How to Buy a Boat(With Your Wife)

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What He Wants
I’m a coastal light tackle and fly fisherman at heart. I want a boat that serves as a stable casting platform in the waves with as few obstructions that impede fishing as possible. I believe you can tow kids behind anything, and that beanbags make perfect cockpit seats. Strip it down, make it tough and rugged, and point me to the inlet.

The Hull
I like a deeper V and narrower beam for slicing through waves in the inlet, but I also like the variable deadrise design, which makes for a sharper entry, but with a shallower, more stable V aft.

The Console
It’s narrow with lots of walk-around room to either side. Simple and clean with plenty of space to mount electronics. A T-top or Bimini just gets in the way of casting. Shade? We can all wear sun buffs and SPF 30.

Stowage
I want insulated fish boxes and inwale rod racks as well as tackle drawers and places to stow the cast net, chum bucket and various other accoutrements.

The Power
I want an outboard so I can trim it out of the water when the boat is sitting in its slip, and it’s not soaking in salt water. Plus, care and maintenance are relatively simple.

The Transom
I don’t want too much hardware back there that interferes with fighting fish around the motorwell or adds drag.

The Head
We don’t need a head on board. Heads always stink and someone needs to clean it. Just go over the side. I want the center console to be storage

The Deck
I like recessed cleats and wide gunwale topsides with nonskid.

The Bow
The nonslip deck, recessed safety rails and well-placed grab handle are perfect for wedging in and casting or fighting fish from the bow in a rough sea.

His Inspiration: Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman 23
The Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman 23 is a 22-foot-8-inch boat with an 8-foot beam. It has a variable deadrise hull with a 56-degree angle at the bow for wave slicing that tapers to 12 degrees at the transom for stability. It is a coastal fishing machine with attributes centered around the piscatorial. jonesbrothersmarine.com