So you've inherited that somewhat dubious old wooden fishing boat from
your grandpa! You're feeling proud to be the one to carry on the family
fishing tradition, but you're also experiencing just a little
trepidation at the though of setting out on the wide open expanses of
the lake this spring on a boat that has clearly seen better days...
Well, if your newly acquired old wooden fishing boat is looking a
little worse for wear, you might do well to remember that wooden boat
owners generally accept the fact these kind of boats were not built to
last forever.
In fact, some were probably built with the intention that they would be
replaced within five or ten years, and not kept going lovingly for
decades by well-intentioned descendents of the original owner.
Constant maintenance is probably the key concept here, and you will
need to do some serious checking out of the boat's structure before
setting out to haul in those prize catches.
Of course, nowadays - with newer wood-based, penetrating epoxy - dry
rot has become much less of a problem, but you will still have to keep
up the work to keep your boat in shape for the fishing waters.
Apart from the gleaming, grand old dames of yesteryear, contemporary
wooden fishing boats are still being built, and you may be surprised at
the workmanship and variety available.
You may want to have a look at the beautifully crafted boats such as
wide-bottomed drift boats, or the graceful curves of a special
viking-type rowing-and-fishing boat.
Some wooden fishing boat builders specialize in traditional Louisiana
marsh pirogues and rowing skiffs, and for these you will even be able
to find building plans should you be tempted to make a project out of
it!
If you just want to have the experience of fishing from a wooden boat
on your next fishing trip, you can head out to Ontario, where some
fishing resorts have a special wooden fishing boat supplier building
them to order.
These beautiful spacious, quiet boats are hand built out of cedar and
oak, and equipped with swivel seats, a fishfinder, and all the
necessary emergency equipment to make your trip an unforgettable
experience.
Back to that old lady grandpa used for his outings on the lake: It may
be well worth remembering the saying: "Nothing works on an old boat but
the owner"...
Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com
researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of
this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the
resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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