There's nothing like the first warming days of spring to get an angler fired up -- and thinking about boats. It is, after all, kind of tough to catch fish without one. Unfortunately, make the wrong choice of craft, and angling days become less pleasant.

It's been suggested that the two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day he acquires it and the day he gets rid of it. Another wag once noted a boat is a wooden hole in the water into which the owner pours money. And after 20 years as a Coast Guard-licensed charter captain, I can attest that if you make the wrong decision in picking the boat that best fits your needs, an element of truth will be found in both statements.

Every boat -- any boat -- is a compromise. All do some things magnificently, a few pretty well, others only marginally. A 24-foot bay boat is great for prowling coastal waters, but seems a poor choice when you're trying to launch it from a shirttail ramp at a small inland lake. A 16-foot johnboat would be a better fit for the latter, but a dangerous misstep for the former.

That's why boat makers offer such a dazzling array of products. No one boat is all things to all people, but if you know the uses you'll be putting it to, it's possible to pick your perfect boat.

Here's a look at some of the offerings available this year. They're diverse enough to handle virtually any angler's needs.

ALUMACRAFT
At 17 feet, 5 inches with a 93-inch beam, the new Dominator 175 CS is a versatile fishing machine. Rated for engines up to 150 horsepower, it's available with either a single side console or a twin walk-through with full instrumentation. A 40-gallon fuel tank provides ample cruising range.

Two 7-foot locking rod-storage boxes can accommodate up to 16 rigs, while aerated bow and stern livewells with 43-gallon total capacity can hold your catch and your bait. Battery compartments hold two forward and one aft. Pedestal seats are standard. Prewired for 12/24 volt, the boat can be factory-ordered with a Minn Kota trolling motor and a Lowrance liquid crystal graph depthfinder.
www.alumacraft.com

Alumacraft