasure boats range between 16 and 24 feet.
Currently, a popular boat style in the United States is the

42

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014

by Alex Zidock Jr.

pontoon boat. Very stable, pontoon boats have come a
long way since their initial chore of supporting heavy
loads for commercial and industrial applications or use as
ferries. The basic two or three aluminum tubes welded
to a frame on which flooring is affixed is about all that
remains of the original design. Streamlined plastic
helm station; tufted, tucked and rolled upholstery; and
upgraded electronics and big engine capabilities have
made the pontoon boat ideal for many hours on the
water with family and friends cruising, fishing and even
tubing and water-skiing. The pontoon's advantages
include a flat floor, lower cost at an entry level than
traditional boats of equal size, and less costly to insure.
However, at the other end of the scale, a pontoon boat
can be outfitted to retail well over $100,000.
The traditional fiberglass boats for family use touted
as "fish and ski" or "fish and fun" models are configured
with variations of the standard "V" hull and either
an open bow called the "bow rider" or a closed bow
that sometimes houses a small cuddy cabin. Those
with cuddy cabins are handy for families with smaller
children who may seek shelter from the weather or
even a nap in a closed secure area. Cuddy cabins are
usually lockable and provide a secure space for fishing
equipment, life jackets and other objects more preferably
left on board between outings. These boats are usually
equipped with either outboard or inboard power, have
plenty of cockpit room for a couple anglers or room for
water skis, pull tubes and a picnic chest.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014

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