I'm finally in a position financially to buy a power boat (sled or saltwater fiberglass) if I want to. Would buy new and something in the 18-20 ft range with all the necessary goodies.

But I don't know if I should with the state of our fisheries. I've been around this game long enough to know that the only consistent thing about Washington's fisheries is that they are inconsistent. Much more so in the last decade and that's what troubles me. I'm looking ahead and honestly, the writing on the wall I see ain't good. Everything from salmon to steelhead to sturgeon to crabbing to clamming is being more and more restricted(all the things I like to pursue).

Sure, things are cyclic but with gas going the way it is, more people and more restrictive fishery opportunities by the year I'm not so sure this is an era where a new boat would be a good investment.

On the other hand, I fish. It's what I've always been and is the fabric of who I am.
I've got bank fishing & driftboating covered. A power boat would be the next and final step in my climb up the fishing ladder.

If you were in my shoes, would you "take the plunge" with the state of things? I have enough doubt right now to avoid pulling the trigger.

What would you do?

Well, I just took a $48k plunge a few weeks ago so I say, "if ya got it, spend it!"

Granted, the main reason that I hit the salt is to fish, but there is some beautiful scenery out in the Sound as well. Something peaceful and serene about just getting out there. If it were only about getting a fish, it is by far cheaper to book a guided trip every month than it is to own a brand new boat.

Still plenty of opportunities out there.

Hell I have 3 boats.

Follow your dream and go for it.

Just be careful on what you spend. Make sure it is well within your comfort level and you will be happy.

Remember......you can always find reasons not to do something.

Enjoy.

It seems you are looking at the glass half empty, Like B-daddy said there is plenty still to fish for you just got to work a little harder, travel a little further. I have 4 boats and I will eventually pick up a salt boat when the right one comes a long. Fishing is why I work my ass off I can't see having to many boats ( rods, reels, etc)

I like Stam's idea.
My sled I built back n 1985 sits in the garage most of the time these days. Now, I will never get rid of it and do ues it for select fishing times, but,
I have had some incredable fishing trips in about 10 different countries. The cost of one of those trips is well worth it as you not only get to fish something completely different, you get to see another fishing view of the world. And once you get to most of these places, the fishing is fairly cheap. Airfare is the biggest cost most of the time.
Met some pretty cool people as well.

Go for it......taxpayers would be proud of you......make sure the boat is big enough to "track and catch" some of those tuna, that are off the WA coast.

The very thing you speak of Stam goes through my mind alot.....and right now, that mindset is winning out.

Big Daddy, you make a good point too. There ARE opportunities out there still and that's what's got me speculating in the first place. My doubts lie in the future. I'll admit one of my character flaws is I can be a "glass half empty" guy at times whether I want to or not.

Keep em' coming fellas.....good feeedback so far. Thanks.

Are they all Salty Dog's---I don't think so. A buddy of mine has the market cornered on them!

Where were you and all your make sence thoughts when I was buyin boats!

If you only worry about what could happen, then you will never take the plunge.

Just be smart about what you buy.

Eric,

There are lots of opps around your location that don't even require a boat, and surely you have some buddies you know that DID plunk down for a boat you could hitch a ride with from time to time.

Stam's idea has merit, and you can take said trips when you want, rather than being obligated to make a monthly payment regardless of whether you'e using your boat or not. Take a trip you never would have otherwise, and satisfy the fishing jones between trips locally.

Then again, a boat is great recreation even if fishing goes to hell in a handbasket. But they'e getting to be pretty pricey recreation, with the price of gas/moorage/storage/licensing/etc.

Hard decision. Good luck with it.

Buy a shiny new driftboat...and then give me your old one!

I'd spend the money on killer trips to fish in other places...trade drifts in your Willies to get trips in the salt with other boat owners...

Fish on...

Todd

I think about a big river/estuary type boat like mine, and then start thinking about how the state manages for reduced opportunity in the fisheries available to that type of vessel. Last year we lost the very best two weeks in Grays Harbor, Buoy 10 chinook restricted to what... 12 days?

This year an OR guide was lamenting how the world's greatest chinook salmon superhighway has been mismanaged to but a shadow of its former glory.... lower river spring king season was down to 12 days, the upper piece restricted to 26 days, summer fish down to 8 days, and URB's in the river only 16 days! Buoy 10 will be a bust for coho, and there's potentially only a month for kings.... if it doesn't get shut down early. Summer steelhead opener in the mainstem delayed another month. Now think about the average working stiff who can only take advantage of perhaps one or two days for every week of open season, and that doesn't add up to much opportunity to get much use out of your big-ticket investment.

I'd say for most folks, the math just doesn't pan out. Remember BOAT = break out another thousand. God only knows why I picked this year to get a new trolling motor and a new TR-1 autopilot! If you've got the $$$ to burn and the luxury of free time to take maximum advantage of the curtailed seasons... then yes, it still might make some sense. But if you don't.... then I'd say Stam's on the right track.

Ouch
Reality sucks and when you hear the good doc put it like that it's depressing as hell.
If your a boat guy and ya want a boat get a boat. Buying a boat never makes sense. Friends boats are always the best boats but some times ya got to man up and be the guy with the boat. I want to do the big trips but I want to do them with friends and most of my friends can't or wouldn't plan a 5k trip without the wife and kids. I try to pull off a trip to AK each year but it isn't the big buck type trip and I wouldn't give up the local trips to do it. If your already fishing with a friend that has a boat like you want tell him thanks and ask him what you should do. Maybe he would rather you droped some coin on new electronics or a repower. Maybe he wants to get out of owning a boat and would like to ride along in your new ride.
I own a few of them and always will. Some years they get lots of use and some years very little depending on what were after. I do have a new one in mind but it wont be this year and maybe not the next couple of years.
But someday you can count on it.....
There will always be something to fish for. Ling, rockfish, bluegill, perch, walleye, Lake trout, the B word, catfish, carp(insert little guy slamming his head into wall here) ya just might have to stop by the store on the way home to pick up a steak for dinner.
Your the only one that can answer your ?
Good luck

WWPD?

Parker would tell you to buy and to hold a seat for me!

Tough one.Right now I'd leave the door open for awhile longer to see what's around the corner in the next couple months.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

P.S. There will most likely be some really good used boats out there soon.

My grandfather told me " If it flys, floats or phucs.. rent it".

I did the big jet boat thing and gas was 1.39 a gallon. Had it for 5 years. Two of the greatest days of my life, when I bought it and when I sold it. Had a hundred gallon tank and a gizmo inside that made sure you used every drop no matter what you did.

That said, I sorta miss it sometimes. Have thought about getting a 15 ft something aluminum with a 50 horse something 4 stroke prop someday. That could handle 90 % of anything we ever did in the jet boat.

How'd that work out for ya?

finally, amidst all the pessimism, an optimistic view point . I was just about to put my new boat up for sale...

Not well. You know, he was always dropping that kind of sage crap on me as he followed me around his yard telling me I wasn't doing his yard work good enough. If we had a conversation today he would wind up laughing at me till he cried