Power Boat or center Console
I was in the south of Germany so my knowledge about boats was they float and are great for fishing off them. I love the water and the sea and I was lucky to make some money in the UAE. So I got the idea of buying a boat. I checked the prices, rules and regulations and found out how easy it is to own a boat in the UAE.
I went to Dubai Marine Mall, the biggest show room in Dubai and checked out some boats. After setting foot into a boat I then made my decision – I’ll buy a boat.
So far so good, but I had absolutely no idea about the differences of each boat and what to buy. Unfortunately the sales personal was also not so experienced – at least I didn’t trust them to help me. As a proper German I started my research on all kind of boats in Dubai. First I checked the used ones but in this time (2006/2007) there was almost nothing on the market (now the used boat market is very good). First I decided that I will go for a Powerboat with an inboard engine – the idea behind this was that I can use it for everything: cruising, wakeboarding, fishing, pulling the ring or for a sun bathing. Because there were no used boats and I was afraid of technical problems, I decided to buy a new boat with warranty. I decided for a forewings 19 feet with a mercruiser 240HP engine including a trailer. This was also one important issue for me – I wanted to keep the boat on the trailer in a position that I didn’t have to pay an expensive berth rate for keeping the boat docked. Anyways it’s better for a boat to be kept dry and flushed every time with sweet water. The running costs are very affordable. You pay the registration which is about 500,-AED and the petrol, which for European Expats very cheap. Again as a German I insured the boat (about 4000,-AED p.a.)
The boat was amazing – the exhilaration was great, the top speed was almost 50 knotes, which was also unbelievable. I enjoyed it a lot when I was out with friends having fun cruising along the cost, kicking someone out of the ring or having a sun bath an listing to the music.
90% of the time I used the boat for fishing.
The boat was great for the fun activities, but was more worth it for fishing. It was OK and I caught my fish, but handling the hooks and fish was sometimes blood on deck, which was very difficult to keep clean, especially with the nice white cushions. Another point was sometimes I went out alone for trawling and the steering is on the starboard side (right) which means the load in the boat is not balanced. Also the 19ft boats are a bit shaky when we went out in windy weather. So I started thinking of something especially made for fishing. Last year I got the chance to change the boat and I sold mine and bought another used one (nowadays the offers are good). I changed my boat to a 26ft gulf craft with center console and 2x Suzuki outboard engines. After the first trip I was convinced that it was the right choice for me to change – even if my girlfriend likes the other boat more. Of course this boat was not so fast like the other one, exhilaration was less and fast close turns was not so easy like the old one. But for the 90% fishing time the boat is much better for me.
Now my tips if you want to buy a small boat:
1. Think about for what purpose you will need the boat and then decide. A fun boat (water ski, wakeboard, cruising) is different to a fishing boat.
2. Do you want to keep it on a trailer or are you berthing it? I would say if you keep it on a trailer, don’t buy a boat bigger than 30ft. My 26ft boat is a heavy load to handle.
3. Fun boats – I would choose again a small boat between 19-24ft, with a strong inboard engine. This is especially good for wakeboarding and water skiing because you need fast exhilaration and a fast response to turns to really enjoy it.
4. Fishing boat – I would choose an open center console boat, 24-30ft long with one or two outboard engines. Even small engines will do it. For fishing you need space on the boat and it everything should be solid. Center console is great because you can pass the steering on both sides and therefore reel in fish perfectly on both sides of the boat. I prefer two engines so I always have backup if one engine is not working. 4 stroke engines are very nice especially for trawling because they are not so noisy. A freshwater tank and a hose are also very useful on board. Fish finder, GPS and rod holders are mandatory.
To find a dealer, check the search function.
General Tips:
1. Always flush your engines with sweet water – the water here is very salty and aggressive.
2. Maintain your boat and make sure regular check or services are carried out – salty water, dust and heat are challenge for all equipment.
3. Never leave the harbor without filling up the boat with fuel! A canister with some extra liters is mandatory to keep on the boat (I have already towed two boats back to the harbor because they ran out of fuel – very stupid)
4. Never leave without your safety equipment
5. Don’t trust only the steel rope at the winch if you put the boat on the trailer, put some extra straps on the boat also.
6. Never pull someone behind the boat (doesn’t matter if it is a wakeboard, ski or ring) without a life vest. I underestimated how hard water can get – it can really knock you out. The sport vests are very comfortable and they are also not looking as stupid.
7. Last but not least – take your garbage back to the harbor – I have seen so many times people that just throw their rubbish over board.
I hope my personal experience is helpful.
Have fun and enjoy your boat.